The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia announced the nominations in 26 categories for the 2008 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre at a press conference held today at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, the home of Philadelphia Theatre Company. The organization also announced plans for this year's Gala Barrymore Award Ceremony, the premier annual event in Philadelphia theatre, to be held on Monday, October 6th at 6:30 p.m. at the Crystal Tea Room, located in the Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East.

The evening of October 6th will kick off with a red carpet event and cocktail party as the celebrity presenters and nominees gather. The event will also include an elegant three-course meal prepared by the Crystal Tea Room's exclusive caterer Finley Catering. The ceremony, directed by Vincent Marini, celebrates the work of our local theatre artists as well as the vibrancy of the region's theatrical offerings. With support from Actors' Equity Association, this year's event will particularly showcase the process of making theatre and what it takes to be a Barrymore Award-winning actor. The event will also feature Barrymore Award-winning directors and designers and showcase productions that can be seen on Greater Philadelphia stages this fall.

Theatre Alliance Executive Director, Margie Salvante, who recently relocated from New York City to head the organization, spoke of her excitement about being involved in such an impressive theatre community. "I have been struck by scope of quality that is constantly brought to the theatre stages of greater Philadelphia," she said, "and how that work adds to the vitality of the city. The theatre community has a lot to celebrate and be proud of, and the Barrymore Awards are a wonderful opportunity to showcase what an important resource the theatre industry is for all of Greater Philadelphia."

The Barrymore Awards program is produced by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and is the only comprehensive awards program in the region, recognizing artistic excellence in theatre. Each year, over 100 productions, produced by professional theatres in the region, are reviewed by the Barrymore nominating committee. More than 80 actors, directors and designers representing 22 companies became nominees for the 2008 Barrymore Awards. The number of individual nominated artists is lower than previous years, mostly due to the large number of repeat nominations – a total of 19 – the highest rate of multiple nominations recorded in the history of the awards.

A diverse group representing both large and small theatre companies received nominations for their work in the 2007-2008 season. Arden Theatre Company and Walnut Street Theatre led the nominated theatres with 16 nominations each; followed by The People's Light & Theatre Company and Philadelphia Theatre Company, both with 12 nominations; Theatre Exile with 11 nominations; Lantern Theater Company and The Wilma Theater with 8 nominations apiece; Delaware Theatre Company with 6 nominations; Azuka Theatre and InterAct Theatre Company with 5 nominations each; 11th Hour Theatre Company and 1812 Productions, both with 4 nominations; and Bristol Riverside Theatre with 3 nominations.

Les Misérables from Walnut Street Theatre led the musicals category with 11 nominations. The Arden's Assassins followed with 8 nominations and Azuka Theatre's Hedwig and the Angry Inch came in at 5 nominations. 11th Hour's The World Goes 'Round garnered 4 nominations while Bristol Riverside's Dear World and The People's Light & Theatre Company's Treasure Island each received 3 nominations. Being Alive at Philadelphia Theatre Company and the productions of Peter Pan and The Irish...And How They Got That Way, both at Walnut Street Theatre, all received 2 nominations.

The lead spot for nominations in the straight play category was split three ways with Bug at Theatre Exile, Eurydice at The Wilma Theater, and Six Characters in Search of an Author at The People's Light & Theatre Company each nabbing 7 nominations. They are followed by The Happiness Lecture at Philadelphia Theatre Company and Skylight at Lantern Theater Company with 5 nominations apiece. Frozen at InterAct Theatre Company and M. Butterfly at Philadelphia Theatre Company each came in with 4 nominations, and Arden Theatre Company's Go, Dog. Go!, Delaware Theatre Company's Mary's Wedding and Theatre Exile's Mr. Marmalade each came in with 3 nominations. Art at Delaware Theatre Company and The Piano Lesson at Arden Theatre Company each gained 2 nominations.

