It began with the daytime ceremony of the NAACP Theatre Awards, where my music for Driving Miss Daisy was nominated. With my lovely wife Lindsey by my side, I got to sit and experience a number of impressive performances, silly banter from hosts and presenters, and that special feeling we all experience at one point or another: not winning! (The magic of Dreamgirls is undeniable. And that's okay.)
Luckily for me, the outcome was decided fairly early in the festivities, and when this happens it results in being able to just enjoy yourself for the rest of the day. And what a wonderful rest of the day it was. Like the Grammys, the NAACP Theatre Awards happen through much of the day; it's the showiest awards (read: beautiful actors accepting trophies!) that get saved for prime time. So after a brief trip home to drop Lindsey off and slightly adjust my attire to match my date for the evening show (longtime bff from college Victoria), we returned in the late afternoon for a VIP reception, and to walk the red carpet before the evening awards. It was wonderful to speak with actors and directors whom I have long admired, such as the great Obba Babatunde and Ms. Ella Joyce:
After photos and interviews, it was showtime for the evening event, started off spectacularly with Chester Gregory's unbelievable tribute performance to Jackie Wilson. The comments I received throughout the evening about our Driving Miss Daisy production were truly heartwarming. Not a bad way to spend an evening at all.
But that would NOT be all! Last night also happened to be the premiere party for a 10-episode web series called Manny In Real Life, which I just completed scoring the last week. The first episode debuts online today. After we left the awards, we were able to rush over and just catch the end of the premiere party for this new show. Smiling faces greeted us at the theater door - cast, crew, and friends who had just finished watching, wanting to mention how good the music made them feel. As a composer, that always feels...good!
Today I get back into the rush to the next deadline, orchestrating this week's episode of friend and mentor Bear McCreary's score to ABC's Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., along with my good friends Edward and Henri. Later this week, a workshop on my recent score to the film Frank vs. God, plus composing/arranging for the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and on we go. But before diving into all of that, it's nice to soak everything in for a day. Unexpected when a day of constant activity ends up being a day to simply breathe.
