"Please no one talk to me or touch me until I drink a gallon of water and some diet coke."

I have successfully defended my title, ladies and gentlemen.
I know.
You were all desperately awaiting the results.

So, yeah.
The Big Easy Awards were Monday and, boy, where they a hoot and a half.

The evening started very early, which was a good thing because my entire drunken debacle was done by about 1:30-2AMish.
Not too shabby.

Mr. James Yeargain was my impeccably dressed date, complete with motorcycle boots.
We began that evening's events with a stop at Dino's with Mr. Jamie Wax, Laura Jean and Carrie.
Had a few quick drinks and then walked over the The Sugar Mill, which is where the festivities would be happening this year.
They've been at the Casino the past few years, so it was a nice change of pace to have an outdoor option to the evening as well.
The courtyard of the Sugar Mill was quite lovely, and the weather was so swell that it was quite pleasant to step outside periodically throughout the evening and chat.

I know when I got my tickets in the mail that some covert moving of chairs was going to have to happen at the banquet. James and I were at table 53 and the majority of everyone else we wanted to be around were at 35. NO WHERE NEAR EACH OTHER DESPITE ASKING TO BE AT THE NOLA PROJECT TABLE AND BEING TOLD I WOULD BE.
No worries, though.
The chairs were light, and the tables very large.
So I just moved to chairs from 53 over the 35 and all was well for the rest of the evening.
Another great thing was that we were literally 2 feet from the bar and we were on the edge so we had lots of walking around space, so we were standing up and mingling most of the night anyway.
Cliff and Casie also just kind of moved to our table, since they were supposed to be at the fancy table 1 down front and center with table service for Le Petit.
They chose to slum it in the back with the Project.

We were all a little concerned with how long this whole shindig was going to be since they had returned to their old ways, and combined the Theatre and Music awards into one big evening.
Awards were promptly started at 6:30. And these things just flew by.
It was especially quick since the first three award winners weren't there to accept and make speeches.
The came the award for Best Musical Director....
Anthony Beane was presenting and they started reading off the list...Brandt Blocker, James Kelly, Leonard Raybon, Jefferson Turner,
They hand them the envelope, "And the winner is..." Anthony opens the envelope...."DAVID HOOVER!"
Huh?
PS...David Hoover was at the table directly next to us...so...this was fun.
Everyone i the audience kind of has a bewildered look on their faces...and no one is going up to get the award....BECAUSE THEY HANDED THEM THE WRONG ENVELOPE.
We all started realizing this one by one....since David, was indeed nominated for Best Director of a Musical...not Best Musical Director.
A.J. was also up for that award(trying to defend his title from last year) and when this happened he just went, "Well, I don't have to worry about that award for the rest of the evening now!"
And he went over and congratulated Hoover.
Poor Anthony Beane.
He looked like someone kicked his puppy.
And it totally wasn't his fault.
He finally got the correct envelope and read the correct name, Jefferson Turner.

10 minutes in and already something has gone awry. Hey Oh!

The awards were a back and forth affair.
Which was nice. They would present a few theatre things...have a performance and then go to the music stuff.
It was a nice give and take, and it gave everyone from the opposing sides time to get up, get drinks, go to the bathroom, and get food....all without missing any of our own awards.
The evening continued on...and we all got progressively more tipsy.
I was absolutely convinced I was not going to win two years in a row.
I just didn't think that would happen...especially after AJ was defeated in his returning category.
So, I took it upon myself to fully utilize the open bar.
Last year, I was a bit more nervous and concerned about possibly winning and giving an acceptance speech...so I did all my drinking after my award.
Not so much this year...especially since my award was one of the final, like 5 awards given out.

No big surprises or mess ups anywhere else in the evening...
They finally get to the last section of awards...
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy...A.J and Sam were battling each other for this one!
We had all agreed that Leon was probably going to win because he is Leon and he was in a jock strap for most of the show...and who doesn't want that in their lives...?
So they read the names as AJ and Sam hold fists......Allegra, Contavesprie, Dudley and Edes....
"And the winner is....AJ Allegra for Mr. Marmalade!"
Heeeyyy oh!
He beat the jock strap.
And as Sam said, "Way more fun to lose to your friend."
(Which Trina Beck fully and completely understands! HAHAHAH)
AJ gave a very lovely speech and then ran offstage to go take his photos for the papers.
My award was next...
And our table was gettin' rowdy!
I started talking smack to Liann and Francine who were seated right by me. (Completely joking of course...I adore Liann from Speech & Debate and Francine is always nice as anyone can possibly be to me....its just fun to talk smack...especially about THEATRE AWARDS.)
Boyd, Pattison, Dorian Rush (who had already won once for her cabaret show Livin' Janis), Segal.
"And the winner is.....Natalie Boyd for Mr. Marmalade!"
Oh crap.
I'm drunk. And now I have to go talk in front of Trombone Shorty and John Goodman.
Ahhhh.....
I mean...YAY! I won!