In addition to the nominations, the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient was announced. Dolly Beechman Schnall will receive the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award for her work as an actress, director, playwright, professor, board member and all around advocate for the arts. Her commitment to Philadelphia theatre can be seen in her varied contributions of time and talent to organizations including, but not limited to, 1812 Productions, Arden Theatre Company, Prince Music Theater, Rutgers University, Temple University, University of the Arts, Walnut Street Theatre, and The Wilma Theater.

The Philadelphia theatre community is also recognized with three unique awards each year. The first of these special recognition awards, Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service, promotes the participation of theatres and theatre artists who provide innovative theatre and educational experiences as a vehicle for betterment within the community. Cash prizes of $1,500 to the awarded theatre company, and $500 to a teaching artist of the company's choice, are sponsored by the Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Arts Education Fund. The 2008 nominees are 1812 Production's 1812 Outreach, Delaware Theatre Company's Delaware Young Playwrights Festival, Lantern Theater Company's Classroom Connections, Montgomery Theater's Access Education, Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival's The Open Door Project, and Philadelphia Theatre Company's PASSPORT Theatre Residency Program.

The F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, which includes a $10,000 cash prize, is given to a Philadelphia theatre artist who shows outstanding promise in his or her field and is dedicated to working in the Philadelphia theatre community. Named after the late F. Otto Haas, noted philanthropist, civic leader, and former Chairman of Rohm & Haas, the award is sponsored through the generosity of Carole Haas Gravagno and is specifically designed to help cover the artist's living expenses for one year to allow the individual to focus solely on his or her craft. The runners-up each receive a $1,000 cash award. This year final nominees were not known by the time of the press conference, so the 10 semifinalists were announced. The 2008 Emerging Artist Award semifinalists are Kala Moses Baxter, Chris Colucci, Charlotte Cloe Fox Wind, Jeb Kreager, Rosemarie McKelvey, Matt Pfeiffer, Peter Reynolds, Sarah Sanford, Joshua Schulman, and David Stradley. This list of semifinalists will be narrowed to the five final nominees and announced by the beginning of September.

The Ted and Stevie Wolf Award for New Approaches to Collaborations celebrates unique collaborations between theatre companies and other "non theatre" organizations. These collaborations each result in a public event and have an importance or impact both on the participating organizations and the Greater Philadelphia community. The nominees for this year's award are Arden Theatre Company & Christ Church for Our Town in Old City; Philadelphia Young Playwrights & Mural Arts Program for Poetic Life & The Choices We Make; and Theatre Exile & American Society of Capoeira & Arts from Brazil for Roosters.

THE BARRYMORE AWARD NOMINEES FOR 2008 ARE:

OUTSTANDING OVERALL PRODUCTION OF A PLAY: Frozen – InterAct Theatre Company; Skylight – Lantern Theater Company; Six Characters in Search of an Author – The People's Light & Theatre Company; Bug – Theatre Exile; Eurydice – The Wilma Theater

OUTSTANDING OVERALL PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL: The World Goes 'Round – 11th Hour Theatre Company; Assassins – Arden Theatre Company; Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Azuka Theatre; Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre; The Irish...And How They Got That Way – Walnut Street Theatre, Independence Studio on 3

HARMELIN MEDIA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY: Dan Kern – Skylight – Lantern Theater Company; Whit MacLaughlin – Frozen – InterAct Theatre Company; Ken Marini – Six Characters in Search of an Author – The People's Light & Theatre Company; Matt Pfeiffer – Bug – Theatre Exile; Blanka Zizka – Eurydice – The Wilma Theater

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL: Mark Clements – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre; Kevin Glaccum – Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Azuka Theatre; Terrence J. Nolen – Assassins – Arden Theatre Company; Steve Pacek – The World Goes 'Round – 11th Hour Theatre Company; Marc Robin – Peter Pan – Walnut Street Theatre

OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION: Eric Ebbenga – Assassins – Arden Theatre Company; Troy Herion – Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Azuka Theatre; Dan Kazemi – The World Goes 'Round – 11th Hour Theatre Company; Douglass G. Lutz – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre; Ethan Popp – Being Alive – Philadelphia Theatre Company

ARK MEDIA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY: Chris Faith as Steve – Grace – Luna Theater Company; Kes Khemnu as Boy Willie – The Piano Lesson – Arden Theatre Company; Jeb Kreager as Ralph – Frozen – InterAct Theatre Company; Peter Pryor as Iago – Othello – Lantern Theater Company; Matt Saunders as Peter Evans – Bug – Theatre Exile

CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Kim Carson as The Stepdaughter – Six Characters in Search of an Author – The People's Light & Theatre Company; Grace Gonglewski as Agnes White – Bug – Theatre Exile; Mary Martello as Nancy – Frozen – InterAct Theatre Company; Genevieve Perrier as Kyra – Skylight – Lantern Theater Company; Amanda Schoonover as Lucy – Mr. Marmalade – Theatre Exile

GARFIELD REFINING COMPANY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL: Jeffrey Coon as John Wilkes Booth – Assassins – Arden Theatre Company; Steve Luker as The Sewerman – Dear World – Bristol Riverside Theatre; Hugh Panaro as Jean Valjean – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre; Paul Schoeffler as Javert – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre; Dito van Reigersberg as Hedwig/Tommy Gnosis – Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Azuka Theatre

GARFIELD REFINING COMPANY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL: Kim Carson as Yitzhak – Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Azuka Theatre; Ann Crumb as Florence Foster Jenkins – Souvenir – The Media Theatre; Mary Gutzi as Countess Aurelia – Dear World – Bristol Riverside Theatre; Cary Michele Miller as Peter Pan – Peter Pan – Walnut Street Theatre; Erin Weaver as Jamie Hawkins – Treasure Island – The People's Light & Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY: Peter DeLaurier as The Director – Six Characters in Search of an Author – The People's Light & Theatre Company; Jeb Kreager as Mr. Marmalade – Mr. Marmalade – Theatre Exile ; Triney Sandoval as Nasty Interesting Man/Lord of the Underworld – Eurydice – The Wilma Theater; Yaegel T. Welch as Lymon – The Piano Lesson – Arden Theatre Company; William Zielinski as Jerry Goss – Bug – Theatre Exile

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Lee Ann Etzold – The Happiness Lecture – Philadelphia Theatre Company; Genevieve Perrier as Girleen – The Lonesome West – Lantern Theatre Company; Ceal Phelan as The Mother – Six Characters in Search of an Author – The People's Light & Theatre Company; Marcia Saunders as Madame Pace – Six Characters in Search of an Author – The People's Light & Theatre Company; Catharine K. Slusar as Margo – Mr. Bailey's Minder – Walnut Street Theatre, Independence Studio on 3

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL: Jeffrey Coon as Enjolras/Ensemble – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre; Chris Faith as Ezekial Machete Scabbs – Treasure Island – The People's Light & Theatre Company; Scott Greer as Samuel Byck – Assassins – Arden Theatre Company; Scott Greer as Thénardier/Ensemble – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre; James Sugg as Charles Guiteau – Assassins – Arden Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL: Julie Craig as Cosette – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre; Christina DeCicco as Eponine – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre; Danielle Herbert as Anita – West Side Story – The New Candlelight Theatre; Gwendolyn Jones as Mme. Contance – Dear World – Bristol Riverside Theatre; Mary Martello as Sara Jane Moore – Assassins – Arden Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN Sponsored by KieranTimberlake Associates LLP: Beowulf Boritt – Art – Delaware Theatre Company; Dirk Durossette – Skylight – Lantern Theater Company; Michael Fagin – M. Butterfly – Philadelphia Theatre Company; Mimi Lien – Eurydice – The Wilma Theater; Matt Saunders – Bug – Theatre Exile

