THE 2008 BARRYMORE AWARDS PHOTOS - Philadelphia, Pa

The 14th Annual Barrymore Awards were unveiled amid plenty of glitz and glamour in Philadelphia last night. I was so excited to attend my first one having covered NYC's Broadway scene for the past 3 years and shooting the Tony's for the 2nd year in a row, I really wanted to see my hometown theatre award shows. Hopefully from here on out I will get a chance to cover this vibrant scene and bring it to you (OK theater Companies email me to come out and cover your opening nights to appear on Philly Chit Chat, the photo will also be sent nationally to my agency, and to media outlets in Philly.)

The statuettes take their name from a moniker for the famed Philadelphia-Based first family of theatre, The Barrymore Awards are the region's only comprehensive theatre awards. Part of the glitz glamour starts here with Julie Craig and Demetrios Kalkamis

Continuing with best actress nominee Lee Ann Etzold and Bill Irwin

I hear this was the 2nd year of the Red Carpet at the event (and it was sponsored by Macy's - Thanks Macy's!!), and if you are a long time reader of this blog you know I welcome a Red Carpet, it just brings that extra pizazz to the event. Next year I might move the step up and repeat about 6 feet forward next to the Red Carpet as to leave room for pedestrians to walk by, at 6:30PM there are still plenty of people on the sidewalk compared to 7:45PM when I took this shot. even the MC Perez Hilton, er I mean Alastair Spatz brought a little more excitement to Philly. It's always fun to get interviewed on the Red Carpet, pose on it and have the paparazzi and TV camera's there. In fact I tipped off my friends over at www.Streettalkin.com off of the event , and they should have video up in the next few days.The classy Sally Mercer
Broadway's Spring Awakenings Philadelphia born, Gideon Glick made an appearance
as did this youngster, and I may have gotten this last name wrong, Gianna Bruzzese; she played young Cosette in Les Mis at the Walnut Street Theatre. She’s also the voice of Tasha in Nick Jr.’s Backyardigans. Very poised and fashionable on the red carpet. You go girl!!
Isn't it great running into old friends, former coworkers, people you don't get to see all the time. The woman on the left is Cathy Simpson…the man on the right is Larry Loebell.
TV's Grease contestant, Steven Calakos with Jaimie Standish; both are appearing in My Fair Lady at the Media Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Bill Irwin, best actress nominee in "In The Happiness Lecture" Lee Ann Etzold and Doug Daub, chatting with Sara Garonzik, “The Suzanne Roberts Theatre, home of Philadelphia Theatre Company”company's producing artistic director where the play was staged. Mr. Irwin tells me that he's in a movie Rachel Getting Married starring Anne Hathaway. He plays her father.
Opening the show with this rousing number from State Fair, The Walnut Street Theatre celebrated its landmark bicentennial season with this Rogers and Hammerstein classic.
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical - The World Goes Round

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical

The World Goes 'Round, 11th Hour Theatre Company

Michael Philip O'Brien, Marybeth Gorman, Dan Kazemi, Steve Pacek, Billy Bustamante, Melina Bass, Alex Keiper, and Megan Nicole O'Brien (The O'Brien's are related, brother & sister)

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play

Suburban Love Songs, 1812 Productions

Ensemble in a Play – Jennifer Childs, Mary Carpenter, Amy Smith, Mario Fabroni, Dawn Falato, Karen Getz, Fred Siegel.
Lisa Nutter and the winners of:

Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service

Philadelphia Theatre Company's PASSPORT Theater Residency Program

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play

Lee Ann Etzold, The Happiness Lecture; Philadelphia Theatre Company

Outstanding Costume Design

Richard St. Clair, Sleeping Beauty; Arden Theatre Company

Who had to run back to the Academy to prepare for Friday nights opening of The Philadelphia Opera and FIDELIO (I bet he is glad he stopped by the Barrymores last night)

I was planning to cover this event, but there are at least a 6 other events on my radar, but I do hope to cover it at some point. I hear it is just amazing with the art direction of World-Renowned Artist Jun Kaneko and FIDELIO Designer. I've heard from more than one source that the set design is really something to behold, I think it will be the talk of the theater going City after Friday night.

An 1812 Production: Cherry Bomb, by 1812 Productions, is their holiday show this year; an excellent listing of all the theatre productions can be found on the Theatre Alliance website here.

F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist awarded to
actor-director Matt Pfeiffer, 31, who has received both acting and directing Barrymore nominations, won the $10,000 F. Otto Haas award for an emerging artist. Trained in theater at DeSales University near Allentown, the site of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Pfeiffer has worked with many professional companies in Philadelphia and last summer returned to the festival for his first directing stint at that venue.

Matt Pfeiffer on the right, with last year’s winner Matt Saunders and the founder of the award named for her husband, Carole Haas Gravagno.

