For Immediate Release: October 23, 2006
Media Contact: Megan Wendell, for Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, 215.242.6393

The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia celebrated a year of remarkable collaboration and outstanding Philadelphia area theatre at the Gala Barrymore Award Ceremony Monday night. The recipients of the 2006 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre were announced at the Merriam Theater in a ceremony hosted by actress Mary Martello, directed by Vincent Marini, and written by Nicholas Wardigo.

The theme for the 12th annual Barrymore celebration, "One Stage, Many Possibilities" shined the spotlight on the Philadelphia theatre community’s many unique collaborations and common goal of presenting quality theatre. Ms. Martello remarked on "a singular community where companies are compatriots, not competitors, generously donating space, time, and resources to ensure each other’s survival."

Throughout the night, surprise guests and locations, such as the Philadelphia Zoo and the Four Seasons, were featured in video segments which included Philadelphia Eagle Dhani Jones at the Eagles press conference room, Councilman Frank DiCicco at City Council, and past Barrymore winners Bill Roudebush, Bill Moriarty, and Tony Braithwaite. Songs were also performed from each of the five musicals nominated for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical.

Arden Theatre Company topped the list receiving 8 awards, while Philadelphia Theatre Company walked away with 4 awards. Arden’s Winesburg, Ohio received the most awards of any production with 5, and the theatre’s Producing Artistic Director Terrence J. Nolen achieved a Barrymore Awards first, receiving both Outstanding Direction of a Musical for Winesburg, Ohio and Outstanding Direction of a Play for Opus. Both Opus and Philadelphia Theatre Company's Adrift in Macao received 3 awards each. The award for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical went to Winesburg, Ohio, and the award for Outstanding Overall Production of a Play went to Lantern Theater Company’s Richard III.

The 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award honors the career of Robert Hedley who has served as Chair of the theatre departments at Villanova University and Temple University, was a founding Artistic Director of Philadelphia Theatre Company, and is currently Temple’s Director of International Programs in the School of Communications and Theater.

A Special Recognition Award was given to ComedySportz Philadelphia, now celebrating its 15th anniversary, to recognize its long-standing contributions to the theatre community as a breeding ground for new comic talent. The highly anticipated F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, which includes a $10,000 cash prize, was awarded to actor Ben Dibble.

Two scholarships were also awarded during the ceremony. The recipient of the Suzanne Roberts Theatre Alliance College Scholarship Award is Joseph Pizzi, and the recipient of the Joseph Cairns, Jr. and Ernestine Bacon Cairns Memorial Scholarship Award is Erika Wasko. The scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen to the University of the Arts Applied Theatre Arts program and Music Theatre program, respectively.

The Barrymore Awards program is produced by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and is the only comprehensive awards program in the region, recognizing artistic excellence in theatre. Each year, over 100 productions, produced by professional theatres in the region, are reviewed by the Barrymore nominating committee. More than 100 actors, directors and designers representing 42 companies became nominees for the 2006 Barrymore Awards.

BARRYMORE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THEATRE
2006 AWARD RECIPIENTS

Outstanding Overall Production of a Play, sponsored by the Suzanne F. Roberts Cultural Development Fund
Richard III - Lantern Theater Company

Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, sponsored by the University of the Arts
Winesburg, Ohio - Arden Theatre Company

Harmelin Media Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play
Terrence J. Nolen - Opus - Arden Theatre Company

Harold Prince Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Terrence J. Nolen - Winesburg, Ohio - Arden Theatre Company

Outstanding Music Direction
Thomas Murray - Winesburg, Ohio - Arden Theatre Company

Ark Media Award for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play
Pete Pryor as Richard of Gloucester - Richard III - Lantern Theater Company

Charlotte Cushman Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play
Jacqueline Antaramian - Nine Parts of Desire - The Wilma Theater

Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical
Brian Hissong as George Willard - Winesburg, Ohio - Arden Theatre Company

Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical
Rachel deBenedet as Lureena - Adrift in Macao - Philadelphia Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
John Zak as Caliban - The Tempest - Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Amanda Schoonover as Dottie Smith - Killer Joe - Theatre Exile

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Orville Mendoza as Tempura - Adrift in Macao - Philadelphia Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Michele Ragusa as Corinna - Adrift in Macao - Philadelphia Theatre Company

Outstanding Set Design, sponsored by KieranTimberlake Associates
Bradley Helm - Daughters of Genius - 1812 Productions

PECO Award for Outstanding Lighting Design
John Stephen Hoey - Nine Parts of Desire - The Wilma Theater

Earl Girls Award for Outstanding Costume Design
Janus Stefanowicz - Intimate Apparel - Philadelphia Theatre Company

Clear Sound Award for Outstanding Sound Design
Nick Kourtides - Mission to Mercury - Pig Iron Theatre Company

Outstanding Original Music
Andre Pluess & Ben Sussman - Winesburg, Ohio - Arden Theatre Company

Outstanding Choreography/Movement
Mercedes Ellington - Dreamgirls - Prince Music Theater

Independence Foundation Award for Outstanding New Play
Opus - By Michael Hollinger - Arden Theatre Company

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play
Killer Joe - Theatre Exile

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
Mission to Mercury - Pig Iron Theatre Company

The Ted and Stevie Wolf Award for New Approaches to Collaborations
Arden Theatre Company & Vertigo String Quartet - Opus

Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service Award, sponsored by Harvey & Virginia Kimmel
InterAction - InterAct Theatre Company

Suzanne Roberts Theatre Alliance College Scholarship Award
Joseph Pizzi

The Joseph Cairns, Jr. and Ernestine Bacon Cairns Memorial Scholarship Award
Erika Wasko

Special Recognition Award
ComedySportz Philadelphia

F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist
Ben Dibble

Lifetime Achievement Award
Robert Hedley

Major support for the Barrymore Awards is provided by Ark Media, Charlotte Cushman Foundation, Clear Sound, Earl Girls Theatrical Equipment, Harmelin Media, Independence Foundation, The Joseph Cairns, Jr. & Ernestine Bacon Cairns Trust, a Mellon Mid-Atlantic Charitable Trust, KieranTimberlake Associates, Harvey & Virginia Kimmel Arts Education Fund, MindLabs.net, PECO, An Exelon Company, Philadelphia City Paper, The Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust A as recommended by Carole Haas Gravagno, The Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust B as recommended by Leonard C. Haas, The Suzanne F. Roberts Cultural Development Fund, Theatre League of Philadelphia and the Merriam Theater, University of the Arts, William Penn Foundation, and Ted & Stevie Wolf.

The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia strengthens and leads the region’s richly diverse theater community, with more than 100 member organizations and 200 individuals, by promoting awareness and serving as a resource for information, professional development and advocacy. For further information, visit www.theatrealliance.org or call the Theatre Alliance at (215) 413-7150.

To request interviews, photos and more information, please contact: Megan Wendell, Canary Promotion, 215-242-6393, megan@canarypromo.com.

Go to News Releases»