Paramount Theatre
Review Nomination
RECEIVED Sat., May 23, 2015
Dear Editor,
I am writing about the 2014-2015 Austin Critics Table Nominations [“Art Par Excellence,” Arts & Culture, May 20]. After reading your list of nominees, I have to say I was a little surprised to see William Earl Ray nominated for All the Way. Though Mr. Ray is an excellent actor and delivered a fine performance, he only had two fairly minor roles in the production. I also noticed that Delanté Keys was not nominated for his performance as David Dennis in All the Way. I have to say, for me, he made the show. His scene as David Dennis where he interrupts a funeral to deliver a heart-wrenching speech about not wanting to see any more black children killed was one of the most moving scenes I have ever witnessed onstage. It pushed me and many others in the audience to indeed stand up as he commanded. I have never been so engaged in a performance. After discussing the show with several others, we all agreed that this scene truly brought the play to the modern day. I am writing to see if there was a chance that a mistake was made. Is there any way there was a mix-up and William Earl Ray was nominated instead of Delanté Keys? I would hate to see someone's outstanding work go unnoticed – or worse, for accolades to be placed on the wrong performance. I would really appreciate it if this nomination could be reviewed.
Thank you for your time and for your service to the Austin art community.
I am writing about the 2014-2015 Austin Critics Table Nominations [“Art Par Excellence,” Arts & Culture, May 20]. After reading your list of nominees, I have to say I was a little surprised to see William Earl Ray nominated for All the Way. Though Mr. Ray is an excellent actor and delivered a fine performance, he only had two fairly minor roles in the production. I also noticed that Delanté Keys was not nominated for his performance as David Dennis in All the Way. I have to say, for me, he made the show. His scene as David Dennis where he interrupts a funeral to deliver a heart-wrenching speech about not wanting to see any more black children killed was one of the most moving scenes I have ever witnessed onstage. It pushed me and many others in the audience to indeed stand up as he commanded. I have never been so engaged in a performance. After discussing the show with several others, we all agreed that this scene truly brought the play to the modern day. I am writing to see if there was a chance that a mistake was made. Is there any way there was a mix-up and William Earl Ray was nominated instead of Delanté Keys? I would hate to see someone's outstanding work go unnoticed – or worse, for accolades to be placed on the wrong performance. I would really appreciate it if this nomination could be reviewed.
Thank you for your time and for your service to the Austin art community.
Kayleigh Axtell