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With performances and honorees, the 17th annual Big Easy Entertainment Awards showcases the best in music and theatre.

By David Lee Simmons

And the winners were ... well, maybe the better question from the 17th annual Big Easy Entertainment Awards, held April 19 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, was who didn't win? While one entity in particular had a reason to be proud, there seemed to be enough honors to go around for everyone at the ceremony, which honors achievement in music and theatre.

Wendy and George Rodrigue presented awards for country/folk, Cajun and zydeco artists.

Photo by David Richmond

Southern Rep led all other theater companies with seven awards spread out among three different productions: Bat Boy: The Musical and In Walks Ed (three apiece), and House of Plunder. But beyond that, there were plenty of other companies represented, including Rivertown Rep, which snagged two awards.

The Iguanas, who in 2003 enjoyed what many believe was a career renaissance, earned awards for Best Roots Rock Band and for its brilliant CD, Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart. The band performed a song from the album, adding to a night of amazing performances from nominated artists and productions. The clincher was the closing performance, a tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award in Music honoree Harold Battiste. Donald Harrison and Nicholas Payton presented the award, then joined Ed Anderson, the AFO Next Generation and fellow special guests Allen Toussaint, Aaron Neville and Teedy Boutté for a medley. Musical numbers were performed by the casts of Bat Boy: The Musical, Five Guys Named Moe, and Hello, Dolly! as well as by Shades of Praise, Big Sam's Funky Nation with Troy Andrews and Zion Trinity, Bingo!, and Timothea with Theresa Andersson.

Mayor Ray Nagin and Best Female Performer Timothea

Photo by David Richmond

The biggest winner of the evening, though, had to have been Entertainer of the Year Deacon John, who pulled off a trifecta of sorts by also winning for Best Male Performer and Best Rhythm & Blues Artist.

Honorary chairpersons for 2004 were the Pfister Sisters for Music and Carol Sutton for Theatre. Sutton acknowledged the arts community's support for Gambit Weekly theater critic Dalt Wonk, who has been recovering from a heart-related illness at his home and hopes to return to work soon. And Gambit Weekly publisher Margo DuBos and Gambit Communications chairman Clancy DuBos presented host Harry Shearer with a first-ever Best Master of Ceremonies award for having helped host the awards ceremony since 1997.

Sadly, two of the awards were presented posthumously. Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen, whose group the Chosen Few won for Best Traditional Brass Band, died of a heart attack Jan. 12. He was 53. Soulja Slim, who won for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist, was murdered last November. He was 25.

Ann Casey won for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Hello, Dolly! at Le Petit

Photo by Earl Perry

Following the ceremonies, the Stooges led the group to The Howlin' Wolf for the Celebration Bash after-party with entertainment by Davell Crawford's funky band.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Foundation for Entertainment Development & Education. This year's gala was sponsored by Southern Comfort, Gambit Weekly, John Jay, WGNO ABC 26, WB 38, Mardi Gras Productions, Clear Channel Radio, Abita Beer, the House of Blues, Tipitina's Foundation, Rodrigue Gallery and the City of New Orleans Office of Arts & Entertainment.

Entertainer of the Year
Deacon John Moore

Derek Huston of the double award-winning Iguanas performs

Photo by Earl Perry

New Orleans Ambassador of Entertainment
Nicholas Spitzer

Lifetime Achievement Award in Music
Harold Battiste

Lifetime Achievement Award in Theatre
Michael Howard

Music Heritage Award
Al Belletto

Business Recognition Award
Barbara Motley of Le Chat Noir

MUSIC AWARD WINNERS

Best Traditional Jazz
Evan Christopher

Gambit Communications Inc. chairman Clancy DuBos, Business Recognition Award Winner Barbara Motley, master of ceremonies Harry Shearer and Gambit Weekly publisher Margo DuBos

Photo by David Richmond

Best Traditional Brass Band
Tuba Fats & the Chosen Few

Best Contemporary Brass Band
Hot 8 Brass Band

Best Funk Band
Big Sam's Funky Nation

Best Rhythm & Blues Artist
Deacon John Moore

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
Soulja Slim

Best Blues Artist
Snooks Eaglin

Best Rock Band
Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes

Le Petit's Sonney Borey, Derek Franklin and Jim Word

Photo by David Richmond

Best Roots Rock Band
The Iguanas

Best Zydeco Artist
Rosie Ledet

Best Cajun Band
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys

Best Country/Folk Artist
Spencer Bohren

Best Latin Band
Los Vecinos

Best World Music/Reggae Band
Bamboula 2000

Event sponsor John Jay with Honorary Theater Chairperson Carol Sutton

Photo by Earl Perry

Best Gospel Choir
Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Choir

Best Gospel Group/Individual
Cynthia Liggins-Thomas

Best Male Performer
Deacon John Moore

Best Female Performer
Timothea

Best Emerging Artist
Troy Andrews

Best Album
The Iguanas
Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart

THEATRE AWARDS

Rivertown Rep's David Bologna won Best Performance by a Child for The Music Man

Photo by David Richmond

Best Musical
Hello, Dolly! (Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré)

Best Drama
Proof (Rivertown Repertory Theatre)

Best Comedy
Hollywood Heaven (Jacquee Carvin, Patrick Lee and the Producers Circle, at Le Chat Noir)

Best Director of a Comedy or Drama
Perry Martin, All My Sons (Evangeline Theatre Company, at Southern Rep)

Best Director of a Musical
Emma Griffin, Bat Boy: The Musical (Southern Rep)

Best Choreography
Jaune Buisson, Five Guys Named Moe (Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré)

Jim Fitzmorris won for Best Original Play for his House of Plunder

Photo by David Richmond

Best Musical Director
C. Leonard Raybon, The Pirates of Penzance (Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre)

Best Set Design
Bill Walker, Hello, Dolly!

Best Lighting Design
Bill Liotta, In Walks Ed (Southern Rep)

Best Costume Design
Roy Haylock, Hollywood Heaven

Best Performance by a Child
David Bologna, The Music Man (Rivertown Repertory Theatre)

Best Supporting Actress in a Play
Grace Fraga, Rio Seco (Le Chat Noir)

Best Supporting Actor in a Play
Don Guillory, In Walks Ed

Aaron Neville delivered two Sam Cooke tunes produced by Harold Batiste

Photo by Earl Perry

Best Actress in a Play
Maggie Eldred, Angel & Dragon (Mesa Productions, at Cowpokes Theatre Space)

Best Actor in a Play
Tony Molina, In Walks Ed

Best Actress in a Musical
Ann Casey, Hello, Dolly!

Best Actor in a Musical
Adam Hose, Bat Boy: The Musical

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Wayne Daigrepont, Guys and Dolls (Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre)

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Amy Alvarez, Bat Boy: The Musical

Best Original Play
House of Plunder, by Jim Fitzmorris

Best University Production
The Children's Hour (Loyola University)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS

Other Stories This Week in Features:

Cover Story
Second Generation

Stopping Through
All the Young 'dudes
Indebted to Odetta
Kidd Stuff
His Best Shots
Reckless Abandon
Slacking Off
Close to the West
The Sounds of the Fest

Feature
Mama Mia!
Deacon Gets His Due
Lady Sings the Blues

Blake Pontchartrain™
New Orleans Know-It-All

Shoptalk
Facts and Follicles

Other Stories by David Lee Simmons:

Cover Story 04 20 04

Cover Story 04 13 04

Film Review 04 13 04

David Lee Simmons Archives