Special Thanks to their Sponsors...

and

Winner of Outstanding Sound Design Christopher Colucci and winner of Outstanding Choreography/Movement Karen Getz, both from Suburban Love Songs; 1812 Productions (her energy is so refreshing)

Hello new friend, ok Hello Gorgeous!

Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play

Geneviève Perrier as Kyra, Skylight; Lantern Theater Company; Geneviève told me she kicked off her shoes right before she went up on stage, she had no idea where they landed, me thinks she has seen too many Patti Labelle concerts as Patti always kicks her shoes off, sometimes flying into the audience when she gets excited.

Outstanding Choreography/Movement Suburban Love Songs; 1812 Productions with Karen Getz, Robert Smythe, with Bug actress Mt. Airy actress Grace Gonglewski and winner of Outstanding Music Direction Eric Ebbenga, Assassins; Arden Theatre Company "Eric finally won because he deserved it, I am so excited for him" said my new favorite person.
more sponsors...thanks and I am sure I am missing a bunch
Karen DiLossi, Theatre Alliance, Joshua Schulman, Art; Delaware Theatre Company for Lighting, Jeff Gordon, PECO and Margie Salvante, Executive Director of Theatre Alliance

Last but not least,

New Approaches to Collaborations

Abigail Adams and Louis Lippa were on stage in that photo accepting the award for Outstanding Overall Production of a Play for Six Characters in Search of an Author at The People’s Light & Theatre Company.

As a gift to you click on the link below, find your photo right click and save to your computer:

The Barrymore Awards Photo Album

Update: There's a really great article in the Phila Inquirer about last nights events. I wish I had been so educated in all the people I covered. Next year will be better as I will know who I am talking to.

THE LADIES WHO LUNCH on the Mainline re: A Luncheon in Honor of Tory Burch this month's Philadelphia Style Magazine Cover Girl

A few weeks back Philly Chit Chat was driven, thanks Christa, out to the Mainline to the Wurzak residence for a celebratory lunch in honor ofTory Burch as this months cover girl on Philadelphia Style Magazine.Not only was the house straight out of the magnificent of the movie "The Philadelphia Story",

but Mrs. Joann Wurzak was the perfect hostess (middle), with her are friends Sheri Shaffer and Laurie Ingerman Cashman & Associates were the behind the scenes cordinators, on the left Jacklyn Fisher, Christa Guidi and Carrie Nork Minelli, in purple next to Carrie is Haley Binn wife Jason Binn the owner of Niche Media the parent company of PS Mag. They are gathered to greetTory Burch as she arrives in the foyer
PSM editor Sarah Schaffer, with Samantha Marcus Yanks and Audrey Morrison
Tory poses in the living room of the Wurzak estate for a photo session with a local photographer (I took this shot hand held without a flash, 40 feet in distance, see 2nd photo past sign where she is sitting on couch. It came out surprisingly well)
Reggie Rubin, Karen, Isen Andrea, Freudlich and Dominque Reiff
Tory laughs with another guest as they admire the cover shotWendy Rosen, Philadelphia Soul co-owner and all around nice person, BJ Spencer and Marjorie Silverman
This is where the ladies who lunch would have their lunch, but I had to dash back to the day job so I missed out on what would have been a lovely afternoon on the Mainline.
but I did get this great little shot on the "red carpet" in the foyer. Of course my achilles heel kicked in as I chopped off all their toes as the staircase was behind me and well there's only so much I can back up being me. L-R - Hostess Joann Wurzak, PSM owner Haley Binn, Publisher John Colabelli and Editor Sarah Schaffer

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CONCERT ON PARKWAY PHOTOS in PHILADELPHIA - VOTE BARRACK OBAMA re: Sarah Palin makes an appearance

Bruce Springsteen came to MY HOMETOWN Philadelphia to rally the citizens to register to vote before the cut off on Monday 10/6/08 (I actually witnessed folks registering, it's more shocking to me than any damage W regime has done to our country in the past 8 yrs that folks in their 30s and 40s never vote, it's our priviledge as we are Born in the USA)
"We tried this four years ago," said Springsteen, who held concerts for then-Democratic nominee John Kerry and headlined yesterday's get-out-the-vote rally for Obama in Center City. "This time, we're winning." We're Waiting on a Sunny Day!!
A few speakers kicked off the rally
In the front of the line, but sadly behind the press section, huge Bruce Obama fans Lynn and Chuck Timberman with friends Dave and Judy Price. (Right click and save this photo for your use) Give Peace A Chance!
Bruce arrives and hugs an Obama volunteer. I bet she doesn't wash that shirt for a long time.
It'll be a Lonesome Day if Barrack doesn't win the election
MC, radio host Angelo Cataldi
This Friday Obama will be all over Philadelphia making at least 4 appearances inlcuding:

