Theatre Alliance Of Greater Philly Announce Barrymore Award Recipients

Excitement, glamour, and of course drama were in the air and on the stage at the 16th annual Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre on Monday, October 4 at the Walnut Street Theatre. Presented by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, the black-tie ceremony, directed by Karen DiLossi, celebrated the work of local theatre artists as well as the vibrancy of the region's theatrical offerings with 27 awards.

Women reigned supreme at this year's Barrymore Awards Ceremony, with shows featuring women, written by women, and directed by women taking away the biggest awards, in particular, the two awards which carry a cash prize: The F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, which went to actress Sarah Sanford, and the Brown Martin Philadelphia Award which went to Black Pearl Sings! at InterAct Theatre Company. In addition, the recipients for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical and Outstanding Overall Production of a Play went to shows featuring women, The Light in the Piazza at Philadelphia Theatre Company, and Becky Shaw, which was also written and directed by women, at The Wilma Theater. Both productions also garnered the highest number of wins in their respective Musical and Play categories.

Sarah Sanford, recipient of the coveted F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, and the $10,000 cash prize, has been a Haas finalist for the last three years. Her enormous body of work, the breadth of her talents and her commitment to the local theater community were cited as contributing factors to her receiving this award.

Black Pearl Sings! earned InterAct Theatre Company a $25,000 cash prize with the Brown Martin Philadelphia Award. InterAct was also recognized for The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity with the Outstanding Choreography/Movement Award going to John Bellomo & Tony "Hitman" Stetson; and by the Ted and Stevie Wolf Award for New Approaches to Collaborations for its production of City of Numbers with Mural Arts Program.

The Light in the Piazza was the big winner for the evening earning seven awards for Philadelphia Theatre Company, including Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Musical to Joe Calarco, Outstanding Music Direction to Eric Ebbenga, Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical to Sherri L. Edelen, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical to Matthew Scott, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical to Whitney Bashor, and Outstanding Lighting Design to R. Lee Kennedy.

The Wilma Theater's Becky Shaw topped the awards in the play category with five wins: Outstanding Overall Production of a Play, Outstanding Ensemble in a Play, Outstanding Director of a Play for Anne Kauffman, Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play for Jeremy Bobb, and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play for Brooke Bloom.

Act II Playhouse was the only company other than InterAct to be recognized with awards for multiple productions. Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical was presented to the cast of The Story of My Life; while Any Given Monday by Bruce Graham, a co-production between Act II and Theatre Exile, took the award for Outstanding New Play.

Walnut Street Theatre captured two awards for Fiddler on the Roof (Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical to Mark Jacoby and Outstanding Costume Design to Colleen Grady) as did Lantern Theater Company for The Breath of Life (Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play to Cheryl Williams and Outstanding Original Music to Christopher Colucci). Colucci also took home the award for Outstanding Sound Design for The Long Christmas Ride Home at Azuka Theatre.

Peter De Laurier's performance in King Lear earned him the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play award for The People's Light & Theatre Company's singular win. David P. Gordon won Outstanding Set Design for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie at Arden Theatre Company. B. Someday Productions received the Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service Award for their innovative education program, Of Mythic Proportions.

Philanthropists Ted and Stevie Wolf received the Lifetime Achievement Award, given in recognition of an artist or patron who has devoted his or her time, talent and energy to making a significant impact on the cultural landscape of Greater Philadelphia.

Major support for the Barrymore Awards is provided by Actors' Equity Association, The Charlotte Cushman Foundation, The CHG Charitable Trust, Clear Sound, CRW Graphics, Drucker & Scaccetti, P.C., Earl Girls Theatrical Equipment, Garfield Refining Company, Independence Foundation, Steve Organ, PECO, R Design, The Victory Foundation, The Virginia Brown Martin Fund, Walnut Street Theatre, William Penn Foundation, Ted and Stevie Wolf, 88.5 WXPN, 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. More information about the Theatre Alliance and its members is available online at www.phillytheatretix.com or by calling (215) 413-7150.