Luis Q. Barroso, a theatrical veteran who spent decades working both in front of the camera and in the background on numerous shows in the New Orleans area, passed away on Monday at his Bywater home. He was 78.
Charlie Hayes, a friend who worked with Barroso at the Tulane Summer Lyric Theater for years, said that the cause of death has not yet been determined.
At the Two Sisters Pavilion in New Orleans City Park in 1995, Luis Q. Barroso portrayed William Shakespeare as he celebrated his 431st birthday.
How did Luis Q. Barroso die?
Luis Q. Barroso passed away on Monday at his Bywater home. He was a seasoned actor who spent decades performing in front of the camera and behind it in various local plays. He was 78.
The heartbreaking information was revealed on Facebook by NOLA Voice Theatre.
Luis Q. Barroso cause of death
We regret having to let you know that Luis Q. Barroso passed away.
It was thought that Luis Q. Barroso was a personable individual. Given the current news, many people undoubtedly want to know the exact cause of the death of Luis Q. Barroso.
The actual cause of death for Luis Q. Barroso hasn’t been made public yet.
Who was Luis Q. Barroso?
Producer, director, and actor Luis Q. Barroso was well-known.
Born in Havana, he and his family relocated to Florida in 1955. He discovered his love for performing while attending Miami Jackson High School, and Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, gave him a full scholarship. He relocated to New Orleans after receiving a full scholarship from Tulane University to enrol in their master’s degree in directing for the performing arts. Despite enrolling in graduate programmes at Tulane and UNO, Barroso never earned a master’s degree.
During those years, Barroso brought together a group of performers who are now well-known, including Freddie Palmisano, Ricky Graham, Judy Latour, Becky Allen, Edward R. Cox, John Grimsley, Sid Arroyo, and numerous others. His plays inspired a generation of actors and theatre professionals in New Orleans while also drawing youngsters and their families to the theatre.
In the 1970s alone, he appeared at the Summer Lyric Theatre, The Puppet Playhouse, The People Playhouse, NORD Opera, and the St. Charles Community Theatre. Later, he performed in plays for, produced or directed them with Rivertown Repertory Theatre, Southern Repertory Theatre, Delgado Community College Theatre, University of New Orleans Theatre, Le Chat Noir, Minacapelli’s Dinner Theatre, NORD Theatre, and The Contemporary Arts Center.
Directions
In 2002, he was named the DRAMA! Theatre Company’s temporary artistic director.
He also produced shows for conventions that offered business entertainment under the moniker LUQBAR Productions, and he oversaw production for the Italian Village during the 1984 World’s Fair.
Le Petit Theatre
Mr Barroso was one of the co-creators of the well-known Children’s Corner theatre at Le Petit Theatre during the 1970s and served as its artistic director.
Barroso mostly used adult performers when he was in charge of the Children’s Corner at Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré and then at Gallery Circle Theatre, where he also served as the producing artistic director.
At Le Petit, one of his budding performers was Peggy Scott Laborde, now a senior producer at WYES-TV.
Laborde’s performance in a matinee of “The Little Mermaid” in 1971, the year she received her diploma from Cabrini High School, earned her permission from the nuns to arrive late for her graduation. This is evidence of the outstanding theatre that Barroso was renowned for at the time.
“Talented in Theatre” Program
Following a brief stint and directing plays there in 1980, Barroso was offered a position at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. Some of his performances took place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, and many were on national tours.
Barroso relocated to New Orleans in 1999, where she started working as a teacher for the Orleans Parish Public Schools’ “Talented in Theatre” programme. With the Dog and Pony Theatre Company, he additionally appeared in “Shakespeare in the Park” productions.
Awards
The New Orleans Music and Drama Foundation and the New Orleans Arts Council both bestowed awards on Barroso. At the 2013 Big Easy Awards ceremony, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award. The last time he performed was in 2017 to mark Summer Lyric’s 50th anniversary.
Regardless of his years of expertise and achievements, he has never outgrown the thrill of playing in front of a live audience. In a 2004 interview, Cuthbert waxed ecstatic about his part as Mr Muchnik from “Little Shop of Horrors,” who faces a horrific fate.
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