PECO AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN: Chris Lee – M. Butterfly – Philadelphia Theatre Company; Tyler Micoleau – Eurydice – The Wilma Theater; Tyler Micoleau – Mary's Wedding – Delaware Theatre Company; David O'Connor – Skylight – Lantern Theater Company; Joshua Schulman – Art – Delaware Theatre Company

EARL GIRLS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN: Colleen Grady – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre; Richard St. Clair – Sleeping Beauty – Arden Theatre Company; Janus Stefanowicz – Age of Arousal – The Wilma Theater; Charlotte Cloe Fox Wind – The Illusion – Villanova Theatre; Lisa Zinni – Go, Dog. Go! – Arden Theatre Company

CLEAR SOUND AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN: Chris Colucci – Suburban Love Songs – 1812 Productions; Jorge Cousineau – The Happiness Lecture – Philadelphia Theatre Company; Jorge Cousineau – Eurydice – The Wilma Theater; Fabian Obispo – Mary's Wedding – Delaware Theatre Company; James Sugg – Bug – Theatre Exile

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MUSIC: Michael Keck – I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young Lady from Rwanda – The People's Light & Theatre Company; Robert Maggio – M. Butterfly – Philadelphia Theatre Company; Fabian Obispo – Mary's Wedding – Delaware Theatre Company ; Michael Ogborn – Treasure Island – The People's Light & Theatre Company; Toby Twining – Eurydice – The Wilma Theater

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY/MOVEMENT: Samantha Bellomo – Go, Dog. Go! – Arden Theatre Company; Lee Ann Etzold & Whit MacLaughlin – Prom – New Paradise Laboratories; Karen Getz – Suburban Love Songs – 1812 Productions; Bill Irwin – The Happiness Lecture – Philadelphia Theatre Company; Chu Shan Zhu – M. Butterfly – Philadelphia Theatre Company

INDEPENDENCE FOUNDATION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY: Wittenberg – By David Davalos – Arden Theatre Company; The Happiness Lecture – Conceived by Bill Irwin – Philadelphia Theatre Company; House, Divided – By Larry Loebell – InterAct Theatre Company; Six Characters in Search of an Author – By Luigi Pirandello, Newly Translated and Adapted by Louis Lippa – The People's Light & Theatre Company; Getting Near to Baby – By Y York, Based on the Novel by Audrey Couloumbis – The People's Light & Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY: Suburban Love Songs – 1812 Productions; Go, Dog. Go! – Arden Theatre Company; Animal Farm – Mum Puppettheatre; The Happiness Lecture – Philadelphia Theatre Company; Mr. Marmalade – Theatre Exile

MACY'S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL: The World Goes 'Round – 11th Hour Theatre Company; Assassins – Arden Theatre Company; Being Alive – Philadelphia Theatre Company; The Irish...And How They Got That Way – Walnut Street Theatre, Independence Studio on 3; Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre

THE TED AND STEVIE WOLF AWARD FOR NEW APPROACHES TO COLLABORATIONS: Arden Theatre Company & Christ Church – Our Town in Old City; Philadelphia Young Playwrights & Mural Arts Program – Poetic Life and The Choices We Make; Theatre Exile & American Society of Capoeira & Arts from Brazil – Roosters

EXCELLENCE IN THEATRE EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD, Prize sponsored by the Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Arts Education Fund: 1812 Outreach – 1812 Productions; Delaware Young Playwrights Festival – Delaware Theatre Company; Classroom Connections – Lantern Theater Company; Access Education – Montgomery Theater; The Open Door Project – Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival; PASSPORT Theater Residency Program – Philadelphia Theatre Company

F. OTTO HAAS AWARD FOR AN EMERGING PHILADELPHIA THEATRE ARTIST: Kala Moses Baxter; Chris Colucci; Charlotte Cloe Fox Wind; Jeb Kreager; Rosemarie McKelvey; Matt Pfeiffer; Peter Reynolds; Sarah Sanford; Joshua Schulman; David Stradley

