Tonight we are having a birthday party for New Leaf Theatre. We are 7 years old. We are learning to write cursive, riding our bicycle – without training wheels – with a skinned left knee, and missing two front teeth. Also, I just had a birthday. I am 20 years older than New Leaf. I’ll let you do the math.
I told everyone that I would bake a cake for the occasion. I said that it might be slanty, but I would do my best. About half-way through I decided that I would make an artistic decision – since the cake’s going to be slanty anyway, why not make it slanty on purpose? Now I’m working with the idea that the cake is being created by New Leaf. Which is to say that the cake looks like it was made BY a 7-year-old… Not FOR a 7-year-old. Here is a picture of the cake:
See what I mean?
Yesterday we got one heck of a birthday present. For the first time in our history, we are nominated for two Non-Equity Jeff Awards. Best Ensemble for The Dining Room. And also best director for The Dining Room. Which has officially blown my mind.
Marsha actually had to point out to me (at one in the morning, not long after the nominations had been posted) that the 2nd one was on there – I went from looking for Ensemble and being esctatic to looking at sound design and being disappointed, but still being excited since (to me anyway) Best Ensemble in this case means all of us. Because that’s what we were working on that show – one of the best ensembles I’ve ever seen. Jared Moore – because he is in my opinion the best lighting designer in the city – is once again competing against himself in Best Lighting Design for two non-Leaf shows. Nick Keenan was noted to have been robbed in TimeOut Chicago. I agree. Very, very much.
Tonight, we have so much to celebrate – seven years of a wonderful company (I will celebrate all seven tonight, even though I’ve only been around for one!), two Jeff nominations, being reunited with friends old and new (if the recent removal of his wisdom teeth doesn’t stop him, our founder will be there tonight), and also what the future may hold. Maybe that’s the best birthday present of them all – the fact that we’ve really only just begun. Just think about how much has happened since you were seven…
[...] Sabin won it, it’s the best award in town. It’s also incredibly exciting to me that Jess H., Jared M. and The Dining Room WERE recognized this year, and Steve P. is up for a Soundy Jeffy for Faster. These are people who I believe in, [...]
Unfortunately, it was bad timing with the Wisdom Teeth. Too much pain, but a lot of pain medication to knock me out.
I’m sure there will be many more “birthdays” to come!
7 years…where did the time go? All I can say is that I’m very proud of you guys!