We asked our staff for their reflections on the Nominee Announcement. Here's what they said.
Shay Gines (Producer)MEMORIES FROM PREVIOUS NOMINEE EVENTS:
2006 Nom party – Held at the Ukrainian National Home. 3 hours before the party is to begin, the air conditioner breaks. It is the hottest day of the year – I think it was 100 degrees. There were 400 people and it was sweltering. You should check out the photos from that event. Everyone is drenched.
2007 Nom party – 5 minutes before the doors open, we realize that the freezer isn’t working properly and the ice has melted all over the floor. There is a mini flood in the kitchen and out into the party space. Our board members were in their suits and dresses on their hands and knees with towels and mops. Nothing like a terrified adrenaline rush at the last minute.
WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST AT THIS YEAR’S PARTY:
The presentation of our special award. I’m not saying anything else.
Hillary Cohen (Welcome Desk)MEMORIES FROM PREVIOUS NOMINEE EVENTS:
My favorite part of the Nom Party is how excited everyone is to celebrate the season. The funniest experiences are the guests who were involved with more than one nominated show. They have twice as many photos to pose for and "renuion"-style catch up conversations to have.
WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST AT THIS YEAR’S PARTY:
I always look forward to the DJ's witty playlist choices.
Christopher Borg (Nominee Table Team Captain)MEMORIES FROM PREVIOUS NOMINEE EVENTS:
When the AC broke at the Ukrainian National Home and a runner's job was to keep getting me drinks. Hiccup.
WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST AT THIS YEAR’S PARTY:
Meeting the Nominees that I met over the phone, getting raucous with indie theatre freaks, and flirting with cute people.
Katie Rosin (Publicist)MEMORIES FROM PREVIOUS NOMINEE EVENTS:
I fondly remember the first Nomination Party I attended at the Ukrainian National Home. The air conditioning wasn't working and everyone was running around like MAD trying to get it fixed, which only made us hotter. Also, telling everyone I was pregnant in 2007 was pretty fun too :).
WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST AT THIS YEAR’S PARTY:
I love the feeling of comradery and excitement. Just being in the room with all these wonderful people who have been nominated and who work in OOBR.
Desmond Dutcher (On-Camera Bon Vivant & Nominee Table Personnel)MEMORIES FROM PREVIOUS NOMINEE EVENTS:
One of the weirdest experiences at a past nom-party was the time when we had an air-conditioner..."malfunction"...causing everyone at the party to be drenched in sweat. It was so fun (and oddly sensual) to see everybody from the indie-theatre world remain relatively unphased: we all kept having fun and laughing; having the best of times! In fact, I'm sure it's what prompted my interest in extreme hot yoga! =:-)
WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST AT THIS YEAR’S PARTY:
Seeing everybody just revel in the fact that they are nominated, regardless of who ends up receiving the honor. It's a night when we can all be reminded of how wonder the work is that we do. I also love that the nom party is always in the summer, that way people wear their favorite relax, cool clothes!
Jason Bowcutt (Co-Executive Director - Shay's biatch)MEMORIES FROM PREVIOUS NOMINEE EVENTS:
Crack Santa, sweating like a whore in church (year 2), working with the great people at Yuengling Beer, red strechy fabric which helps rooms go from drab to fab, running out of room (year 1), Nick's apartment packed to the rafters, getting people to donate to the raffle with however much arm twisting it takes.
WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST AT THIS YEAR’S PARTY:
Seeing friends and sharing a drink...also wouldn't mind kissing some hottie (want to win an award?!?)
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