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Dolly Beechman Schnall

Major support for the Barrymore Awards is provided by Actors' Equity Association, Ark Media, The Charlotte Cushman Foundation, Clear Sound, CRW Graphics, The Crystal Tea Room, Drucker & Scaccetti, P.C., Earl Girls Theatrical Equipment, Garfield Refining Company, Harmelin Media, Independence Foundation, KieranTimberlake Associates LLP, PECO, The Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust A as recommended by Carole Haas Gravagno, The Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust B as recommended by Leonard C. Haas, William Penn Foundation, and Ted & Stevie Wolf.

The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia strengthens and leads the region's richly diverse theater community, with more than 120 member organizations and 330 individuals, by promoting awareness and serving as a resource for information, professional development and advocacy. Tickets for the Barrymore Award Ceremony and more information are available online at www.theatrealliance.org or by calling (215) 413-7150.

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ABOUT THE SPECIAL AWARDS

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
  This year's Lifetime Achievement Award honors the varied talents and contributions of Dolly Beechman Schnall. After completing her MFA in Theatre Arts at Temple University, Dolly went on to pursue a career in professional theatre. As an actress she performed at such locations as the Cape May Playhouse, Temple University, La Salle College Music Theatre, Keswick Theatre, Burgundy Theatre, and the Ethical Society of Philadelphia. She holds membership in Actors Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild and the Edwin Forrest Society, a part of The Actors Fund. Mrs. Beechman Schnall is known also for her playwriting, having been awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and has written numerous plays featuring historical figures and social issues. She was commissioned to write Philadelphia Parade of Progress by the City of Philadelphia for its Bicentennial celebration, and her play Treaty Never Broken stands as the longest running historical touring production in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As a director, Mrs. Beechman Schnall has worked with a variety of organizations, from community theatres such as Haddonfield Plays and the Germantown Theatre Guild to Penn State, Rutgers and Temple Universities, to professional productions at Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City and the Cheltenham Playhouse. In addition to her direct work in the theatre, she has also shared her gifts with future theatre artists in her work as an educator. She served as Professor of Theatre History, Play Direction and Creative Drama at Penn State University; Instructor of Oral Interpretation at Rutgers University; taught Acting, History of World Theatre and American Twentieth Century Drama at Camden County College and worked with all age groups at the Germantown Theatre Guild as the Playwright-in-Residence. She established The Laurie Beechman Memorial Scholarship in Musical Theatre at University of the Arts and the Dolly Beechman Schnall Lectureship/Workshop Support Fund at Temple University; both of which provide ongoing support for theatre education. On top of everything else, Mrs. Beechman Schnall has found the capacity to contribute her time and dedication to the boards of local organizations including, but not limited to: 1812 Productions, Arden Theatre Company, Prince Music Theater, The Wilma Theater, and Walnut Street Theatre, where she is holds the distinction of being an Honorary Trustee.
  
  
• F. OTTO HAAS AWARD FOR AN EMERGING PHILADELPHIA THEATRE ARTIST
  This year, the Haas Award Committee released a set of 10 Emerging Theatre Artist semifinalists. The final nominees will be announced in early September. This year's semifinalists are Actress Kala Moses Baxter; Sound Designer and Composer Chris Colucci; Costume Designer Charlotte Cloe Fox Wind; Actor Jeb Kreager; Costume Designer Rosemarie McKelvey; Actor and Director Matt Pfeiffer; Professor and Director Peter Reynolds; Actress Sarah Sanford; Lighting Designer Joshua Schulman; and Director David Stradley.
  
