OSCARS at the Media Theatre

The Media Theatre Board of Directors onstage at the Media Theatre, 2008.

The envelopes please . . .

Overture

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

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