Yes, it really WAS 'One Wilde Night'

Neither torrential rain nor scorching temperatures kept a near-capacity crowd of approximately 325 from packing Detroit's Gem Theatre Aug. 29 for The 2007 Wilde Awards. The event, sponsored by Between The Lines, brought together the LGBT and professional theater communities for a fun and laugh-filled night that celebrated the best shows and performances of the 2006/07 season.
The mood was set right from the start, with an original video that portrayed a scene that pretty much every thespian would LOVE to do in real life when people interrupt their shows by taking a cell phone call – but can't. And when the wrongdoer was revealed as Detroit Free Press theater critic Martin F. Kohn, the audience roared.
From that point on, the night flowed quickly and smoothly. So much so – thanks primarily to the winners who followed the request to keep their thank-you speeches short – the show ended more than a half-hour earlier than expected.
Which meant, of course, that there was more time to party – and party they did. While the last stragglers wandered off to their cars at midnight, the celebration continued for several hours more at the 7 Brothers Bar in Hamtramck where owner and longtime theater supporter George Cvetanovski welcomed yet another near-capacity crowd with open arms.
And what was everyone so happy about? Especially on a Wednesday night?
That theater is alive and well – albeit struggling – and that someone noticed. And cared enough to throw a major party in their honor.
So what did they do when BTL publishers Susan Horowitz and Jan Stevenson were introduced late in the show? The audience jumped to its feet and burst into applause – which showed that they, too, cared enough to warmly thank the two for their unwavering support these past six years.
But that's not all.
When Saginaw Valley State University President Eric R. Gilbertson stepped up to the stage to accept the Community Pride Award and related his battles with state politicians and the Righteous Right over the school's controversial production of "Angels in America, Part 1" everyone in the audience cheered. Why? Because he heroically fought the beast on their behalf – gay and thespian alike – and won. It's not often that a true hero stands in our midst, and the audience thanked him loudly and clearly for his unwavering support.
In all, 19 "Best Production" and "Best Performance" awards were presented throughout the evening. The winners were spread out among 12 different theaters, with Chelsea's Purple Rose Theatre and Ann Arbor's Performance Network Theatre topping the night with three awards each.
What surprised many, however, was the unexpected mix of favorites and long shots among the winners. This was noted first by Diane Hill, whose powerful work in Breathe Art Theatre's production of "Wit" was recognized in the category of Best Actress – Drama. Later, Stacy White – who took top honors as best actress in a musical or opera for her role in "The Sisters of Swing" at Meadow Brook Theatre – agreed, noting that the two relative unknowns should team up sometime and do a musical together.
There were also moments during the night when long-laid plans worked better than expected.
When word began to travel several weeks back that the L.A.-based improv troupe The 313 was not going to make its annual appearance at the awards by video this year – spread by you-know-who, of course – cries of disappointment followed. But the master plan – devised by Marc Evan Jackson – paid off in the show's final minutes when what seemed to be a very boring video presentation on the history of Detroit theater appeared, which as Jackson hoped, caused audience members to groan and head for the doors. But seconds later, in popped The 313 with their true purpose for participating this year: the presentation of the Publishers' Award for Excellence to their alma mater, The Second City. It's then that the audience was treated to something they might never see again: a stunned and speechless Nate DuFort, the company's' producing artistic director.
Also surprised by an award were Ray Alcodray of the Arab Theatrical Arts Guild and Ed Nahhat of Water Works Theatre Company, who received the Critic's Choice Award for their co-production of "9 Parts of Desire" this past winter. (Because of its short run, the show was not reviewed – which made it ineligible for one of the regular Wilde Awards.) So shocked was actress Sarab Kamoo – who joined the producers on stage – that she totally forgot to tell the audience that the show is to be revived early next year at the Boll Family YMCA in downtown Detroit.
"How can you top this," we were asked several times that night. We're not sure, but we've already held our first meeting to plan NEXT year's show. And guess what? You ain't seen NUTHIN' yet!