So I get up to the stage, meet Aimee and Jim and get my prize.
"I got to put my hands down Sam Dudley's pants, and teach AJ Allegra how to do a line of coke. This is the best play I've ever done!"
Classy, classy way to begin my speech.
I thanked the committee and the Project, said how happy I was and that this was my mom's favorite play I've ever been in...which is weird...but whatever mom.
And then ended with, "Yeah...I'm happy. And I'm done now. THANKS!"
So...not as articulate and kind as last year...but gracious and happy to be there none the less!

I ran backstage to take photos, AJ gave me a great big hug, and then Bryan Batt gave me a big smooch.
We took lots of photos together and then separately, gave them our names and ran back to the table to cheer for the rest of the awards.
Jamie won for Damn Yankees and looked like Bobby Kennedy up their at the podium.
So All American, and such a lovely speech.
That man could run for office and get elected in a landslide.
David Hoover was finally presented with his real award and gave an equally lovely speech.
Spelling Bee won best musical, I Am My Own Wife got the award for Best Drama, and then Best Comedy was presented last...weird....I know.
So, AJ, Kristin, Alex, Sam, James and I got in a circle and tried to decide who would talk and what would we say....or we could just prepare to lose with some dignity.
And that is just what we did.
Damn you Running with Scissors! And your drag queens and your funniness. DAMN YOU!

Not to worry though....our spirits were immediately lifted when DJ Jubilee came on stage and sang "Get it Ready" with the Imagination Movers...complete with Imagination Mover blue jumpsuit.
Everyone who went to high school in New Orleans knows exactly how amazing this truly was....and we all reverted back to high school and danced and sang our little hearts out.

The official party was over, we all looked at our cell phones, and OMG it was only 8:45.
How in the hell did that happen?!?!?
Fastest award show I've ever been to....and there were twice as many awards!

We all headed back over to Dino's for the unofficial after party.
Jam packed with all our friends and cohorts.
It really was a very very fun night.
I did unfortunately keep repeating how heavy my prize was and how I thought I was gonna drop it.
And I think at one point Gary Solomon and I decided, that yes, I must sing "Wheels of a Dream" for some Le Petit/NOLA Project fundraiser because that is just too much comedy gold to be missed out on.

We all went home at reasonable hours and got tons of sleep.
The next morning I had agreed to go to breakfast because I knew I would need it in order to recover from the heinous amounts of whiskey.
And I did.
Sam and Cliff and Sean Glazebrook and I went to Slim's for breakfast.
Sean said he was going to start bowing to me every time I walked into a room since I was now a two time winner.
I told him I was going to kick him if he continued to do that nonsense.
We go to Slims and I felt like death.
And then Yeargain joins us, and he and Sean won't leave me alone with the bowing and the trying to touch my feet.
Oh so weird, those two.
We got food in our systems and we were all a little less cranky.
Then we went to Pinkberry because it is just too good to resist....and it makes you feel better after all the grease you just ate at Slim's.

And then I laid on Sam and Sean's couch for about 5 hours watching CNN and reading New York magazine aloud with Glaze.
Then we went and ate again....
$2 Tacos at Rum House.
Yum.
And then I went to bed at about 9 o'clock.
Tremendously productive day.

When I got to my acting class on Wednesday my friend asked me if I had won my award.
I said I had and he responded, "You're like the Tom Hanks of New Orleans theatre!"
Yes.
That comparison is completely valid and correct.
Thank you.
Ridiculous my friends are.

So that was the Big Easys of 2010.
I had a blasty and I think most everyone did, too.
And now I've got to be funny for at least another full year, or people will think they've made a mistake.
PRESSURE!

Back to real life.
School is almost done.
Very happy to have successfully completed the semester without wanting to kill anyone.

Lots of theatre continuing to happen around the city.
Its a beautiful thing, ya'll!

Our Town opens tonight at UNO.
Runs this weekend and next weekend.
Lots of swell people!
And Hoover has a Big Easy now...so you know it'll be really well directed!

November also opens this week at Tulane.
Bob Edes as the president, directed by Ashley Ricord.
What's not to like?

And if you want to see pretty costumes, Shauna, designed and made all of them for The Sicilian Bachelor out in the Westwego.
Set in the 20's, and that is her uber specialty.
So you know that they look stunning.

[title of show] closes this weekend at Le Petit, if you have not seen it, go immediately!
Amazing.

Try and make sometime in between your busy Jazz Fest goings to see some theatre.
It's hard to get audiences this time of year...and these casts have worked hard and deserve awesome audiences!


PS
Treme this past weekend was amazing.
James had his whole scene...just him and John Goodman.
And he played an English grad student...so that was some hard, hard acting!

And Jason Kirkpatrick was the best cowboy I've ever seen on HBO.

It was awesome.
The show is awesome.
I wanna be on it.
How can I make that happen?
I should just ask Steve Zahn, right?

"Is there a Big Easy on that set?"

