I apologize for not responding to every email and phone call (there were many! Lol). But please know I did read every single one of them.

Reading them all made me realize that all the hard, hard work that the Board, designers, Courtyard Theater staff, backstage crew, and I put into making Monday night so unique and special was well worth it.

I do though apologize for the length of the actual ceremony. But this was the first year we've ever had five guest stars, 3 guest star performances, and 7 musical numbers. Each year it is trial and error for us. We learn each year what we need to do to make it even better for the next year.

However, the comments I heard in the lobby afterwards, the emails, and phone calls about the length were, "Sure it was long, but I was constantly entertained that I didn't care", "It didn't feel it was long because I was always laughing." But we will work on length next year!

Another sad thing was the no shows of winners. We try so hard on contacting everyone, yet we had several no shows. I wish we could fix that problem. Sigh. Oh Well.

The weekend of the gala started off very scary. Our guest star Michael Urie was supposed to arrive Saturday into Dallas, but then that damn dust storm happened here, grounding all DFW flights. His was canceled.

So we booked him on the next one, and then that was canceled. He and I exchanged endless phone calls late into the night trying to get him booked; even getting him a flight out of LA at 1:00 am, and then that was canceled too! He and I laughed by the end of the night on how bizarre this was turning out!

Finally we got him a Sunday flight in the morning, only it was not a direct flight to Dallas, but it stopped in Austin with a 3 hour lay over! After much discussion, Urie said he can just drive from Austin to Dallas! So we booked him a car, and he drove straight from Austin to the afternoon rehearsal for the opening number! Can you believe the dedication of this great guy?! I will never be able to thank him enough.

When we finally met face to face for the first time at Sunday's rehearsal, it was like we've known each other forever! We gave each other a big ole, tight hug and immediately bonded. This guy is hilarious. Urie had me always in laughter. He was like a close lost friend I hadn't seen in a long while. And tall! I looked like a damn oompa loompa next to him! Lol.

Stephanie D'Abruzzo had no trouble with her flight, but damn it if Christian Campbell's flight was delayed on Monday as well! He got into Dallas an hour later.

Sunday night the Board of Directors and I took Michael and Stephanie to dinner at the elegant Sambuca's. The food was DELICIOUS! They gave us a gorgeous private room that had the walls painted in gold glitter, candles, a chandelier, and red velvet seats. That was the best meal I've had in a long, long time. The service was impeccable! Go there for dinner and ask for Eric Shuberg-he and his staff will provide the best dining experience for you that you've EVER had!

There was so much laughter and great conversation at dinner. Stephanie told us some great backstage stories about SCRUBS and her run on AVENUE Q on Broadway. She told some great stories about her Tony awards experience while Urie shared some fun LA stories, being in Los Angeles, and working on UGLY BETTY. It was a great way for us all to kick off the pressure of what was ahead of us.

Monday morning at 6:30 am, Doug Fowler and I took Urie and one his best friends (Stuart Barslow) to some media events. First we went to Mix 102.9 where Michael gave a hysterical radio interview with Radio morning hosts Todd & Victoria. Michael then said some very supportive and truly touching comments about The Column Awards, The Column itself, and dorky me. I was deeply, deeply touched. Doug looked at me and said, "Wow that was really sweet of him to say that." Don't cry in front of the star Garcia, don't cry! Lol.

After the interview we drove to Victory Park where Urie was inter- viewed on GOOD MORNING TEXAS. When we got to the studio, the older gentleman with silver hair that greeted us looked so familiar. Finally it dawned on me that it was the Dallas Cowboy coach Joe something.

Urie was VERY funny in the interview. He talk about UGLY BETTY, the Oscars, his start here in Dallas, and even got to plug The Column Awards, dorky me, & our organization. I was beaming and grinning from ear to ear……..until this guy who was with the doctor (he was on the show too) pushed me into the coffee cake. It was an accident, but oh well. Lol. I dusted the powdered sugar off my blazer and smiled. We don't want Urie to think I did some cocaine so early in the morning.

LOL.

After the talk show, we quickly went to get some breakfast, then dropped Urie and Stuart off at the hotel to rest before his afternoon rehearsal.

That afternoon my hard working board and Courtyard staff were working non-stop to finish everything. Busy bees everywhere!

