A red carpet entrance, high fashion dress wear, and a crowd of local and national theater celebrities were all part of the glamour at 14th Annual Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre Ceremony on Monday, October 6 at the Crystal Tea Room. Presented by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, the black-tie ceremony, directed by Vincent Marini, celebrated the work of local theatre artists as well as the vibrancy of the region's theatrical offerings with 26 awards.

Arden Theatre Company took top honors with six awards, double any other company's tally. While all other companies with multiple awards were recognized for a single production, Arden Theatre Company's awards were spread over four productions (Assassins, Sleeping Beauty, Wittenberg, and Our Town in Old City).

Arden Theatre Company's Assassins, Walnut Street Theatre's Les Misérables, and 1812 Productions' Suburban Love Songs tied for the most awards for a single production (three), while Delaware Theatre Company's Art, The Wilma Theater's Eurydice and Lantern Theater Company's Skylight trailed with two awards each.

Assassins and Les Misérables swept almost all the musicals awards with Assassins awarded Outstanding Direction of a Musical to Terrence J. Nolen, Outstanding Music Direction to Eric Ebbenga, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical to Scott Greer and Les Misérables taking home Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical to Hugh Panaro, and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical to Christina DeCicco.

1812 Productions' Suburban Love Songs earned its awards for Christopher Colucci's Outstanding Sound Design, Karen Getz's Outstanding Choreography/Movement, and Outstanding Ensemble in a Play.

Skylight received Outstanding Direction of a Play to Dan Kern and the Charlotte Cushman Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play to Geneviève Perrier while Eurydice claimed the awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play to Triney Sandoval and Outstanding Original Music to Toby Twining. Art ran away with Outstanding Set Design to Beowulf Boritt and Outstanding Lighting Design to Joshua Schulman.

People's Light & Theatre Company's singular win was for Outstanding Overall Production of a Play for Six Characters in Search of an Author.

Other acting awards went to Kim Carson for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Azuka Theatre; Jeb Kreager for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play in Frozen at InterAct Theatre Company; Lee Ann Etzold for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play for The Happiness Lecture at Philadelphia Theatre Company; and Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical in The World Goes 'Round at 11th Hour Theatre Company.

Matt Pfeiffer received the coveted F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, a special $10,000 cash award. A Haas finalist last year, he has also received four additional Barrymore nominations over the past three seasons. His enormous body of work, the breadth of his talents and his commitment to the local theater community were cited as contributing factors to his receiving this award.

Three other special awards were given out. Philadelphia Theatre Company received the award for Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service for its PASSPORT Theater Residency Program. Dolly Beechman Schnall received the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledging her work as an actress, director, playwright, professor, board member and all-around advocate for the arts. The Ted and Stevie Wolf New Approaches to Collaborations Award, honoring collaborative efforts between theatre companies and organizations of other artistic disciplines, went to Arden Theatre Company & Christ Church for Our Town in Old City.

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/Finley Catering, Drucker & Scaccetti, P.C., Earl Girls Theatrical Equipment, Garfield Refining Company, Harmelin Media, Independence Foundation, KieranTimberlake Associates LLP, Macy's, Mindlabs.net, PECO, Philadelphia Theatrical Supply, 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, R Design, 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.

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