MEDIA THEATRE WINS 18 'BEST OF PHILLY THEATRE 2014' AWARDS FROM BROADWAY WORLD

The Media Theatre is the Winner of 18 Broadway World Awards for “Best of Philly Theatre” for calendar year 2014. The professional music theatre company, which has added a classic play to its line-up each season, received the most of the 24 honors given by Broadway World Philadelphia for the past year.

The awards are voted upon by the Philadelphia theatre community, as well as by the general public. Somewhat of a mix between a People’s Choice and being chosen by peers in the industry, the Broadway World Awards are given in each major city and region in the USA by the online theatrical magazine, which highlights each region’s theatrical events, shows, and happenings. Broadway World is based in NYC, from which it takes its title.

The Media Theatre won the Broadway World Award for Best Theatre Company of Philadelphia for the third consecutive year. It swept the honors in the Best Play categories for its critically acclaimed production of “Diary of Anne Frank”, which won a total of 9 honors. “The Addams Family”, a regional professional premiere, won 7 awards plus special mention with the theatre’s win for Best Theatre Company.

Competitors in each category include major theatre companies such as The Walnut Street Theatre, The Wilma Theatre, and other theatres in Center City Philadelphia as well as those located in Delaware County and surrounding counties.

For the first time, a Children’s Series production at The Media Theatre received an important award: Best Special Event. The win was for “Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark”, performed by a mostly youth cast of theatre students last spring. The sequel musical “Magic Tree House: Knight At Dawn” will be on stage this coming March, April, and May also performed by many of the theatre’s New School students.

Several of its awards in 2014 were for some of Philadelphia’s highest profile professional actors who performed in productions such as “The Addams Family” (Jeff Coon and Jennie Eisenhower) and “Diary of Anne Frank” (Anastasia Korbal and P. Brendan Mulvey).

This is the first time ever that The Media Theatre has received both the Best Musical and Best Play honors, and with those plus its Special Event win, Broadway World voters are focusing attention on the work being done at Delaware County’s only professional music theatre company.

Media Music Theatre Company is the producing non-profit organization at the theatre; Artistic Director Jesse Cline is himself a winner for Best Director of A Play for “Diary of Anne Frank”. He won last year for directing “Mame” starring Andrea McArdle. (She returns April 22 through May 24 in “Hello Dolly”)

The Media Theatre won 2014 Broadway World Awards in the following categories:

Best Theatre Company: The Media Theatre (Special mention to “The Addams Family”)

Best Actor in A Musical: Jeffrey Coon (Gomez), “The Addams Family”

Best Actress in A Musical: Jennie Eisenhower (Morticia), “The Addams Family”

Supporting Actress in A Musical: Lauren Cupples (Wednesday), “The Addams Family”

Best Musical: “The Addams Family”

Best Costume Design: K. Whitney Rogers, “Diary of Anne Frank”

Best Ensemble of A Musical: “The Addams Family”

Best Set Design: Matthew Miller, “Diary of Anne Frank”

Best Sound Design: Carl Park, “The Addams Family”

Best Lighting: Troy Martin O’ Shia, “Diary of Anne Frank”

Best Music Direction: Christopher Ertelt, “The Addams Family”

Best Play: “Diary of Anne Frank”

Best Direction of A Play: Jesse Cline, “Diary of Anne Frank”

Best Actor in A Play: Paul Dake (Otto), “Diary of Anne Frank”

Best Actress in A Play: Anastasia Korbal (Anne Frank), “Diary of Anne Frank”

Supporting Actor in A Play: P. Brendan Mulvey (Dussell), “Diary of Anne Frank”

Ensemble of A Play: “Diary of Anne Frank”

For tickets to the upcoming “The Miracle Worker” which features Broadway World Best Actress Winner Jennie Eisenhower and New School student Lexi Gwynn, call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org. The production is this year’s classic play and runs January 28 through February 15 with several 10am performances for students.

“The Miracle Worker” is based on the true story of Helen Keller’s relationship with her governess Anne Sullivan. Keller was rendered blind, deaf, and mute due to a childhood illness. William Gibson’s play highlights the struggles of her family to control her wild behavior and their subsequent hiring of teacher Sullivan in an effort to assist their cause. The moving, triumphant show is a testament to the power of the human spirit.