[MarignyBywater] MarignyBywater Digest, Vol 33, Issue 22

[matt]

the info...i didnt know joan was a patron saint of new orleans!

matt

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amy Kirk <stjoankrewe at yahoo.com>
To: stjoankrewe at yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:17:30 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [MarignyBywater] ST JOAN OF ARC PARADE JAN. 6TH: UPDATED PRESS
RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amy A. Kirk

Phone: (504) 251-5046

Email:
*stjoankrewe at yahoo.com*<http://us.mc343.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=stjoankrewe@yahoo.com>

Web:
*www.stjoankrewe.blogspot.com* <http://www.stjoankrewe.blogspot.com/>



JOIN US FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL
*

SAINT JOAN OF ARC PARADE
*

TWELFTH NIGHT JANUARY 6, 2009 AT 6:00 P.M.

IN THE FRENCH QUARTER



December 30, 2008---One week from today, on Tuesday, January 6, 2009, a.k.a.
Twelfth Night and Joan of Arc's birthday, admirers of the Maid of New
Orleans will gather at Woldenberg Park at 5:00 p.m. and at 6:00 p.m. will
walk up Conti Street , then down Decatur Street to the St.. Joan statue at
St. Phillip Street in the New Place de France. The parade will honor of the
life and death of Jeanne D'Arc, born January 6, 1412, in Domremy , France ,
who was burned at the stake at age nineteen, two years after her success at
the Battle of Orléans, France.



This first annual parade will feature four Joan of Arc portrayals, in
addition to artists, musicians, and revelers of all ages in
medieval/Renaissance costumes. The parade will be lit by processional
candles and medieval torches, and parade participants will walk to the sound
of drums (Bradley Wilkins, dressed as the Dauphin and Raymond "Moose"
Jackson), tambourines and bells.



Prior to the parade, four vocalists from ArtSpot productions: Kathy Randels,
Lisa Shattuck, Sean LaRocca and Anne-Liese Juge-Fox, will serenade parade
walkers with the medieval French song, "St. Marguerite", a song presented in
ArtSpot Productions' 2004 piece "The Maid of Orléans". They will sing inside
the John Scott sculpture, where cellist Helen Gillet will play medieval
music before the parade rolls.



The primary Joans will be played by the following New Orleanian girls and
women, portraying Joan from when she first received the visit from her
Voices to after her life, when she was finally canonised in 1920:
 *

Corinne Bachaud
*, *a student at Louise S McGehee School*, will portray the Domremy peasant
Joan at the time she first heard her Voices. She will be joined by several
other McGehee girls also dressed as childhood Joans. *

Australia James, a NOCCA theatre student
*, will portray Joan as prisoner, during her Rouen trial by the English. She
will perform a monologue from George Bernard Shaw's play* Saint Joan *at the
statue at St. Phillip Street , giving voice to Joan just before her
execution. *

Caye Mitchell of the New Orleans Posse
*, a riding club whose members participate in many New Orleans parades, will
play Joan as a soldier, riding on a white horse carrying a replica of Joan's
standard (created by local artist *Susan Gisleson**) and will be flanked by
two knights in armor. One of these knights will be her husband Fred
Mitchell, portraying the Bastard of Orléans, one of Joan's most loyal
comrades. *

Kelly Faucheux, one of the owners of Renaissance Publishing
*—whose company logo happens to be the image of the Joan of Arc statue in
the French Quarter—will ride on a horse as the beatified Joan, wearing a
halo and covered in gold as a symbol of Joan's redemption and immortality.
Kelley shares a birthday with Joan of Arc, and is particularly excited to
celebrate her 40th in this truly New Orleans fashion, surrounded by members
of Renaissance Publishing Company dressed as angels.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOAN!

Parade participants will toast Joan below her statue with *Goldschläger*, a
cinnamon schnapps containing tiny flakes of gold, generously provided by
Glazer's of Louisiana. Participants will also enjoy King cakes donated
by *Gambino's
Bakery *in honor of both Twelfth Night and Joan's 597th birthday. *Bee Sweet
Cupcakes *will provide cupcakes for the happy occasion, and other revelers
will bring sweets and birthday treats to share at the statue, as well as
flowers to lay at Joan's feet.


**

Celebrators will be greeted by *The Prayer Warriors of St. Joan of Arc*, an
avid prayer group that has honored Joan's feast day (May 30th) for many
years at the statue with prayer, song, and flowers. They will lead everyone
in the song, "Maid of France, With Visioned Eyes" as well as "Happy
Birthday".



COMMEMORATIVE THROWS

A highlight of the parade will be the limited edition gift boxed
commemorative imported *Italian Saint Joan of Arc medallions and
necklaces *that
*Rob Clemenz*, owner of *SaintsforSinners.com*<http://saintsforsinners.com/>,
will offer fortunate parade-goers. Additional throws include more reverent
and unique items such as Joan of Arc prayer cards, wooden crosses, and
flowers, as well as somewhat irreverent items like Atomic Fireball candies.



ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS

Additional key participants include: *Rev. Fr. James M. West* of Saint Joan
of Arc Reformed Catholic Church in New Orleans, who will say a prayer before
the parade in Joan's honor; *Julie Walla*ce, a local artist and art teacher
who is creating various large-scale art pieces for parade members to carry,
including puppets of Joan's "voices" and butterflies, rumored to have
surrounded Joan's horse when she entered Orléans; *Susan Gisleson*, arts
educator, costume designer and the events coordinator for Press Street-a
literary and visual arts collective located in the Bywater, will create
Joan's standard and St. Joan of Arc Krewe parade banner.



 WHY A JOAN OF ARC PARADE?

Considered the Patron Saint of New Orleans, Joan of Arc represents many
things to many people, among them: female warrior, faithful servant of God,
follower of her voices (St. Michael, St. Margaret, St. Catherine), and
rescuer of France. Although not its original intention, the parade has come
to represent to some a call to Joan to help "save New Orleans ". As one
participant said, *Since she saved the old, why not the new?* She is a
courageous figure that inspires hope, faith, awe and conviction in all who
learn about her short but remarkable life.



The fact that Joan was born on January 6th, The Feast of the Epiphany, when
we celebrate Twelfth Night, gives us yet another reason to create an event
celebrating The Maid of Orleans and all things unique to our sacred--and
not-so-sacred--city.



OPEN CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS--KREWE DUES BEGIN NEXT YEAR



Followers and fans of Saint Joan from around the New Orleans area and around
the country have come forward to offer their support and talent to this
first annual event.



All interested in walking with us may participate as long as they are
dressed in some interpretation of medieval/Renaissance garb and are willing
to carry an instrument, candle, sign, or art piece. Walkers are encouraged
to bring their own unique throws.



In future years we look forward to growing this into a Joan of Arc festival,
complete with film, theater, musical performances, costume contests, and
Renaissance Fair style events reflecting the times in which Joan lived.



*We also plan to charge a modest membership to St. Joan of Arc krewe members
next year. This year, it's free and open to all in costume! *

* *

Please visit *www.stjoankrewe.blogspot.com*<http://www.stjoankrewe.blogspot.com/>for
additional information.


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