  
• EXCELLENCE IN THEATRE EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
  
  1812 Productions' 1812 Outreach, which has been in operation for a decade, is a unique, in-school theatre education program for at-risk students at South Philadelphia High and the Widener Memorial School for Children with Disabilities. 1812 engages students with limited or no access to the arts in any form, utilizing theatre and comedy to enrich and further academic, social, interpersonal and creative skills. By empowering children through comedy, the program enables students to leave their limitations and inhibitions at the door, challenge their abilities and imaginations, and learn while laughing and having fun, resulting in students who are more open to learning, working with one another and expanding their idea of what is possible. These skills are essential in any theater setting and also build important communication skills as well as a confidence that can last a lifetime.
  
  Delaware Theatre Company's Delaware Young Playwrights Festival, founded in 1990, provides students with an authentic audience for their creative writing and teachers with an innovative literacy program. Guided by passion and professionalism, DYPF uses classroom workshops, professional feedback to every student playwright, and public performances to engage students in the art of theatre through the act of writing a play. These young writers have the excitement of working with a director, actors and designers, seeing how their words translate through performance for their parents, peers, and the general audience. Both competitive and cooperative, DYPF fosters, respects, and celebrates the voices of young writers.
  
  The centerpiece of Lantern Theater Company's Illumination Education Program is Classroom Connections, an in-school residency program designed to enrich the teaching of standardized curriculum with theatre education in some of Philadelphia's most culturally diverse, financially challenged, public middle and high schools. Working in schools with little to no established arts curriculum, the Lantern offers a unique approach which utilizes the natural and highly theatrical affinity between the spoken word, body language, and person to person communication skills, known as multiple intelligences, and the tools of theater in the teaching of literature. The Lantern approach utilizes these intelligences in lessons that give students a chance to think and work like actors, directors, designers, and audiences, all toward a deeper understanding of literature: a physical, aural, personal, and social understanding of literature.
  
  The mission of Montgomery Theater's Access Education program is to provide all interested individuals within the community "access" to the unique opportunities and benefits of the theater regardless of socio-economic background. They provide the community with the access to learn, see, and create theater. Through theater-making programs Access Education aims to instill positive social growth in community youth. Access Education is composed of three complimentary programs. Montgomery Theater Junior offers young people (ages 7-18) the opportunity to audition and be cast in professional family friendly productions. The Young Actors Workshop and its year-long spin off The Young Actors Company, provide a nurturing environment where young people of all levels of ability have the opportunity to explore the creative process through the theater arts. The "A" Ticket provides free access to those who would like to enjoy the experience of live theater but cannot afford the price of admission. Through Access Education, Montgomery Theater provides a continuing service of educational options through performance art and presents an inclusive product to the community that promotes diversity and is informative, educational, and entertaining.
  
  For eight years, The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival's Open Door Project has welcomed thousands of students to their theatre through the Student Matinee Series. Since 2004, they have been traveling to schools near and far to bring Shakespeare to classrooms across the region through the Artist-in-Residence program, endorsed by the School District of Philadelphia. Each year The Festival also offers professional development workshops for teachers and collaborates with other Philadelphia Arts organizations. Since its conception in 2000, The Open Door Project has reached nearly 30,000 students from the greater Philadelphia region; the students and teachers represent every religious and ethnic group from the region's diverse communities. It is vitally important to The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival to provide every student, especially underserved ones, with the opportunity to attend professional performances of exceptional artistic quality and to participate in stimulating educational activities that will deepen their understanding of Shakespeare's language, his stories, themselves and their world in order to promote lifelong learning.
  
  The PASSPORT Theater Residency Program, part of Philadelphia Theatre Company's Drama Contact education programming, is a full-year drama curriculum designed to provide artistic enrichment for students using a menu of multi-visit in-school workshops, residency programs, deeply discounted and free student matinees, and performance opportunities. The goal of the program is to introduce students to theater as a vibrant and living art form in which they can participate in a personal and creative manner. The activities of the program also impact students' reading and writing skills. The performance elements encourage creative writing, and in crafting monologues into a single class production, students learn cooperation and build community within the school setting. Consistently, teachers and teaching artists alike have found that participating in the PASSPORT program has increased their student's participation and enthusiasm in the class, uncovered their talents, improved their attendance, increased their sense of pride and ownership in the work they contribute, and fostered positive changes in classroom culture.
  
