<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:10pt"><DIV><SPAN lang=EN><SPAN lang=EN><U>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</U> </DIV>
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<P>Contact: Amy A. Kirk </P>
<P>Phone: <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_0 style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_1 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">(504) 251-5046</SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P>Email: </SPAN><A href="http://us.mc343.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=stjoankrewe@yahoo.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow><U><FONT color=#000080><SPAN lang=EN>stjoankrewe@yahoo.com</U></FONT></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=EN> </P>
<P>Web: </SPAN><A href="http://www.stjoankrewe.blogspot.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow><U><FONT color=#000080><SPAN lang=EN>www.stjoankrewe.blogspot.com</U></FONT></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=EN> </SPAN></P>
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<P align=center><FONT size=5>JOIN US FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL </FONT></P><B>
<P align=center><FONT size=5><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_1 style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_2>SAINT JOAN OF ARC</SPAN></SPAN> PARADE</FONT></B><FONT size=5> </FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT size=5><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_2><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_3>TWELFTH NIGHT</SPAN></SPAN> <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_3 style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_4 style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">JANUARY 6, 2009 AT 6:00 P.M</SPAN></SPAN>. </FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT size=5>IN THE FRENCH QUARTER </FONT></P>
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<P align=left>December 16, 2008---<SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_4 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_5 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">On Tuesday, January 6, 2009</SPAN></SPAN>, a.k.a. Twelfth Night and <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_5 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_6 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">Joan of Arc</SPAN></SPAN>’s birthday, admirers of the <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_6><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_7>Maid of New Orleans</SPAN></SPAN> will gather at <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_7 style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_8>Woldenberg Park</SPAN></SPAN> at <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_8 style="CURSOR: hand;
BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_9 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">5:30 p.m</SPAN></SPAN>. and at <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_9 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_10 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">6:00 p.m</SPAN></SPAN>. walk up Conti Street , then down <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_10><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_11>Decatur Street</SPAN></SPAN> 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 <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_11 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_12 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">January 6</SPAN></SPAN>, 1412, in Domremy , France , who was burned at the stake at age
nineteen, two years after her success at the Battle of Orléans, France. </P>
<P align=left> </P>
<P align=left>This first annual parade will feature three Joan of Arcs, in addition to artists, musicians, and revelers of all ages in medieval/Renaissance costumes. The parade will be lit by processional candles carried by 50 participants, and parade participants will sing a Joan of Arc marching song, put to an ancient French melody. </P>
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<UL><B>
<P align=left>-Caye Mitchell of the <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_12><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_13>New Orleans Posse</SPAN></SPAN></B>, a riding club whose members participate in many <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_13><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_14>New Orleans parades</SPAN></SPAN>, including the <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_14><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_15>Lady Godivas</SPAN></SPAN> in Muses, will play Joan as a soldier, riding on a white horse carrying a replica of Joan’s standard (created by local artist <B>Susan Gisleson</B>) and will be flanked by two knights in armor on horseback bearing torches. One of these knights will be her <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_15><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_16>husband Fred Mitchell</SPAN></SPAN>, portraying the Bastard of Orléans, one of Joan’s most loyal comrades. </P><B>
<P align=left>-Kelly Faucheux, one of the owners of Renaissance Publishing</B>—whose company logo happens to be the image of the Joan of Arc statue in the <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_16><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_17>French Quarter</SPAN></SPAN>—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 40<SUP>th</SUP> in this truly New Orleans fashion, surrounded by members of Renaissance Publishing Company dressed as angels. </P><B>
