For Immediate Release: October 11, 2005
Media Contact: Megan Wendell, for the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, 215.242.6393

The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia celebrated another year of outstanding Philadelphia area theatre at the Gala Barrymore Awards Ceremony Monday night. The recipients of the 2005 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre were announced at the Merriam Theater in a ceremony which included three surprise hosts and an appearance by Tony Braithwaite, host of the past four award ceremonies. Cabaret performer Harriet Levy (a.k.a. Todd Waddington), actress and artistic director of 1812 Productions Jennifer Childs, and actor Ben Dibble shared hosting duties this year.

The theme for the 11th annual Barrymore celebration, "Destination Philadelphia" was highlighted throughout the ceremony. Chair of the Theatre Alliance Board of Directors, Glen Knapp, spoke of the upcoming Free Night of Theater on October 20th, which spotlights the Greater Philadelphia region as a destination for first-class theatre. In this first year of a national collaboration with Theatre Communications Group, Austin Circle of Theatres, and Theatre Bay Area, more than thirty area theatre companies will open their doors to new theatergoers, either on the 20th or later in the season.

Blanka Zizka, Co-Artistic Director of The Wilma Theater, also announced a new initiative of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia - the creation of a New Play Festival in the Philadelphia region, which will commence in winter 2007.

When the Barrymore Award nominees were announced at a press conference on August 10th, Arden Theatre Company led the group with a record-setting 25 nominations, followed by Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) with 16 nominations, and The Wilma Theater with 14 nominations. While the Arden and PTC walked away with the most awards, six each, a broad representation of the theatre community rounded out the award recipients list, which includes Act II Playhouse, Amaryllis Theatre Company/VSAarts of Pennsylvania, Brat Productions, Hedgerow Theatre, Pig Iron Theatre Company, Prince Music Theater, Theatre Exile, and The Wilma Theater.

In addition to the 22 categories for theatrical productions, recipients were also announced in four special categories. The F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, which includes a $10,000 cash prize, was awarded to actor, musician and sound designer James Sugg, who also received the Clear Sound Award for Outstanding Sound Design with Bill Moriarty and Adriano Shaplin for Pig Iron Theatre Company's Hell Meets Henry Halfway.

The 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award honors the career of Dr. James J. Christy, professor of Theatre at Villanova University for over 38 years who will retire this year. The award for Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service, which includes a $1,500 cash prize sponsored by the Harvey & Virginia Kimmel Arts Education Fund, was awarded to Philadelphia Young Playwrights' Playwriting Workshops.

The Ted and Stevie Wolf Award for New Approaches to Collaborations recognized Theatre Exile and Reconstruction Pictures' production of the film cellar, which features a cast of local theatre artists and premiered during the 2005 Philadelphia Film Festival.

Two scholarships were also awarded during the ceremony. The second recipient of the Suzanne Roberts Theatre Alliance Scholarship Award is Bayla Rubin, and the first recipient of the Joseph Cairns, Jr. & Ernestine Bacon Cairns Memorial Scholarship Award is Ryan Touhey. 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 Philadelphia professional theatres are reviewed by the Barrymore nominating committee. More than 100 actors, directors and designers representing 40 productions became nominees for the 2005 Barrymore Awards.

Get the full list of 2005 Barrymore Award nominees and recipients here»

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 Energy, Philadelphia City Paper, Philadelphia Magazine, The Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust "A" as recommended by Carole Haas Gravagno, Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust "B" as recommended by Lenny Haas, Sand Castle Winery, 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 theatre community, with 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.

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