Vatican Lokey

A proud New Orleans actor over three decades, Mr. Lokey is best known for his longtime characters, TV's Professor Carl Nivale and Tinsel the Elf.

At Rivertown: Booth, "Assassins", Patchy, "Spongebob", Mr. Banks, "Disney's Mary Poppins". In NOLA: Baron, "Grand Hotel", John Jasper, "Drood", Freddie Trumper, "Chess", Whizzer Brown, "Falsettos", Sigmund Freud, "Porcupine", John Galsworthy, "Scandalous!". In Atlanta: Roger DeBris, "The Producers", Lord Farquaad, "Shrek", FDR/Bert Healy, "Annie".

He is featured in several books about New Orleans theatre and Carnival, including "The Soul of the City: Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre", the biography "Just Who is Stocker Fontelieu, Anyway?", and most recently, "The Danse Macabre"

With his husband of 32 years, Edward R. Cox, he owns NOLA Voice Theatre, which produces the annual "Sprinkles & Tinsel's Very Merry Holly Daze Special" recorded here at Rivertown Theaters. (This year's fifth anniversary special premieres December 15th on their YouTube channel, @nolavoicetheatre) They also produced last season's 30th anniversary revival of their hit musical "Treehouse Players' Rapunzel" in the Lagniappe.

In 2021, the couple and their characters, Professor Carl Nivale and Grand Marshal Marty Graw, were named Culture Bearers for the City of New Orleans by mayoral proclamation, in recognition of their ambassadorship for, and lasting contributions to Carnival in New Orleans.

He is also a founding member of the nonprofit Be Well Collective, and director of their Makin' Groceries program, which currently feeds dozens of needy musicians, entertainment industry workers, and Culture Bearers across the city, who have spent most of their working lives contributing to our unique cultural landscape.

Later this season, Mr. Lokey will be appearing in Ricky Graham's new holiday classic, "It's a Wonderful Life, Y'all!", and in next year's "Once Upon a Mattress."

Many thanks to Edward R., Gary, Amanda, RJ, Justin, all the lovely Miss Glamouresse ladies, and thanks to you for seeing and supporting New Orleans theatre!