So I am almost back to my original form again.
My hair will be red by the end of tonight and my bangs are back in full force.
And my fake tan is almost 100% gone.
Except for the few spots on my bazooms that won't seem to wash away.
It is quite peculiar.
But, yeah....feels good to be able to wake up in the morning and only have to put on some powder and mascara.
MUCH less time consuming.

And just in time for the eve of all eves for our little theatre community.
Monday is the Big Easy awards.
I'm excited.
I don't care if they're silly, and they "don't mean anything".
I like getting fancied up, and fixing my hair, and partaking in delicious buffet and open bar goodness.
And I especially love it cause the boys get all done up in their suits and tuxedos.
Adorable.
And it is an evening when most all of our friends are in one place, celebrating what we do best, and just having fun.
It is like prom for adults!

And some well earned, friendly competition is always an added bonus.
Don't we all remember the Beck/Boyd B'Geezy Battle of 2009?
Priceless.



School is almost done.
And then I'll have to go back to work full time.
Booooorrrrriiiiinnnnnng.
But, I think I may be hitting up the old New York sometime this summer.
I really want to see that hot mess of a musical, The Addams Family...and apparently, despite terrible reviews, it is going to be difficult to get tickets until the fall.

Other than that...I got nothing.
All my friends are in super shows right now.
With a Bang was great. Sean and Wallace never cease to amaze me.
[title of show] is wonderful. The cast is the best and the show is fantastic.
Kristin and Wallace will be dazzling us soon in Grey Gardens....which I can't wait to see!
And then Cliff will be tap tap tapping his little heart out in Singin' in the Rain.
So much theatre. So many friends that are good.
They make me look better.
That's why I keep them around.

And I am thoroughly looking forward to Le Petit and Southern Rep announcing their seasons...I have a feeling they are gonna rock my socks.


PS.
I met Trina's little man, Porter.
Awesome.
Stellar.
Handsome as can be.

"What, What, What Are You Doing?!?!?!"

So long, Costa Verde hotel.... You've been swell to us.

The Night of the Iguana has opened and closed, and I could not have been more pleased with how it went.
Especially, the last night.
James went extra berserk that night during all the cracking up business and I got to unleash on him.
It was awesome.
After the show James said he didn't know I had that kind of thing in me, but it shut Shannon up right quick!
It was a really great run though because everyone who came had awesome things to say about the show, and the Kennedy Center committee raved about it.
So, we were held for the regional festival, which means in December we will find out whether or not we get to take this puppy to Amarillo, and perform it there for consideration into the Kennedy Center.
James, Chrissy and I are convinced we will go to Amarillo because we desperately don't want to have to remember all these damned lines and do all that hard, hard acting.
Naturally, we will have to remember all of this again in FEBRUARY! But it will be super fun if we get to go.
The cast is one big group of good time.

The best part about the show ending though was the fact that Marshall promised to put on one of the German bathing suits at the end of the run.



As you can see, a 6'7" man in this get up is just....glorious.
I never really forget how tall Marshall is because I am barely a human in comparison to him, but on stage he just dwarfs everyone...and it is amazing.

Usually, though, Marshall slumps when he walks so you don't really get the full effect of his massiveness...
But on Friday night during the scene where he has to basically turn James into his bitch, Marshall discovered he could really be intimidating if he stood up straight.
He walked up slumping on stage...and then as soon as James gave him some attitude Marshall bowed up and grew like 4 inches and you could hear the whole audience just go..."ooooooohhhhhh".
Fantastic!



The other best thing about the show ending....NO MORE FAKE TANNER! AND NO MORE NON RED HAIR!
The things I do for a Beau Bratcher Production!

I just have to scrub for a few more days, I think, and this crap should be off of me. And I can't wait to go get my massive mane of hair chopped and colored back to its appropriate shade of fire.
Ugh.
Then, finally, I'll feel and look like myself again.
No offense, Maxine...but you are just too much for me to handle!


And now I have no show to do for the foreseeable future...which bums me out greatly...but I guess a break isn't all that terrible.
I want to go to New York this summer so I guess that can happen now. I really want to go see McDonagh's new play, ever though Ben Brantley basically called him a raving racist.

The good things about having free time is the fact that I'll be able to play with all my friends' new babies!
Trina had her bundle of adorableness on Friday!
Porter James Noyes.
He is awesome.
And I have purchased him a onesie with Big Lebowski on it...so Aunt Natalie is already showing him the ways of The Dude.


And finally.... On the "Whore Out My Productions" note: Go see With a Bang at Southern Rep and [title of show] at Le Petit! They need your patronage! Good shows! Super talented people in said good shows! And now...I will go back to work and dream about the snoball I'm going to purchase later this evening.



P.S.
The title of this weeks post was inspired by The Second City's youtube video of "Sassy Gay Friend"!
Which is amazing and there are three of them so far. It is as if Shakespeare's characters had a sassy gay friend....none of the tragic stuff would have happened.
Please watch them.
They are spectacular.
And backstage we decided that Tennessee Williams' plays lend themselves to the same thing...being as though they are just as tragic.
But seriously...go watch them. This is the one of Othello....my personal fave.