Staff Blog
The 14th Annual Barrymore Awards One Ridiculous Question Sweepstakes
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| theatrealliance.org |
So when I was asked to do again the red carpet intros and chit-chatty Q&A thing for last night's 14th annual Barrymore Awards honoring Philadelphia theatrical excellllllllllllence, I had to put aside any thoughts of playing faves. Sure, I won lotsa money on Jeb Kreager. Think I wrote all those nice things about him in the Best of ish if I didn’t have money on his game? And though I will say I lost big on the whole lead actor/musical category (man, you could hear people nearly boo Hugh Panaro as Jean Valjean doing Les Mis at the Walnut ... unless they were mumbling “Hugh”?!), I think I walked out of the Crystal Tea Room about three grand richer. Always bet 1812 to sweep.
Anyhoo, I started to play a game with myself as to what I'd ask a few of the nominees before the ceremony. Would I do the "what you wearing?" or "how did you arrive at the character?" prattle? No. Instead, I created the 14th Annual Barrymore Awards One Ridiculous Question” sweepstakes.
(By the way, Mayor Nutter, who a Lifetime Achievement Award to Dolly Beechman Schnall said his own ridiculous stuff about this being his “audition” for Tonys, Emmys, Oscar hosting duties. Nutter Butter doesn’t need my prompting to be a goofball.)
Questions and responses after the jump.
Bill Irwin, nominated for The Happiness Lecture
Q: In the course of your career, who was harder to get along with: Kathleen Turner or Lee Etzold?
A: Both women are forces of nature. But Lee is taller.
Adam Gertler, a Brat Productions alum now starring on The Food Network’s Will Work for Food
Q: If your cell phone rings while you're presenting, what will you do?
A: Tell my mom that I told her I'd be working at the Barrymores and that I'd call her back.
Jeb Kreager, nominated for a bunch of acting stuff, a best actor winner for Frozen and a F. Otto Haas Award winner for Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist
Q: Did you ever buy anything from Macy's, the presenting sponsor tonight?
A: I did. A large ashtray that had this whole Modigliani vibe — nipple spitting water, the whole bit. They only had one left, too.
Walnut Street Theatre alum Ben Lipitz, currently headlining as Pumbaa in the national tour of The Lion King
Q: Other than James Naughton, who is the most annoying theatrical presence ever?
A: Wow. I really think about this. Is there a time limit. OK, Dame Edna. Why? Because she calls everyone "possum" in her audience. That was my nickname as a kid. And it always felt like she's talking to me. Look, I knew coming back to Philly meant I'd have to rip off a few scabs. But I didn't expect this.
Grace Gonglewski, nominated for Bug
Q: If you win, wil you drop your Gs like Sarah Palin or call everyone "my friend" like John McCain?
A: I’ll tell everybody "I love you" like Joe Biden.
Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre: 2008 Award Recipients by Category
Outstanding Overall Production of a Play
Six Characters in Search of an Author – The People’s Light & Theatre Company
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre
Harmelin Media Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play
Dan Kern – Skylight – Lantern Theater Company
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Terrence J. Nolen – Assassins – Arden Theatre Company
Outstanding Music Direction
Eric Ebbenga – Assassins – Arden Theatre Company
Ark Media Award for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play
Jeb Kreager as Ralph – Frozen – InterAct Theatre Company
Charlotte Cushman Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play
Geneviève Perrier as Kyra – Skylight – Lantern Theater Company
Garfield Refining Company Award for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical
Hugh Panaro as Jean Valjean – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre
Garfield Refining Company Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical
Kim Carson as Yitzhak – Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Azuka Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Triney Sandoval as Nasty Interesting Man/Lord of the Underworld – Eurydice – The Wilma Theater
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Lee Ann Etzold – The Happiness Lecture – Philadelphia Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Scott Greer as Samuel Byck – Assassins – Arden Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Christina DeCicco as Eponine – Les Misérables – Walnut Street Theatre
Outstanding Set Design Sponsored by KieranTimberlake Associates LLP
Beowulf Boritt – Art – Delaware Theatre Company
PECO Award for Outstanding Lighting Design
Joshua Schulman – Art – Delaware Theatre Company
Earl Girls Award for Outstanding Costume Design
Richard St. Clair – Sleeping Beauty – Arden Theatre Company
Clear Sound Award for Outstanding Sound Design
Christopher Colucci – Suburban Love Songs – 1812 Productions
Outstanding Original Music
Toby Twining – Eurydice – The Wilma Theater
Outstanding Choreography/Movement
Karen Getz – Suburban Love Songs – 1812 Productions
Independence Foundation Award for Outstanding New Play
Wittenberg – By David Davalos – Arden Theatre Company
Outstanding Ensemble in a Play
Suburban Love Songs – 1812 Productions
Macy's Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
The World Goes 'Round – 11th Hour Theatre Company
The Ted and Stevie Wolf Award for New Approaches to Collaborations
Arden Theatre Company & Christ Church – Our Town in Old City
Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service Prize, Sponsored by the Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Arts Education Fund
PASSPORT Theater Residency Program – Philadelphia Theatre Company
F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist
Matt Pfeiffer
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dolly Beechman Schnall
I thought that was you at the top of the stairs. Great questions. I took a few photos of the event, ok more than a few, about 400, I went a little crazy, there was a red carpet.