Monday, June 08, 2009

30th Annual Drammy Awards

The Drammys
June 8, 2009
Crystal Ballroom
6pm: Mingling
7pm: Awards Presentation
Afters: PATA Spotlight Awards and hoopla

Welcome to the biggest all-theatre cast party’s 30th anniversary celebration. Mark your calendars and spread the word. The Masters of Ceremonies this year will be Portland favorites, actor/director Philip Cuomo and actress Maureen Porter. This year, in honor of the 30th year of the awards, we will be honoring 30 “unsung heroes” of the theatre scene, who have been suggested by area theatres.

81 comments:

Anonymous said...

anyone know what the idea is with this "unsung hero" thing? Is it an award? Do we know who the recipients are?

Anonymous said...

well whatever the idea, anything that takes the decision making out of the hands of the drammy people is a good move.
they probably hold the world record for any "award" committee for ignoring the good and awarding the bad.
since these noms come from the theatres themselves, there is a chance at least that the recipients will be worthy.

Anonymous said...

I don't get it either...are there still the "regular" Drammys, and then the addition of some new awards?

Anonymous said...

i am pretty sure it means in addition.
it's cute.
they are trying to be relevant.

Anonymous said...

Instead of a lifetime achievement award, they're honoring 30 people who contribute in ways other than acting, directing or designing.

Anonymous said...

like SM's, prop builders, angels, and demons.
photography, house managing,and best carrot cake.

Anonymous said...

Ahhh...I like.

Anonymous said...

yeah, and best poster design.
best box office.
best parking lot attendant.
that kinda stuff.
yeah, that's the ticket...

Anonymous said...

Best Volunteer Usherette

Anonymous said...

I LOVE it!
This is the ULTIMATE irony.
Ever since the DD's (dreaded drammy's) stopped doing nominations, claiming that they did not want to be tied to any set number of honorees; that there may not be ANY deserving candidates, or there may be more than one "winner" -- they have stuck to this grand idea that they will not be forced to comply with any set rules about numbers.
THEN they (this is unbelievable really) pluck EXACTLY 30 "heroes"
out of the air solely BECAUSE IT IS THEIR 30th anniversay.
LMAO
LMAO
LMAO
This is the very definition of JUMPING THE SHARK.
Well done drammy's well done.
You loaded the gun, aimed it and pulled the trigger on your own uppity image.
BULLSEYE.
LOL

Anonymous said...

My understanding is that they asked 30 different theatre companies to each nominate one unsung hero - someone who does a lot of work but never gets the public spotlight or recognition.

Only in anonymous Followspot posts could the idea of recognizing these people - who are so vital to our theater community - be portrayed as a laughable idea.

Anonymous said...

aahhh Snap!

Anonymous said...

Well, my reading of the laughing poster was that they chose 30 because of the 30th anniversary.
This means that the are either overlooking people who deserve recognition because they are limited to only 30 spots, or they are padding out the list of alleged
"heroes" to reach the number 30.
I believe that is where the humor comes in.
It is totally arbitrary, so how can it be meaningful?
snap.

Anonymous said...

That is right on the money.
Suppose there are really only 20 deserving heroes -- why should another 10 be recognized along side them?
And suppose there are really 40 deserving heroes.
Why should those 10 additional people be ignored?
This 30 heroes idea (in conjunction with the 30 yr anniversary) is a bungled idea.
Foolhardy.
A folly through and through.

Anonymous said...

what's truly laughable is the amount of energy wasted on anticipating these romper room "awards". the winners are 90% suck up - like compliments on a nerdy first date. the truly deserving work in this town is NEVER acknowledged. I'm all for a nominated process with a ballot but as is the drammys are provincial patty-cake in extremis.

Anonymous said...

amen to that brother.
the pamtas on the other hand, do indeed have nominations, which came out today.
just go to pamtaawards.com
click on the purple at the bottom of the page.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, the PAMPTAS look like a can't miss event. We can learn whether Corey Brunish chooses Company in every single category or whether he shares some of the glory with his cronies.