Finally Campbell's flight landed and when I saw him, well we hugged forever! He is such a great, great guy. I adore him dearly. We chatted quickly and he was off to his rehearsal with our MAGNIFICIENT musical director Lee Harris. Then we sent Xian off to get some food and rest before the night.

Urie and Stephanie had their rehearsals as well, and off they went too back to the hotel.

Lee Harris is a GENIUS! He personally recruited that AMAZING, AMAZING

6 piece orchestra (which our guest stars LOVED!), he orchestrated all the nominated musical numbers AND the guest star solos ALL ON HIS OWN, and even played some great and funny music for the presenters. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this man so damn much. He is a true treasure within our artistic community. I cannot thank him or that fantastic band enough for doing this for us! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

At the Wednesday tech rehearsal and Monday gala day, people saw the great t-shirts that we were wearing. The gorgeous show logo was designed by Chris Robinson, and the t-shirts were printed and created by our very own Philip Bentham for his own company, Promotions Print!

It is very hard to find quality and very fine detailed printing the way Bentham did for our shirts-so make sure to go to him for the BEST in t-shirt printing needs!

If you were at the VIP reception, then you got to taste some great food provided by Spotlight catering, which is the creation of column subscriber/actor Rick Starkweather. People were devouring the delicious morsels and loving them. Then there was that gorgeous cake!

My god I was flabbergasted when I saw it. Jeff Vaughn's own company called Renaissance Productions. It was a three tier cake, with glittered roses, a gold glittered elephant, a red windmill, and our show's logo! I gasped when I saw it! I finally got to have a slice after the gala, it was delicious! And you know me, I know my cake!

The elegant floral piece was anchored by a large, gold glittered elephant, bejeweled of course. This beautiful floral design was created by our official floral designer for the last five galas, Mr.

Timm Zitz! He also created the floral arrangements in our guest stars dressing rooms-Stephanie wanted to take hers back to New York!

Thanks again Rick, Jeff, Philip, and Timm for your brilliant talents in creating amazing things for our organization and gala!

At the VIP reception I was a nervous wreck. I had all this make up on my face, and trying to keep the line moving, taking pics, and making sure all the stars were okay. Sadly due to traffic, Richard Thomas and George Wendt showed up very late. Now, I completely FORGOT to tell Joann Holt (She handles PR for DSM) about the make up, so when I introduced myself to these two television giants, they looked a bit startled! It finally dawned on my why, and I apologized on why I had tons of make up and glittery eye lashes.

Once the reception was over, I and the cops took our five stars back -stage to relax, I discussed to Thomas & Wendt what their duties were and that an assistant would be coming to get them to take them up to the booth to see the opening number with Campbell and Stephanie.

I was rushed into the dressing room where Coy Covington (he designed all the wigs and my make up) and my AMAZING dresser Anna Denney helped me into all that Satine costume, jewelry, etc. Then it was time for me to get that holster on. I again cannot thank enough Coy and Anna for all their help. My god I'm surrounded by the best! I love you both so damn much! Thank you!

Confession here-we did several test runs with that damn harness, and each time I was a nervous wreck. I even got so scared I did shed a few tears hanging way up there. I kept thinking it was going to snap and I was going to fall. I was so, so, scared. Now I'm all in this big costume, pumps, etc. I was so nervous. I have to be pre-set before the entire show started, so I am hanging up there hearing the audience, seeing the opening dance sequence, etc. Oh..and when they send me up into the rafters, right between my legs is a lighting instrument. So I wrap my legs around it to hold on and to stop moving….. but then the damn light comes on! I didn't notice it at first cause my damn earring fell off and I was trying to put it back on. Then I felt this warmth on my "Captain and Tennille" (that's a term I learned from Michael Urie!). I thought at first maybe I was so scared I peed on myself, then I realized it was the lighting instrument was on! Ooooo.

Can't let the twig and berries to burn! Lol.

Finally, I was lowered down during the number. Ala opening like the film MOULIN ROUGE.

