Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Acting in the Moment (of Uncertainty), Part Two

At the San Diego Theater Critics Awards ceremony, Claudio Raygoza, artistic director of Ion Theatre, filled what looked to be a black hole with style and ease.

Brian Mackey was to receive the "Actor of the Year" award for an outstanding body of work in 2011. But he was home with the flu. How to fill a highlight of the evening, in front of the year's most sophisticated theater audience?

Someone suggested that Claudio, who had directed him in several shows, should accept the award and call him on a cell phone. This was 10 minutes before the ceremony began.

But no one behind the scenes knew that Claudio had already phoned Brian, told him about the award, and Brian begged Claudio not to make the call.

Brian said he was too sick and wouldn't have a clue what to say about such an incredible honor. "You know my work," he said, "you know who to thank. Can you just do that for me? I'm grateful, but I've got to go to bed."

At the podium, Jim Hebert, theater critic for the Union, announced the award. As Claudio rose to accept, Herbert added that Claudio would call Brian on a cell phone.

Claudio gives two versions of what followed.

"The Actors Version - or, How I Wish I Would Have Done It: walk to the stage smiling, breathing slowly, staying focused in the moment - and no one sees me sweat." He makes the call, as if pre-arranged, and bada-bing: Brian answers and 500 people roar.

The Other Version. "I was nervous. My number one fear, believe it or not, is public speaking, followed by drowning and being buried alive. I thought I would just say thanks on his behalf, and that would be enough.

"Or maybe some background - how he started his San Diego career with us? Or how each year we watch in amazement as he evolves? Or is that TMI? AH! I HATE speeches!

"So I'm walking down the aisle, not knowing what to say, and Jim announces that I'm going to call Brian. Jim didn't know, and I couldn't find the ceremony's stage manager to tell her it was not happening!"

On his way up the stairs, Claudio punched the power button on his cell phone, praying it would come on by the time he reached the podium.

He missed the button. "Nerves!" And hit it again.

"I'm peddling second-rate filler at the podium while my hand is shaking, waiting for the phone to light up. IT FINALLY DOES!"

Claudio dials. Brian answers - "and he's charming. His speech is a gem. Then it's done. I'm alive and would rather be dragged naked over broken glass than go up there again."

But everyone in the house seats will swear they saw Version #1.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all

Previous article

San Diego Holiday Experiences

As soon as Halloween is over, it's Christmas time in my mind
Next Article

For nutty pies at Pizza by Aromi in La Mesa

Sicilian cousins add to the Italian goodness they dish out around Lake Murray

At the San Diego Theater Critics Awards ceremony, Claudio Raygoza, artistic director of Ion Theatre, filled what looked to be a black hole with style and ease.

Brian Mackey was to receive the "Actor of the Year" award for an outstanding body of work in 2011. But he was home with the flu. How to fill a highlight of the evening, in front of the year's most sophisticated theater audience?

Someone suggested that Claudio, who had directed him in several shows, should accept the award and call him on a cell phone. This was 10 minutes before the ceremony began.

But no one behind the scenes knew that Claudio had already phoned Brian, told him about the award, and Brian begged Claudio not to make the call.

Brian said he was too sick and wouldn't have a clue what to say about such an incredible honor. "You know my work," he said, "you know who to thank. Can you just do that for me? I'm grateful, but I've got to go to bed."

At the podium, Jim Hebert, theater critic for the Union, announced the award. As Claudio rose to accept, Herbert added that Claudio would call Brian on a cell phone.

Claudio gives two versions of what followed.

"The Actors Version - or, How I Wish I Would Have Done It: walk to the stage smiling, breathing slowly, staying focused in the moment - and no one sees me sweat." He makes the call, as if pre-arranged, and bada-bing: Brian answers and 500 people roar.

The Other Version. "I was nervous. My number one fear, believe it or not, is public speaking, followed by drowning and being buried alive. I thought I would just say thanks on his behalf, and that would be enough.

"Or maybe some background - how he started his San Diego career with us? Or how each year we watch in amazement as he evolves? Or is that TMI? AH! I HATE speeches!

"So I'm walking down the aisle, not knowing what to say, and Jim announces that I'm going to call Brian. Jim didn't know, and I couldn't find the ceremony's stage manager to tell her it was not happening!"

On his way up the stairs, Claudio punched the power button on his cell phone, praying it would come on by the time he reached the podium.

He missed the button. "Nerves!" And hit it again.

"I'm peddling second-rate filler at the podium while my hand is shaking, waiting for the phone to light up. IT FINALLY DOES!"

Claudio dials. Brian answers - "and he's charming. His speech is a gem. Then it's done. I'm alive and would rather be dragged naked over broken glass than go up there again."

But everyone in the house seats will swear they saw Version #1.

Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Mile High Frustrations

Next Article

Kissing Cousins (errr, mothers) and Interracial Dating

Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader