Photo of the Media Theatre Board of Directors onstage at the Media Theatre, 2008
The envelopes please . . .
OUVERTURE
The OSCAR for the most festive and welcoming place in Delaware County goes to the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the best gala planning goes to Dr. Barbara Domingos and the gala committee.
The OSCAR for the most communicative people, welcoming each guest personally, goes to members of the Board of Directors at the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most supportive financial institution goes to the manager and staff of the Fox Chase Bank.
The OSCAR for the most generous gift—$100,000.00—goes to Mr. Walter Strine, Sr., of Media Realty, the beloved and revered benefactor of the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the best flower arrangements goes to Monika of Kenny’s Flower Shoppe and Susan Kelly. And
The OSCAR for the most gut-wrenching performance of “God bless America” goes to the “Miracle of State Street Singers” under the baton of Roger Ricker. The great little group with their small American flags, waving them frantically, received the first of many standing ovations that evening.
ACT I
The Oscar for the best maiden speech goes to Tom Hibberd, new Chairman of the Board of Directors at the
Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most charming speech goes to Kyle Larsen, Board member of the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most heart-warming speech goes to the representatives of the War Veterans of Delaware
County.
The OSCAR for the most eloquent speech by an honoree goes to Mr. Bev Aaron from Primetime Weekend on WPVI, Channel 6, Philadelphia ABC.
The OSCAR for the award that was given as a surprise to the unsuspecting Mayor of Media for his incredible service to the Media Theatre and the cultural life of Media for many years goes to Bob McMahon.
The OSCAR for the most educational and audience-activating speech goes to Chris Larsen.
ACT II
The OSCAR for the hottest and liveliest crowd for miles goes to the Friends of the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most originally dressed man goes to Colin Pitcairn, the kilted Scotsman from Maryland (a
friend of the Larsens).
The OSCAR for the woman with the most beautiful dress with the longest train that swept the carpeted
staircase when, unlike Cinderella, she slowly walked downstairs from the Crystal Room, accompanied by Prince David of Sachs Goldman, goes to Inge Smith from Germany.
INTERMISSION
The OSCAR for the happiest couple goes to Mr. Walter Shrine and "my fairy lady."
The OSCAR for the best behaved children goes to David and Inge Smith's two sons: Gregory, aged 9, and
Christopher, aged 7, both of whom have taken classes at the Media Theatre and have appeared in major productions on stage.
ACT III
The OSCAR for the best program of any gala goes to Jesse Cline, artistic director of the Media Theatre, with
special thanks.
The OSCAR for the most brilliant and entertaining Master of Ceremonies goes to John Haggerty of New York
City.
The OSCAR for the best accompanist on stage goes to Chris Ertelt, musical director at the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most mature performance goes to Ann Crumb, star of Souvenir, the funniest and most
unusual musical ever seen.
The OSCAR for the most wonderful things said by each of the performers about the connection between the
Media Theatre and the Borough of Media goes to the entire cast at the gala.
PARTY AT THE CRYSTAL ROOM
The OSCAR for the best Silent Auctioneer goes to Broadway actress Therese Walden.
The OSCAR for the best wine and champagne bar goes to all bartenders and those who stocked the bar with
the best spirits befitting a gala.
The OSCAR for the best pianist at the Crystal Room goes to Max of “Valentine” fame.
The OSCAR for the most dedicated auction management goes to Christine Petrini, Beth Bannon, and Keith
Bannon (with a special OSCAR to everyone who donated and bought an item).
ONLY IN AMERICA, ONLY AT THE MEDIA THEATRE
The OSCAR for the most original "Catch a Man at the Media Theatre" goes to the lady who said to a
handsome, hunky friend of mine: "Are you up for an auction, too?" He agreed and is going to meet her soon.
The OSCAR for the most liberated "My Fair Lady" goes to the charming, tall woman who literally snatched me
out of a conversation with an old friend and started to waltz with me.
The OSCAR for the finest food goes to the gala caterers, who cooked caringly and displayed the meals
beautifully.
The OSCAR for the good spirits we never saw before or afterwards goes to the cleaning crew, who came
to get the Media Theatre ready for the weekly Sunday morning church service—hours after the last revelers left the gala.
THE DAY AFTER
The OSCAR for best management, diplomacy, and charm goes to the amazing Patrick Ward, the executive
director of the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most encouraging follow-up goes to all the patrons who wrote in, to the Board members,
to the many friends of the Larsen family, all the way to theatre goers and fans from all over the greater Philadelphia area who said that they had never seen a gala as exciting as this year’s event at the Media
Theatre.
And, last, but not least, the SPECIAL OSCAR OF OSCARS goes to the Taits from Wayne, the Lukens, the Rabenas, the Mopperts and all the many wonderful people who wrote in to say that they will make sure that they will not only financially support the theatre’s new sound system, but they would send their children or grandchildren to take classes at the Media Theatre as they all see the value of the work done at one of the main cultural centers in Media.
Congratulations, one and all.
