The following is from Drama Desk Nominee Frank Blocker, Solo Performance for Southern Gothic Novel:
I attended the Drama Desk Awards Sunday night. The winner in my category was Humor Abuse, still running on Broadway. I say “still running” because there seems to be an instant assumption that any solo show you mention must have already closed. I can’t tell you how many condolences I’ve heard for my show’s supposed closing and I’m still running through June.
I had the blessing of being nominated against Broadway and off-Broadway shows even though I perform only on Wednesdays in a 35-seat house. To even get off-off Broadway reviewers and award committees to come is impossible, but the Drama Desk Nominating Committee came and made great efforts to encourage the voting members to attend. They continued throughout the entire process to insist that my work was just as important as any big-budget incarnations they’d seen throughout the year. Barbara Segal even went as far as to say, “What we’re saying is that we believe you have Broadway-star quality work coming off that little stage.” Yes, she said that. You don’t forget something like that. They have been very kind and have certainly lifted my visibility. I can’t thank them enough. I love indie theatre but it can be somewhat thankless and brutal. Nice to dance with the belles for a spell.
Lynn Nottage had my favorite acceptance speech, but then again, I always love the playwright! I had the pleasure of meeting many favorites and heroes throughout the course of the nomination and the accompanying hoopla, like Geoffrey Rush, Jim Dale, Janet McTeer, Marcia Gay Harden, and even got shoved by Dolly Parton’s bodyguard and I was just standing in line to be interviewed with all the other nominees. A long story, but it seems every one else was upset by it but Dolly and me. (I love being part of a controversy without knowing it!) These events added a lot of exposure to “little folk” like me.
And yes, it was nice just being nominated. To be “invited to the table” is an honor but to kvetch about votes when 200 voters suddenly have to see everything in two weeks–well, I love math, but that just gives me a headache.
Again, huge thanks to the Drama Desk Nominating Committee for all they did for me this year, and especially for always answering that thanks with, “But you did the great work.” Do people get any nicer than that?
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