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DayTony Awards a Lockwood lovefest
Master of ceremonies Greg Smith was only partially joking when he remarked during the 2007-8 DayTony Awards Sunday, Aug. 17, “This is the theater. You know some of these people hate each other.”
Debra Strauss meant what she said, although she meant to say something else a bit later when she introduced Jim Lockwood as a new inductee of the “Dayton Theatre Hall of Friends.”
He and Dodie Lockwood, the year’s other inductee into the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame, were surrounded by friends during local theater’s annual gala of togetherness, held for the first time at the Mandalay Banquet Center.
Based on voting by representatives of participating theaters during the 2007-8 season, tens of awards for merit and excellence were presented for acting, directing and design in community, college and professional theater. Several honorees were absent, leaving representatives of some theaters to collect numerous medallions and certificates.
Serving as a surrogate for absent Human Race Theatre performers, actress Katie Pees posed with a neck burdened by others’ medals at one point, returning later to claim her own for the one-woman show, “The Divine Miss P.”
The Lockwoods, former spouses and ongoing parents of two adult offspring who are also active in local theater, were the main act. Daughter Jennifer Lockwood introduced mom Dodie, who’s an actress, director, choreographer, co-founder of the Dayton Playhouse’s Futurefest and former fund raising campaign chair for the Dayton Theatre Guild.
Jim Lockwood entered the theater via the orchestra pit as a musician before digging himself way deeper over the years as a performer in more than 150 local productions, a director of 41 more and an audience member for at least 50 shows a year.
Strauss, who has acted, volunteered and served on the board of the Dayton Playhouse, began her introduction with the line, “It’s a good night to be a Lockwood.”
It was also a good night to be a friend of the Lockwoods, even if you left without a medal. Arthur Jackson, a former Dayton judge and Dayton Playhouse board member, made the trip from Seattle to join the ovation. Brian Spitler, a former local music director who now works for the Disney company, came from Florida for the occasion.
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By Brian Spitler
August 19, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this
Terry, thanks for the mention here, and it was great to see you again after nearly 25 years (for those who don’t know, Terry played a principal role in ALLEGRO—a show Dodie, Sue Jackson and I directed at the Fairborn Playhouse in 1984), but I must correct something that I may not have clearly explained: I don’t work for the Disney Company, I work for Actors’ Equity Association, and my job is to enforce the collective bargain agreement between Equity and Walt Disney World (note that costume characters like Mickey and Minnie are not Equity! Only the actors, singers, dancers and stunt folks in live stage shows are covered by Equity! And the level of talent it phenominal!) That minor info aside, I am honored to have known Dodie, Jim, Jennifer and Jake for nearly 30 years and to have worked with them all those many years ago. Plus, we have maintained our family friendship for nearly 30 years, as well. To close, congrats to all of the Lockwoods for the recognition of their accomplishments by the Dayton Theatre Community at the DayTonys—and I wish them well as they continue to work with this vibrant and talented community.