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Barrymore Award nominations honor Villanova Theatre
students, faculty and staff
By Eileen M. Rafferty ‘06
Several students, faculty and staff members from Villanova
University’s theatre department were nominated for six Barrymore
Awards by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. The nominations
were announced during a press conference in Philadelphia on Aug. 20.
Awarded annually, the Barrymores recognize outstanding talent and innovative
excellence. “It is Philadelphia’s version of the TONY awards
at a local level which honors the creative talents of people in this area,”
said Theatre Department Chairperson Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A.. “It’s
a real honor to the department and University that their talents and abilities
were recognized. It’s a particular honor to the graduate students
because they were up against the professional theatre committee downtown.”
Graduate students Jason J. Michael and Cheryl Mazzarini were acknowledged
for their performance in “City of Angels,” performed at Villanova’s
theatre. Michael, as Buddy Fiddler and Irwin S. Irving, was nominated
for outstanding supporting actor in a musical; Mazzarini, as Donna and
Oolie, was nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a musical.
“It was one of the most challenging roles I have ever had,”
said Mazzarini. “But what came through in my performance was how
much I enjoyed working with the other cast members.” This is her
second nomination; her first was for Matron “Mama” Morton
in Villanova’s performance of “Chicago” in the spring
of 2002.
The other nominees include assistant theatre professor Benjamin Lloyd,
who teaches graduate theatre students and undergraduate theatre minors.
“My production included a lot of unpaid research, so it became a
labor of love. Therefore, it is very nice to be recognized in this way,”
said Lloyd. His nomination was for outstanding leading actor as “The
Performer” in Heckler at 1812 Productions.
Receiving two nominations is Villanova Theatre’s costume shop manager
Janus Stefanowicz for outstanding costume design in “Big Love”
and “The Magic Fire” at Wilma Theater.
Jerold R. Forsyth, resident lighting designer and winner of the 2002 Barrymore
Award for outstanding lighting design in Wilma Theater’s “Indian
Ink,” is nominated again for “Big Love.”
“The faculty and staff’s great recognition of work outside
of Villanova indicates the professionalism present at Villanova’s
theatre,” said Donohue.
Villanova began its participation in the Barrymore Awards in 1994. Since
then, 33 nominations and six awards have honored the theatre department.
This year, 86 productions were reviewed, 27 of which were professional
theatres. Sixty-seven productions were included in the nominations.
The winners will be announced at the 2003 Barrymore Awards
Ceremony and Gala on Oct. 27 at the Annenberg Center’s Zellerbach
Theatre, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia.
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