Barrymore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play

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.[1]

Barrymore Award for
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Awarded forExcellence in Theatre
LocationPhiladelphia, PA
Presented byTheatre Philadelphia
Currently held byAmina Robinson for Intimate Apparel (2025)
Websitetheatrephiladelphia.org

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

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Key
  and bold indicates the winner.

1990s

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Year Director Production Ref.
1995
Blanka Zizka Road [2][3]
Mary B. Robinson Of Mice and Men
Deborah Block Jeffrey
Leonard Foglia Master Class
David Ingram Distant Fires
1996
Charles Karchmer Love! Valour! Compassion! [4][5]
Abigail Adams My Mother Said I Never Should
Dugald MacArthur The Lower Depths
Ken Marini Kindertransport
Mary B. Robinson Three Viewings
1997
James J. Christy & Harriet Power Angels in America [6][7]
Ken Marini The Illusion
Terrence J. Nolen Death of a Salesman
William Roudebush Oleanna
Blanka Zizka Quills
1998
Aaron Posner A Midsummer Night's Dream [8][9]
Keith Baker The Balkan Women
Dugald MacArthur The Steward of Christendom
Ken Marini Jack and Jill
Harriet Power A Moon for the Misbegotten
1999
Seth Rozin Lebensraum [10][11]
James J. Christy Coyote on a Fence
James J. Christy Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde
Terrence J. Nolen The Grapes of Wrath
Tazewell Thompson A Flea in Her Ear

2000s

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Year Director Production Ref.
2000
Blanka Zizka The Invention of Love [12][13]
James J. Christy Side Man
Ken Marini Dimly Perceived Threats To The System
Maria Mileaf Wit
Terrence J. Nolen Red Herring
2001
James J. Christy The Laramie Project [14][15]
Abigail Adams Book of Days
Melia Bensussen Hearts: The Forward Observer
Harriet Power Measure for Measure
Seth Rozin It's All True
2002
William Roudebush Equus [16][17]
Keith Baker The Dresser
James J. Christy The Merchant of Venice
Dan Rothenberg Measure for Measure
Blanka Zizka Yellowman
2003
Abigail Adams In the Blood [18][19]
Terrence J. Nolen All My Sons
Blanka Zizka The Magic Fire
Blanka Zizka Red
Jiri Zizka Big Love
2004
Blanka Zizka Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train [20][21]
Michael Brophy Travels With My Aunt
Charles McMahon The Comedy of Errors
Aaron Posner Mary's Wedding
William Roudebush A Christmas Carol
2005
Maria Mileaf The Story [22][23]
James J. Christy Take Me Out
Daniel Fish The Clean House
Pete Pryor Recent Tragic Events
Jiri Zizka Outrage
2006
Terrence J. Nolen Opus [24][25]
Joe Canuso Killer Joe
Ken Marini Man from Nebraska
Charles McMahon Richard III
Matt Pfeiffer The Foocy
2007
Mark Clements Of Mice and Men [26][27]
Terrence J. Nolen A Prayer for Owen Meaney
David O'Connor "Master Harold"...and the Boys
Matt Pfeiffer Glengarry Glen Ross
Jiri Zizka The Pillowman
2008
Dan Kern Skylight [28][29]
Whit MacLaughlin Frozen
Ken Marini Six Characters in Search of an Author
Matt Pfeiffer Bug
Blanka Zizka Eurydice
2009
Terrence J. Nolen Something Intangible [30][31]
Anne Marie Cammarato No Child...
Kathryn MacMillan The Hothouse
Blanka Zizka Rock 'n' Roll
Blanka Zizka Scorched

2010s

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Year Director Production Ref.
2010
Anne Kauffman Becky Shaw [32][33]
Gabriel Quinn Bauriedel Welcome to Yuba City
James J. Christy Rabbit Hole
Walter Dallas Blue Door
Madi Distefano The Bald Soprano
2011
Blanka Zizka In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) [34][35]
Leonard Foglia Let Me Down Easy
Richard Hamburger My Wonderful Day
Matt Pfeiffer The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Aaron Posner Around the World in Eighty Days
2012
Anne Kauffman Body Awareness [36][37]
James J. Christy The Outgoing Tide
Matt Pfeiffer The Whipping Man
Sanford Robbins The Skin of Our Teeth
Dan Rothenberg Twelfth Night
Blanka Zizka Angels in America
2013 No award given
2014
James Ijames The Brothers Size [38][39]
Samantha Reading Pride and Prejudice
Damon Bonetti True Story
Joe Canuso Anapurna
Matthew Decker Circle Mirror Transformation
Kathryn MacMillan I Am My Own Wife
Matt Pfeiffer Down Past Passyunk
2015
Matt Pfeiffer The Whale [40][41]
Joe Canuso Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Matt Pfeiffer To The Moon
Joanna Settle Rapture, Blister, Burn
Rick Shiomi Caught
Pirronne Yousefzadeh Dangerous House
Pirronne Yousefzadeh In the Blood
2016
Matt Pfeiffer The Invisible Hand [42][43]
Deborah Block Smoke
James J. Christy Sr. A Great War
Kip Fagan Exit Strategy
Claire Moyer Spine
Kittson O'Neill A Knee That Can Bend
Tom Reing The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning
2017
Blanka Zizka When the Rain Stops Falling [44][45]
Steve H. Broadnax III The Mountaintop
Emmanuelle Delpech The Legend of Georgia McBride
Brenna Geffers Anna
Claire Moyer Radiant Vermin
Aaron Posner Stupid Fucking Bird
Lane Savadove The Seagull
2018
Abigail Adams Morning's at Seven [46][47]
Steve H. Broadnax III Skeleton Crew
Kathryn MacMillan The Revolutionists
Ken Marini Waiting for Godot
Alex Torra Bienvenidos Blancos! or Welcome White People!
Rebecca Wright The Gap
Rebecca Wright The Wild Duck
2019
James Ijames Gem of the Ocean [48][49]
C. Ryanne Domingues Morir Sonyando
Jerrell L. Henderson UNTITLED
Maura Krause Boycott Esther
Kathryn MacMillan The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged
Kittson O'Neill Moby Dick
Rebecca Wright Indecent

