AriZoni Awards
Mark S.P. Turvin
mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
Received and Responded to 7/24/03

From: Lisa Arnseth <arnseth@yahoo.com>
Subject: AriZoni awards
To: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com

Hi Mark,

I hope you're doing well and having fun seeing lots of shows this summer. I always like reading your reviews, so keep 'em up!

I'm writing because I was wondering what the scoop is on the AriZoni Awards. I seem to recall the nominations were announced around this time last year, and I haven't heard much about when they might come out for this year. I am not as well-connected as I could be with the theatre folks out there, so maybe it's common knowledge when they're coming out/ when the awards will take place, and I've just got my big old head in the sand.

Anyway, if you have any idea, would you mind posting it up on your site? Or at least a place we can go to regularly check? I have been looking at the AZ Production Assoc. Web site and still haven't seen a thing. I'm sure I can't be the only theater-ite wondering what's going on.

While I am on the subject, if anyone reads this and can answer or influence these matters, I really would like to know how effective the voting/judging system is for the Zonis. Just out of personal experience, I know many shows do not get attended by a full four judges as is mandated... does this automatically hurt a show's chances of garnering nominations? How are situations like this remedied? The Zonis are fun, and should only be thought of as a night of happy recognition (just don't take it so seriously!)-- but I do think it still should be fair to all participants equally in order for it to work out. Because yeah, it does feel kinda, slightly, a little good to get a pat on the back for all that hard work, y' know? :)

Thanks Mark! See you around at some intermission somewhere...

--Lisa Arnseth

Hate to be useless, but ever since Shauna and I split, I haven't had any contact with anyone about the ariZoni's. The nominations should be out soon, but from what I hear, after the departure of Shauna, Bobb Cooper and Greg Jaye, I wouldn't be surprised if it takes awhile to get the announcements out. Of course, if they don't get them to me, there's little chance anyone will see them, as none of the major papers seem willing to publish them anymore.

APA hasn't been directly involved with them for awhile, either, so it may not be up there. I'm cc'ing my friend Julie Lee, who is their Executive Coordinator or somesuch. Maybe she can figure out this mystery for us.

I'll post this to let people respond to you (through me) about your questions about the voting process, since I have no idea who even works for the ariZoni's anymore. Maybe someone can answer your excellent questions.

Cheers,
Mark S.P. Turvin
Goldfish Publishers, LLC