<P align=left>-Australia James, an honors student at <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_17><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_18>Helen Cox High School</SPAN></SPAN> and a NOCCA theatre student</B>, will portray Joan as prisoner. She will perform a monologue from George Bernard Shaw’s play<I> Saint Joan </I>at the statue at St. Phillip Street , giving voice to Joan just before her execution. Before the parade, she will stand at the John Scott sculpture <I><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_18><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_19>Ocean Song</SPAN></SPAN></I> at Woldenberg Park , which with its mirrored shapes resembling flames foreshadows her fate. </P></UL></UL>
<P align=left>COMMEMORATIVE THROWS </P>
<P align=left>A highlight of the parade will be the limited edition gift boxed commemorative imported <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_19><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_20>Italian Saint Joan of Arc</SPAN></SPAN> medallions and necklaces that <B>Rob Clemenz</B>, owner of </SPAN><A href="http://saintsforsinners.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow><U><FONT color=#000080><SPAN lang=EN>SaintsforSinners.com</U></FONT></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=EN>, will offer fortunate parade-goers. Additional throws include more reverent and unique items such as Joan of Arc prayer cards, as well as somewhat irreverent items like <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_20><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_21>Atomic Fireball</SPAN></SPAN> candies. <B>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 . </B></SPAN></P>
<P align=left><SPAN lang=EN><B> </P></B>
<P align=left>SAINT JOAN OF ARC CATHOLIC CHURCH AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS </P>
<P align=left>Additional key participants include: <B>Rev. Fr. James M. West</B> of <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_21><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_22>Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church</SPAN></SPAN> in <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_22><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_23>New Orleans</SPAN></SPAN>, who will say a prayer before and after the parade in Joan’s honor; <STRONG>Julie Wallace</STRONG>, 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”; cardboard flames; and butterflies, rumored to have surrounded Joan’s horse when she entered Orléans; <B>Susan Gisleson</B>, <FONT color=#000080><FONT color=#000000>arts educator, costume designer and the events coordinator for Press Street, a literary and visual arts collective located in the Bywater</FONT>,</FONT> will create Joan’s standard and St. Joan of Arc Krewe parade
banner; and <B>Helen Gillet</B>, a classically trained cellist who performs French chansons and musettes, original compositions and jazz with her band Wazozo and is a member of Musica de Camera (<SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_23><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_24>medieval music</SPAN></SPAN>), will play French period music at the St. Joan of Arc statue at New Place de France. </P>
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<P align=left>WHY A JOAN OF ARC PARADE? </P>
<P align=left>Considered the <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_24><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_25>Patron Saint</SPAN></SPAN> of New Orleans, Joan of Arc represents many things to many people, among them: female warrior, <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_25><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_26>faithful servant of God</SPAN></SPAN>, follower of her voices (St. Michael, St. Margaret, St. Catherine), and rescuer of <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_26><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_27>France</SPAN></SPAN>. 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, <I>Since she saved the old, why not the new?</I> She is a courageous figure that inspires hope, faith, awe and conviction in all who learn about her short but remarkable life. </P>
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<P align=left>The fact that Joan was born on Twelfth Night, the night that kicks off <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_27><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_28>Mardi Gras season</SPAN></SPAN>, gives us yet another reason to create an event celebrating <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_28 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_29 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">The Maid of Orleans</SPAN></SPAN> and all things unique to our sacred--and sacreligious--city. </P>
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<P align=left>OPEN CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS </P>
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<P align=left>Followers and fans of Saint Joan from around the <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_29><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_30>New Orleans area</SPAN></SPAN> and around the country have come forward to offer their support and talent to this first annual event. Given the enthusiastic reply, we expect to have additional musicians, actors, jugglers, jesters, knights and fair maidens joining us. 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. </P>
<P align=left> </P>
<P align=left>In future years we look forward to growing this into a Joan of Arc festival, complete with film, theater, musical performances, costume contests, and <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229538399_30 style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1229627775_31 style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none">Renaissance</SPAN></SPAN> Fair style events reflecting the times in which Joan lived. </P>
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<P align=left>Please visit </SPAN><A href="http://www.stjoankrewe.blogspot..com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow><U><FONT color=#000080><SPAN lang=EN>www.stjoankrewe.blogspot.com</U></FONT></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=EN> for additional information. </P></SPAN></SPAN></DIV><BR></DIV></DIV>
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