Gattelli, Nolen, Arden Theatre, Martello Among 2009 Barrymore Award Winners

From the Equity Red Carpet entrance to a capacity crowd of theater and business celebrities, the stage was set for an evening of glamour and drama at this year's 15th Annual Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre Ceremony on Monday, October 5 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 26 awards.

Something Intangible was the runaway winner with seven awards for Arden Theatre Company (Outstanding Overall Production of a Play; Outstanding Direction of a Play to Terrence J. Nolen; Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play to Ian Merrill Peakes as Tony Wiston; Outstanding Set Design to James Kronzer; Outstanding Lighting Design to F. Mitchell Dana; Outstanding Costume Design to Rosemarie E. McKelvey; and Outstanding New Play to Bruce Graham). Arden Theatre Company's production of Candide was awarded Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical to Mary Martello as Old Woman, topping the company's award count at eight.

"Philadelphia's reputation as a vibrant birthplace of new plays is continuing to grow, and I am very excited that this year's the Barrymore Voters overwhelmingly recognized two new plays with so many awards. This speaks to the sophistication of both our theatre companies and our audiences," said Margie Salvante, Executive Director of the Theatre Alliance.

The People's Light & Theatre Company's production of Cinderella received four awards for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical; Outstanding Direction of a Musical to Pete Pryor; Outstanding Original Music to Michael Ogborn; and Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical.

The Wilma Theater, tying The People's Light & Theatre Company with four awards, ran away with Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play to Janis Dardaris as Nazira/Nawal 60-65; Outstanding Sound Design to Jorge Cousineau; and Outstanding Ensemble in a Play, all for Scorched, and Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play to Kate Eastwood Norris as Eleanor/ Adult Esme, for Rock ‘n' Roll.

11th Hour Theatre Company earned three awards for its production of Avenue X: Outstanding Music Direction to Dan Kazemi; Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical to Michael Philip O'Brien as Pasquale; and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical to Forrest McClendon as Roscoe.

Bristol Riverside Theatre's singular win went to Christopher Gattelli for Outstanding Choreography/Movement for Altar Boyz.

Other acting awards went to Jennie Eisenhower for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical in Forbidden Broadway's Greatest Hits at Walnut Street Theatre; and Jered McLenigan as Freddie Filmore for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play in It's a Wonderful Life! A Live Radio Play at Prince Music Theater.

Charlotte Cloe Fox Wind received the coveted F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, a special $10,000 cash award. A Haas finalist for the last two years, she has also received two additional Barrymore nominations and a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical. Her enormous body of work, the breadth of her talents and her commitment to the local theatre community were cited as contributing factors to her receiving this award.

Three other special awards were given out. Lantern Theater Company received the award for Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service for its Classroom Connections program. Dugald MacArthur received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledging his work as an actor, educator, director and mentor to many in the local theatre community. The Ted and Stevie Wolf New Approaches to Collaborations Award, honoring collaborative efforts between theatre companies and organizations of other disciplines, went to Delaware Theatre Company & The Ferris School for Boys for No Child...

Major support for the Barrymore Awards is provided by Actors' Equity Association, Ark Media, The Charlotte Cushman Foundation, Clear Sound, CRW Graphics, Drucker & Scaccetti, P.C., Earl Girls Theatrical Equipment, Garfield Refining Company, Harmelin Media, Independence Foundation, PECO, 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, Walnut Street Theatre, William Penn Foundation, and Ted & Stevie Wolf.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.