Anonymous said...

Well, that's just nasty and spiteful.
I heard he produces, but has no sway over voting at all.
In case you haven't read the Bible lately, lying and spreading lies is a sin.

Anonymous said...

Right, but buying an event and honoring yourself ain't.

Anonymous said...

so Corey's COMPANY was nominated for musical of the year but Broadway Rose's LES MIZ was not. Now my memory may be fuzzy, but I recall the 3 media critics heaping high praise on LES MIZ and all being rather lukewarm about COMPANY, so even if you want to say that Brunish is above the fray, he's obviously stacked the voting panel with like minded individuals. Until he takes himself and his production company out of the running, these awards will always be tainted with questions.

Anonymous said...

All of the PAMPTA nominations represent Corey's opinions. Period. So do the awards. If you value his opinion, then this event is for you.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:33 you hit it on the head.

"secret" committee. . . so secret that not even they know who else is on the committee. . . so who do they submit their votes too? Under a park bench in front of Daisy Kingdom? Who counts the votes? Does this "secret" committee even exist? (doubtful). It's clear that, even IF they do exist and IF the voting is legit (two VERY big IFS), they are very big fans of Mr. B. At the very least, they have either odd taste, didn't see very many shows, or have little ability to assess musical theatre performance. Very few of these nominations seem to jibe with the reality of general opinion.

Sorry - this is a drammy thread. "someone" got us sidetracked.

Jerry said...

This might be a silly question, but is there a PAMTA definition of what makes a 'musical theatre' production?

I mean I guess I understand it's intention as a Broadway musical or such, but it seems these days that forms and styles are shifted and mixed enough that I see some incredibly powerful music performed in shows that aren't technically a conventional 'musical'...

Seems like a strange way of segregating and defining a small niche of performance - one that does not bode well for this type of work to remain relevant.

Jerry
Hand2Mouth Theatre

Anonymous said...

Dear 10:45
At some point you need to stop sitting around masturbating and wishing you had a life.

Anonymous said...

Dear "PAMTA Committee,"

That's telling us. Your nominations and your comments speak for themselves.

Anonymous said...

Easy, everyone. Put down the weapons. You're all pretty.

So. . . how about those Drammys? Anyone care to discuss? What was good this year? Who deserves an extra kudos?

We all could use a little positive energy on this drizzly day. . .

How about we devote some posts to complimenting people?

Anonymous said...

Sure. Sharonlee McLean will win for outstanding actress for The Receptionist or I will walk out of this town. In fact, that might deserve a Directing award, too. It was an incredible show.

How to Disappear I think deserves some design awards; set, lights, and sound all were super great. Oh, and Ebbe Roe Smith deserves an outstanding supporting actor award for that show as well.

Just to name a few.

Anonymous said...

Shlee and Laura Faye were both great in The Receptionist. Something should come from The Seafarer, it was fantastic. And to go way, way back, Sarah Lucht, Trisha Todd and Ted Roisum were all outstanding in House of Blue Leaves.

Anonymous said...

Some shows that I feel deserve acknowledgment this year are: How to Disappear (definitely design) Eurydice (design as well. Remarkable costumes, sound and scenery), Richard II, Pylon, Apollo (ensemble) House of Blue Leaves (are they able to be nominated?) also at Profile - Biloxi Blues and Jake's Women. For what it's worth the children's theatre, BARE and Alice in Wonderland.

Steve Patterson said...

Defintely enjoyed "How to Disappear..." (and thanks PCS for introducing me to the marvelous Radiohead tune) and "The Receptionist." "Live Nude Fear" was also good. The amazing part is looking down that list of shows and realizing how many I wanted to see that, for some reason or another, I missed (felt sick over missing "Freakshow" and "bobrauchenberg..."). You're a busy bunch out there!

Anonymous said...

