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The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia announces that Harry Dietzler, Executive and Artistic Director of Upper Darby Summer Stage, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 17th Annual Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre on Monday, October 3 at 7 p.m. at the Walnut Street Theatre. In addition, American Playwright Terrence McNally will receive the Distinguished Artist Award, a new honor recognizing theatre artists of national and international renown who choose to bring their talents to Philadelphia.
"The Barrymore Lifetime Achievement Award is given in recognition of an individual who has devoted his or her time, talent and energy to making a significant impact on the cultural landscape of Greater Philadelphia. Harry epitomizes what this award is about with his decades-long commitment to nurturing the local artists of tomorrow," says Margie Salvante, Executive Director of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. "But Harry has done much more than create artists, he has built communities that support theatre and enrich lives year after year."
A native of Upper Darby Township, Harry Dietzler attended Temple University, graduating with a degree in Music Education. While in college, he saw the need and great opportunity for a youth summer theater arts program and, in cooperation with the Upper Darby School District and the Township of Upper Darby Upper Darby, founded Upper Darby Summer Stage in 1976. Today Upper Darby Summer Stage is considered one of the most successful youth theater programs in America; its distinguished alumni include Emmy Award-winning actress and writer Tina Fey, Terrence J. Nolen and Amy Murphy (the founders and directors of The Arden Theatre, who met at Summer Stage), playwright Tom Donaghy, and many others.Since 1988, Dietzler has also served as Founder and Executive and Artistic Director for the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. In addition to providing support for school and community performances, The Performing Arts Center has presented professional ensembles such as The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Irish Tenors, The Golden Dragon Acrobats, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Jury's Irish Cabaret, and many more national and international performers. Dietlzer has also contributed notably to the Greater Philadelphia theater arts community as Founding Executive Director of the Upper Darby Educational and Cultural Foundation, Inc., and as Founding Program Director for The Greater Philadelphia Cappies.
A Texas native, Terrence McNally first moved to New York City to attend Columbia University in 1956. Over the past five decades, he has written many stage pieces, both musical and dramatic, receiving an astounding four Tony Awards and one Emmy. Other awards to his name include two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, the Lucille Lortel Award for excellence in off-Broadway theater in New York, the Hull-Harriner Award from the Dramatists Guild of America, and a citation from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.McNally has a long-standing relationship with Philadelphia and consistently chooses to stage his new works here in collaboration with the Philadelphia Theatre Company. His world premieres produced by Philadelphia Theatre Company include Golden Age, Unusual Acts of Devotion, Some Men, and three-time Tony Award-winner Master Class. This last piece comprised a character study of legendary opera soprano Maria Callas, and won the 1996 Tony Award for "Best Play."
Major support for the Barrymore Awards is provided by Actors' Equity Association, The Charlotte Cushman Foundation, The CHG Charitable Trust, Clear Sound, Drucker & Scaccetti, P.C., Earl Girls Theatrical Equipment, Garfield Refining Company, Independence Foundation, PECO, The Virginia Brown Martin Fund, Walnut Street Theatre, William Penn Foundation, Ted & Stevie Wolf, and The Wyncote Foundation.The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia strengthens and leads the region's richly diverse theatre community, by promoting awareness and serving as a resource for information, professional development and advocacy. For more information, visit www.phillytheatretix.org.