How gorgeous was that set and lighting? I mean we had an actual working windmill…glittered and all lit up!! Thank you Dave Thomas for creating such a great set piece! The purple, glittered door pieces were designed and created by our very own Dennis Canright! Michelle Burdeaux designed that spectacular lighting! If you noticed she created special lighting designs for EVERY SINGLE musical number!! I told her what the numbers were, she got the recordings of those songs, and created marvelous lighting for each musical number! Like I said before, the Courtyard staff are AMAZING! I cannot thank enough Russell Read, Jason Fehrm, Shawn Lundy, Alex Hargis, Elisa Castillo, Dave Thomas, and Michelle! Did you notice the purple t-shirts that they were wearing Monday night? They designed them themselves for that special night, it said on them "I love me some John Garcia", with the word love in red sequins! LOL. I cannot say enough praise for these people. What they do for us each year leaves me in tears.

They are my heroes!

That opening number you saw came from my very own, wacky, crazy brain. I woke up one morning and it was all there in front of me. A combination of MOULIN ROUGE, DREAMGIRLS, and UGLY BETTY. John De Los Santos choreographed the tango section, while Andi Allen and I both created the choreography and staging for the "Dreamgirls" section.

When we did it for Urie at Sunday's rehearsal, he was dying laughing.

I was happy he liked it. I had a brilliant group of performers who worked their butts off, coming on Saturdays to rehearse. I cannot thank enough everyone involved in that opening number. Thank you all for making my dream and sick vision (lol) come true!

The response from the audience was deafening! I could see it on everyone's faces on stage that they were in shock on how crazy the house went when we finished! My eyes welled up right there. My head was screaming, "it worked! It worked!". Ask anyone who was there.

They were laughing so hard, constantly clapping, and screaming at the end. I can't believe it all came together!

Each year I keep racking my brain on what would be the best opening number, and then bam-what you saw on stage came to my head all at once. Then my terrific cast and choreographers filled it with their great talent. It is so hard to describe the number. You had to be there to see it. But we had can-can girls, dreamgirls, and ugly betties all over the stage! I came up with that wild idea of having a tiny bald boy to conduct the 20th Century overture in front of the curtain, just like the movie! Thank you Blake Bergeman for doing that!

After the bows, the cast left, and I turned to Urie who said, "So… who are you wearing?". I introduced Urie and he brought down the house with "Invocation to the audience", but with special new lyrics that had the audience howling in laughter. He even went into the audience to ask questions! Plus he took a phone call from Vanessa Williams during the number! LOL! He was marvelous and so, so, so funny!

Now backstage, I am leaning against the wall still in shock on how well the number went, when to my left come two shadows toward me, its Richard Thomas and George Wendt-they are the first two to present.

Both men grab me and just praised the opening number! Thomas whispered with sweet enthusiasm, "ohmigod! It was fabulous! Absolutely fabulous!". He really said that! Wendt was laughing and said, "You are one very funny man…or is it woman?" LOL. Both expressed how great that number was. I was in shock, here are two Emmy nominated stars telling me they really loved that opening number. I couldn't speak.

Urie finished his number, where the audience went crazy with approval!

They could not stop applauding………and we haven't even presented the first award yet!!

I then came on stage to welcome Urie and we did the thank yous. It was there that we presented another surprise. I read out loud to the audience the following break a leg card from a certain Tony Award winning star:

"Congratulations to all of the Column Award nominees! I hope the night is filled with wonderful surprises for all of you. I'll be with you in spirit. Good luck & love….......CHRISTINE EBERSOLE!!

Can you believe that?!? See, we invited her to come be a guest star, but she couldn't due to her Broadway run of GREY GARDENS. Her agent

(Julie) called me from New York to personally tell me Christine could not come. We had a delightful conversation. I told her how much I loved seeing Christine in 42nd STREET, how big of a personal fan I am of her work and so on. So Julie said that when I go back to New York I need to make sure to call her so that she can set up for me to meet Ms. Ebersole personally backstage! OHMIGOD, I fainted!

With the sweet note, she also sent a colored photo that said, "For John Garcia and The Column Award nominees..love always Christine Ebersole!"

The audience oohed and ahhed when the note and photo showed up on the video screen!

Then Urie and I introduced Thomas and Wendt, and the audience went wild with applause! But then………then……..these two TV giants made the audience laugh so much! They had this great comedic patter about Emmy Awards, themselves, etc. It had the audience just rolling in the aisles. If you look at our website, look at the pic where all four of us are on stage. The picture caught Urie and I gasping because they said something so damn funny!

