By Seth Rudetsky
10 Nov 2009

After the show, I got the whole backstory on the event. There was an incredible cloak of secrecy leading up to it that was more complex than the Manhattan Project. First of all, the poor intern downstairs that told me I couldn't watch from the wings ran up to me afterwards and apologized after the award presentation. He was told to keep me away from the stage area in case I saw some of the female presenters. I'm so glad I didn't pull a diva fit and announce "I'll watch what I want where I want!" It's the first time I didn't challenge authority. All the women hid across the street at Sardi's until I was downstairs and then were staked out in the stage manager's office. The only thing that went a little wrong was right after I sat on the stool, Sir Ian gave away all the names of who was to be singing in the medley. Ann Harada said she was in the wings with the other ladies and went into a RAGE. They had worked so hard to keep everything a secret and wanted to surprise me one-by-one as they entered. She said to me later, "I've never been so angry at a Knight of the British Empire." Really? I guess she never saw Lestat.

The other crazy thing that happened was around three weeks ago when I randomly ran into Dena Hammerstein on the subway. I've never seen her there before and I used the opportunity to introduce her to James and we all chatted. Turns out, they had just had an full, hour-long meeting the day before! They later told me that when they saw each other on the subway they both went into a wide-eyed panic…but went back to blank-face and pretended like they didn't know each other when I introduced them. The meeting they had just had was the one where James told them that Andrea Martin should present the award to me.

Coincidentally, a few nights before the benefit, I made James sit down and showed him some hilarious Andrea footage from youtube and kept telling him again and again how obsessed I was with her, when I was growing up. He told me later that it was so hard not to blurt out, "I know!!!! She's going to present you with an award on Monday!!!!" Please watch this brilliant Andrea sketch here.

On another note, I had a ton of auditions for acting jobs recently. Around ten days ago, I had a call-back for a national FedEx commercial. It was during the one time I had to rehearse the Broadway 101 section for the benefit and I rushed in and out. I thought I clanked at the call-back because I was in such a hurry and, as opposed to the auditions where you leave thinking, "I think I nailed it," I knew I didn't get it as soon as I left. I then did the benefit on Monday and two days later had a great audition for my favorite TV show, "30 Rock." The casting people are always so nice to me and I'm dying to be on the show. Then I went in for the Broadway revival of La Cage Aux Folles. I had a final call-back to play Francis and cover the lead role of Albin. Very exciting. I was anxiously waiting to hear and was constantly checking my cell phone. So, Friday night rolls around and at around 7:30, I look at my cell phone and see I have a voicemail. YES! It's from my agents. I was freaking out! As I was waiting for the message to play I kept thinking La Cage or "30 Rock"? "30 Rock" or La Cage? Finally the message plays: "Hey, Seth. It's Will from Abrams. Just calling to tell you that you didn't get the FedEX commercial. Sorry." AH!!!! I know I didn't get it! It was ten days before and I had completely forgotten about it! That's like my ex-boyfriend from college calling me to remind me he broke up with me. I know!!!!

Finally, here are the updates for the week: Marc Kudisch and Jeffrey Denman are my guests at Thursday's Chatterbox. And on Sunday, I'll be doing my Auditioning Master Class here in NYC at 10:30 AM. Go to sethrudetsky.com to sign up and, as the kids say, peace out!

Seth Rudetsky is the host of "Seth's Big Fat Broadway" on SIRIUS Satellite Radio and the author of "The Q Guide to Broadway" and the novel "Broadway Nights." He has played piano in the orchestras of 15 Broadway musicals and hosts the BC/EFA benefit weekly interview show Seth's Broadway Chatterbox at Don't Tell Mama every Thursday at 6 PM. He can be contacted by visiting www.sethrudetsky.com.