IAAPA 2001: Big-E awards honor the best in live entertainment

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

IAAPA presented its third annual Big-E Entertainment Awards yesterday, awards recognizing and honoring amusement facility entertainment, performers and the people who make it happen. IAAPA's 2001 "Big E" Award winners are:

Best Costumed Character Winner:
Drew Wade, Knott's Camp Snoopy, Warner Brothers Movie World, Queensland, Australia
Honorable Mention (HM): Michelle Steensland, Bloomington, MN, USA

Best Male Show Performer/Performance Winner:
Wally Calderon, Hersheypark, Hershey, PA, USA
HM: Gary Valenciano, Enchanted Kingdom, Makati City, The Philippines

Best Female Show Performer/Performance:
Winner: Eileen Normanly, Hersheypark, Hershey, PA, USA
HM: Gina Servello, Hersheypark, Hershey, PA, USA

Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performer/Act
Winner: Rhythm Chefs, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA, USA
HM: Doc Harris, Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO, USA

Best Behind-the-Scenes Technician
Winner: Scott Davis, Miracle Strip Park, Panama City Beach, FL, USA
HM: Cassandra Scott, Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA

Best Overall Production by Budget Category
Budget under $40,000
Winner: "Calico Cancan," Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA, USA
HM: “The Little Mermaid,” Weeki Wachee Springs; Weeki Wachee, FL, USA

$40,000 - $75,000
Winner: "Country Hits Live!," Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA
HM: "Take me to the River," Libertyland, Memphis, TN, USA

$75,000 - $125,000
Winner: "Hersheypark Follies," Hersheypark, Hershey, PA, USA
HM: "Forbidden Magic," Paramount's Kings Island, Cincinnati, OH, USA, and "Horray for Hollywood," Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA

Over $125,000
Winner: "Efteling on Ice," Efteling, Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands
Honarable Mention: "L'ar(c)tistique," Phantasialand, Bruehl, Germany
Special Mention: "Irish Thunder," Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA, USA

I don't think money is really a reflection of the talent or quality of the show, but still good to see some familiar parks there!

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Country Hits Live! has got to be one of the best performances I've seen at an amusement park in a very long time! Kudos to a very talented group!

I'm flabbergasted to not see a Disney Park on there...SOMEWHERE
jeremy
--out of the closet Disney Freak

Ya think Mickey would come out with some big hit this year... guess not!

*COUGH*Go Hershey, congradulations!*COUGH*

Cedar Point and Hersheypark......Still the 2 best amusement parks I've been too.

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Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions

I thought that SFFT would get something for Circo Magnifico

Go Calico CanCan.
And udner 40k no less!

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Knotts 2002...ready when you are!

Congrats go out to all my friends in Country Hit's Live..

Ben, Mark, Jason, Carlton, Todd, Carmen, Drew, John, Eric, Dave, Belle, Lindsey, Lisa, Jennifer, Jennifer, and Timmy.

I love you guys.. you deserved it..
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One of us.. One of us..
"MIKE WAZOWSKI!!!!"
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100

the Rhythm Chefs are very good at Busch Gardens Williamsburg-- its a very unique show considering there no singing or true instruments. you can see photos from the 2001 shows at www.buschgardensVA.com -- just go to the SHOWS icon and you'll see Rhythm Chefs on the left!

Obviously, these people never got to Florida at all. WDW, BGT, and IOA had some way out-of-this-world shows that I would love to watch over and over again compared to some of the choices I saw this year and Knott's and even BGW. I'm guessing they probobly don't even care to add Disney into the category. There must be too much entertainment there to choose from. It's a place where everything stands out so I guess you can't really compare since it's perfection, at least for me.

Im glad to see they didnt forget Doc Harris. He made my day even better (you cant have a bad day at Silver Dollar City) when he stopped me because I was wearing a "Titan" shirt and proceded to talk to me about his "machine" and asked me if I liked it and all (yes i know he does it to everyone but it was a pretty cool atmospheric touch!)
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Titan Laps: 148
http://www.sfotxtreme.com

hey acrophobia, there was a new show this year from disney, Step in time at DCA..... it ...was ...uh.......the theater was nice!......

Most of the shows at Disney California Adventure came from Disney World, like It's Tough Being a Bug at Animal Kingdom. Meaning they've already seen it(just noticed, even Disney makes clones, the biggest of them all), well at least Mickey puts extra work into his. Those 3D glasses are even better than Terminator:The Ride!

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