Nominee Announcement: a brief history

At the moment we're in the middle of working on the prep for the Nominee Announcement Party. We often say it's our favorite event of the year because we get everyone in a room and celebrate the the entire Off-Off-Broadway community at large. Plus it's a straight-up party. Free drinks (thanks Yuengling and GUS), great music, and lots of fun people.

We have had some great parties. Our Launch was on Summer Solstice, June 21st, 2004, at the (original) Tank. At the time our offices were in the same building, at 432 w. 42nd st. We had a fantastic time, and met many, many new and lasting friends.

The next year, at the end of our very first season, we wanted to make a splash for the Nominees, but we also wanted to make the Announcement more than just a press conference. So we invited the media, but we also opened the doors to the public afterwards for our very first Nominee Announcement Party. This was at the Castillo Theatre (the old Raw Space). We filled the room to capacity, and had even more people at the door waiting to get in.

Last year, we were at a great party space - the Ukrainian National Home 2nd Avenue and 8th, and it was the hottest day of the year. We're used to working up a sweat on big production days, but this was ridiculous. Just before the party started, the air conditioner broke. So as 300 nominees, press, and friends filed in, it got hotter and hotter. I'm still amazed, though, that in some of the photos from the photo op area, the Nominees looked incredible. I'm not sure how they did it, but they took to heart the saying: "Never let 'em see ya sweat". At least until after their photo ops. From then on, we were dancing, drinking, and sweating together as long as we could, until we gave in and headed to the afterparty at the Telephone Bar, which still had A/C and offered drink specials for IT Awards partygoers.

This year, we'll be in the Village, just steps away from storied places like the Fat Black Pussycat, and 1 block from the birthplace of Off-Off-Broadway, the Caffe Cino. We'll have plenty of room (finally), so bring all your friends. We'll have free drinks and great music, and lots of brilliant, talented people will be there to celebrate Off-Off-Broadway.

I hope you and your friends can make it.

Nick Micozzi

Executive Director