Theatre Exile Wins Big at 2015 Barrymore Awards
A scene from Theatre Exile’s “The Whale.”
It was a big night for Theatre Exile as the company’s production The Whale took home a ton of Barrymore Awards, making them the most-winning theater of the year at tonight’s ceremony at the Merriam Theatre.
A scene from Theatre Horizon’s “Into The Woods.”
Both The Whale (Outstanding Overall Production of a Play, Outstanding Direction of a Play) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? led Theatre Exile to five wins, followed by Theatre Horizon, who scored four awards, all for their innovative staging of Into the Woods (Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Musical). 11th Hour Theatre Company, Flashpoint Theatre Company, InterAct Theatre Company, People’s Light, Philadelphia Artists’ Collective, and The Wilma Theatre had two wins each.
So far as acting, Scott Greer took home honors for Leading Actor in a Play for his depiction of the title character in Exile’s The Whale, while Catharine Slusar won Leading Actress honors for her ravenous character in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Liz Filios was the clear frontrunner for Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Fosca in the Arden’s Passion, and Ben Dibble took home Leading Actor in a Musical honors for his performance in Herringbone at Flashpoint Theatre Company.
Akeem Davis
Akeem Davis (who won praise from our theater critic for his performance in Rizzo) was named the F. Otto Haas winner for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, while the Barrymore’s Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Johnnie Hobbs, Jr.
Also announced at the ceremony was a new Barrymore Award to start in 2016, the Victory Award for Outstanding Theatre Education Program. Sponsored by the Victory Foundation, the annual award will carry a $7,500 prize.
In total, Barrymore voters saw a total of 105 productions which involved over 550 Philadelphia-area artists, actors, and designers.
A full list of winners are below. For more information on Theatre Philadelphia and the Barrymore Awards, visit their website.
2015 Barrymore Awards Recipients by Award Category
Outstanding Overall Production of a Play: The Whale (Theatre Exile)
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical: Into the Woods (Theatre Horizon)
Outstanding Direction of a Play: Matt Pfeiffer for The Whale (Theatre Exile)
Outstanding Direction of a Musical: Matthew Decker for Into the Woods (Theatre Horizon)
Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play: Scott Greer in The Whale (Theatre Exile)
Charlotte Cushman Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play: Catharine Slusar in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Theatre Exile)
Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical: Ben Dibble in Herringbone (Flashpoint Theatre Company)
Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical: Liz Filios in Passion (Arden Theatre Company)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play: Dan Hodge in The Fair Maid of the West (Philadelphia Artists’ Collective)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play: Campbell O’Hare in Rapture, Blister, Burn (The Wilma Theater)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical: Michael Philip O’Brien in Field Hockey Hot (11th Hour Theatre Company)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical: Leah Walton in Field Hockey Hot (11th Hour Theatre Company)
Outstanding Set Design: Kristen Robinson for Rapture, Blister, Burn (The Wilma Theater)
Outstanding Costume Design: Marla Jurglanis for Bach at Leipzig (People’s Light)
Outstanding Lighting Design: Russell H. Champa for brownsville song (b-side for tray) (Philadelphia Theatre Company)
Clear Sound Award for Outstanding Sound Design: Christopher Colucci for The Whale (Theatre Exile)
Outstanding Original Music: ILL DOOTS for Hands Up: 6 Playwrights, 6 Testaments (Flashpoint Theatre Company)
Outstanding Choreography/Movement: Samantha Reading for Bach at Leipzig (People’s Light)
Outstanding Music Direction: Amanda Morton for Into the Woods (Theatre Horizon)
Outstanding Ensemble in a Play: Little Rock (Passage Theatre Company)
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical: Into the Woods (Theatre Horizon)
Independence Foundation Award for Outstanding New Play: Caught by Christopher Chen (InterAct Theatre Company)
F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist: Akeem Davis
Virginia Brown Martin Philadelphia Award: The Dangerous House of Pretty Mbane (InterAct Theatre Company)
June and Steve Wolfson Award for an Evolving Theatre Company: Philadelphia Artists’ Collective
Lifetime Achievement Award: Johnnie Hobbs, Jr.
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