Too much negative Nelly bitching here. If you wanna make your own awards entity, then do it! I've seen planty a show, yeah, Les Miz shoulda been involved for best show, a ton other actors were nixed as well (Kelly Stewart in Company...HELLO?!?!, Sarah Catherine in Night Club, Eponine in Les Miz), but if you don't wanna buy your own awards entity, then shut up and let those who are nominated enjoy the compliment, huh? Christ...a little respect PLEASE! U bitter people must make the nominees feel like crap! Grow up! How do you think your comments make those who are nominated feel?

Anonymous said...

sorry but they're NOT nominated! they are DESIGNATED. which is sad. if the winners are pleased then great but its the lion's share of truly brave work done for little $$$, before small audience, that i applaud here. that ain't nay-sayin neither.

Anonymous said...

"...if you don't want to buy your own awards entity, then shut up..."
Ha! That's funny. Do you really think that some guy can simply buy an awards event, conduct it in an absolutely secret, arbitrary and incoherent manner and then claim that the event has any meaning whatsoever? The nominations are lame, they do not jibe with anyone's view of musical theatre and they all point back to Mr. B. Buying awards is not the same as earning them or having a real, live, known group vote on them. It's a shame that Mr. B chooses to denigrate the musical theatre community in this way. $$$ does not buy class or true achievement.

Anonymous said...

Some of the people who are nominated are not connected to Corey Brunish in the slightest and should not have their nominations based on him giving it to them.

Ben Waterhouse said...

The full list of shows reviewed in 2008-2009 is now up on the website. Apologies for the delay.

Jeremy Lillie said...

re: list of nominees
Really!? Portland Actors Ensemble averages nearly 2,400 attendees a production and we can't get 5 reviewers to attend? That's just a little disheartening.

Jeremy Lillie said...

clarification: I shouldn't have used the term "nominees" (a different discussion, with which I don't have a particular issue).
The point I was trying to make: Portland's longest running theater tradition is not eligible due to lack of interest.

Anonymous said...

The column of shows and the company that produced them become off by one about 1/4 way down, leading to a few interesting conceptual productions. e.g. "Cannibal, the musical" by Mt. Hood Rep and the Oregon Children's Theater production of "Company"

It looks like the "Bare" is the culprit, as it was produced by two companies that run over to a 2nd line.

Anonymous said...

Who received awards?

Katherine said...

2009 Drammy Awards for Outstanding Achievement

Actor in a Lead Role:
Bill Geisslinger, The Seafarer, ART
Denis Arndt, The Seafarer, ART Matthew Dieckman, El Grito del Bronx, Miracle Theatre Group

Actress in a Lead Role:
Sharonlee McLean, The Receptionist, CoHo Productions
Valerie Stevens, Fabuloso, Third Rail Repertory Theatre

Choreography:
Steve Gonzales, The Wiz, Stumptown Stages

Costume Design:
Mary Rochon, Les Misérables, Broadway Rose Theatre Company,
and The Wizard of Oz, Northwest Children’s Theater
Sarah Gahagan, Eurydice, Artists Repertory Theatre,
and James and the Giant Peach, Oregon Children’s Theatre

Director:
Robert Hunt, Les Misérables, Broadway Rose Theatre Company
Samantha Van Der Merwe, Statements after an Arrest under the Immorality Act, Shaking the Tree Wade Willis, Into the Woods, Lakewood Theatre Company

Ensemble:
Celebrate Home – A Broadway Rose Christmas, Broadway Rose
Dead Funny, Third Rail

Lighting Design:
Peter West, El Grito del Bronx, Miracle Theatre Group
Daniel Ordower, How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found,
Portland Center Stage

Musical Actor in a Lead Role:
Douglas Webster, Les Misérables, Broadway Rose Theatre Company

Musical Actress in a Lead Role:
Storm Large, Crazy Enough, Portland Center Stage

Music Direction:
Alan D. Lytle , Into the Woods, Lakewood Theatre Company,
and Celebrate Home - A Broadway Rose Christmas,
Broadway Rose Theatre
Jon Newton, Always…Patsy Cline, Broadway Rose Theatre
Rick Lewis, Guys and Dolls, Portland Center Stage

