Category: Uncategorized

  • Donald Lewis, Jr. – A Childhood Music Memory

    Donald Lewis, Jr. – A Childhood Music Memory

    Donald Lewis, Jr., beloved New Orleans actor, teacher, DJ, and storyteller, shares his earliest memory of the stage!

    A professional performer and teacher in New Orleans, Donald Lewis, Jr. has shared his stories with scores of Louisiana children over the decades, at schools and libraries around the state. He’s delighted New Orleans audiences in dozens of theatrical performances over the years. And many have heard his sonorous, deep voice over the airwaves on WWOZ 90.7 FM and WRBH 88.3 FM, Radio for the Blind and Print Handicapped.

    In this childhood music memory, Donald shares how his love of the stage first began.

    Donald was living in Texas when he was five or six years old, and he had the lead role in a performance of “She’ll Be Coming around the Mountain.”

    It was a little skit created just for kids. The children were dressed in cowboy hats and riding around on mop horses, and Donald was proud to belt out the lines of the song.

    It was that moment, in front of the audience, that he got the acting and performance bug!

    Donald did not want to leave the stage. After the performance was over, and at the end of the night while all the people for leaving the auditorium, Donald ran from his parents and went back to the stage to start his performance all over.

    Donald’s mother had to scoop him up and pull him away from the stage. And that was Donald’s first glorious introduction to the stage limelight. 

    Thanks, Donald, for sharing this fun childhood memory!!!

    Confetti Park is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation and Music Rising at Tulane University.

  • Family Pyrate Day in Algiers Point on March 30

    Family Pyrate Day in Algiers Point on March 30

    Arghh, mateys! It’s the third annual Family Pyrate Day in Algiers Point, a family friendly event celebrating pirate culture in New Orleans! FREE TO THE PUBLIC!

    Join Confetti Kids, Confetti Park and our mates of NOLA Pyrate Week and One Stone for a swashbuckling good time at Confetti Park (451 Pelican). There will be storytellers, musical performances, pyrate goods by Red Paw Leather & Raven Moon Creations, games, demonstrations, a magic show, and crafting. Hubbell Library also has special activities planned for Pyrate Day.

    Bring canned food for the Algiers Point Lil Free Pantry.

    Buy yer vittles and taste some rum at One Stone and enjoy hotdogs and snoballs from Kona Ice.

    Schedule of events:

    10:30 a.m. – NOLA Neighbors Story Time: Musician Edition, with Scully! at Hubbell Library
    11 a.m. – Pirates gather at Confetti Park!
    11:30 a.m. – kids music circle hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray
    12 p.m. – performance by Confetti Park Players
    1 p.m. – a reading of Mermaids of New Orleans, the new children’s book by Sally Asher Arts (with mermaids!)
    2 p.m. – Lord Drake’s Mystic Magic Show

    There will be face painting, crafts, food, music and magic demonstrations and pirate games throughout the day!

    More info at https://nolapyrateweek.com/

  • Music Medley: Milk Dud

    Music Medley: Milk Dud

    Hi kids! Welcome to another episode of Confetti Park, a radio show featuring songs and stories from Louisiana.

    I am so excited that Confetti Park is available in states from Alaska to Maine. Thank you to all the stations carrying the show, and I hope you all enjoy the music and stories. Don’t forget you can download the free podcast and listen to stories, interviews and music medleys anytime!


    cow cartoonSongs included in this episode:

    Holy Cow – Tin Men
    Joke of the Day – Milk Dud
    Big Brown Cow – Ph Fred
    Bushel and a Peck – Vivi Melody & Friends
    Choctaw Choo Choo – Confetti Park Players
    Ham & Eggs – Danny Barker
    Jambalaya- Fats Domino
    Mama Inez – Sunpie Barnes
    Cailette – Gerard Dole
    Feliciana LeRoux – Johnette Downing

    This episode also features JuJu, the Good VooDoo, by Michelle Hirstius, during Confetti Park Storytime.

    About Confetti Park

    The Confetti Park hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray, features music and stories spun in Louisiana. It showcases songs that kids love, songs created for kids, and songs created by kids. Sparkling interviews, in-studio performances, delightful music medleys, jokes, local author storytime, and a little surprise lagniappe make for an entertaining show!

    Subscribe on iTunes

    The radio program version launched on April 4, 2015 in New Orleans on WHIV FM and is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation and Music Rising at Tulane University.

    Current broadcast schedule:

    Coming soon to KBOG 97.9 FM Bandon Community Radio in Bandon, OR. Stay tuned!

    SEE MAP

    A full list of Confetti Park stations (and a map) is available at https://confettipark.com/podcast/

    Community radio stations, interested in carrying Confetti Park? Contact Katy Ray.