The Barrymore Awards are held every year to recognize professional theatre in the Greater Philadelphia region, and the star-studded affair is set for Monday, Oct. 20 at the Temple Performing Arts Center.
Founded in 1994 by the Performing Arts League of Philadelphia (PALP), the awards are named for the Barrymore family, a well-known theatrical family with ties to the city. In 1997, PALP changed its name to the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, but in 2012, the Theatre Alliance folded. It was then revived in 2013 as Theatre Philadelphia by a group of theatre administrators and artistic directors. TP still runs the Barrymore Awards to this day.
This year’s ceremony will be co-hosted by Aunyea Lachelle, Emmy Award-winning entertainment and lifestyle anchor for NBC10’s Philly Live, alongside CJ Higgins, Interim Executive Director of Theatre Philadelphia. Some of this year’s nominees span Rajeer Alford (‘RENT’), Rachel Camp (‘Penelope’), Cookie Diorio (‘Kinky Boots’), Eric Jaffe and the ensemble of ‘Gay Mis’, Connor McAndrews (‘Peter Panto’), and Dito Van Reigersberg (‘Poor Judge’).
Awards cover a wide range of categories, including Outstanding Overall Production of a Play, Outstanding Ensemble in a Play, Outstanding Movement/Choreography in a Play, Outstanding Outdoor Production, Outstanding Costume Design and The Philadelphia Award for Social Insight.
The latter seeks to “honor the spirit of Philadelphia by acknowledging a production from any period or genre that demonstrates the ability of theatre to illuminate the way we live and interact with others as we seek to build community,” according to organizers. The Barrymore’s official site states this award recognizes a production that leaves its audience with a deeper appreciation of the people we interact with, and a more focused understanding of the conditions and interactions inherent in our social world.
Nominees for the Social Insight Award include ‘RIFT, OR WHITE LIES’ from InterAct Theatre Company, ‘Young Americans’ from Theatre Horizon, ‘THE DRAG’ from EgoPo Classic Theater, Night Side Songs from Philadelphia Theatre Company, ‘The Half-God of Rainfall’ from The Wilma Theater, ‘January 6: A Celebration. A Bodega Princess Remembers Tradition, Not Insurrection’ from Simpatico Theatre, ‘Glitter in the Glass’ from Theatre Exile, ‘Nichos’ from Esperanza Arts Center and ‘The Playboy of the Western World’ from Inis Nua Theatre Company.
The awards are a nationally recognized symbol of professional theatre in the region. Each year, the Barrymore Awards also distributes thousands in annual cash prizes to keep the work of different theater companies and creative individuals going in the Philadelphia area, a release notes.
Doors open for the affair at 6 p.m., with the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m., followed by a celebratory gathering to conclude the evening at 11 p.m. The theme of this year’s event is ORIGINS: Roots & Resistance, and for those who can’t make it in person, Theatre Philadelphia is also offering a Pay-What-You-Can livestream of the ceremony.
Tickets (via TicketLeap) for both the in-person and virtual experiences are available now. Note, Theatre Philadelphia is requiring proof of negative COVID-19 tests from attendees within 24 hours of the Barrymore Ceremony day. General tickets are $75, but there’s also discounted options available for those in the industry, students and Barrymore adjucators.
