What's Shakin'

SALTs Shakin'

The words were familiar, but the setting was new: "The envelope, please" and "I'd like to thank the members of the Academy." The first annual Syracuse Area Live Theatre Awards turned out to be full of surprises. It drew a packed house to the New Times Theater at the State Fairgrounds on May 3. From performing companies chronically short of funds, the night was unexpectedly glamorous. And on a night when only one out of five nominees could win, the awards became a spontaneous love-fest.

That rising tide of good feeling was so alluring that three winners--Syracuse Stage artistic director Bob Moss, director Dan Tursi and actress of the year Susan Basile--cited it in their acceptance speeches. Basile, her voice choking with emotion, was the most passionate. "Years from now," she said, "winning the award will not be the most important thing. I'll remember instead that we all came together under one roof."

One does not need a long memory to understand why she felt this way. Two of the presenters, former New Times theater critic David Feldman and actor Paul Harvey, remarked on an earlier attempt at local theater awards, the ill-fated "Rexies," named for late director Rex Henriot. Back in 1987 the Rexies collapsed amid a welter of acrimony and back-biting. Naysayers this time had speculated that longtime rivals would not be up to cheering for the other guys. Just the opposite happened.

What made the difference with SALT was New Times publisher Art Zimmer's decision to establish an Academy, not unlike the Motion Picture Academy, of well-informed, impartial observers. These men and women would remain anonymous and free from the sway of different companies. Unlike the Motion Picture Academy, however, the SALT Academy was more generous in spreading the glory around, with no Titanic or Lord of the Rings hogging all the awards. The Talent Company's Copacabana won as best musical, Kevin McNamara of Theatre '90 was best actor, and The Wit's End Players' Dani Gottuso took the laurels as best actress.

It was an evening of crossing barriers. Syracuse Stage's Moss, who admitted he didn't often get to community theater shows, said he would now. He presented all winners with tickets to his fall opener of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and judged the evening to be a lot more fun than the Oscars or the Tonys. Crossing gown with town, Syracuse University Drama Department faculty members Rodney Scott Hudson (a nominee) and Tony Salatino were highly visible in the crowd. Even Post-Standard theater critics Neil Novelli, Tony Carulla and Gloria Kilpatrick showed up for the New Times event.

Men's fashions for the evening favored tuxedos with gilt studs instead of bow ties, as well as formal jackets with black shirts. Elsewhere there was an acre of sequins and satin with a few dozen yards of exposed female flesh. Nominee Anne Marie Grathwol described her gown as "bootylicious burgundy satin," while choreographer Shannon Tompkins commanded attention in sleek black velvet.

Some companies took contrasting styles. The Talent Company's Chris Lightcap, clad in a fuchsia organza gown with beaded black overlay, led her group in a black stretch limo that waited during the event. Theatre '90's Holly Wilson-Perrotto favored a cream-colored tuxedo ensemble with matching shoes. Her company arrived in a motorized trolley, noshing on champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

Presenters County Executive Nick Pirro and Mayor Matt Driscoll arrived late, having been stuck at another event downtown. Cracked Driscoll in his introduction, "When I came to the door and heard all the stomping and cheering, I knew this was where the party was."

Here are the winners of the first annual SALT Awards. Play of the Year: Amadeus (Syracuse Stage), Director of the Year: Tazewell Thompson (Constant Star); Community Theater Musical of the Year: Copacabana (The Talent Company), Non-Musical of the Year: The Foreigner (Appleseed Productions), Actress of the Year: Dani Gottuso, Actor of the Year: Kevin McNamara, Director of the Year: Daniel Tursi, Best New Play: My Dead Lady (ACME Mystery Company); Best Road Show: Starlight Express (Famous Artists), Lifetime Achievement: Christine Lightcap, Joe Lotito, Pat Lotito; Hall of Fame: Bob Brown, Frank Fiumano, Robert Moss; People's Choice Awards Play of the Year: Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical (Theatre '90), Actress of the Year: Susan Basile, Actor of the Year: Bill Molesky.

--James MacKillop