Krewe of Orpheus

The Krewe of Orpheus is a New Orleans Mardi Gras super krewe and social organization.

History and Formation
Orpheus is a musically themed krewe taking its name from Orpheus of Classical mythology. The Krewe of Orpheus was founded by Harry Connick Jr., his father Harry Connick Sr., Sonny Borey, and others. When the krewe had their first parade on February 14, 1994, there was a record high 700 riders on their parade, and they had then already established themselves as a super krewe.

Mythology
The Krewe of Orpheus derives its name from the mortal Orpheus, son of the god Apollo and the muse Calliope. The story of Orpheus illustrates the power of music in both this world and the next. Legend is that Apollo presented Orpheus with a lyre, which he played with perfection. The music of Orpheus was so beautiful that wild animals ceased their hunting, mountains bowed, seas stopped spraying and trees bent near to listen when he sang. His music was celebrated and cherished by all who heard it. His melodies inspired the noblest love. When Orpheus sang every heart was opened.

Orpheus accompanied Jason and the Argonauts on their adventures. During one voyage a storm arose, and Orpheus began to play his lyre. Immediately, the sea calmed and the storm ended. When his fellow sailors were bewitched by the enchanted song of the Sirens, Orpheus took up his lyre and began to sing. The Sirens' song lost all its power, and the women were changed into rocks. However, Orpheus' greatest feat involved his beautiful wife, Eurydice.

Shortly after their marriage, Eurydice was pursued by Aristaeus, who was overwhelmed by her beauty. When fleeing his advances, Eurydice stepped on a snake, which bit her foot, and she died. Overcome with grief, Orpheus vowed to rescue her from the regions of the dead.

Orpheus gained entry to the Underworld by using his music to charm Charon, the ferryman and Cerberus, the three headed dog that guarded the gates of Hell. He passed through crowds of ghosts, and presented himself before Hades and Persephone. Orpheus strummed his lyre as he implored them to return Eurydice to the realm of the living. As he sang, the ghosts wept and the cheeks of the Furies became wet with tears. The yearning notes from Orpheus' lyre had kindled their memories of the sweet secrets of life's pleasures. At last, Eurydice was called forth. Orpheus was permitted to take her away, on condition that he should not turn to look at her until they both reached the surface.

They traveled through dark waters and passages, in silence. They had nearly reached the surface and shafts of sunlight began to illuminate the cavern. In a moment of longing, Orpheus cast a glance behind him. But Eurydice was still in darkness, and she was instantly carried away. They reached for one another, but only grasped the air. Eurydice was lost to Orpheus forever.

Touched by the charm and power of the music of Orpheus, Zeus turned his lyre into a constellation. Thus, Orpheus still inspires lovers, at night, as they gaze upon his stars.

Membership
The Krewe accepts members of either gender and any race or ethnicity, and quickly became one of New Orleans' largest, after it was founded in 1993. Ridership is open to dues paid members. Krewe of Orpheus was the first super krewe to include both men and women.

Parade
The Krewe of Orpheus parades on St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street on Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) - the day before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). The parade ends inside the Convention Center where Orpheuscapade begins.

Krewe of Orpheus utilize flambeaux to light the parade route.

Parade Themes
• 2023 Dark Dictums of Childhood

• 2022 Glacial Tomes and Conflagrations

• 2021 No Parade Due to COVID-19

• 2020 Beastly Kingdoms

• 2019 The Orpheus Imaginarium

• 2018 The Folly of Astoroth

• 2017 On the Wave of a Dream

• 2016 The Wizard's Bestiary

• 2015 The Magic of an Ordinary Day

• 2014 The Enchanted World

• 2013 Orpheus, 20 Years of Rhythm, Rhyme and Revelry

• 2012 Nonsense and Tomfoolery

• 2011 Visions of Other Worlds

• 2010 Delectable Delights

• 2009 The Whimsical World of How and Why

• 2008 Cocktail Concoctions

• 2007 Tales of Transformation

• 2006 Signs and Superstitions

• 2005 Dance of the Hours

• 2004 Serenades of the Seasons - a tribute to the sights, colors and sounds that mark the changing tides of the year.

