The 2016 Big Easy Awards
Photos from a night honoring the best in New Orleans theater and music
By Will CovielloSlideshow
Jon Cleary looked right at home mingling with the crowd before the Big Easy Entertainment Awards at the Orpheum Theater April 19 and on stage performing his song "When You Get Back." But he had an extraordinary evening, accepting the Entertainer of the Year award and winning Best Album of 2015 for his Grammy-winner, GoGo Juice.
Also honored for their contributions to New Orleans' music scene were drummer and bandleader Benny Jones Sr., who accepted a Lifetime Achievement award, and rapper Mia X, who received the Music Heritage Award. Costume, set and lighting designer Joan Long was named Theater Person of the Year.
The Big Easy Awards featured music and theater categories. Aurora Nealand was named Best Female Performer and won Best Jazz along with her band The Royal Roses. Mike Dillon, who also performed at the event, was named Best Male Performer and won Best Heavy Metal/Punk with his band.
Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts both won five awards and Southern Rep Theatre collected four. Southern Rep's production of local playwright Lisa D'Amour's Detroit won Best Play and Best Ensemble. Its production of Song of a Man Coming Through won Best Original Work and Best Actor in a Play for Robert Diago DoQui. Rivertown's Gary Rucker won Best Director of a Musical for The Addams Family.
Comedians Chris Trew and Tami Nelson emceed the event, which also featured performances from Terminator: The Musical and Southern Rep's Boudin — The New Orleans Music Project.
The Big Easy Entertainment Awards support the Foundation for Entertainment, Development and Education, which awards annual grants to artists and institutions. The event was sponsored by Gambit, Coleman E. Adler & Sons, Abita Brewing Company, Barefoot Wines & Bubbly, Evamor Natural Artesian Water, Hall Piano Company, Actors' Equity Association, Sazerac Rye, Flor de Cana Rum, Stoli Vodka and Plymouth Gin.
Big Easy Music Awards
Lifetime Achievement
Benny Jones Sr.
Entertainer of the Year
Jon Cleary
Music Heritage Award
Mia X
Best Male Performer
Mike Dillon
Best Female Performer
Aurora Nealand
Best Album of 2015
Jon Cleary
GoGo Juice
Thirty Tigers
Best Jazz
Aurora Nealand & The Royal Roses
Best Brass Band
New Breed Brass Band
Best Gospel
Tyrone Foster & the Arc Singers
Best Funk Band
Nigel Hall
Best Rhythm and Blues
Tank & the Bangas
Best Blues
Sonny Landreth
Best Rap/Bounce
Big Freedia
Best Heavy Metal/Punk
The Mike Dillon Band
Best Rock
Sweet Crude
Best Country/Folk Band
The Deslondes
Best Zydeco Band
Buckwheat Zydeco
Best Cajun Band
Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars
Best Latin/World
Debauche
Best Emerging Artist
Motel Radio
Best DJ/Electronica
Quickie Mart
Big Easy Theater Awards
2016 Theater Person of the Year
Joan Long
Best Musical
The Cradle Will Rock Cripple Creek Theater Company
Best Play
Detroit, Southern Rep
Best Director of a Musical
Gary Rucker
The Addams Family, Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts
Best Director of a Play
Jon Greene
Faustus, Lux et Umbra
Best Choreography
Karen Hebert The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Revue Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts
Best Music Director
Tucker Fuller
The Cradle Will Rock Cripple Creek Theater Company
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Madison Kerth
The Addams Family Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Kevin Murphy
The Producers Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts
Best Actress in a Musical
Leslie Claverie
Once Upon a Mattress Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University
Best Actor in a Musical
Marc Fouchi
The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Revue Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts
Best Supporting Actress in a Play
Becca Chapman
Robin Hood: Thief, Brigand The NOLA Project
Best Supporting Actor in a Play
Evan Spigelman
Faustus Lux et Umbra
Best Actress in a Play
Gwendolyn Foxworth
The Glass Menagerie Anthony Bean Community Theater
Best Actor in a Play
Robert Diago DoQui Song of a Man Coming Through Southern Rep
Best Ensemble
Detroit Southern Rep
Best Original Work of Theater
Song of a Man Coming Through
Joe Morris Doss and Andrew Doss Southern Rep
Best Set Design
Bill Walker
The Bluest Eye Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre
Best Lighting Design
Brad Peterson
The Bluest Eye Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre
Best Costume Design
Shauna Leone
Marie Antoinette The NOLA Project
Best Sound Design
Glenn Aucoin
Faustus Lux et Umbra
Best University Production
Best of Enemies
Michael Aaron Santos,
director
Delgado Community College
