The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia announced that Matt Pfeiffer was honored with the F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, a cash award of $10,000, at the 14th Annual Barrymore Awards Ceremony on Monday, October 6 at 7:00 PM at the Crystal Tea Room. The award is given to a Philadelphia theatre artist (director, designer, actor or writer) who shows outstanding promise in his or her field and is dedicated to working in the Philadelphia theatre community.

Matt Pfeiffer is an active actor/director, working consistently in Philadelphia since he graduated from DeSales University. In addition to being a Haas finalist last year, he has also received four Barrymore nominations, including this year's Outstanding Direction for Bug at Theatre Exile, last year for Outstanding Direction for Glengarry Glen Ross and for Outstanding Leading Actor in Red Light Winter both at Theatre Exile, and in 2006 for Outstanding Direction for The Foocy at Lantern Theater Company. He has also worked as both an actor and director at 1812 Productions, InterAct Theatre Company, Walnut Street Theatre, and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.

"The committee and I were awed by the talents of the five young finalists," said Carole Haas Gravagno, who established the award in memory of her late husband. "In Matt we saw someone whose exceptional body of work reflected an extraordinary breadth of talent and someone who showed a tremendous commitment to the Philadelphia theater community."

Funded by the Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust A as recommended by Carole Haas Gravagno, the F. Otto Haas Award is the only one of its kind in the nation. The award is intended to support the artist's living expenses so that they can focus on their craft as well as to encourage theatre artists to remain in the Philadelphia community. An "emerging artist" is one who has worked for at least three years and for no more than ten years in the professional theatre. In addition to the $10,000 prize for the recipient, the four runners-up each receive a $1,000 cash award. The other four nominees were Kala Moses Baxter, Jeb Kreager, Sarah Sanford, and Charlotte Cloe Fox Wind.

Previous award winners include Jennifer Childs, actress, director and Artistic Director of 1812 Productions, and nominated ensemble member of Suburban Love Songs; Scott Greer, who is nominated this year for his performances in Assassins at the Arden Theatre Company and Les Misérables at the Walnut Street Theatre; actor and composer James Sugg, nominated this year for his performance in Assassins; actress Catharine Slusar, nominated this year for her performance in Mr. Bailey's Minder at the Walnut Street Theatre, Independence Studio on 3; and actress Grace Gonglewski, nominated this year for her performance in Bug at Theatre Exile.

The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia strengthens and leads the region's richly diverse theatre community, with more than 120 member organizations and 330 individuals, by promoting positive 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