On August 21, Theatre Philadelphia announced nominees for the 2017 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. Established companies led the day. After a dismal showing of only four nominations last season, the Wilma rebounded mightily, with heaps of praise lavished on its production of When the Rain Stops Falling. As usual, Arden Theatre Company dominated the musical category, with the majority of slots going to their productions of Gypsy, The Light Princess and A Year With Frog & Toad. (Arden received the most overall nominations, at 39; the Wilma followed with 16.)
Smaller companies were not entirely left out in the cold — in particular, 11th Hour Theatre Company’s Lizzie and Orbiter 3’s Peaceable Kingdom seemed popular with the judges. (A neat hat trick: Peaceable Kingdom playwright Mary Tuomanen earned two nominations for Outstanding New Play/Musical — the other for MARCUS/EMMA, at InterAct — as well as a spot in the F. Otto Haas Emerging Philadelphia Artist category.) Tribe of Fools and Curio Theatre Company both earned their first-ever Barrymore nominations.
The nomination list was not without some surprising omissions. Azuka Theatre’s highly acclaimed production of Douglas Williams’ Shitheads was entirely shut out, and Jacqueline Goldfinger’s equally praised The Arsonists picked up just one nod. Several prominent theater companies — Lantern, Quintessence, Simpatico — were largely left in the cold. Mary Martello scored a nomination for Gypsy, but not for Mrs. Warren’s Profession, which was completely forgotten. EgoPo’s popular Anna didn’t make quite the splash with judges that many expected.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Penelope Reed, director emeritus of Hedgerow Theatre in Rose Valley.
A complete list of Barrymore nominees can be found below. The ceremony will be held on Monday, October 30, at the Merriam Theater. Tickets can be purchased at Theatre Philadelphia’s website.
OUTSTANDING OVERALL PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Hand to God (Philadelphia Theatre Company) [read Toby Zinman’s Phindie review here]
How to Use a Knife (InterAct Theatre Company) [read Toby Zinman’s Phindie review here]
The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden Theatre Company) [read Josh Millhouse’s Phindie review here]
The Mountaintop (People’s Light and Theatre Company) [read Debra Miller’s Phindie review here]
The Seagull (EgoPo Classic Theater) [read Kathryn Osenlund’s Phindie review here]
Stupid Fucking Bird (Arden Theatre Company) [read Debra Miller’s Phindie review here]
When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma Theater) [read Nicole Forrester’s Phindie review here]
OUTSTANDING OVERALL PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
A Year With Frog & Toad (Arden) [read Dorie Byrne’s Phindie review here]
Godspell (Eagle Theatre)
Gypsy (Arden) [read Cameron Kelsall’s Phindie review here]
The Light Princess (Arden) [read Jess Foley’s Phindie review here]
Lizzie (11th Hour Theatre Company) [read Toby Zinman’s Phindie review here]
Monty Python’s Spamalot (Resident Theatre Company)
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Steve H. Broadnax III, The Mountaintop (People’s Light)
Emmanuelle Delpach, The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden)
Brenna Geffers, Anna (EgoPo) [view Chuck Schultz’s Theater in Sketch column here]
Claire Moyer, Radiant Vermin (Inis Nua Theatre Company) [read Toby Zinman’s Phindie review here]
Aaron Posner, Stupid Fucking Bird (Arden)
Lane Savadove, The Seagull (EgoPo)
Blanka Zizka, When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma)
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Kate Galvin, Lizzie (11th Hour)
Kristin McLaughlin Mitchell, Spamalot (Resident Theatre Company)
Terrence J. Nolen, Gypsy (Arden)
Steve Pacek, The Light Princess (Arden)
Ted Wioneck III, John and Jen (Eagle)
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Jaylene Clark Owens, WHITE (Theatre Horizon) [read Cameron Kelsall’s Phindie review here]
Sarah Gliko, Constellations (Wilma) [read Julie Zeglin’s Phindie review here]
Eleanor Handley, Witness for the Prosecution (Bristol Riverside Theatre)
Patrese D. McLain, The Mountaintop (People’s Light)
Kittson O’Neill, Grounded (InterAct) [read Chris Munden’s Phindie review here]
Susan Riley Stevens, MARCUS/EMMA (InterAct) [read Chris Munden’s Phindie review here]
Samantha Rosenstrater, Grand Concourse (Theatre Horizon)
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Akeem Davis, Buzzer (Theatre Exile) [read Toby Zinman’s Phindie review here]
Akeem Davis, MARCUS/EMMA (InterAct)
Scott Greer, How to Use a Knife (InterAct)
Jered McLenigen, Constellations (Wilma)
Aubie Merrylees, Hand to God (PTC)
Matteo Scammell, The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden)
Lindsay Smiling, How to Use a Knife (InterAct)
Bowman Wright, The Mountaintop (People’s Light)
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Kim Carson, Sleeping Beauty (People’s Light) [read Neal Zoren’s Phindie review here]
Alex Keiper, Lizzie (11th Hour)
Mary Martello, Gypsy (Arden)
Nicole Stacie, Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope (New Freedom Theatre)
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Alex Bechtel, The Light Princess (Arden)
Ben Dibble, A Year With Frog & Toad (Arden)
Steve Pacek, A New Brain (Theatre Exile) [read Debra Miller’s Phindie review here]
Tim Rinehart, Peter and the Starcatcher (Eagle)
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Carla Belver, John (Arden) [read Chris Munden’s Phindie review here]
