Continuing its tradition of packing as many familiar faces as it can onto its beautifully-designed floats, the super krewe of Orpheus this year will feature rockers Cyndi Lauper and Bret Michaels and actresses Hillary Swank and Mariska Hargitay. Orpheus was founded in part by native son Harry Connick Jr. back in 1993, which explains the celebrity contacts it is always able to make good use of. The Lundi Gras parade has as its theme this year “Nonsense and Tomfoolery” and its classically-themed floats are elaborately-decorated, many featuring flowers, birds and other items that shimmy and shake as the floats move down the street. Also, look for the signature Leviathan, Smokey Mary and Trojan Horse floats. Some of the celebrities who have participated in Orpheus in years past include Patricia Clarkson, Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close, Sandra Bullock, Vanessa Williams, Dan Aykroyd, Stevie Wonder and, last year, the cast of HBO’s “Treme.” Check out the krewe’s web site for lots of photos and even video from past parades. Once again this year the parade ends at the Morial Convention Center with the Orpheuscapade.
