Our Awards Week in Photos

[steveshack]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 8:06am

November 14-24, 2005.
The Unexpected Awards Tour.


This past week, there has been so much happening to us, that I can barely keep up and so I'm posting this personal blog entry. The link to the entry with all the pictures is below.

AWARDS! PRIZES! THE BETTER THAN EXPECTED TOUR CONTINUES!

It all began this past Monday, continued through Sunday and then Monday. I should probably take them in reverse order, because the one that you would consider the most important happened on Monday. But instead of making a diary entry here, I took video and make a vlog of the night.

First of all, we got word from Palm Springs that, of the Desert Star Awards we won Best Overall Production of a Concert Performance. (I guess they didn't realize that we don't use a set even when we're in a theatre, but, okay it was a Concert version). We also won Best Writing and Jim won Best Singer (something he's never going to let me forget).

Here in San Fernando Valley we attended the Valley Theatre League Awards where we were nominated in five categories: Best Lighting Design, Ken McCord; Best Stage Manager, Cate Conner; Best Musical Direction, me; Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Jim; and Best Revival of a Musical.

Now, you might think it's strange that we were nominated for Best Revival, but the fact is that we began Big Voice three years ago here in a workshop that expanded into a production that got reviewed and nominated for awards. So, it's not exactly a revival from the 30's but we're a revival nonetheless. And we won in three categories!

Best Musical Direction (for which I apologized, saying, "All I did was play the piano and let Jim sing.") Best Lead Actor in a Musical, which Jim totally deserved and we won Best Revival of a Musical. It was very exciting. Fred Willard was the host and he was very funny.


Fred Willard hosting.


Jim with funny man, Chuck McCann, talking about Davy Burns.
Jack Riley of the Bob Newhart Show.


Me getting the award for Best Musical Director.


Jim wins for Best Lead Actor in A Musical.







Rehearsing "How Do You Fall Back In Love".

The big night, though was the Ovation Awards. Hosted by Ann Magnuson, Jim and I were both up for Best Lead Actor in a Musical (which we did not win).


Jim & Steve with Mary Jo Catlett ("Diff'rent Strokes")


...and with Sally Kellerman (Hot Lips Houlihan on MASH).

The came the big moment: Best Musical, Intimate Theatre. I had my video camera in my hand. I was taping the ceremony for myself. I wanted us to win so badly, but we had been up for Ovations before and had lost. I was all prepared to lose. And to increase the tensions, Broadway composer and legend Jerry Herman was handing out the award!

"...and the Ovation goes to...

...THE BIG VOICE."

WHAT???? DID HE SAY THE BIG VOICE???? I just started screaming, "OH! OH!"

And I had the stupid camera in my hand. What should I do with it? Well, what else could I do? I took it with me. I suppose I could have handed it off to someone else, but in the moment I was so taken aback, so surprised, I was out of my seat and down the aisle following Jim before I could think.

WE ACTUALLY WON! AND JERRY HERMAN! AND THE ORPHEUM! AND THIS IS THE L.A. TONY AWARD! OH MY GOD!!!

I made it to the huge stage, turned the camera to the audience and said, "Hello! Hello!"

Jim took the statuette from Jerry and faced the crowd but even he was caught off-guard. His little speech that he usually has for Big Voice was coming out stumbly and wrong. Instead, he looked at everyone and said, "I used to sell orange drink in the lobby of 'Hello Dolly,' for which Jerry Herman wrote the score.

There's no way to describe in words how utterly taken aback we were by the Ovation win. But if you go to the video blog site (http://steveshack.blip.tv) and scroll down, you'll see the video I shot of us screaming and yelling. I even took the camera onstage, much to the laughter coming from the crowd. He finally was able to acknowledge everyone. Then he turned to me, after saying my name and I pointed the camera at the crowd. They all laughed at me. Anthony Barnao, our director, said his thank yous.

And when it was my turn, I don't know why I did this, but I turned the camera off. I suppose I thought I had captured the moment and now it was time for me to just enjoy it in real life or something. I don't know. I stepped up to the podium, thrust my hand in the air and just said, "THANK YOU!"

I know I must have had the biggest, goofiest grin on my face.



Backstage we were flabbergasted.

Jim and I have much to be thankful for as we head into this holiday season. We never expected to be honored so lavishly. We are humbled and thrilled to be given such recognition for our work.

We are also going to be taking two weeks off to go on a retreat. I'm going to disconnect from the Web and leave you to fend for yourself. So, hopefully you'll have enjoyed the video, enjoyed your families, and will have had a wonderful Thanksgiving by the time we get back.

And may the Best Than Expected Tour continue in YOUR life!
Bonus Round Blog