Berman center to Host 2013 Wilde Awards, 8/19

Professional theaters from across Michigan will share the spotlight August 19 when The 2013 Wilde Awards are presented at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield. Presented by EncoreMichigan.com, the most comprehensive resource for news and information about the state's professional theater industry, The Wilde Awards were established by Pride Source Media Group in 2002 to honor the excellent work produced by Michigan's professional theaters.

"There's only one word that comes to mind when describing the 2012-13 season, and it's 'wow,'" said Donald V. Calamia, editorial director of EncoreMichigan.com. "Our team of critics had the toughest time we've ever had coming up with our list of nominees - and ultimately, the winners - because of the across-the-board excellence we found all across the state."

Now in its 12th year, The Wilde Awards honors the best productions, performances and technical work produced or presented by professional theaters across the state. Nominations are based on reviews written by EncoreMichigan.com's team of professional critics.

The quality of work seen on stages throughout the state was especially noteworthy, Calamia said, because of the continuing challenges of the sluggish economy. "As I've probably said far too often, when times get tough, artists get more creative - and once again the proof was seen on stages from Lake Michigan to the Detroit River and everywhere in between. So whether a producer has a million-dollar budget or a buck ten doesn't matter. Ultimately, it's how well they tell their story that makes the difference - and that's what was the driving factor as we considered nominations for The 2013 Wilde Awards."

Beginning May 18, 2012 and ending May 11, 2013, EncoreMichigan.com's team of critics reviewed 179 productions produced or presented by 47 theater companies across the state. So how do 10 critics boil down such a large number of productions into a slate of nominations that purports to represent the best work seen on four dozen stages of all sizes and budgets throughout Michigan?

"Trust me, it wasn't easy - but no critics were harmed in the process," Calamia laughed. "But it all boiled down to one thing, Calamia explained: "The 'wow' factor - that is, that one special, powerful moment in a production that separated a show or a performance or a design from the rest of the pack and made us go 'wow.'"

Beside Calamia, returning critics Martin F. Kohn, Michael H. Margolin, Jenn McKee, Sue Merrell, John Quinn, Bridgette M. Redman and Judith Cookis Rubens crisscrossed the state with new team members Carolyn Hayes, a former guest critic, and Dana Casadei, a recent Michigan State University graduate. Together, they comprised a formidable team unmatched anywhere in the state, Calamia said. "All of us come to the job with a unique point of view and writing style, and with the sincere desire to give our readers and the theaters we cover our most honest and sincere criticism of the shows we review," he said. "And now with the announcement of this year's Wilde Awards nominations, let the debates truly begin!"

As in seasons past, only shows produced or presented by the state's professional theaters that were performed for five consecutive days or more or over two weekends or more were eligible for review. And only shows reviewed by EncoreMichigan.com could be nominated for a Wilde Award.

But what changed was which professional theaters could be reviewed and which could not. "This was the first full season in which we operated as a non-profit media company supported in part by annual membership fees charged to participating theaters," Calamia said. "With ad sales negligible and unearned support through grants and sponsorships unable to meet our expenses, our new owners - the Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance - adopted a revenue model similar to other 'Encore-like' projects around the country, one that offers member theaters a package of services and benefits not available to non-members. And one of those exclusive services is the eligibility to be reviewed."

Awards will be given out in 26 categories, along with a handful of special awards, including three "People's Choice Wilde Awards" announced in June and a new award named in honor of Council Cargle, the highly regarded Detroit-area actor who passed away this past January. "Council's sudden passing stunned the community," Calamia said. "He was one of the most beloved people in the industry, and we felt it was important to honor him and his memory by creating an annual award that will acknowledge other longtime contributors to the Detroit-area theater scene."

In total, 71 productions earned at least one nomination - as did 27 of the producing or presenting theaters. Regaining the top spot this year as most-nominated theater is Ann Arbor's Performance Network Theatre with 15, followed by Meadow Brook Theatre (Rochester), Michigan Shakespeare Festival (Jackson), and Williamston Theatre (Williamston), each with 10. Theaters with nine nominations are Farmers Alley Theatre (Kalamazoo), Go Comedy! Improv Theater (Ferndale) and Michigan Opera Theatre (Detroit). And honored with a single nomination are six theaters. "The competition was especially fierce, and so it's great to see our smaller theaters get honored alongside their bigger-budget siblings," Calamia said.

Of the 71 productions nominated, the top-honored show is "The Light in the Piazza" (Farmers Alley Theatre) with six, followed by "Julius Caesar" (Michigan Opera Theatre), "Love's Labour's Lost" and "Pygmalion" (Michigan Shakespeare Festival) with five. "What I find intriguing is the fact that only 19 shows earned more than two nominations, which means that nearly half of the nominated shows earned a single nomination. If that doesn't prove the 'wow' factor I've talked about - that every production has the potential to 'wow' an audience, no matter their budget size or longevity in the business - I don't know what will," said Calamia.

Another important indicator, Calamia believes, is the number of artists - such as performers, directors, designers and playwrights - whose work is honored this year. "Of the 142 artists we've nominated - and that might be an all-time record - only eight received more than one. And only one scored a hat trick: John Seibert, who knocked every performance out of the ball park."

That, Calamia said, is the bottom line. "Our state's professional theaters work hard at producing and presenting quality entertainment, and the best of their work deserves to be recognized and honored. Congratulations to all nominees and non-nominees alike. They put on one heck of a season, and they should be very proud of what they accomplished!"

The Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance will present The 2013 Wilde Awards on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013 at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with an hors d'oeuvre and cocktails reception. The awards show, hosted by Calamia, will begin promptly at 8 p.m. and will be followed by a dessert afterglow.

"Last year was our first at The Berman, and we had a marvelous time," said META executive director Lesley Braden-Phillips. "They're wonderful hosts, and this year will be even better thanks to the hard work and generous assistance provided us by managing director Elaine (Hendriks) Smith and technical director Eric W. Maher."

The 2013 Wilde Awards is sponsored by Pride Source Media Group, publishers of Between The Lines, and Actors' Equity Association.

Admission is $21 per person; VIP admission is $46 per person, which includes unlimited bar service. Drink tickets for all others will be available for purchase on the day of the event.

Tickets are available now at The Berman's box office, by phone at 248-661-1900, or online at http://theberman.org

The Berman Center for the Performing Arts is located at 6600 W. Maple Road, on the campus of the Jewish Community Center at the northwest corner of Maple and Drake Roads in West Bloomfield. Parking is free.

"Our 12th annual celebration of professional theater in Michigan will be a great way to salute the previous season and kick off the next," said Braden-Phillips. "And, given who's involved, it will truly be 'one Wilde night' to remember!"

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