• 2003 A Flourish of Fetes and Feasts

• 2002 Fiendish Fanfares of Fantasy

• 2001 Crescendos of Creation

• 2000 Musical Metamorphosis

• 1999 New Orleans Premieres at the French Opera House

• 1998 Troubador Tales

• 1997 Tuneful Tales of the Brothers Grimm

• 1996 Music of Mythology

• 1995 Lyrical Legend of Orpheus

• 1994 Rhythm, Rhyme & Revelry

Celebrity Monarchs
• 2024 Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka; Taylor Dayne

• 2023 Joey Fatone, Darren Criss

• 2022 Finn Jones, Nichole Scherzinger, and Tyrus

• 2020 Bryan Cranston, Charlie Day

• 2019 Mario Lopez

• 2018 Keegan-Michael Key, Jaime Alexander

• 2017 Will Forte

• 2016 Nathan Fillion

• 2015 Dierks Bentley

• 2014 Quentin Tarantino

• 2013 Gary Sinise, Trombone Shorty

• 2012 Bret Michaels, Cyndi Lauper

• 2010 Steve Zahn, Sean Payton, Imagination Movers, Paul Mainieri

• 2009 Joan Rivers, James Belushi, Reno 911!

• 2008 Hélio Castroneves, Sidney Torres, Lance Bass, Kevin Meaney, Salt-n-Pepa, Christian LeBlanc, Ricky Paull Goldin, Sean Payton, Josh Gracin

• 2007 Patricia Clarkson, Sean Payton, Harry Connick Jr.

• 2006 Steven Seagal, Josh Hartnett

• 2005 Sawyer Brown, Toby Keith

• 2004 Dominic Monaghan, Brad Paisley, Nicole Miller, Harry Connick Jr.

• 2003 Travis Tritt, Harry Connick Jr.

• 2002

• 2001 Glenn Close (grand marshal), Whoopi Goldberg, Hoda Kotb, Harry Connick Jr.

• 2000 Whoopi Goldberg (grand marshal),

• 1999 Debbie Allen, Sandra Bullock, Forest Whitaker,

• 1998

• 1997 Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Anne Rice, Harry Connick Jr.

• 1996 The Road Rules gang from MTV, Laurence Fishburne, Jay Thomas ('96 King of Orpheus), Anne Rice ('96 muse of Orpheus), Harry Connick Jr.

• 1995 Anne Rice

• 1994 Little Richard, Branford Marsalis, Vanessa R. Williams, Dan Aykroyd, Harry Connick Jr.

• Other celebrity monarchs for the Krewe of Orpheus include Camryn Manheim, Debbie Allen, Tommy Tune, James Brown, David Copperfield, Delta Burke, Gerald McRaney, Josh Gracin and Christian LeBlanc.

Iconic Floats
Per 2008, the krewe has 36 floats. Harry Connick Jr. wrote and recorded a song for his 1994 album She, called "Here Comes the Big Parade". The song's music video shows clips from floats in the parade. The floats have a large amount of flowers, gilding and gold leaf. The flowers are made out of cardboard, wire, paint, gold leafing, some of paper-mâché, etc.

Notable Floats

 * In 2004, the Krewe of Orpheus bought the Dolly Trolley, the original horse-dawn bus that was used in the opening of Hello Dolly with Barbra Streisand.
 * The Smokey Mary (Smokey Mary) started as an 6 section float and then 2 more sections was later (2013) to be an eight unit float that looks like a [steam locomotive] and is driven by one person Barry Daigle.
 * The Orpheus Leviathan Float has been part of the parade since 1998. It's a three unit, 139 ft,float, and the first Carnival float to use extensive fiber optic lighting.
 * Trojan Horse

Throws
Trinkets, collectables, masks, and beads tossed by hand from riders of the floats are called throws. Collectible throws from Orpheus include the Orpheus emblem beads, stuffed animals, signature beads, light-up Orpheus medallion beads, custom print go-cups, three different types of doubloons, masks, and 4-foot-long stuffed dragons.

Orpheuscapade
The Orpheus parade ends inside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center where Orpheuscapade begins. Orpheuscapade is a post-parade black-tie party that includes live music, food, and dancing. It is open to the public by paid admission. It is estimated Orpheuscapade draws a crowd of over 5000 people each year.

Additional notes

 * This krewe does not have any connection to:
 * the first Krewe of Orpheus: a ball krewe in Orleans Parish (1940s, 1950s)
 * The Original Krewe of Orpheus: a parade krewe in Mandeville, Louisiana (founded 1987)