Nancy Boykin, When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma)
Taysha Marie Canales, When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma)
Eleni Delopoulos, Radiant Vermin (Inis Nua)
Melanye Finister, When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma)
Hillary Parker, You For Me For You (InterAct) [read Dorie Byrne’s Phindie review here]
Stephanie N. Walters, Peaceable Kingdom (Orbiter 3) [read Toby Zinman’s Phindie review here]
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
David Bardeen, Grand Concourse (Theatre Horizon)
J Hernandez, How to Use a Knife (InterAct)
Dan Hodge, Stupid Fucking Bird (Arden)
Mikeah Ernest Jennings, The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden)
Steven Rishard, When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma)
Ed Swidey, The Seagull (EgoPo)
Greg Wood, Stupid Fucking Bird (Arden)
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Rachel Brennan, Lizzie (11th Hour)
Rachel Camp, Gypsy (Arden)
Caroline Dooner, Gypsy (Arden)
Leigha Kato, A Year With Frog & Toad (Arden)
OUSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Malik Akil, Gypsy (Arden)
Doug Hara, A New Brain (Arden)
Steve Pacek, A Year With Frog & Toad
Josh Totora, Sleeping Beauty (People’s Light)
OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN
Tony Cisek, The Mountaintop (People’s Light)
Paul Kuhn, The Birds (Curio Theatre Company) [read Chris Munden’s Phindie review here]
Tim Mackabee, John (Arden)
Sara Outin, How We Got On (Azuka Theatre) [read Chris Munden’s Phindie review here]
Matt Saunders, When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma)
Thom Weaver, The Seagull (EgoPo)
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
Oana Botez, Adapt! (Wilma) [read Julia Taus’s Phindie review here]
Richard St. Clair, A Year With Frog & Toad (Arden)
Nikki Delhomme, Sleeping Beauty (People’s Light)
Olivera Gajic, The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden)
Rebecca Kanach, Peaceable Kingdom (Orbiter 3)
Jill Keys, The Light Princess (Arden)
Kayla Speedy, Lizzie (11th Hour)
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
Joshua Schulman, The Mountaintop (People’s Light)
Maria Shaplin, The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden)
Masha Tsimring, Grounded (InterAct)
Thom Weaver, Gypsy (Arden)
Thom Weaver, Lizzie (Arden)
Thom Weaver, The Seagull (EgoPo)
Yi Zhao, When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma)
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN
Christopher Colucci, When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma)
Lucas Fendley, How We Got On (Arden)
Damien Figueras, Antihero (Tribe of Fools) [read Michael Kelly’s Phindie review here]
Rob Kaplowitz, Grounded (InterAct)
Daniel Perelstein, Adapt! (Wilma)
Toby Pettit, Lizzie (11th Hour)
Chris Sannino, The Birds (Curio)
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MUSIC
Alex Bechtel, The Light Princess (Arden)
Alex Bechtel, Sleeping Beauty (People’s Light)
Christopher Colucci, When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma)
Michael Hahn and Liz Filios, An Iliad (Lantern Theater Company) [read Chris Munden’s Phindie review here]
Andrew Nelson, The Arsonists (Azuka)
Marina Sadovska, Adapt! (Wilma)
Daniel Perelstein, Stupid Fucking Bird (Arden)
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
Terry Brennan, School Play (Tribe of Fools) [read Michael Kelly’s Phindie review of an earlier production here]
Michael Consenza, Antihero (Tribe of Fools)
Melanie Cotton, The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden)
Brenna Geffers and K.O. DelMarcelle, Anna (EgoPo)
Jenn Rose, Gypsy (Arden)
Samantha Reading, Mauritius (Act II) [read Lauren Hartranft’s Phindie review here]
Derek Roland, Monty Python’s Spamalot (Resident Theatre Company)
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION
Alex Bechtel, The Light Princess (Arden)
Dan Kazemi, Lizzie (11th Hour)
Amanda Morton, A Year With Frog & Toad (Arden)
Jason Neri, Godspell (Eagle)
Ryan Touhey, Gypsy (Arden)
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY
Anna (EgoPo)
How to Use a Knife (InterAct)
The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden)
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (People’s Light)
Peaceable Kingdom (Orbiter 3)
The Seagull (EgoPo)
When the Rain Stops Falling (Wilma)
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL
Gypsy (Arden)
The Light Princess (Arden)
Lizzie (11th Hour)
Monty Python’s Spamalot (Resident Theatre Company)
Sleeping Beauty (People’s Light)
INDEPENDENCE FOUNDATION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY/MUSICAL
Anna by Brenna Geffers (EgoPo)
How to Use a Knife by Will Snider (InterAct)
The Light Princess by Anthony Lawton and Alex Bechtel (Arden)
Marcus/Emma by Mary Tuomanen (InterAct)
Peaceable Kingdom by Mary Tuomanen (Orbiter 3)
WHITE by James Ijames (Theatre Horizon)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Penelope Reed
F. OTTO HAAS AWARD FOR EMERGING PHILADELPHIA THEATRE ARTIST
Rachel Camp
Jaylene Clark Owens
Katherine Fritz
Allison Heishman
Mary Tuomanen
Rebecca Wright
VIRGINIA BROWN MARTIN PHILADELPHIA AWARD
Buzzer (Theatre Exile)
The Mountaintop (People’s Light)
Peaceable Kingdom (Orbiter 3)
WHITE (Theatre Horizon)
JUNE AND STEVE WOLFSON AWARD FOR EVOLVING THEATRE COMPANY
The Bearded Ladies Cabaret
Curio Theatre Company
EgoPo Classic Theater
Quintessence Theatre Group
Simpatico Theatre
Tribe of Fools
VICTORY FOUNDATION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING THEATRE EDUCATION PROGRAM
Curio Theatre Company
Lantern Theater Company
Theatre Exile
Theatre Horizon