For Immediate Release: January 29, 2007
Media Contact: Deborah Fleischman, for Philadelphia Theatre Company, 215.735.7356

Philadelphia Theatre Company hosts its annual Sweethearts' Brunch and Auction on Sunday, February 11 at 11:00 AM in the Grand Ballroom of the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue. This year's annual fundraiser celebrating sweethearts and the arts honors Carl E. Dranoff, President of Dranoff Properties. The event is co-chaired by Berny and Bev Brownstein and Marc and Amy Brownstein of The Brownstein Group. Gerald Cuddy, President & CEO of Beneficial Savings Bank, William Schwartz from Driscoll/INTECH Joint Venture and Christophe P. Terlizzi, Executive VP of Commercial Real Estate, Citizens Bank are co-chairs of the Tribute Journal.

Philadelphia Theatre Company's annual event combines a brunch and an opportunity to bid on tokens of affection including get-away vacations, jewelry, crafts, works of art, fine dining, arts and culture, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and entertainment and sports packages.

"For more than three decades, Carl Dranoff has been a visionary leader in the redevelopment of Philadelphia as a great urban center in which to work, play, and live, understanding that arts and entertainment go hand in hand with economic revitalization," said Philadelphia Theatre Company Board President E. Gerald Riesenbach, Esq. "From the beginning of his plans for Symphony House, Dranoff choose Philadelphia Theatre Company to be the artistic component of his project, the first new residential construction on the Avenue of the Arts. Describing us as 'the ultimate home entertainment system,'Dranoff has worked closely with Philadelphia Theatre Company to provide us with a home that matches the artistic excellence of our productions."

Past years' Sweethearts' Awards have been given to Shirley and Vernon W. Hill II, Founder and Chairman of Commerce Bank; Ellen Solms and Karen Lewis, former and current Executive Director respectively representing the Avenue of the Arts, Inc.; Irvin J. Borowsky, founder and CEO of the National Liberty Museum; Laurie Wagman, founder and President of American Theater Arts for Youth, Inc.; Karen Davis, Executive Director of the Arts & Business Council of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Joanne Harmelin of Harmelin Media; Marcia Salvatore, former Executive Director of the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative; and actress/philanthropist Suzanne Roberts.

Philadelphia Theatre Company is Philadelphia's only non-profit professional theater dedicated exclusively to producing world and regional premieres of works by contemporary American playwrights. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director, Sara Garonzik, Philadelphia Theatre Company has had ever-increasing national impact having produced 34 world premieres of new American plays and musicals in its 31 seasons. Recent world premiere productions include: Some Men by Terrence McNally (to be produced at Second Stage Theatre in Spring 2007); Adrift in Macao by Christopher Durang and Peter Melnick (to be produced at Primary Stages, Winter 2007); Bruce Graham's According to Goldman; Jeffrey Hatcher's A Picasso; Daniel Stern's comedy Barbra's Wedding (moved to the Westside Arts Theatre in 2003); John Henry Redwood's No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs; J.T. Rogers' White People; David Ives' Lives of the Saints; three-time Tony Award-winning Master Class by Terrence McNally, starring Zoe Caldwell; Bunny Bunny by Alan Zweibel (Lucille Lortel Award, 1997); and the American premiere of Birdy by Naomi Wallace. A Picasso received its New York premiere at the Manhattan Theatre Club in April 2005. Philadelphia Theatre Company was chosen Best Theatre Company 2003 by Philadelphia magazine, Theater Company of the Year by Philadelphia Weekly in 2005, Best Theater Company in the 2005 City Paper Readers' Choice Awards, and named Best Theater by Philadelphia Style Magazine in 2006. Since 1995, Philadelphia Theatre Company has received 109 nominations and 34 awards from Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards, most recently for Adrift in Macao (Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical [Rachel deBenedet as Lureena], Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical [Orville Mendoza as Tempura], and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical [Michele Ragusa as Corinna]) and Intimate Apparel (Outstanding Costume Design [Janus Stefanowicz]).

Philadelphia Theatre Company has embarked on a groundbreaking Capital Campaign in support of building its new home, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre on the Avenue of the Arts, scheduled to open in Fall, 2007 when it concludes its 25-year residence at the historic Plays & Players Theater.

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