vatican lokey
co-producer, managing director |
edward r. cox
co-producer, artistic director |
NOLA Voice Theatre was created in 2016 by multiple award-winning New Orleans actors and television personalities Vatican Lokey and Edward R. Cox to bring original voice and family musical theatre productions by and for New Orleanians, supporting local nonprofit theatres as fundraisers. The theatres keep 100% of the ticket sales. NOLA Voice Theatre, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, raises money from companies and private donors to produce our events.
Louisiana mainstreet new music theatre festival
The Louisiana Mainstreet New Music Theatre Festival began in the picturesque community of Gretna, Louisiana, directly across the Mississippi River from downtown New Orleans and the historic Vieux Carré, or French Quarter. This Festival is part of the national festival circuit from Mainstreet Musicals in New York City. Since 1984, Mainstreet Musicals has adjudicated thousands of new works for music theatre, choosing three winners annually to send out across the country in festivals like ours.
Each year, the Festival presents three new musicals as staged concert readings, with minimal sets, costumes, and props. The actors carry their scripts with them throughout the show. This allows NVT to present new works for music theatre to New Orleans audiences at a reduced price over a single weekend. The Louisiana Mainstreet New Music Theatre Festival also holds the distinction of being the only festival on the national circuit to include a new, locally written family musical each season.
Each year, the Festival presents three new musicals as staged concert readings, with minimal sets, costumes, and props. The actors carry their scripts with them throughout the show. This allows NVT to present new works for music theatre to New Orleans audiences at a reduced price over a single weekend. The Louisiana Mainstreet New Music Theatre Festival also holds the distinction of being the only festival on the national circuit to include a new, locally written family musical each season.
treehouse players
Since 1992, Treehouse Players has been creating award-winning works for the family musical theatre stage. Their first production, "Treehouse Players' Rapunzel" ran in New Orleans for over two years before being chosen as the flagship production for the first theatrical tour of AmeriCorps in 1995. Now the family musical theatre wing of NVT, Treehouse Players has contributed to some of the city's finest family theatres, including the legendary Children's Corner, Shoestring Players, Porta-Puppet Players, and more. For the 2nd Louisiana Mainstreet New Music Theatre Festival, the company revised their smash-hit production of "Rapunzel" celebrating the 25th anniversary of the show. Watch the staged concert version here!
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PROFESSOR CARL NIVALE
Since 1996, Professor Carl Nivale has been the historian and cultural reporter on Carnival and Mardi Gras every season on the WWL-TV Morning Show. He has appeared in schools across the greater metropolitan New Orleans area during the Carnival season, as well as several Carnival-related events. In 2019, he was requested by Mayor Latoya Cantrell to narrate parades at historic Gallier Hall throughout Carnival and Mardi Gras. Also in 2019, he and Grand Marshal Marty Graw created "The Professor Carl Nivale Show", which debuted at the Bayou Playhouse in Lockport, LA to enthusiastic success. The show will be coming to New Orleans in 2020.
Click here to visit the Professor's Facebook page.
Since 1996, Professor Carl Nivale has been the historian and cultural reporter on Carnival and Mardi Gras every season on the WWL-TV Morning Show. He has appeared in schools across the greater metropolitan New Orleans area during the Carnival season, as well as several Carnival-related events. In 2019, he was requested by Mayor Latoya Cantrell to narrate parades at historic Gallier Hall throughout Carnival and Mardi Gras. Also in 2019, he and Grand Marshal Marty Graw created "The Professor Carl Nivale Show", which debuted at the Bayou Playhouse in Lockport, LA to enthusiastic success. The show will be coming to New Orleans in 2020.
Click here to visit the Professor's Facebook page.
GRAND MARSHAL MARTY GRAW
Frequently appearing with Professor Carl Nivale at events throughout the Carnival and Mardi Gras season, Grand Marshal Marty Graw appeared for nearly a decade on the WWL-TV Morning Show with his "last-minute" costuming ideas and designs. The Grand Marshal was requested by Mayor Latoya Cantrell to appear at Gallier Hall during the parading season as a fixture of the City's celebrations in 2019. Also in 2019, the Grand Marshal co-starred in the premiere production of "The Professor Carl Nivale Show", which debuted at the Bayou Playhouse. Grand Marshal Marty Graw will be returning to Gallier Hall and "The Professor Carl Nivale Show" in 2020.
Click here to visit the Grand Marshal's Facebook page.
Frequently appearing with Professor Carl Nivale at events throughout the Carnival and Mardi Gras season, Grand Marshal Marty Graw appeared for nearly a decade on the WWL-TV Morning Show with his "last-minute" costuming ideas and designs. The Grand Marshal was requested by Mayor Latoya Cantrell to appear at Gallier Hall during the parading season as a fixture of the City's celebrations in 2019. Also in 2019, the Grand Marshal co-starred in the premiere production of "The Professor Carl Nivale Show", which debuted at the Bayou Playhouse. Grand Marshal Marty Graw will be returning to Gallier Hall and "The Professor Carl Nivale Show" in 2020.
Click here to visit the Grand Marshal's Facebook page.
WANDINE THE WITCH
Since 2014, the wickedly sophisticated Wandine the Witch has been delighting children and grownups alike in New Orleans City Park's historic Carousel Gardens for the annual Ghosts in the Oaks event. Guests meet Wandine at the entrance to the amusement area, set up with her cauldron and her sharp tongued, hilarious commentary. She has become synonymous with the popular Ghosts in the Oaks, and serves as the spokeswitch for the event every October. To mark her fifth anniversary, in 2019 she will be appearing regularly at the new NOLA Craft Culture shop in Mid-City during the Halloween season.
Click here to visit Wandine's Facebook page.
Since 2014, the wickedly sophisticated Wandine the Witch has been delighting children and grownups alike in New Orleans City Park's historic Carousel Gardens for the annual Ghosts in the Oaks event. Guests meet Wandine at the entrance to the amusement area, set up with her cauldron and her sharp tongued, hilarious commentary. She has become synonymous with the popular Ghosts in the Oaks, and serves as the spokeswitch for the event every October. To mark her fifth anniversary, in 2019 she will be appearing regularly at the new NOLA Craft Culture shop in Mid-City during the Halloween season.
Click here to visit Wandine's Facebook page.
SIMPLY STUNNING DESIGNS-NOLA
Created by multiple award-winning theatre and Carnival designer Edward R. Cox, Simply Stunning Designs-NOLA creates fantastic original designs for wall decor, wreaths, and bespoke costume pieces. Mr. Cox's works have earned places of prominence in homes and organizations across the world, and have been included in the collections of the Ogden Museum and the Historic New Orleans Collection.
Currently, Simply Stunning Designs-NOLA is featured on the walls of NOLA Craft Culture.
Click here to visit Simply Stunning Designs-NOLA's Facebook page.
Created by multiple award-winning theatre and Carnival designer Edward R. Cox, Simply Stunning Designs-NOLA creates fantastic original designs for wall decor, wreaths, and bespoke costume pieces. Mr. Cox's works have earned places of prominence in homes and organizations across the world, and have been included in the collections of the Ogden Museum and the Historic New Orleans Collection.
Currently, Simply Stunning Designs-NOLA is featured on the walls of NOLA Craft Culture.
Click here to visit Simply Stunning Designs-NOLA's Facebook page.
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