It was during this time that I had one of two out of body experiences.

It hit me right then and there, "I'm on stage. in drag….with three TV stars! Two who have so many amazing credits to their names, another who is on one of TV's biggest hits…and stupid, dorky me!" It was surreal!

Thomas and Wendt exited to thunderous applause.

So you're wondering why all the costume changes. When PAGEANT got nominated, I knew that meant we were performing, and that make up is a nightmare to get off. It's like a 30 minute process to get off.

Urie and I were discussing this problem, and he actually came up with the idea of me staying in the make up and becoming a famous diva with different costumes and entrances.

So I was Norma Desmond, Chita Rivera in KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN (Which Urie and I had a hilarious patter with), Miss Deep South, and of course Satine. Those beautiful costumes were created and designed by Bruce Coleman and Suzi Shankle. Although all those jewels and stones on the Satine costume I glued on the gown for added glitter! Thank you Bruce and Suzi for making me look so beautiful! I love you both so much!

There were so, so many magical moments I can't remember them all, but here are some that I remember:

*GREAT SCOOP: In our opening comments, I asked Urie what was new on UGLY BETTY, he said he just finished filming with the woman who will be playing his mother. He said, "I'll give you a hint…'don't cry for me John Garcia'", I then scream, "Ohmigod-Madonna!".

The audience laughs loudly, and Urie says, "Um..no. My mother is being played by Patti Lupone!" The audience gasped and applauded!

*The great musical numbers from all the nominated shows! They added so, so much for making it a great night! We showed our stars what fantastic, professional, superb talent we have here in the metroplex!

Urie was next to me as we watched the numbers and he kept saying, "Wow that was terrific." He really loved them all!

*Chad Peterson and Kevin Moore's presenter patter. God I was howling in laughter.

*Robin Armstrong accepting her award, then before walking off, walked upstage and grabbed our two hunky Hindu gods (covered in glitter!) and tried to walk off stage with them!

*Then when Robin came back on stage to accept another award, presenter Rick Espalliat and Lee Harris blocked Robin from going back to the Hindu gods!

*The heartfelt moments with ICT Mainstage's cast of NUNSENSE, Sheila Rose, Tom Ortiz, and Gloria Benavides. Although the shock on the kids who won the Ben Brettell Award was funny! I know receipent Alex Hardaway personally, so he just looked at me with this look of, "This is my forescenics judge all in drag…..what the HELL?" lol.

*When we presented the Chita Rivera Dance awards, we read out loud the very special, handwritten letter that the great Tony Award legend herself wrote to the two winners! We put the letter in a frame for them to cherish. The audience oooed and awed again!

*John Venable coming on stage with a beer can doing a funny bit from KING OF THE HILL.

*I tell Urie, "We've had two boys kiss, drag queens, and later tonight naked men. All that's missing is two women kissing."

Urie says,"Okay, we will pay right now two women to come up on stage & kiss! Come on! I'm betting on Patty Breckenridge and Patty Granville to kiss!"

*Later Urie asks if there are any lesbians in the audience, causing the audience to scream, "In the band there is!" and Peggy Honea came out from the band and took a bow!

*The beautiful expressions of shock and joy from the winners-including Mark Mullino, Michael Serrecchia, Marianne Galloway, Morgana Shaw, Amanda Durbin, Stacey Oristano, Doug Miller, Kimberly Whalen, and so on. I just LOVED watching their expressions of utter shock as they came on stage to accept their awards. The people voted on all of you!

*Andy Baldwin coming on stage shirtless to present!

*Stacy Oristano begins to strip her clothes before James Lemons stops her when they presented!

*We allowed last year and this year as well that the winners for best director, best play, and best musical to make acceptance speeches.

Thus Michael Serrecchia, Mark Mullino, Coy Covington, Jeff Rane, Marriane Galloway, and Brad Baker said some beautiful, heart tugging things.

*Okay, I had NOTHING to do with this, but it was funny! Andrea Redmon and Marianne Galloway came up on stage to present, when Andrea announced the winner, she said, "And the Rabin goes to…I mean"…..the audience laughed loudly…….but then the lights went completely out! It was so funny! Andrea looked back at me and Urie, and I was saying, "I didn't do that!" lol.

