Spring Break
Barrymore Awards honor local theatre community
Chris Sannino
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Presented by the Theater Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, local and national theater celebrities came out for the black tie event. In the ranks for the first time were some of Drexel's own after "PROM" received a nomination for Outstanding Choreography and Movement. New Paradise Laboratories, spearheaded by Artistic Director Whit McLaughlin, staged the production in the Mandell Theater as last year's in-residence theater company.
The Barrymore Awards are greater Philadelphia's most inclusive theatrical awards program, recognizing feats in innovation and excellence. Each year, the Barrymore nominating committee reviews over 100 productions and an award ceremony follows in the fall. Awards are given in the areas of acting, design, choreography, music, education, community service and lifetime achievement.
This year's ceremony was held in the Crystal Tea Room of the Wanamaker Building and although PROM did not receive the Barrymore, McLaughlin and the Mandell Theater shared a professional arena with prominent companies like the Arden, Delaware, and Walnut Street Theatre companies, to name a few.
"Nobody knew that 'PROM' was so much a college production and that all of the choreography came out of college students," Stage Manager Danielle Kindt, who graduated from Drexel last year and and event attendee, said.
Also present from Drexel was Director of Mandell's Professional In-Residence Program Nicholas Anselmo and Marketing Director Robert Wuss, a junior studying Entertainment and Arts Management. 1812 Productions' "Suburban Love Songs" took the Barrymore for Outstanding Choreography and Movement with Karen Getz as choreographer.
"Karen Getz is a Philadelphia legend," Kindt said. "Small or big, if you've done any movement work in Philadelphia, you know about Karen Getz."
"Suburban Love Songs" tied with Arden Theatre Company's "Assassins" and Walnut Street Theatre's "Les Misérables" for the most awards for a single production, each taking three of the 26 up for grabs that night. Arden Theatre Company came out on top winning six awards dispersed over their past four productions.
One showstopper at the Barrymore Awards this year was an appearance by Mayor Michael Nutter during which he expounded on the re-establishment of the Philadelphia Office of Arts and Culture, which Mayor John Street had closed. Gary Steuer will assume the role of chief cultural officer, which goes into effect later this month. Steuer was formerly vice president of the New York non-profit Americans for the Arts.
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