This past Saturday and Sunday, industry talents gathered at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles to honor excellence in artistic and technical achievement in primetime television at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Among the evenings’ awardees is first-time winner and CalArts alum Clara Plestis (Music MFA 19).
Plestis served as executive producer on Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic (CBS, Smart Dog Media, and White Label Productions in association with CBS), which nabbed the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded). While Van Dyke is no stranger to accolades—a Tony, a Grammy, and a Kennedy Center Honor, to name a few—his win this weekend is historic. The legendary performer, who turns 99 in December, ties with late screenwriter and film producer Norman Lear as the oldest recipient of a Creative Arts Emmy, per People.
“For laughter; for making people laugh for 75 years,” Van Dyke stated during his acceptance speech. “I’ve been in the business for 75 years. I can’t believe that I am still here and performing. I’m looking for work, if anybody is asking.”
Plestis shared an Instagram post about the “magical night,” celebrating alongside fellow team members of Smart Dog Media, where she serves as director of development. Through the production company, she has been on the discovery and development team for Fox’s The Masked Singer, and has been working on the show for all 12 seasons. Outside of television work, Pletis is a classically trained vocalist with an MFA from The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts; though her primary focus is jazz, Pletis also enjoys singing in opera, art songs, musical theater, pop, and cabaret styles.
Watch an edited presentation of the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Award ceremonies this Saturday, Sept. 14 on FXX.
