The Sauk, a community theater in Jonesville, took home 17 of the 25 BroadwayWorld 2021 Detroit Awards, including Best Streaming Production, Best Play, and Best Musical.
The BroadwayWorld Regional Awards are “the largest fan-based theater awards,” BroadwayWorld said in an email. The Detroit Awards cover local theater productions in Michigan.
The Sauk won four BroadwayWorld awards in previous years, according to Trinity Bird, executive director at The Sauk, but public support this year was exceptional.
“To know that the public is the ones who not only nominated us but then went back and voted—it’s really, honestly pretty overwhelming the support we received,” Bird said.
COVID-19 restrictions are still affecting the theater, but public support is significant, according to Bird.
“It was during a rather challenging year with seating capacity limits, and then the first half of the year the actors had to wear face shields when they were performing,” Bird said, “There were a lot of things we had to do to make sure it happened, and knowing we had the support from the community was quite special.”
One of The Sauk’s award-winning productions, “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” began with a shutdown setback because of COVID-19.
“Originally before COVID we were going to do ‘Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,’ the play, and then when COVID shut us all down, we canceled that and found a smaller show,” Bird said.
Bird said when the show was canceled, they discovered the radio version of “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.”
“It’s based on the story of a young girl who wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Sun asking if there really was a Santa Claus,” Bird said. “The reporter lost his wife and daughter to illness the year before, so the editor of the paper gave him the task of responding.”
Bird said the actors performed from their homes, while the stream was controlled and broadcast live from the theater.
One of the actors, Tiffany Thatcher, won the award for Best Supporting Performer In A Streaming Play.
“This was amazing; just to be nominated was such an honor,” Thatcher said. “I was nominated in two separate categories, and to have something that you love to do be acknowledged and respected is insane. It just touched my heart and really validated all that I do, and it makes me happy that doing what I love makes other people happy.”
The production won three other awards, including Best Streaming Play.
The Sauk’s production of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a prequel to “Peter Pan,” won five awards, the most of any show nominated. Its awards included Best Production of the Year (In-Person) and Best Musical.
Another Sauk production, “Approaching Zanizibar,” won four awards, including Best Play.
“‘Approaching Zanzibar’ is a play about a family’s cross-country trip to visit a dying relative,” Bird said, “and each scene of the play is a different location on their trip as they travel.”
Bird said the awards for “Approaching Zanzibar” are special for him.
“It is a play that I have wanted to direct for 20 years, and we finally did it,” Bird said. “It’s a very challenging, difficult play, but people who came to see it were very intrigued by it and obviously liked it enough that they went and voted for it, so that was pretty special.”
Thatcher played the mom in “Approaching Zanzibar” and will be performing in “Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding,” which received the award for Most Anticipated Upcoming Production Of A Play.
Bird said, “Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding,” is an immersive experience for the audience who are the guests at a wedding ceremony and reception. The show will take place at Johnny T’s in Hillsdale and will serve dinner with cake, champagne, and dancing.
“It’s very fun, it’s very crazy, and I’m really excited to finally do it,” Bird said.
