Orpheus was founded in 1994 by New Orleans' Harry Connick,
Jr. Connick founded the parade because he ruled as Bacchus in 1993 and loved
the experience. Harry Connick, Jr. appointed his old drama teacher, Sonney
Borey, to be the captain. Connick wanted to follow some traditions of the
first parades but wanted to allow any adults to ride. Orpheus is the first
super krewe to also allow women to ride. The krewe obtained 700
members mainly by an article in the newspaper. Orpheus was an ancient Greek
musician and since Connick was a musician, they thought that would be
a fitting name. Their motto was musically oriented, "Rhythm, Rhyme, and Revelry." A
famous musician is annually chosen to be the king. The parade now has fibre
optic lighting on floats, bands from throughout America, marching puppets, and confetti
guns.
Sonney Borey said, "A parade to me is a theater on wheels. Every float is
another scene in this year's production and should be treated as a stage
setting." The krewe has three signature floats: the Leviathan
(the first float ever to use fibre optic lighting), the Trojan
Horse, and the Smokey Mary train. Celebrities to reign as
monarchs have included Stevie Wonder, Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close, and
Sandra Bullock. The parade ends inside the Convention
Center where Orpheuscapade begins. The party includes music, food,
and dancing open to the public by paid admission.
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