Henrik Eger, Ph.D., February 9, 2008
The envelopes please . . .
OUVERTURE
The OSCAR for the most festive and welcoming place in Delaware County goes to the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the best gala planning goes to Dr. Barbara Domingos and the gala committee.
The OSCAR for the most communicative people, welcoming each guest personally, goes to members of the Board of Directors at the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most supportive financial institution goes to the manager and staff of the Fox Chase Bank.
The OSCAR for the most generous gift—$100,000.00—goes to Mr. Walter Strine, Sr., of Media Realty, the beloved and revered benefactor of the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the best flower arrangements goes to Monika of Kenny’s Flower Shoppe and Susan Kelly. And
The OSCAR for the most gut-wrenching performance of “God bless America” goes to the “Miracle of State Street Singers” under the baton of Roger Ricker. The great little group with their small American flags, waving them frantically, received the first of many standing ovations that evening.
ACT I
The Oscar for the best maiden speech goes to Tom Hibberd, new Chairman of the Board of Directors at the
Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most charming speech goes to Kyle Larsen, Board member of the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most heart-warming speech goes to the representatives of the War Veterans of Delaware
County.
The OSCAR for the most eloquent speech by an honoree goes to Mr. Bev Aaron from Primetime Weekend on WPVI, Channel 6, Philadelphia ABC.
The OSCAR for the award that was given as a surprise to the unsuspecting Mayor of Media for his incredible service to the Media Theatre and the cultural life of Media for many years goes to Bob McMahon.
The OSCAR for the most educational and audience-activating speech goes to Chris Larsen.
ACT II
The OSCAR for the hottest and liveliest crowd for miles goes to the Friends of the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most originally dressed man goes to Colin Pitcairn, the kilted Scotsman from Maryland (a
friend of the Larsens).
The OSCAR for the woman with the most beautiful dress with the longest train that swept the carpeted
staircase when, unlike Cinderella, she slowly walked downstairs from the Crystal Room, accompanied by Prince David of Sachs Goldman, goes to Inge Smith from Germany.
INTERMISSION
The OSCAR for the happiest couple goes to Mr. Walter Shrine and "my fairy lady."
The OSCAR for the best behaved children goes to David and Inge Smith's two sons: Gregory, aged 9, and
Christopher, aged 7, both of whom have taken classes at the Media Theatre and have appeared in major productions on stage.
ACT III
The OSCAR for the best program of any gala goes to Jesse Cline, artistic director of the Media Theatre, with
special thanks.
The OSCAR for the most brilliant and entertaining Master of Ceremonies goes to John Haggerty of New York
City.
The OSCAR for the best accompanist on stage goes to Chris Ertelt, musical director at the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most mature performance goes to Ann Crumb, star of Souvenir, the funniest and most
unusual musical ever seen.
The OSCAR for the most wonderful things said by each of the performers about the connection between the
Media Theatre and the Borough of Media goes to the entire cast at the gala.
PARTY AT THE CRYSTAL ROOM
The OSCAR for the best Silent Auctioneer goes to Broadway actress Therese Walden.
The OSCAR for the best wine and champagne bar goes to all bartenders and those who stocked the bar with
the best spirits befitting a gala.
The OSCAR for the best pianist at the Crystal Room goes to Max of “Valentine” fame.
The OSCAR for the most dedicated auction management goes to Christine Petrini, Beth Bannon, and Keith
Bannon (with a special OSCAR to everyone who donated and bought an item).
ONLY IN AMERICA, ONLY AT THE MEDIA THEATRE
The OSCAR for the most original "Catch a Man at the Media Theatre" goes to the lady who said to a
handsome, hunky friend of mine: "Are you up for an auction, too?" He agreed and is going to meet her soon.
The OSCAR for the most liberated "My Fair Lady" goes to the charming, tall woman who literally snatched me
out of a conversation with an old friend and started to waltz with me.
The OSCAR for the finest food goes to the gala caterers, who cooked caringly and displayed the meals
beautifully.
The OSCAR for the good spirits we never saw before or afterwards goes to the cleaning crew, who came
to get the Media Theatre ready for the weekly Sunday morning church service—hours after the last revelers left the gala.
THE DAY AFTER
The OSCAR for best management, diplomacy, and charm goes to the amazing Patrick Ward, the executive
director of the Media Theatre.
The OSCAR for the most encouraging follow-up goes to all the patrons who wrote in, to the Board members,
to the many friends of the Larsen family, all the way to theatre goers and fans from all over the greater Philadelphia area who said that they had never seen a gala as exciting as this year’s event at the Media
Theatre.
And, last, but not least, the SPECIAL OSCAR OF OSCARS goes to the Taits from Wayne, the Lukens, the Rabenas, the Mopperts and all the many wonderful people who wrote in to say that they will make sure that they will not only financially support the theatre’s new sound system, but they would send their children or grandchildren to take classes at the Media Theatre as they all see the value of the work done at one of the main cultural centers in Media.
Congratulations, one and all.
Henrik Eger, Ph.D., February 9, 2008