Press Releases

IAAPA'S "BIG E" AWARDS RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE
IN ENTERTAINMENT DURING IAAPA ATTRACTIONS EXPO 2007 
 

ORLANDO, FLA. (Nov. 15, 2007) — The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) presented its fifth annual “Big E” entertainment awards Wednesday, Nov. 14, during IAAPA Attractions Expo 2007 annual conference and trade show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The “Big E” awards are the most prestigious awards in the attractions industry honoring live entertainment. Kevin Johnson, a ventriloquist and entertainer, served as the emcee for the event. 

The “Big E” awards honor amusement facility entertainment, performers, and behind-the-scenes personnel who “make it happen” at attractions. The awards categories are broken down into 15 categories.

This year’s Big E award winners are:

Best Atmosphere/Street Performance/Act
Runner Up – Smoky Mountain String Band – Dollywood – Pigeon Forge, Tenn., United States
Winner – Skyfair Celebration – Ocean Park – Aberdeen, Hong Kong, China   

Best Female Show Performer
Runner Up – Arnie Shaw – Dollywood – Pigeon Forge, Tenn., United States
Winner – Grace Beauchesne – Busch Gardens Africa – Tampa, Fla., United States

Best Male Show Performer
Runner Up – Frank Thompson – Cedar Point – Sandusky, Ohio, United States
Winner – Marcus Gustafsson – Liseberg AB – Gothenburg, Sweden

Best Live “Edutainment” Show
Runner Up – “Wild Survivors” – SeaWorld – San Diego, Calif., and San Antonio, Texas, United States
Winner – “The Jungle Rumble” – Six Flags Great Adventure – Jackson, N.J., United States

Best Sports Show
Runner Up – “Xtreme Korruption” – Royal Agricultural Society of NSW – Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales, Australia 
Winner – “Operation Spy Girl Stunt Show” – Six Flags Great America – Gurnee, Ill., United States

Best Spectacular Production
Runner Up – “Laser Blasts” – Darien Theme Park Resort – Darien Center, N.Y., United States
Winner – “Lights of Africa” – San Diego Wild Animal Park – San Diego, Calif., United States

Best Overall Production: Budget of $25,000 or less
Runner Up – “Rockin’ on Route 66!” – Lake Compounce Theme Park – Bristol, Conn., United States
Winner – “Once Upon a Christmas” – Santa’s Village – Jefferson, N.H., United States

Best Overall Production: $25,001 to $50,000
Runner Up – ”Love at First Fright” – Six Flags Great America – Gurnee, Ill., United States
Winner – “Skull’s Eye: The Search for the Enchanted Crown” – LEGOLAND California – Carlsbad, Calif., United States

Best Overall Production: $50,001 to $100,000
Runner Up – “Splash—Faces of the Wild" – San Diego Zoo – San Diego, Calif., United States
Winner – “Milkmen” – Hersheypark – Hershey, Pa., United States

Best Overall Production: $100,001- $200,000
Runner Up – “Bailamos” – Trocadero Theatre – Denver, Colo., United States
Winner – “Mysteria” – Europa Park – Rust, Germany   

Best Overall Production: $200,001 - $500,000
Runner Up – “Great American Country” – Dollywood – Pigeon Forge, Tenn., United States
Winner – “Velocity” – Hersheypark – Hershey, Pa., United States

Best Overall Production: $500,001 - $1,000,000
Runner Up – “Babes in Toyland” – Dollywood – Pigeon Forge, Tenn., United States
Winner – “Le Grande Cirque” – Darien Theme Park Resort – Darien Center, N.Y., United States

Best Overall Production: $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 or More
Runner Up – “Cirque Dreams Coobrila” – Six Flags Over Texas – Arlington, Texas, United States
Winner – “Riptide” – SeaWorld San Diego – San Diego, Calif., United States

Spirit Award
Runner Up – Manivane Yang – Busch Gardens Africa – Tampa, Fla., United States
Winner – Tamra Franze – Busch Gardens Africa – Tampa, Fla., United States

Best Overall Production: $2,000,001 or More
Runner Up – “Universal 360 A Cinesphere Spectacular” – Universal Orlando Resort – Orlando, Fla., United States
Winner – “Shamu Rocks”– SeaWorld – San Diego, Calif., and Orlando, Fla., United States

 
IAAPA Attractions Expo 2007
The IAAPA Attractions Expo 2007 is the largest conference and trade show for the amusement park and attractions industry in the world.  With its theme “Expand Your Universe” the show will draw an estimated 25,000 people from more than 85 countries from the amusement and leisure industries to the Orange County Convention Center from Monday, Nov. 12, through Friday, Nov. 16. The trade show floor will be open Tuesday, Nov.13 through Friday, Nov.16. IAAPA Attractions Expo 2007 offers a solid week of business and fun. More than 1,000 exhibitors will display their products and services in 500,000 net square feet of exhibit space. The event will also include educational sessions, behind-the-scenes tours, marquee social events and networking opportunities. This is the marketplace where amusement and attraction industry leaders, decision makers and visionaries gather to network, view the latest innovations, and plan for the future.

About IAAPA
IAAPA is the premier trade association for the attractions industry worldwide.  Founded almost 90 years ago, IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities and attractions and is dedicated to the preservation and prosperity of the amusement industry.  

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