2018 Awards Show: Celebrate 90

MC1: Good evening and welcome to a special night. Last year we celebrated 90 years as
a theater. Tonight we celebrate the 90th season. CT holds the distinction of being the
oldest community theater in Indiana.

MC2: And did you know that 90 years ago, June 2, 1928 was also a Saturday?

MC1: Well, did you know that “Steamboat Willie” starring a then unknown Mickey
Mouse was released?

MC2: Did you know that Shirley Temple was born in 1928?

(Talley Girl comes out at glares at them.)

MC1: Did you know that Pedro Flores, a Filipino immigrant opened the Yo-Yo
Manufacturing Company in Santa Barbara, California in 1928?

Talley Girl: Excuse me, but how much longer do you plan on doing this? We have a
show to do.

MC2: Sorry, I guess we got a little carried away.

MC1: (mischieviously) Oh, I’m not finished yet. Did you know that in 1928 that
famous Cole Porter song (music begins as MC1 is pushed off by MC2 and Talley Girl)
….no wait! I want to misbehave, too!

Song: Let’s Misbehave (Cole Porter)

MC2: Did you get that out of your system?

MC1: Emil Janning holds the distinction of being the only German actor to win an
Academy Award for the 1928 film The Last Command.

MC2: And Janet Gaynor won Best Actress for the 1928 film Street Angel. But it wasn’t
awarded until 1929 so it doesn’t count. But, did you know that Jerry Van Dyke (brother
of Dick Van Dyke) was the winner of the Best Supporting Actor Runner-up in 1957?

MC1: Impressive. Anyway, here to present Best Supporting Actor and Actress Runner-
up are……………(names).

Best Supporting Actor and Actress Runner up

MC1: Did you know that in 1928 the New York Celtics beat the Fort Wayne Hoosiers in
the American Basketball League championships?

MC2: Did you know that the ABL doesn’t even exist anymore? But just think about it,
Community Theatre of Terre Haute is still going strong.

MC1: Adding more shows to next year’s season!

MC2: Expanding the parking lot! Let’s hear a cheer for that!

MC2: So, let’s take a moment to remind everyone that CT is still taking donations for the
parking lot fund! Fill up that box in the lobby!

MC1: Ninety-one years young! Ninety seasons completed! The Great Depression,
World War II, the birth of the Internet!

MC2: Presidents who come and go. Mini skirts, maxi skirts, parachute pants, and ripped
jeans!

MC1: Through it all CT is still going strong and growing!

SONG: “It’s Not Where You Start It’s Where You Finish” (SeeSaw)

MC2: I’d say that CT is off to a good start, and we’re not even close to the finish! This
group has weathered the storms and continued when other community theaters around the
state came and went.

MC1: Strong community support has been invaluable in keeping Community Theatre
alive and kicking. An article in the Terre Haute Spectator dated April 6, 1928 states, “the
Little Theatre is a step toward a healthier community life.” And this, “It is doing
something when it gets students, attorneys, business men, housewives, a whole variety,
on stage interpreting a play for their neighbors.”

MC2: It also states, “It is giving people a chance to ‘waste their time together
gloriously’. Is that a contradiction of terms?

MC1: Let’s not waste any time worrying about it. Here to present the Best Actor and
Actress Runner-up are……(insert names).

Best Actor /Actress Runner up

MC1: Did you know that Dr. William Hopp won two Best Supporting Actor Talleys and
one for Best Actor in the 1950s?

MC2: For our younger audiences, Dr. Hopp was a professor at ISU who had a show on
local TV about bugs.

MC1: Insects.

MC2: Whatever. Here’s a name most of you will know. In the 1980s Kevin Orpurt, yes
weatherman Kevin Orpurt, won a Best Supporting Actor Runner-up and two Talleys for
Best Actor.

MC1: Wait! Who do you think has seen the most history here at CT?

MC2: Chuck Shutt, who else?

MC1: Are you sure Jane Hazeldine didn’t have a cradle in the wings where she rocked
little Peggy to sleep?

MC2: Maybe, you, know, Jane was the only recipient of the BARGAY award in 1954.

MC1: You mean the BARG award, and it went to Paul Small.

(Talley Girls enters and glares at them.)

MC1: No, the BARGAY award, which has nothing to do with drag shows. It was the
Best All-Round Gal of Any Year Award. And…..she got the Mummy in 1955.

MC2: Well, yeah, she hauled that coffin lid all over town trying to get rid of it.

Talley Girl: (clears her throat loudly) You are doing it again. Step aside. (She steps to
the mic) A copper mummy case is presented to a behind-the-scenes volunteer who has
made major contributions throughout the season. Here to present the Mummy Award and
The Best All-Round Gal or Guy are…….

Mummy / BARG
Intro of judges

Song: Fabulous Baby (Sister Act)

MC1: This is certainly a fabulous group of people! CT has so many reasons to celebrate!
Ninety seasons doesn’t just happen. We couldn’t do any of this without you (point to
someone) and you (again) and you, and you, and you, and you, and….

MC2: We get the point. And you (point to someone) bring a friend along next time! CT
has a vital place in the Terre Haute community. Listen to this from The Terre Haute
Spectator, August 25, 1933: The growing success of the Community Theatre for the last
two years can only be attributed to the loyal support of a large membership and to the
untiring efforts of various committees who have worked night and day to give the very
best obtainable to the people who are interested in such a civic enterprise.

MC1: It would be impossible to name all of the people who have helped make
Community Theatre what it is today.

