The OOBR Awards

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/9/03 at 3:24pm

Last night, I, along with the cast and crew of our theatre company's production of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, had the honor of receiving an OOBR (off-off Broadway Review) Award at a ceremony that took place at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Unfortunately, I do not have my program with me, so I will not remember the names of those who presented, those who entertained and those who won.

However, I do want to say what a terrific evening this was. Because of some silly drama in my life, I considered not going to the ceremony. I'm very glad that I changed my mind. Though it was lightly attended, and though Joan and Melissa Rivers were not there to critique everyone's ensembles, there was a marvelous feeling of comraderie in the room. Everyone there knew what it meant to pull a show together from fifty cents, a lot of blood, sweat and tears and a sense of hope that was tinged with a little bit of insanity. One company, the Prospect Players, I believe, received three awards for their work. Musicals Tonight (a company I would love to work with) also received one. Although it had a slight 'preaching to the choir' feel to it, it was lovely to all be together to celebrate something that is so rarely celebrated; the achievements of artists who do not have agents, publicists or large sums of money behind them.

The entertainment provided was generally quite good. The opening piece, from the show LILA (??) was stunningl. This show appeared in the Midtown International Fringe Festival. It was a one-woman show about a girl and her grandmother who, before fleeing Vienna, was a famous stage actress. It was surprisingly funny and touching. A young man (I wish I could remember his name) gave a very funny, yet fully-realized account of the first scene of Macbeth from his one-man version entitled THAT PLAY. The final sequence, from the play PEAS AND CARROTS, involved two actresses who would (literally) kill for a part. It was truly hilarious.

A marvelous night filled with dedicated, talented people. I encourage you all to attend a show off the beaten path. Admittedly, they are always a bit of a crapshoot. But at $15 instead of $100, it can be unexpectedly worth it.