Musical Actress in a Supporting Role:
Lindsay Michelet, Dames at Sea, Broadway Rose Theatre Company

Original Music:
Abe Reybold and Jay Tumminello, Celebrate Home - A Broadway Rose Christmas,
Broadway Rose Theatre
Storm Large and James Beaton, Crazy Enough, Portland Center Stage

Outstanding Production:
Into the Woods, Lakewood Theatre Les Misérables, Broadway Rose

Scenic Design:
Chris Rousseau, How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found,
Portland Center Stage
Nancy Keystone, Apollo, Portland Center Stage

Sound Design:
Jen Raynak, How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found,
Portland Center Stage

Actor in a Supporting Role:
Garland Lyons, Romance, Theatre Vertigo
John Steinkamp, Dead Funny, Third Rail Repertory Theatre
Ebbe Roe Smith, How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found,
Portland Center Stage

Actress in a Supporting Role:
Ana Reiselman, Holidazed, Artists Repertory Theatre
Lisa Renee Pitts, Doubt, Portland Center Stage

Young Performer:
Quincy Hickson, The Wiz, Stumptown Stages

Recognition certificates presented to 30 Unsung Heroes of Portland theatre:
Chris Balo, Frances Binder, Linda Boekelheide, Clair Callaway, Connie Carley,
Peter Charleston, R. Dee, Dan Elsner, David Erickson, G. Marie Fish, Jamie Hammon,
Evan Hart, Judy Kafoury, Liam Kaas-Lentz, Brian Keith, Cynthia Kirk, Tim Krause,
Jenny Lakey, Jane Lancaster, Janet Mouser, Kay Olsen, Demetri Pavlatos,
Harold Phillips, Jane Holmes Reed, Bronwyn Rice, Kathryn Sullivan, Creon Thorne,
Alisha Tonsic, Sandra Vincent, Dan Volkmer

PATA Spotlight Awards:
Stage Management - Megan Murphy
Crew - Cameron McFee
Other - Mead Hunter

Anonymous said...

have you ever seen a person in ill-fitting clothing in pathetically poor taste turning in a circle and murmuring congratulations to themselves?

Katherine said...

I want to add to my previous post congratulations to all the award recipients and many thanks to all of you who attended and positively supported your friends, colleagues and theatre groups.

Anonymous said...

the dramperor's new clothes?

NWCTC said...

Congratulations David Erickson, the other "Unsung Heroes", and all award recipients.
-The NWCTC

Anonymous said...

Where was ART? Too busy to attend? Perhaps by not paying for a table and supporting the event you'll have your staircase. Wow.

Anonymous said...

The Drammys are now a dinosaur long overdue for an overhaul. In fact, I think they're rather damaging to the Portland theatre community at this point. Although I agree with a few of the choices made, some were glaring mistakes. There is too much good work being overlooked and some of the weak and poor performances are being "glamorized!" When a colleague comes to me and commiserates that one of the winners was "one of the worst I've ever worked with in 20 years", you have to take a second look. I believe the whole mechanism needs to destroyed and re-formatted! I have no affiliation with ART but I think they might have known better.....rise above and move on!

Anonymous said...

Okay, so what should they change?

Anonymous said...

Perhaps it's the committee that needs changing. I really don't know.

But it is interesting that the first year a newspaper critic is on the committee they suddenly award several mediocre musicals. And then it could be pure coincidence. But I do know that I usually disagree with what that critic thinks is good theatre, and I have to disagree with some of the awards that were given.

I respectfully disagree, but disagree nonetheless.

theresa said...

I've followed the Drammys for only the past four years but during that time it's always had print media representatives on the panel. I'm sure an email to them would clarify any questions.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to see that Vitriol and Violets was added to the PAMTA nominations.

Anonymous said...

there should be a two-tier system.

first tier nominates. it can be the current board or a similar sized entity. then the second tier, an academy comprised of a wide sampling of bona fide theatre practs, vote on the the nominees.

also there should be consistent categories year-to-year. best original work included!

daniel shaw

Anonymous said...

