call for evaluators: 2005-06 Spokane theater awards

Sometime in late June (probably in the June 29 issue), Bobo -- writing under his nom de plume in The Inlander — will be recognizing the best of Spokane theater in 2005-06: Best Play, Best Local Musical, Best Touring Musical, actors and actresses in the local productions (both musical and non- ), and probably a few extra categories like directing, sets, costumes, etc.

The Spokesman won't go for joint awards anymore; they do their own, separately.

Two years ago, Bobo just devised his own awards; last year, he assembled a panel of six other voters and incorporated their comments into the awards article. Those approaches were fine, but then Bobo likes to reinvent theatrical wheels.

The problems, of course, have to do with bias and lack of time: Some folks are closely associated with a single theater; few have seen anything like all the productions.

So this year, Bobo would like to solicit comments from those identified and NON-ANONYMOUS theater scenesters who are willing to go ON THE RECORD with comments about the best shows and performers of 2005-06. Bobo will need your name, e-mail and phone numbers; he'll need info on which shows you've seen and haven't seen.

One catch: You don't get a vote. Bobo's the judge. But you do get to write persuasively about how actor X was brilliant in show Y (and, heh, why) — and Bobo promises to consider such comments very carefully. (If he agrees, fine. If he disagrees, he's going to work hard to articulate why and on what grounds.) AND your on-the-record comments may well be quoted in the June 29 Inlander.

One possible alternative: Bobo makes his own selections, selects a panel of three to five knowledgable local theater folks, reveals to them AHEAD of time what those selections are, and then, on pain of DEATH not to reveal the winners ahead of time, solicits their comments on the winning productions and actors, some of which would be revealed in the newspaper. Either way -- if you'd like to write persuasively before Bobo makes his picks, or write supportively after the selections are made — write in.

This has gotten long, so a list of all eligible shows and a list of categories will follow soon in another post.

Suggestions? Comment here, or more privately at michael@inlander.com, or call 325-0634 ext. 228. Thanks.