Damn, I know I am forgetting stuff…….that's why you should have been there! Lol.

Then came Stephanie D'Abruzzo to perform. Remember I said at the beginning that we had an actual moving windmill. Through the whole night, the windmill blades twirled. All the blades covered in glitter and the windmill covered in lights. The audience gasped and applauded when the curtains open at the top of the show to reveal that gorgeous set!

Okay, so Urie and I introduce Stephanie, and the spotlight hits the center doors, the Hindu gods open them, only to reveal that there is no one there.

Then………….and then……..the lights come on inside the windmill to reveal a person on a bike pedaling away! You hear a female voice wheezing and struggling with the bike pedals saying, "Oh god…." The two Hindu gods go to the windmill and turn it completely around to reveal Stephanie in her black, bejeweled tulle gown on the bicycle, just pedaling away! It took the audience a few seconds to connect the image. It was poor Stephanie who had been back there the whole night on the bicycle pedaling on it to make the blades turn on the windmill! When she got off the bike….the blades stop turning!!

The audience completely lost it! I mean THEY LOST IT! They could not stop laughing! Finally, Stephanie says, "God, the things you have to do to get a free plane ticket to Dallas!" LOL.

Someone afterwards asked me in the lobby, "John Garcia, you have some major **lls to ask a Tony Award nominee to make an entrance like that!"

Here's how the idea came to be: At an early production design meeting, we talked about the windmill in great detail, and what will make the blades move. But then I said, "Remember that scene in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA when they turn the elephant around and you see two men in the beast drinking? What if we got someone back there acting like they were the ones moving the blades….WAIT! What if we get one of our guest stars to do it WAIT…we should get Stephanie (cause she is the lone

girl) to do it!" Then Dave Thomas came up with the bike idea!

When I proposed this entrance to Stephanie, she laughed and said yes!

And that's how the windmill gag came to life!

Stephanie then brought down the house with "Don't Rain on my Parade".

The girl belted that final note to the parking lot and beyond. She brought down the house! Even midway through the song the audience was already clapping.

Our show closed with Christian Campbell. I feel such personal joy and honor to call him my friend. When he accepted to come to Dallas, he said (and this is the truth) to me, "I asked Anthony Rapp about your show, cause he was there last year, and he just raved about it. He really could only offer great praise for your show and organization."

WOW! I was dumbstruck when he said that. It felt so great introducing him.

Then the beautiful lighting spilled on stage to reveal Xian, Patty Breckenridge, and Gary Floyd as they sang "Louder than Words" from TICK TICK BOOM. It was simply beautiful. The harmonies, the belting voices of all three great talents. I mean it was haunting & amazing.

I got choked up watching this. When they finished, the audience's applause and loud screams were heard in Oklahoma! They LOVED it!

They took their bows, I welcomed Xian, and then he sang a second song.

A ballad called "Sensitive". It was written by the guy who wrote BAT BOY. All I can say is that you had to be there to know the song. When Xian went into the lyric, "You skank…you ho"-Well the audience fell out of their seats. Michael Urie was howling in front of me! It was a HYSTERICAL, HYSTERICAL SONG! Ohmigod, the audience could not stop laughing!

Xian and I were on the phone weeks ago when he suggested this song, he sent me a live recording of it when he did it at the ALL MY CHILDREN gala and the audience reactions there were the same as our audience. Xian closed the show in hilarious laughter.

After our final awards, I again brought out our three stars, and that was the second surreal moment for me. I am on stage…..in Norma Desmond drag…….with these three amazing stars next to me. VERY surreal.

Then it was over. Backstage hugs and tears all around. We took pics with our stars, hugs with our stars, etc. I would not be seeing Xian again, so we had our final goodbyes. He loved the opening number and praised the show, he said, "Anthony was right. You guys put on a terrific show!" We hugged very tightly and said our goodbyes. He is truly a great person!

I went into the lobby, and there were still so many people still there! All those comments touched my heart so, so much. I cannot thank you all for what you said to me. You don't know how much that meant to me and my board. I will treasure those comments forever!

That next morning Doug Fowler and I took Stephanie and Michael to the airport separately (they had different take off times).