The definition of evil is when you try to harm someone whom you feel is preventing you from reaching your goals.

It is also fairly self-centric.

So, if you have not been nominated, Brunich is a villain, and you must discredit him, and if you have a nomination, the world is a great place.

And the poster who thinks the votes are left under a bench because the are anonymous -- really?

The panel is anonymous to us and to eachother, but clearly the pamtas know who they are --- they enlisted them to attend the season of shows. the ballots are most likely mailed to a PO box.

It is so simple to figure out if you use that thing on top of your neck.

oh, and "buying" something is not the same as "funding" something.

one is a very cynical view and one is a more realistic view.
as one poster put it so cleverly:
you're all pretty.
really.
someday you're pamta/drammy/groovy award will come your way and you can die happy.

until then, try to resist the urge to be evil.
you'll spend less time in purgatory that way.

Anonymous said...

i agree with the dinosaur comment from 9:18.
first:
i have a drammy so this is not coming from a place of sour grapes.
second:
the 'drams' have long been tainted with insider awards and biased voting and exclusionary prejudices.
rampantly so.
but they were the only game in town, so what could ya do?
the drammys have sucked for a long, long time.
but, as the sayings go "in 100 yrs no one will care and a billion chinamen do not care right now --- right now at this very moment.
third:
given all that, i do have to say this:
les miz and into the woods were two of the least realized productions i have ever seen.
the fact that they were recognized is LAZINESS pure and simple.
no one did their homework on this.
miz had no fire whatsoever and woods was pretty much stillborn.
both shows exemplified opportunites missed.
BUT because the director of miz was starring on b'way (the REAL b'way) in the actual les miz, he MUST be a BRILLIANT director right?
well NO.
not right at all.
a terrible disappointment.
as for into the woods, yikes, i dunno. i hear wade is a nice guy.
so let's give him an award too.
the drammy folks are misguided and delusional and they need to be replaced 100%.
if only they had the GUTS to do it
and start anew.
i am still waiting to see if the pamtas turns out to be something reliable -- we'll see.
but at least they are not part of the "old guard" cuz folks, the old guard sucks.

Anonymous said...

All of these nasty comments make me embarrassed for our theater "community". Since when is doing theater just about getting awards? Can't we just be happy for our fellow performers (or not, and keep quiet), continue our craft, and move on?

It's selfish, childish and shameful.

Ben Waterhouse said...

re: anon 9:35, I've actually been on the committee for two years. Rich Wattenberg, who reviews for the O, has been on for many, many more. Many of my predecessors at WW were on the committee, including Stefan Silvis.

And the committee has very high turnover in general. Only 3 of the 2009-2010 committee were on board five years ago.

Anonymous said...

I didn't see either of the musicals that won. What do you think should have won for production? Just curious.

Anonymous said...

Wish at defunkt
Richard II at Northwest Classical
bobrauschenbergamerica at Portland Playhouse
How to Disappear at PCS
Statements After an Arrest at Shaking the Tree
The Receptionist at CoHo

Anonymous said...

It's unfortunate that they can't invest in some honest-to-goodness genuine trophies for the PATA Spotlight awards, as they have far more credibility in the recognition of outstanding achievement in theatre than the Drammys ever will.

Anonymous said...

I think an Outstanding Musical Production AND an Outstanding Non-Musical Production distinction might be one alternative.

Anonymous said...

to anon 2;54-

why do you use quotes on the word community? doesn't that imply that you yourself hold on to some gripe? this is one of the reasons anon blogs exist. to vent . so let it go and vent.

then move on.

Anonymous said...

"[B]ut at least they [the PAMTAs] are not part of the "old guard" cuz folks, the old guard sucks".

Oh really? How the hell do we know that?

Anonymous said...

How the hell are the PAMTAs not part of the old guard? Organized by Brunish, hosted by Margie Boule... does it get much more "bad old guard" than that?

Anonymous said...

There are members of the drammys that are far older and have been sitting judgement of our community for 3 decades.
they are the old guard in both meanings of the words.
the geezers on the drams vote.
the two you chose to single out associated with the pamts do not.
you need a new tune dude.
seriously.