2020s

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Year Director Production Ref.
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 No award given
2023
Malika Oyetimein Clyde's [50][51]
Zuhairah McGill The Royale
Abigail Adams Lettie
Megan Bellwoar A View from the Bridge
Kathryn MacMillan Jane Eyre
Cat Ramirez Meet Murasaki Shikibu Followed by Book-Signing, and Other Things
2024
Charlotte Northeast Citrus Andronicus [52][53]
Amina Robinson Fat Ham
Kathryn MacMillan Lovesong
Terrence J. Nolen The Lehman Trilogy
Molly Rosa Houlahan Hurricane Diane
Bianca LaVerne Jones Crumbs from the Table of Joy
Matt Pfeiffer A Case for the Existence of God
2025
Amina Robinson Intimate Apparel [54][55]
Alex Burns Cyrano de Bergerac
Morgan Green The Comeuppance
Nell Bang-Jensen Nosejob
James Ijames King Hedley II
Kathryn MacMillan Square Go
Matt Pfeiffer Red

Multiple wins

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5 wins
2 wins

Multiple nominations

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13 nominations
11 nominations
  • Matt Pfeiffer
9 nominations
  • James J. Christy
8 nominations
7 nominations
  • Ken Marini
  • Kathryn MacMillan
5 nominations
  • Abigail Adams
4 nominations
3 nominations
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

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  1. "About the Barrymore Awards". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  2. "Barrymore Awards 1995". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  3. "Master Class Wins Barrymore". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  4. "Barrymore Awards 1996". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  5. "Cabaret and Love! Valour! Compassion! Win Barrymore Awards". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  6. "Barrymore Awards 1997". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  7. "Nominees for Oct. 20 PA Barrymore Awards". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  8. "Barrymore Awards 1998". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  9. "Midsummer, Band in Berlin Are Top Winners at Philly Barrymore Awards". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  10. "Barrymore Awards 1999". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  11. "Philadelphia Barrymore Award Nominees Announced". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  12. "Barrymore Awards 2000". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  13. "Philly's Barrymore Awards Fall in Love with Stoppard". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  14. "Barrymore Awards 2001". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  15. "Laramie and Baker's Wife Notch Three Wins Each at Philly's Barrymore Awards". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  16. "Barrymore Awards 2002". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  17. "Baby Case, Yellowman, Equus Are Big Winners in 2002 Barrymore Awards in Philly". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  18. "Barrymore Awards 2003". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  19. "Raúl Esparza, Romain Frugé, Christine Andreas, Jeffrey Hatcher Win 2003 Barrymore Awards in Philly". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  20. "Barrymore Awards 2004". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  21. "Winners of Philly's 2003-2004 Barrymore Awards". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  22. "Barrymore Awards 2005". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  23. "2005 Barrymore Award Winners Announced". TheaterMania. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  24. "Barrymore Awards 2006". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  25. "2006 Barrymore Award Winners Announced". TheaterMania. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  26. "Barrymore Awards 2007". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  27. "2007 Barrymore Award Winners Are Announced". TheaterMania. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  28. "Barrymore Awards 2008". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  29. "Philly's Barrymore Awards Presented Oct. 6; Les Miz, Assassins, Bug Among Nominees". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  30. "Barrymore Awards 2009". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  31. "Christopher Gattelli, Mary Martello, Ian Merrill Peakes et al. Among 2009 Barrymore Award Winners". TheaterMania. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  32. "Barrymore Awards 2010". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  33. "Mark Jacoby, Any Given Monday, Becky Shaw, Light in the Piazza Are Barrymore Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  34. "Barrymore Awards 2011". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  35. "2011 Barrymore Award Winners Announced". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  36. "Barrymore Awards 2012". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  37. "2012 Barrymore Award Winners". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  38. "Barrymore Awards 2014". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  39. "Barrymore Award Winners 2014". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  40. "Barrymore Awards 2015". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  41. "Theatre Exile Wins Big at 2015 Barrymore Awards". American Theatre. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  42. "Barrymore Awards 2016". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  43. "Theatre Exile Leads Winners at 2016 Barrymore Awards". American Theatre. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  44. "Barrymore Awards 2017". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  45. "Here's the Full List of 2017 Barrymore Award Winners". Time Out Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  46. "Barrymore Awards 2018". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  47. "People's Light Leads Winners at 2018 Barrymore Awards". American Theatre. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  48. "Barrymore Awards 2019". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  49. "2019 Barrymore Award Winners Announced". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  50. "Barrymore Awards 2023". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  51. "Theatre Philadelphia Reveals 2022–2023 Barrymore Award Recipients". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  52. "Theatre Philadelphia's 2024 Barrymore Award Recipients". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  53. "Barrymore Awards 2024 Playbill" (PDF). Issuu. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  54. "2025 Barrymore Award Recipients". Theatre Philadelphia. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  55. "Barrymore Awards Winners Announced". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 10, 2026.