  
• THE TED AND STEVIE WOLF AWARD FOR NEW APPROACHES TO COLLABORATIONS
  
  Arden Theatre Company & Christ Church, Our Town in Old City: In Our Town in Old City, Arden Theatre Company collaborated with Philadelphia's historic Christ Church for a re-imagination of Thornton Wilder's classic play about life in small-town America. This production celebrated the Philadelphia community. The audiences at Our Town were some of the first to see newly finished renovations to the historic main hall of the church. The candles in the church's chandelier were lit each night, as well as votive candles in the graveyard at the end of the third act. Sound designer Jorge Cousineau also composed original music for the bell-ringers. Implementing a rotating who's who of Philadelphia choirs and instrumental ensembles enhanced the celebratory, distinctly Philadelphia feel of this collaborative production between Christ Church and Arden Theatre Company. The Arden's production represents one of the largest undertakings in its history: 29 multiethnic cast members, a different choir for each of 36 performances, and two distinct playing spaces. Christ Church was not only able to showcase their new renovations but also remind all Philadelphians to take pride in the extraordinary history of the city. Our Town in Old City dramatizes the unique character of our city: a hotbed for theatrical innovation contained within a rich, historical framework still evident in the cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, and landmark locations.
  
  Philadelphia Young Playwrights & Mural Arts Program, Poetic Life and The Choices We Make: Through the Philadelphia Young Playwrights program, two student's plays were selected for fully staged productions. While Philadelphia's homicide rate and gang activity remain alarmingly high, student playwrights Marquis Herring and Nia Davis – both winners of Young Playwrights' Annual Playwriting Festival – explore alternatives to violence and the power of choice in two compelling and candid semi-autobiographical plays, Poetic Life and The Choices We Make. Young Playwrights and the Mural Arts Program (MAP) have launched an exciting new collaboration, facilitated by scenic designer Mark O'Maley, to include select Philadelphia murals created by MAP as key elements of the plays' scenic design. This collaboration affords an opportunity for MAP to enrich the performance and theatre-going experience by providing imagery that will serve as both a play-making device and a complement to the themes of the plays being performed. This new collaboration between two acclaimed arts and education organizations benefited the Greater Philadelphia community by fostering beautiful and compelling plays for audiences to enjoy and through which students can be inspired.
  
  Theatre Exile & American Society of Capoeira & Arts from Brazil, Roosters: This season Theatre Exile's production of Roosters posed for them an interesting challenge. How do you best portray two humans taking on the personas of cock fighting roosters who brawl to the death? Fortunately, collaboration with the American Society of Capoeira & Arts from Brazil became their answer. Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art self-defense form that incorporates acrobatics, dance, percussion and songs in rhythmic dialogue of body, mind and spirit. It is a centuries-old, deadly fight technique disguised within a carefully crafted dance style. This form could not easily be learned by Theatre Exile's actors so, ASCAB provided Theatre Exile with two of their master fighters to perform in the production. However, since Capoeira is not a theatrical form, the fighters still needed to collaborate with a fight choreographer in order to assure that the performance was appropriately theatrical. Both organizations learned from the craft of the other and found the balance needed to produce great visual and visceral impact for the audience. The benefit of this collaboration was to provide visibility to a whole new audience for the American Society of Capoeira & Arts from Brazil, and it brought a very appropriately ethnic presence to the production by Theatre Exile.
  
  

To request interviews, photos, ceremony press passes, and more information, please contact: Debbie Fleischman, Fleischman Gerber & Associates, (215) 735-7356, debbie@fleischmangerber.com