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Emcees Harry Shearer and Vance Degeneres raise a glass to the winners.
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Photo By Tracie Morris/Donn Young Studio
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While the 15th Annual Big Easy Entertainment Awards always has something for everyone, the men definitely had their say throughout the evening devoted to honoring achievement in music and theatre in a ceremony held Monday, April 22, at the Hilton Riverside Hotel.
Dr. John, who at 61 shows no signs of slowing down, pulled off a "hat trick" by sweeping his three nominated music awards categories: Best R&B Artist, Best Male Performer and Best Album of 2001 (for his excellent Creole Moon release). Flynn De Marco shocked some and delighted others with two fiery performances from the nominated hit musical, Hedwig and the Angry Inch before winning for Best Actor in a Musical and for Best Musical.
And before jazz trumpeter Nicholas Payton capped off the evening by accepting his Entertainer of the Year Award, Sam Butera and Clarence "Frogman" Henry were honored for their brilliant careers with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Music and the Music Heritage Award, respectively.
Behind three great women was a man: Phillip Manuel performed with nominees Topsy Chapman, Teedy Boutte and Leah Chase. Boutte won for Best Female Performer, while Chapman won the Reader's Choice Award.
The venerable Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré scored wins for Best Director of a Musical (Derek Franklin and Sonny Borey, George M), Best Actress in a Musical (Nori Pritchard, Little Shop of Horrors) and both supporting acting awards in a musical (Russell Hodgkinson, Little Shop of Horrors; Ann Casey, The Mystery of Edwin Drood).
The theater categories were filled with winners from the burgeoning African-American theater scene, led by Best Drama Award winner Jitney, produced and directed by veteran character actor Wendell Pierce of the Cinque Group. Dillard University won for Best University Production for Troubled Waters.
The evening also featured performances by Chris Thomas King, Spencer Bohren, Supagroup, and from the musicals George M and Nighttime Naughties. Humorists Vance DeGeneres and Harry Shearer emceed the affair, which continued at the Harrah's Celebration Bash featuring music by Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers and special guests. The Big Easy Entertainment Awards was sponsored by Harrah's New Orleans Casino, Gambit Communications, Cox Communications, Cable Rep Advertising, and 102.9 Old School Radio. Sponsors include Absolut Citron, John Jay, CC's Coffee, Adler's, and Abita Beer. Proceeds from the event support the Foundation for Entertainment Development & Education, funding projects that nurture the future talent of New Orleans.
SPECIAL AWARDS WINNERS
Nicholas Payton -- Entertainer of the Year
Fr. Ernest Ferlita -- Lifetime Achievement in Theatre
Sam Butera -- Lifetime Achievement in Music
Clarence "Frogman" Henry -- Music Heritage Award
Topsy Chapman -- Reader's Choice Award
Business Recognition Award for utilizing New Orleans performers to promote the city -- New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation & The Louisiana Living History Project
MUSIC AWARD WINNERS
Best Traditional Jazz
Tom McDermott
Best Contemporary Jazz
Donald Harrison Jr.
Best Traditional Brass Band
Treme Brass Band
Best Contemporary Brass Band
Lil' Rascals Brass Band
Best Gospel Choir
Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Mass Choir
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O Brother! Chris Thomas King sings the blues.
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Photo By Tracie Morris/Donn Young Studio
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Best Gospel Group
One-A-Chord
Best Funk Group
Papa Grows Funk
Best R&B Artist
Dr. John
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Group
UNLV
Best Blues Artist
Henry Gray
Best Rock Group
Supagroup
Best Roots Rock Artist
Anders Osborne
Best Zydeco Artist
Rosie Ledet
Best Cajun Artist
Bruce Daigrepont
Best Country/Folk Artist
Spencer Bohren
Best Latin Group
Fredy Omar Con Su Banda
Best World/Reggae Group
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Bonnie Sudor and John Jay
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Photo By Tracie Morris/Donn Young Studio
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Bamboula 2000
Best Male Performer
Dr. John
Best Female Performer
Tricia "Sista Teedy" Boutte
Best Emerging Group
Rob Wagner Trio
Best Album
Dr. John
Creole Moon
THEATRE AWARDS WINNERS
Best Musical
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
All Kinds of Theatre, Running With Scissors, Glitter
Best Drama
Jitney
The Cinque Group
Best Comedy
As Bees in Honey Drown
Brava
Best Director of a Comedy/Drama
Janet Shea
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Flynn DeMarco flips his Hedwig.
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Photo By Tracie Morris/Donn Young Studio
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Lonesome West
Best Director of a Musical
Derek Franklin & Sonny Borey
George M
Best Choreography
Diana Lala
Will Rogers Follies
Best Musical Director
Pamela LeGendre
My Fair Lady
Best Set Design
Keith Briggs
Morning's at Seven
Best Lighting Design
Daniel Zimmer
Tintypes
Best Costume Design
Amanda Madden
Camille
Best Performance by a Child
Jennifer Marks
Annie
Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre
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John Hornyak of NARAS, Nikki Reyes of Louisiana Jukebox, and House of Blues GM Dan Smith
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Photo By Tracie Morris/Donn Young Studio
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Best Supporting Actress in a Play
Gwendolyn Foxworth
Two Trains Running
Best Supporting Actor in a Play
Bob Edes Jr.
As Bees in Honey Drown/Spiritual Gifts
Best Actress in a Play
Charlotte Schully
Spiritual Gifts
Best Actor in a Play
Gavin Mahlie
Richard II
Best Actress in a Play
Nori Pritchard
Little Shop of Horrors
Best Actress in a Musical
Flynn De Marco
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Russell Hodgkinson
Little Shop of Horrors
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Ann Casey
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Best Original Play
When Ya Smilin'
By Ricky Graham
Best University Production
Troubled Waters
Dillard University