Anonymous said...

i wish all y'all would listen to each other. it's like the Cheney/Sharpton fest here.

there are definite developmental probs in the PDX theatre culture due to a large influx of geniune talent in the past few years. old guard needs to accomodate a little and new guard needs to respect a little. but mostly, just f-ing LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER!

Anonymous said...

I agree with the poster who said this is all very shameful.
There are indeed some shameful things being said here.
But to me the shameful award goes to the Drammys.
Without even trying I can think of 3 actors in town who over the last decade have all done great work and have been recognized repeatedly by the legitimate press.
But each year they are shut out by the Drammys.
Now before you go off and say "it's not about the awards"
that's true --- however --- while no one "needs" an award --- when they hand them out every year and you are passed over year after year after year, I can see how it could get to you.
It does feel like a little stab in the back.
A little slight.
Instead of validation that you are contributing to the local scene, it feels like validation that you are invisible.
Each of these three people have said to me recently that they are thinking of leaving Portland.
Now doesn't that seem like a shame?
That we will lose talented people who feel misappreciated because the folks who hand out those silly awards seem incapable of mustering some evenhandedness with their high and mightyness.
I am not even trying to say these three should feel this way.
But I am saying that they do.
It is a fact.
If you do not water the plants, they will die.
You may say, "Well, if they give awards to everyone, it will rob them of their meaning"
News flash: They got no meaning now.
No one really thinks they are a barometer of quality or of majority feelings in town.
No one understands or resects the Dammys.
No one I know of anyhow.
(Witness their kneejerk reaction to the Pamtas: A year after their debut, the Drammy's hand out awards to local musicals with a machine gun spray --- and in doing so actually snub many straight plays. It causes one to shake one's head in dismay.)

Anonymous said...

What you failed to add is that while people say shameful things on this site -- this site has no impact on the community.
I imagine only a couple dozen people actually visit.
But as they are the only game in town for straight plays and used to be the only act in town period, the drammies do have an effect on this community, good or bad.
And so, yes, it is shameful what those drammy judges who pretend to be theatre experts, inflict on the local psyche.
And they need to stop.
In fact stopping would be the ideal cure for what ails the drammies.
Stop trying to pretend to be the Tony's.
Stop inflicting needless pointless wounds on what must be the most sensitive group of humans on the earth -- actors.
Just say no to the drammies.
It is easy to say you will never again attend, but do you follow through?
I, and many I know, simply don't put the drammies on the calendar any more.
And guess what? Life is good.
(Though I do sympathize with the folks who feel stabbed in the back year after year. That is not nice to be sure).
Maybe another city will give you your props.
And I am sure all the local folks clawing for jobs won't mind the smaller talent pool.
Ya know actors being how they are and all.
Ooooh, that sounded snide.
Better stop now.
I love actors.
Most of the time.
(But I don't love the drammies any of the time)

Steve Patterson said...

Eh, whatever. If you've been around awhile, you'll find some years the Drammies make you happy and some years...they don't. Here's to everyone enjoying a beautiful Oregon summer, recharging their batteries, and doing new, exciting work in the fall.

Cheers,

S

Anonymous said...

the drammies never make me happy.
the drammies are not even on my radar --- therefore they make me neither happy nor sad.

what makes me sad is that people are so angry about everything.

no wonder the rest of world hates us -- we are so self obsessed all the time.

Beth said...

I couldn't have said it better than anon 6-13 08:58 AM. This was my fourth year attending the drammies, and I have yet to walk away content with what I had witnessed. My ideas to possibly make the awards better is having nominations. One, it will let people know what to wear for that night and most of all know to BE THERE! Nominations would also allow a group of five or so actors to feel accomplished in the work, and would maybe even boost attendance. Also, I believe that categories would be a good plan instead of just "best actor" it should be "best actor in a drama" "best actress in a comedy" etc. Also what is up with this young performer award? Forgive me, but I have seen works of young actors in roles that are far more challenging than the scarecrow in "The Wiz" and that created a brilliant performance. Is there a cut off age for this award? Is it based solely on children's theatre? Also why is their a variance in award winnings 3 for one category 2 for the other; is there anyway to keep it consistent?

