The Barrymore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play is an annual award given to the best director of a (non-musical) play running in the Greater Philadelphia, as determined by Theatre Philadelphia.
Blanka Zizka, the Founding Artistic Director of Wilma Theater has won the most awards, with five wins out of thirteen nominations. Additionally, Anne Kauffman, James Ijames, Terrence J. Nolen, Abigail Adams, Matt Pfeiffer, and James J. Christy each have two wins.
Award winners Key
1990s Year Director Production Ref.1995 Blanka Zizka Road Mary B. Robinson Of Mice and MenDeborah BlockJeffreyLeonard FogliaMaster ClassDavid IngramDistant Fires1996 Charles Karchmer Love! Valour! Compassion!Abigail AdamsMy Mother Said I Never ShouldDugald MacArthurThe Lower DepthsKen Marini KindertransportMary B. RobinsonThree Viewings1997 James J. Christy & Harriet Power Angels in AmericaKen Marini The IllusionTerrence J. NolenDeath of a SalesmanWilliam RoudebushOleannaBlanka ZizkaQuills1998 Aaron Posner A Midsummer Night's DreamKeith BakerThe Balkan WomenDugald MacArthurThe Steward of ChristendomKen MariniJack and JillHarriet PowerA Moon for the Misbegotten1999 Seth Rozin LebensraumJames J. ChristyCoyote on a FenceJames J. ChristyGross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar WildeTerrence J. NolenThe Grapes of WrathTazewell ThompsonA Flea in Her Ear
2000s Year Director Production Ref.2000 Blanka Zizka The Invention of LoveJames J. ChristySide ManKen MariniDimly Perceived Threats To The SystemMaria MileafWitTerrence J. NolenRed Herring2001 James J. Christy The Laramie ProjectAbigail AdamsBook of DaysMelia BensussenHearts: The Forward ObserverHarriet PowerMeasure for MeasureSeth RozinIt's All True2002 William Roudebush EquusKeith BakerThe DresserJames J. ChristyThe Merchant of VeniceDan RothenbergMeasure for MeasureBlanka ZizkaYellowman2003 Abigail Adams In the BloodTerrence J. NolenAll My SonsBlanka ZizkaThe Magic FireBlanka ZizkaRedJiri ZizkaBig Love2004 Blanka Zizka Jesus Hopped the 'A' TrainMichael BrophyTravels With My AuntCharles McMahonThe Comedy of ErrorsAaron PosnerMary's WeddingWilliam RoudebushA Christmas Carol2005 Maria Mileaf The StoryJames J. ChristyTake Me OutDaniel FishThe Clean HousePete PryorRecent Tragic EventsJiri ZizkaOutrage2006 Terrence J. Nolen OpusJoe CanusoKiller JoeKen Marini Man from NebraskaCharles McMahonRichard IIIMatt PfeifferThe Foocy2007 Mark Clements Of Mice and MenTerrence J. NolenA Prayer for Owen MeaneyDavid O'Connor "Master Harold"...and the BoysMatt PfeifferGlengarry Glen RossJiri ZizkaThe Pillowman2008 Dan Kern SkylightWhit MacLaughlinFrozenKen MariniSix Characters in Search of an AuthorMatt PfeifferBugBlanka ZizkaEurydice2009 Terrence J. Nolen Something IntangibleAnne Marie CammaratoNo Child...Kathryn MacMillanThe HothouseBlanka ZizkaRock 'n' RollBlanka ZizkaScorched
2010s Year Director Production Ref.2010 Anne Kauffman Becky ShawGabriel Quinn BauriedelWelcome to Yuba CityJames J. ChristyRabbit HoleWalter DallasBlue DoorMadi DistefanoThe Bald Soprano2011 Blanka Zizka In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)Leonard FogliaLet Me Down EasyRichard HamburgerMy Wonderful DayMatt PfeifferThe Lieutenant of InishmoreAaron PosnerAround the World in Eighty Days2012 Anne Kauffman Body AwarenessJames J. ChristyThe Outgoing TideMatt PfeifferThe Whipping ManSanford RobbinsThe Skin of Our TeethDan Rothenberg Twelfth NightBlanka ZizkaAngels in America 2013 No award given2014 James Ijames The Brothers SizeSamantha ReadingPride and PrejudiceDamon BonettiTrue StoryJoe CanusoAnapurnaMatthew DeckerCircle Mirror TransformationKathryn MacMillanI Am My Own WifeMatt PfeifferDown Past Passyunk2015 Matt Pfeiffer The WhaleJoe CanusoWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Matt PfeifferTo The MoonJoanna SettleRapture, Blister, BurnRick ShiomiCaughtPirronne YousefzadehDangerous HousePirronne YousefzadehIn the Blood2016 Matt Pfeiffer The Invisible HandDeborah BlockSmokeJames J. Christy Sr.A Great WarKip FaganExit StrategyClaire MoyerSpineKittson O'NeillA Knee That Can BendTom ReingThe Radicalisation of Bradley Manning2017 Blanka Zizka When the Rain Stops FallingSteve H. Broadnax IIIThe MountaintopEmmanuelle DelpechThe Legend of Georgia McBrideBrenna GeffersAnnaClaire MoyerRadiant VerminAaron PosnerStupid Fucking BirdLane SavadoveThe Seagull2018 Abigail Adams Morning's at SevenSteve H. Broadnax IIISkeleton CrewKathryn MacMillanThe RevolutionistsKen MariniWaiting for GodotAlex TorraBienvenidos Blancos! or Welcome White People!Rebecca WrightThe GapRebecca WrightThe Wild Duck2019 James Ijames Gem of the OceanC. Ryanne DominguesMorir SonyandoJerrell L. HendersonUNTITLEDMaura KrauseBoycott EstherKathryn MacMillanThe Complete Works of Jane Austen, AbridgedKittson O'NeillMoby DickRebecca WrightIndecent
2020s Year Director Production Ref. 2020 No award given 2021 No award given 2022 No award given2023 Malika Oyetimein Clyde'sZuhairah McGillThe RoyaleAbigail AdamsLettieMegan BellwoarA View from the BridgeKathryn MacMillanJane EyreCat RamirezMeet Murasaki Shikibu Followed by Book-Signing, and Other Things2024 Charlotte Northeast Citrus AndronicusAmina RobinsonFat HamKathryn MacMillanLovesongTerrence J. NolenThe Lehman TrilogyMolly Rosa HoulahanHurricane DianeBianca LaVerne JonesCrumbs from the Table of JoyMatt PfeifferA Case for the Existence of God2025 Amina Robinson Intimate ApparelAlex BurnsCyrano de BergeracMorgan GreenThe ComeuppanceNell Bang-JensenNosejobJames Ijames King Hedley IIKathryn MacMillanSquare GoMatt PfeifferRed
Multiple wins 5 wins Blanka Zizka
2 wins Anne Kauffman James Ijames Terrence J. Nolen Abigail Adams Matt Pfeiffer James J. Christy
Multiple nominations 13 nominations Blanka Zizka
11 nominations Matt Pfeiffer
9 nominations James J. Christy
8 nominations Terrence J. Nolen
7 nominations Ken Marini Kathryn MacMillan
5 nominations Abigail Adams
4 nominations Aaron Posner
3 nominations Harriet Power Jiri Zizski Rebecca Wright James Ijames Joe Canuso
2 nominations Mary B. Robinson Deborah Block Leonard Foglia Charles McMahon Dugald MacArthur Seth Rozin Maria Mileaf Anne Kauffman Dan Rothenberg Pirronne Yousefzadeh Kittson O'Neill Steve H. Broadnax III Claire Moyer Amina Robinson
References