Krista Apple won for her supporting portrayal of a no-nonsense nurse, and the production's other awards were for Thom Weaver's lighting, Oana Botez-Ban's Victorian-era costumes, Christopher Colucci's sound design, and Alexis Distler's set, which turned several rooms into a wintry garden during the last minutes. The Wilma rebuilt its seating area so the play could be performed salon-style, in the middle of the audience, rather than on its proscenium stage.
The best production of a musical went to an Arden Theatre Company children's show - The Flea and the Professor, a world premiere the company commissioned from Jordan Harrison and Richard Gray, based on Hans Christian Andersen's tales. Its leading actor, Rob McClure, won a second Barrymore medallion for the play, as best actor in a musical; he played a professor who has only a flea in his vest to accompany him on what becomes a world tour.
Both In the Next Room and The Flea and the Professor had received the most nominations for this year's awards, a dozen apiece.
About 700 attendees, some in formal wear, had gathered for the 17th annual awards ceremony. During the program the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, which organizes the awards, stressed a theme of education.
Many presenters spoke of their initial brushes with theater. The evening's host, 6ABC news anchor Rick Williams, spoke of his 9-year-old son's audition for a role. Presenters included Mayor Nutter and Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally, who won the distinguished-artist Barrymore. McNally has premiered several plays at Philadelphia Theatre Company, whose producing artistic director, Sara Garonzik, presented the award.
