PHILADELPHIA: The Barrymore Awards are back. After a few years’ hiatus, the local ceremony honoring Philly theatre was held on October 27th at the Merriam Theatre at the University of Arts. Honoring theatre in the 2013–14 season, this was the first Barrymore awards ceremony since 2011, when the previous awards producer, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, disbanded. The awards are now presented by Theatre Philadelphia, a volunteer coalition of local artistic directors and stage managers that formed after the dissolution of the alliance.
The biggest winner of the night was Inis Nua Theatre Company‘s production of Midsummer [a play with songs], with four awards: for outstanding musical production, for director Kate Galvin, for music director Jamison Foreman and for lead actress Liz Filios.
Inus Nua won not only in the competitive categories, but received some honorary prizes, too. The company won the June and Steve Wolfson Award for a theatre company whose budget is under $400,000. And Midsummer actress Filios won the F. Otto Haas Award for an emerging Philly theatre artist.
Another honorary award went to I Am My Own Wife at Theatre Horizon; it took the Virginia Brown Martin Philadelphia Award for “understanding issues and communities.” Local actress and teacher Carla Belver won the lifetime achievement award. Belver was a founding member of Philadelphia Theatre Company and has acted in more than 40 shows at People’s Light & Theatre Company.
The road back to the Barrymores began after the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia dissolved and Theatre Philadelphia was formed. In 2013, the new Barrymore producing team was able to restore the cash awards totaling $60,000, as well as the lifetime achievement awards. While some of the honorary awards continued to be named during the hiatus, Monday night at the Merriam marked the first time all 26 categories were presented from a stage since 2011. Appropriately enough, the opening musical number for the ceremony included the song “Together Again.”
A full winner’s list:
Outstanding Overall Production of a Play
Down Past Passyunk, InterAct Theatre Company
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Midsummer [a play with songs], Inis Nua Theatre Company
Outstanding Direction of a Play
James Ijames, The Brothers Size, Simpatico Theatre Project
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Kate Galvin, Midsummer [a play with songs], Inis Nua Theatre Company
Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play
Charlie DelMarcelle, I Am My Own Wife, Theatre Horizon
Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play
Alice M. Gatling, Gidion’s Knot, InterAct Theatre Company
Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical
Ben Dibble, Parade, Arden Theatre Company
Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical
Liz Filios, Midsummer [a play with songs], Inis Nua Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Jered McLenigan, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Lantern Theater Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Charlotte Northeast, Emma, Lantern Theater Company
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Derrick Cobey, Parade, Arden Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Kenita Miller, Parade, Arden Theatre Company
Outstanding Set Design
Sebastienne Mundheim, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Lantern Theater Company
Outstanding Costume Design
Marla Jurglanis, Pride & Prejudice, People’s Light & Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design
Thom Weaver, Don Juan Comes Home from Iraq, The Wilma Theater
Clear Sound Award for Outstanding Sound Design
Daniel Perelstein, Don Juan Comes Home from Iraq, The Wilma Theater
Outstanding Original Music
Christopher Colucci, The Rainmaker, People’s Light & Theatre
Outstanding Choreography/Movement
Samantha Bellomo, Pride & Prejudice, People’s Light & Theatre
Outstanding Music Direction
Jamison Foreman, Midsummer [a play with songs], Inis Nua Theatre Company
Outstanding Ensemble in a Play
A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Lantern Theater Company
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Montgomery Theater
Independence Foundation Award for Outstanding New Play
Down Past Passyunk, InterAct Theatre Company
F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist
Liz Filios
Virginia Brown Martin Philadelphia Award
I Am My Own Wife, Theatre Horizon
June and Steve Wolfson Award for an Evolving Theatre Company
Inis Nua Theatre Company
Lifetime Achievement Award
Carla Belver, actress, teacher
