Well, in a total surprise to me, I was named on Monday as the Best Musical Director for 2014 shows by the Saint Louis Theatre Circle Awards, in an award given by the Saint Louis theatre critics in their own internal nominations and balloting.
To say that I was surprised is a total and utter understatement! New Line Theatre’s production of Bonnie & Clyde was up against two shows at the Muny, one at Stages (both with national contracts and huge budgets) and one at Stray Dog (a show I saw and loved).
My colleagues Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy also won Best Direction of a Musical for Bonnie & Clyde.
Here’s my acceptance speech as best as I can remember it:
Well, to quote our current show, Jerry Springer, “Dip me in chocolate and throw me to the lesbians.”
Thank you to the Saint Louis Theatre Circle. I’m truly honored and grateful.
Thank you, too, to Texas, for giving us these crazies like Bonnie and Clyde, and for keeping on giving us crazies like Ted Cruz.
This show worked because of the chemistry and commitment of our two leads, Larissa White and Matt Pentecost.
Scott Miller gave me chance. Thank you, Scott. And to all the New Liners who made up the ensemble of this show, thank you.
I need to say thanks to Peter Sargent, my boss at Webster, and to the faculty in my day job with the Department of Music. They have graciously looked the other way as I’ve missed performance after performance to do shows with New Line.
Finally, I need to say thank you to my students. I teach theatre voice at Webster, and music theory to theatre students (who hate the subject). I learn so much from them. They keep me young. And they remind me that I need to listen to things other than Rodgers and Hammerstein, which (sorry Scott) is my proclivity.
Thank you very much.
Or something like that. Saying these things on the spur of the moment is a surreal experience.
jeffreycarter.wordpress.com 