May 9, 2007

Philadelphia Theatre Company is pleased to announce that several plays and performers in recent PTC world premiere productions have received nominations for theater awards including Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League awards.

Some Men by Terrence McNally, which received its world premiere at Philadelphia Theatre Company in the Spring of 2006, was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.

Peter Melnick, who wrote the music for Adrift in Macao, which received its world premiere at Philadelphia Theatre Company in Fall 2005, was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music.

Orville Mendoza, who was featured in Philadelphia Theatre Company's production of Adrift in Macao and repeated his role in the New York production, has received a Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. Mendoza also won a 2006 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical in this role.

Michele Ragusa, who won a 2006 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role in Philadelphia Theatre Company's Adrift in Macao, is up for a Distinguished Performance Award from the Drama League.

The Pain and the Itch by Bruce Norris, commissioned by Philadelphia Theatre Company, has received an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play and been nominated for the John Gassner Award for an American Play.

Austin Pendleton, author of Orson's Shadow currently being produced by Philadelphia Theatre Company, will receive a Special Drama Desk Award for being a Renaissance man of theater as actor, director, playwright and teacher.

"We are thrilled with the much-deserved attention that these productions and artists are receiving and are proud of our role in furthering their life in the national theater scene," said Sara Garonzik, Producing Artistic Director of Philadelphia Theatre Company.

Philadelphia Theatre Company is Philadelphia's only non-profit professional theater dedicated exclusively to producing world and regional premieres of works by contemporary American playwrights. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director, Sara Garonzik, Philadelphia Theatre Company has had ever-increasing national impact having produced 34 world premieres of new American plays and musicals in its 31 seasons. Recent world premiere productions include: Nerds://A Musical Software Satire by Jordan Allen-Dutton, Erik Weiner, and Hal Goldberg; Some Men by Terrence McNally (recently produced at Second Stage Theatre); Adrift in Macao by Christopher Durang and Peter Melnick (produced at Primary Stages last Winter); Bruce Graham's According to Goldman; Jeffrey Hatcher's A Picasso; Daniel Stern's comedy Barbra's Wedding (moved to the Westside Arts Theatre in 2003); John Henry Redwood's No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs; J.T. Rogers' White People; David Ives' Lives of the Saints; three-time Tony Award-winning Master Class by Terrence McNally, starring Zoe Caldwell; Bunny Bunny by Alan Zweibel (Lucille Lortel Award, 1997); and the American premiere of Birdy by Naomi Wallace. A Picasso received its New York premiere at the Manhattan Theatre Club in April 2005. Philadelphia Theatre Company was chosen Best Theatre Company 2003 by Philadelphia magazine, Theater Company of the Year by Philadelphia Weekly in 2005, Best Theater Company in the 2005 City Paper Readers' Choice Awards, and named Best Theater by Philadelphia Style Magazine in 2006. Since 1995, Philadelphia Theatre Company has received 109 nominations and 34 awards from Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards.

Designed by KieranTimberlake Associates LLP, Philadelphia Theatre Company's state-of-the-art Suzanne Roberts Theatre will include a 365-seat traditional proscenium auditorium designed to envelope both the actors and audience, a flexible black box theater space, a dramatic lobby and mezzanine level reception areas with commanding views of the city, as well as superior patron amenities, box office, handicapped accessibility and elevator to all floors.

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