Stephanie, Doug, and I had a really serious discussion in the car about Broadway, doing theater, the biz, etc. she gave us great insight in how tough Broadway is. We hugged and said our goodbyes. I will miss her so, so much. She is such a joy to work with!

Michael that morning did the Kid Kraddick show (I was dead asleep and missed it), but I was told by others later that day that Urie was hilarious and highly praised the gala. He said "john was in drag", which Kidd said, "He loves that drag doesn't he?" LOL. I don't! That's the last for me! Too much work. Lol.

Kidd said, "I presented at The Column Awards a couple of years ago and John wanted me to dress like Brittney Spears and he would dress like Madonna and we would do that kiss like they did on the MTV music awards, but I said `no john'" LOL.

I will confess, it was tough saying goodbye to Michael. He was the greatest co-host we could EVER have. He was so damn funny and made the evening so much fun. It was the first time in 8 years where I was so relaxed on stage. He made that gala so great that night. But also because I feel I have a new friend. We talked about so much (great gossip….hehehe). We said our goodbyes in the airport, and then he took out of his bag something and said, "This is for you."

I look at it, it is a picture of him and America Ferrera, and on it it says, "To John Garcia, the nominees, and guests of The Column Awards ....….BREAK A LEG!" and it is signed by Urie and America! The other picture is great pic of him and Patti Lupone!!!

I didn't know what to say, I could only hug him tightly and thank him. Doug hugs him as well, and we both see Urie disappear into the airport.

And the 2007 Column Awards came to a close officially.

I said it several times at the gala, and I have to again thank my Board of Directors:

Dennis Yslas (Vice President), Sheila Rose (Secretary), Craig Hess (Treasurer), Todd Aragon, Richard Armstrong II, Dennis Canright, William Eickenloff Jr, Doug Fowler, Lee Irving, Keith Kubal, J.

Richard Lauder, Tom Ortiz, Ryan Roach, Chris Robinson, and Jordan Willis.

I am dead serious in saying that if it wasn't for them-that gala would have NOT happened. Period. They do so, so, so much to make that night for all our guests to become such a special, spectacular night! If you see them, thank them as well~! I love them all so much. They are the backbone to this organization.

A TRUCK FULL OF GLITTERY THANK YOU to:

DALLAS VOICE-Our official Media Sponsor for The Column Awards.

PALOMAR DALLAS-Our Official Hotel for The Column Awards. Our guest stars LOVED their rooms and great service there!

PROMOTIONS PRINT-Our official T-shirt Printing service! For the best in custom made T-Shirts, they are the ones to go to!

A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE thank you to Uptown Players, Watertower Theatre, Dallas Summer Musicals, the Dallas Theatre League, Mark Oristano Photography, A to Z Productions, Core Talent, Bootstraps Comedy Theater, Elias Taylorson, ICT Mainstage, Garland Civic Theatre, Garland Summer Musicals, Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, Wingspan Theater Company, Runway Theatre, and Floresca Associates.

Look at those organizations and names above again-they purchased ads in our ALL COLOR Gala Program. This GREATLY, GREATLY helped us in paying off ALL our expenses for the gala. PLEASE SUPPORT these organ -izations and attend their current and future productions. I know I will! They supported our organization and made the Gala possible!

THANK YOU AGAIN!

To my BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT Courtyard Staff. They are the masters of making my dreams come true on stage! I mean when I brought up the idea of flying my big a** like Nicole Kidman in the movie…….they made it happen! They created all that gorgeous lighting, the elegant drapery you saw all over the stage, etc. I cannot thank them enough! They are truly magnificent!

To everyone I'm forgetting, and I know I am-THANK YOU SO MUCH! A HUGE thank you to everyone who made that night go so well, both in front and behind the curtain. Everyone associated with making that night truly memorable, THANK YOU!

It was a great night that none of us will ever forget!

As I write this, my eyes are welling up. This was by far the hardest gala we've ever produced, and it was tough. There were major obstacles and dramas at every turn. But from the response from all those who came, it made it all worth it.

I feel depressed now that its all over. What on earth do I do now? I already miss my board, stars, opening number performers, Production team, Lee Harris, etc. etc. All that work-and now its all over.

Sigh.