"And the Artsie Goes to....."

Last night the Artsies (Richmond Theater Critics Circle Awards) took place. This is Richmond's answer to the Tony's. It was the 13th year, and it was a little different, as you can imagine, because of COVID-19. The show was pre-recorded and broadcast virtually, but they still kept the winners a secret until they were announced last night. In my 47 year career as an actor here in Richmond, I have been nominated twice, once for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Always, Patsy Cline, back in 2012 and this year for Best Actress in a Play for The Cake. The Artsies are always a big deal for us in the Richmond Theatre Community. We all get dressed up in our formal attire and gather in the Beautiful November Theater downtown, and have a huge party while also honoring some of our performers and companies in the process. It is also a fundraiser for the Theatre Artist Fund , an organization who helps actors financially who are in need. I, myself, have been the recipient of their generosity when I had my brain surgery back in 2015. Plug here: if you can donate at the link above, please do. Obviously, RONA, was a party pooper last night and made it that we could not gather as we have done for the past 12 years. I was very excited to be a nominee, and would have loved to have attended the gala as it has always been, and truth be told, I was having a little pity party for myself on Saturday, but I am no different than any other person this year who has had their plans ruined by this pandemic. It has been hard for so many of us, but I think the one thing that has gotten a lot of us through this weird, virtual world we have to adapt to, is the love and support of family and friends. Mine certainly made my evening extremely special! Rather than dress up in our fancy duds to sit in my living room, we all had matching black T-Shirts that said Team Terri - Artsies 2020, blinged up with rhinestones and bowtie (much more comfortable and NO HEELS!) We ate popcorn, and cupcakes and Carrot Cake, c'mon I was nominated for The Cake, I had to make one. That made my sister happy! She has been visiting from Florida, and it was so special to have her here to share this with me. My oldest was in via House Party from New York, and my youngest and her boyfriend were part of the Living Room Crowd. SHOUT OUT to the RTCC here for a wonderful, glitch-free, virtual awards ceremony. Everybody did great, and it clipped right along, something, let's face it, the in-person Artsies doesn't always do. Being in my living room, I didn't think I would be nervous, but, boy was I! When my category finally came around, I was holding my breath. When they announced that I won, I screamed and then I cried, and if I had had to give a speech live, I am not sure what would have come out. Our pre-recorded, in case we won speeches could only be 30 seconds, and it's impossible to say what you feel in that short time. Here is what I wanted to say. Bear with me. And hey, you're not sitting in the crowded theater, and you don't have to listen. Perk of writing this, no one gets to play me off. 

    Last year I got all dressed up and I was sandwiched in the crowd in the lobby, barely able to hear myself think for the roar of the crowd, waiting to go into the theater for the 2019 Artsies. (what I wouldn't give to be in that position right now.) I had just been cast as Della in The Cake at Richmond Triangle Players. We had not even begun rehearsals. Dawn Westbrook, the director of The Cake, walked through the doors into the lobby, and we were face-to-face. She hugged me and because of the noise, she said in my ear, "Next year you're going to be nominated." When you start rehearsals for a show with a director that has that much confidence in you, you can't help but succeed! Thank you to the RTCC for the nomination, and for the award. Thank you to Lucian and Phil at RTP for creating such an encouraging, loving, supportive and safe space to create and tell our stories. Thank you for continuing to tell the stories that need to be told with integrity and love. Thank you Dawn Westbrook for giving me the chance to play Della and pushing me as an actor to realize potential I didn't even know I had. Thank you to Nicole, my sweet Jen, that broke my heart every night when you cut Della out of your life. Thank you to Zakiyyah, my sparring partner. We knew we could make you mean! You were with me right out of the gate, and you set up everything beautifully! To Gordon, my sweet, wonderful Tim. I adore you! You were there making it safe for me in my most difficult moment of the play. You made me a better Della than I dreamed! To Darrin and Nora, our amazing crew, you rocked! Nora, a special shout out to you who when you were told you had to slather buttercream icing (shaving cream) all over my boobs each night, never batted an eye. You stayed calm during that very quick change and kept me that way! To Lauren who kept us organized and in line from day one. Who literally was there for every need down to tissues at rehearsal to wipe our tears. Our design teams created an amazing world to work in and feel like we lived there, thank you! I am so proud of this work, and thrilled to get this award, but as you can see, no one gets there alone! Last, but certainly not least by any means, thank you to Leah and Georgi, my biggest fans and my greatest legacy! Good night!