MC2: And we don’t have that kind of time. We want to get the after party.

MC1: (sternly) However, we must take a moment to thank and remember those who are
no longer with us. Our hearts go out to all of you who have lost someone over the past
year. We especially want to send our thoughts to the family of Bruce Danner, a man who
gave a great deal to his family, friends, and Community Theatre.

MC2: Dr. Bruce Danner, for 30 years he taught physics at Rose Hulman, then went back
after he retired in 1998 as an adjunct faculty member. For many years, Bruce was a
hard-working member of Community Theatre of Terre Haute.

MC1: He worked in the ticket office and ushered. He served as an assistant director,
production chair, and won a Talley Award for set design. In 1979 he was awarded the
Mummy Award. He and his wife Lois were awarded both an Angel and Golden Service
Award.

Memorium: “You’ll Be in My Heart” (Tarzan)

MC1: The first award for Best Actor went to Weldin Talley in 1953.

MC2: Oh….wait…I get it. The Talley award, Weldin Talley. How about that.

MC1: Except it wasn’t called a Talley. It was an Oscar and the best actress got the
Beulah. They were dime store dolls. Best Actor, Actress, and the Mummy were the only
awards given the first time.

MC2: So the name was changed because of possible copyright infringement, yes?
MC1: Correct. And by the end of the season in 1955, the trophies we covet were
introduced. The comedy mask and tragedy mask with a jester’s stick. Attached to this are
bladders.

MC2: Why did you bring that up? I didn’t get to the restroom during that last song.

(Two actors enter from the back, each with a stick and bladders looking for audience
members to “tickle”.)

MC1: No, bladders were a device used to tickle inattentive members in the audiences
during the middle ages so wake up your neighbor or we will. Next is what you’ve all
been waiting for.

(Talley Girl steps out and glares at them.)

MC2: (notices the glare) And moving right along, here to present Best Supporting Actor
and Actress are ………..

Best Supporting Actor and Actress

MC1: So, who do you think has won the most Best Supporting or Best Actor and Actress
Awards.

MC2: According to the notes I have Chuck Shutt won his first award in 1970, Best
Supporting Actor for his role in Black Comedy. Then a string of supporting and
runnerups, oh, and a cameo. But his first Best Actor award was in 1991 for his role in
Oliver!

MC1: So what about actresses?

MC2: As we all know, there are always more women to cast than men, so that’s a little
harder. However, the award for longevity has to go to Jane Hazeldine. She won her first
acting award in 1965, Best Supporting Actress Runner-up for her role in The Best Man
and Best Supporting Actress in 1994 (?) for her role in Social Security.

(Talley Girl has entered during this long speech and has clearly had enough.)

Talley Girl: (pushing her way to the mic) I have tried to keep you on track. I warned you
backstage that you had to keep this show moving. And now, it’s time to find out who will
take the Talleys for Best Actor and Actress. Please welcome…….

(Talley Girl pushes the MCs off stage still yelling at them: Get it together! We don’t
want to be here all night. This is your last warning. Etc.)
Best Actor/Actress

Song: “Broadway Baby”

MC1: We can’t all be Broadway babies. Somebody has to work behind the scenes to
make it all happen.

MC2: I could be a Broadway baby. (MC1 give a look of doubt) I could! I just…don’t
want to….you know….steal the show.

MC1: And we don’t want Maxine to yell at us again. Let’s just move on. The award for
Best Set was added in 1955 and went to The Country Girl. Don’t worry, I’ve never heard
of it either, but that’s true of a lot of those early shows.

MC2: Interesting side note: in 1956 the award went to “the apartment scene in Oh Men!
Oh Women!
Talley Girl (from the side): Another show no one has heard of.

MC1: Here to present the award for Best Set…………………

Best Set

MC2: The award for Best Technical Production was added in 1975 and went to Anything
Goes. Since then CT productions have seen the addition of fog, projections, flying
bosses, confetti canons….

(During this speech someone (Miller?) is rising up out of the trap door in the floor. MC1
begins poking MC2 and watching in awe.)

Floor person: Don’t forget trap door appearances! Here to present the award for Best
Technical Production …………………. (person then lowers back into the floor).

Best Technical

MC1: Do you think they’ll let me try that trap door thing? It looks like fun.

Talley Girl (steps out and yells): NO!

MC2: The award for Best Production was first awarded in 1969 to A Man For All
Seasons. It must have been a close race because an award labeled Best Overall
Entertainment went to The Impossible Years. It was apparently a one-time thing; the
award has never been given again.

MC1: And get this, in 1976 the Best Production was 1776. (begins laughing; MC1 is
staring) Get it? 1776, 1976, it’s….well…okay. It’s not that funny, just…unusual.

Talley Girl: (steps out, obviously irritated) My mom says I get to go to the after party
this year.

MC2: Please welcome……………presenting the award for Best Production.

Best Production

Jeri: That one is just always so exciting! I always think the judges have such a hard time
when it comes to choosing just one show!

Gary: And next season will be no easier. If you’ve been in shows before or just always
wanted to, make sure you audition for at least one of the shows on next season’s slate.
CT opens its 92nd season with On Golden Pond and includes the Neil Simon comedy
Rumors, Last Gas (directed by my talented cohost), a holiday show, 1940s Radio Hour,
two Oakley shows: Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, and Closer Than Ever, a
musical.

MC1: And….wait for it…..mainstage musical…..Mamma Mia. It promises to be a great

season!

Finale: This Is the Greatest Show (reprise)