Friday, October 10, 2008
4:45 p.m.
(Please arrive promptly)
Sheraton Philadelphia Hotel
(formerly the Wyndham Plaza)
17th & Race Street

Price Per Person or Couple
Donor - $1,000
Host Committee - $2,500
Co-Chair - $5,000

R.S.V.P.
Please complete the Donor Response Form and mail it
with your check or credit card payment to:

PA for Obama
P.O. Box 22403
Philadelphia, PA 19110

Contact Malcolm Lazin at mlazin08@gmail.com

Nanci Ashback, Austin Hodges, Linda, Liz and Ronald Wagner help Philly's economy by visiting the Art Museum, eating lunch at TGI Fridays and they were going to catch the concert in the late after noon. PCC says: Obama for Change, change let's not "Stay the Course" as Buch famously says. How's the course going for you so far?
Volunteers Erin Farrell and Mary Beth Galex - Thanks for your service in working towards a Change for the future. The next president will probably nominate a Supreme Court Justice, do we really want have a really conservative Supreme Court for the next 20 years?
Lori Reinhart, Ted Mieczkowski, Cassin and Manly Parks also volunteer. Thanks to the volunteers, with appreciation were right up front near the stage. Better Days are ahead.
Springsteen cited the Iraq war, the recent economic turmoil and Hurricane Katrina as examples of the Bush administration's failures. He bookended the set with his rock classic "Promised Land" and Woody Guthrie's folk anthem, "This Land is My Land."
The crowds are let into the staging area
Alexandraia Khahil, Stephen Gordon and Tracy Sands
The Obama camp says its registration efforts have helped give Democrats a 1.2 million-voter advantage over Republicans in Pennsylvania, up from a 580,000-voter lead in 2004. The most recent Quinnipiac University poll, conducted late last month, showed Obama with a 54 percent to 39 percent lead over Republican John McCain among likely state voters.
Friends who don't discuss politics, much. Republicans Greg Savoy and Irene Kelemen with Democrats Lisa Fanelli and Wayne Malosky. Lisa says she had accessorized to make up for her GOP friends. I asked Greg if it bothers him that Bruce espouses his political views, he says, it's widely accepted that celebrities endorse what we wear, buy, eat and those are paid endorsements; he's glad that Bruce has an opinion, gives his time to endorse it. (For the record, celebrities who endorse that other ticket, a few surprises and more than one crazy person: Chuck Norris, Mel Gibson, James Wood, Mary Lou Retton, Clint Eastwood, Dennis Hopper, The Rock, Angie Harmon, Bruce Willis, Ted Nugent, Susan Lucci, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.)
Sarah Palin sneaks into the Bruce Springsteen concert to show her support
Opening acts

Wanda Sykes Tears Into Sarah Palin. Funny! "I think that there should be a list. And people who don't vote, we should make a big list, and anything that bad happens, they should get it first. Years from now when we're driving around in our electric cars, we should still make them pay $12 for gas."

Now this is really the women about town Donna Coghlan with Charlie Pasquala
Photographers get a birds eye view of the parkway. I couldn't do this for two reasons, high anxiety and I would have missed the first 2 Bruce songs and probably would have jumped off if I had to miss the entrance pictures.

One of my favorite Phila Inquirer photographers, April Saul took this photo from the above position
Bruce greets Sen Bob Casey as Gov Rendell looks onTim Clinton and Even Clinton, Tracy Gordon, Alexandria Kahlel - who has been a volunteer since the NH primary, Terri & Dana Walton are big Obama and Bruce fans, Lisa & Eir Pfieifer and Anna Pohlscheidt who would vote for Obama if she wasn't from Germany. Obama is the best choice for the world.
Shocking that anyone would vote for the other ticket because Obama didn't pick Hillary as his running mate. As a Hillary supporter myself, I just have to say especially to my gay friends, get with reality, this isn't big brother and you're out for revenge to whip Obama for being bad and not going with what should have been the obvious choice, no this is about your future, our future, your civil rights future, it's about the US Supreme Court choice, about extending the war, about citizen's left behind, health care, and especially Vote for Obama if you make less than $250k. A McCain vote is a sign of insanity, “Insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result,”

Help Obama return us to the "Glory Days", can all these celebrities be wrong. We watch their shows, we buy their products, we buy the magazines to read about them, we let George W Bush drive this country to it's knees. It's gonna cost you$6ks to bail out your fellow man from the George Bush financial meltdown. Of course Iraq has a $60 million surplus, how much of that is our money? Iraq has the new schools, thank you US citizen's, and how much has Vietnam help you out since we tried to liberate them?
One of my favorite photos, but I must confess I held back some of my best shots as they have been sent to my photo agency in NYC/Europe