Thank you for letting me put my view points out there.

~Beth

Anonymous said...

I beleive they dropped the nominations because when they had them, only the nominees attended.

Anonymous said...

now that is totally weak. and...i believe it.

Andrew F. said...

Beth, I agree wholeheartedly agree with you that the Drammy's should have nominations and consistency with the amount of receipiants in each category. As a matter of fact, I agree with you on ALL points, save one. I do have to say that I saw Quincy Hickson (the winner in the 'Young Performer' category) in Stumptown Stages production of "The Wiz" and I was absolutely ASTOUNDED at this kid's talent! This young man was a venerable 'triple threat'. I kid you not. I was thrilled to witness his capabilities. Nice job, Stumptown Stages.

Joey Klei said...

Well, it does seem the committee should look at itself and re-evaluate there significance and meaning. I hope talk and conversation will see a resolution!

http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2009/06/snubbed_at_the_drammy_awards_p.html

Anonymous said...

"it's an insult in the extreme."

That's a quote from the group letter sent to the drams by local writers.
Funny, that's how I feel about the drams in general.

Anonymous said...

It was my first year attending the awards and I have no intentions of paying them any more visits. It was clearly a panel of 15 buddies giving awards to their buddies that weren't also on the panel. Awarding Storm Large with anything attached to theatre is a slap in the face to the art form itself.

Ignoring Dee Dee Anderson's Choreography for Altar Boyz is also incredible snobbish. I understand and don't care for Blue Monkey that much either but her work was exceptional and it deserved credit.

I assume that it has always been this way? The same people patting the same people on the back for mediocre performances by high-budget theatre companies?

Anonymous said...

Quick note on the PAMTA awards: It's nice that Cory wants to honor musical theatre in Portland but it's also sad that he and his friend, Kim, gave each other so many of the awards. Couldn't they have been satisfied with one or two? Cory's show, Company, was mediocre at best. And Kim's Christmas show but cute..but not deserving of an award.Too many excellent shows were completely ignored...how sad.

Joey Klei said...

Read this today. . . .
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130286-North_Shore_Music_Theatre_Is_Out_of_Business

Our fair city now has two awards programs a year; how do we take both these programs and help fundraise to sustain our fine non profits?

Anonymous said...

Just to set the record straight:
Corey got no awards, nor did his friend Kim.
The voters on the Pamta committee selected the following for trohpies:
PCS -- 4
B'way Rose -- 4
Lakewood -- 2
Mock's Crest -- 2
Tin Pan Alley -- 2
The aforementioned Company, which got good reviews, (at least the ones I saw) got recognized for actor, ensemble, music direction and lights.
Kim's "Christmas" show, which has nothing to do with Christmas, did not get an award, but Greg Paul a fine musician and song writer and former "rock star" picked up one (in a tie) for outstanding song.
The evening was far from sad.
I would say it was "sublime"
The performances were enchanting and it was beautiful to look at.
Nicely done.
What is indeed sad is that in our town, some folks can't seem to be happy for others success.

Anonymous said...

maybe the pamta voters knew that corry funds the pamtas and maybe they didn't.
brunisch was only "outed" recently by marty hughly -- probably after the voting was completed for this last season.
now that it is public knowledge, the big question is, how will that effect the voters going into next year. that's the one to watch i think.
of course it could backfire totally --- the voters may avoid giving him anything at all because they know that we all know that he is the founder of the awards.
intriguing to be sure.

Anonymous said...

Hey, the pamts are way more credible than the drams.

Anonymous said...

My friend designs/styles the wigs for many, many productions in the Portland-Metro area theatre and she does fantastic work for little pay. It's a labor of love...folks that have behind-the-scenes roles always deserve "props" (yes, pun intended). If the Oscars can give notice to those folks, why not Drammys. :)