BARRYMORE AWARDS 2023 – My BARRYMORE NOMINATOR ROLE – Theatre Philadelphia

I’ve put together a little highlights reel of the winners and the evening held at FringeArts (140 N. Columbus Blvd) which catered the after party with outstanding stations – shrimp and grits, hot roast beef with horseradish, wings, pasta, assorted cheeses and more…

As I’ve mentioned in the past, I started my career in theater. First as a member of the Summer Stock theater company Town & Country in Bucks County. Then I got an official paying position with American Music Theater Festival, founded by Marjorie Samoff. Where I wore too many hats in my 6 years stint to name them all. For those in Philly, The current Philadelphia Film Center (15th & Chestnut) used to be The Prince Theater, built for AMTF back in the late 90’s.

I veered away from the entertainment industry entirely for 15 years, which I regret, having left AMTF abruptly, worn and weary. I half-hardheartedly interviewed in NYC for any number of positions in the biz, but didn’t land anything. I know deep down I couldn’t handle the intense vibrations of “The City That Never Sleeps”, so I never pushed very hard. And without unemployment, it didn’t’ take long before I had to take almost any job to avoid moving back home. So I put the industry that I care most deeply about behind me – until 2010 when I started Tinsel & Tine and 2019 when I threw my hat in the ring to be chosen as a Barrymore Nominator for The Barrymore Awards, Philly’s version of the TONY Awards. Side note: neither T&T nor Nominating pays squat, in fact they both cost me money, so technically, I never fully returned to the industry, but well…

As a Barrymore Nominator I am given an assignment by Theatre Philadelphia for a show playing at a professional theater in the Greater Philadelphia Area. I’ve been as far as Delaware Theater Company, People’s Light and out to Quintessence in the Germantown Suburbs. I’m thankful to have a car and be able to see these great performances. But of course, it’s much more convenient to be assigned to a Center City show at the Wilma or PTC or Arden etc… Once assigned, you’re given 3 date options during the opening week of a show and told to make your own reservations, letting the box office know you are a Barrymore Nominator. Sometimes they give you 2 tickets automatically, sometimes you can request for a guest. Most often you receive 1 ticket, but I never mind seeing a show or movie by myself.

As with reviewing movies, I don’t take notes during the show, I feel this takes away from the enjoyment and purity of my feelings. But I do pay close attention to how the sets look and work. Lighting is harder to judge cause good lighting shouldn’t really be noticeable. Direction is about so many aspects, but just like with movies, pacing/energy is most important to me. I’m always gonna naturally be drawn to the costumes and each actors performance on stage. There are a good number of us, so Nominators don’t see all the shows at every theater, all year round, that would get exhausting. Each Nominator sees about 10-15 shows per season. I would say the hardest part is judging the production and not the play itself. We don’t vote on playwrights. It’s not like with film where storyline is key. We must give our critiques within 24 hours of seeing the show; as we are like scouts, giving our opinion on whether an official judge should be sent to see the show. We do this via a form which doesn’t take very long to fill out, much quicker than writing movie reviews.

Like I said, I started in 2019, but the season was cut short due to COVID. We then had a dark year in 2021 where only half the theaters were back up and running. And finally a full season in 2022-2023 culminating in the video above – the Barrymore Awards Ceremony and Celebration! (click for list of Nominees ). I’m proud to say 4 of the big winners of the night were shows I recommended for Barrymores!