The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia announced the nominations in 27 categories for the 2010 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre at a press conference held today at New Freedom Theatre. The organization also announced plans for this year's Barrymore Awards Ceremony, the premier annual event in Philadelphia theatre, to be held on Monday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m. at the Walnut Street Theatre, with a reception following at the Ballroom at the Ben in the Benjamin Franklin House.
The evening of October 4th will kick off with a red carpet event beginning at 6:00 p.m. as local theatre celebrities and nominees gather. This year's ceremony, directed by Karen DiLossi, celebrates the work of our local theatre artists and companies as they continue the legacy of the Barrymore family.
In its 16th year, 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 local professional theatres, are reviewed by the Barrymore voting committee. 184 actors, directors, and designers representing 25 companies and 40 productions became nominees for the 2010 Barrymore Awards. They stand as the newest generation in the continuous legacy of theatrical excellence initiated by the Barrymores as the first-family of American theatre and represented by the past 15 years of awards given in their honor. Since 1995, the Barrymore Awards have recognized 62 organizations, 559 productions, and 791 artists for the excellence and vitality that they have brought to Greater Philadelphia.
Theatre Alliance Executive Director, Margie Salvante, spoke of the growing scope and vitality of the theatre industry in Greater Philadelphia, and outlined Theatre Alliance plans for helping member theatres meet the Engage 2020 goal of doubling their audiences over the next ten years. "The resourcefulness our theatres show in the face of this challenging economy is only outdone by the artistry they display on their stages," said Salvante. "How can we not double the size Greater Philadelphia's theatre audience with ten whole years ahead of us?"
The Theatre Alliance presented a Special Recognition Barrymore Award to actor Pete Pryor, acknowledging the significance of Pryor's acceptance in the prestigious Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program as emblematic of his stature as one of the top regional theatre actors in the country. With this Special Recognition Award the Theatre Alliance thanks Pryor for raising the national profile of Philadelphia as a vibrant theatre city.
The Philadelphia theatre community is also recognized with four unique awards each year. The first of these special awards, Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service, recognizes the work of theatres and theatre artists who provide innovative theatre and educational experiences as a vehicle for betterment within the community. The 2010 nominees are 1812 Production's 1812 Outreach, B. Someday Production's Of Mythic Proportions, and Philadelphia Young Playwright's Annual Playwriting Festival.
The Ted and Stevie Wolf Award for New Approaches to Collaborations celebrates unique collaborations between theatre companies and other non-theatre organizations. These collaborations each result in a public event and have an impact both on the participating organizations and the Greater Philadelphia community. The nominees for this year's award are Enchantment Theatre Company & Philadelphia Orchestra for The Firebird, InterAct Theatre Company & Mural Arts Program for City of Numbers, and Lantern Theater Company & DaVinci Art Alliance for Henry IV, Part I.
The Brown Martin Philadelphia Award was established in 2007 to honor those plays that best lead audiences to a better understanding of the unique experiences that make up our diverse global community. Named in honor of Virginia Brown Martin, a lover and supporter of theatre in her own lifetime, the Brown Martin Philadelphia Award carries with it a significant monetary prize to support a continued focus on producing plays that help us better appreciate unique points of view, and heal the divisiveness that springs from intolerance and fear. This year's nominees are Black Pearl Sings! at InterAct Theatre Company, Language Rooms at The Wilma Theater, and Nathan the Wise at The People's Light & Theatre Company.
The F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, which includes a $10,000 cash prize, is given to a Philadelphia theatre artist who shows outstanding promise in his or her field and is dedicated to working in the Philadelphia theatre community. Named after the late F. Otto Haas, noted philanthropist, civic leader, and former Chairman of Rohm & Haas, the award is sponsored through the generosity of Carole Haas Gravagno and is specifically designed to help cover the artist's living expenses for one year to allow the individual to focus solely on his or her craft. The runners-up each receive a $1,000 cash award. This year's nominees are James Ijames, Steve Pacek, Sarah Sanford, Amanda Schoonover, and Thom Weaver.
