Theatre Philadelphia unites, celebrates, and promotes the Philadelphia region's diverse and growing theatre community. We lead efforts that expand audiences and engage the public to participate in this community's work. Theatre Philadelphia envisions an equitable and inclusive region that champions and nurtures local artists. We aim to raise our city’s profile as a world-class city and enrich the lives of Philadelphia-area citizens.
Founded in 2012, Theatre Philadelphia is dedicated to bringing together and celebrating Philadelphia's diverse and growing theatre community. We are committed to leading efforts that grow audiences and promote the public participation in theatrical work. Over the past several decades, Philadelphia has transformed into a major regional theatre community, with a remarkable blossoming of new companies and new buildings, a growing pool of exceptional artists, and fiercely committed and curious audiences and supporters. Theatre Philadelphia envisions a region that celebrates this growing and ever-changing theatre community – nurturing local theatre artists, fostering the creation of extraordinary work, forging stronger connections between our art and audiences – recognizing that a diverse, robust, and thriving theatre community can play a pivotal role in making Philadelphia a world-class city. Theatre Philadelphia's programs include this website, the annual Barrymore Awards, and strategies for audience awareness and growth.
Sabriaya Shipley, Executive Director
Sabriaya Shipley (She/They) Sabriaya is an educator, storyteller, and community ethnographer. Name a 2019 A+ Educator by Philadelphia Magazine and 2021 Black Lives Matter Philly Educator Fellow, Sabriaya holds a BA in Theatre from Temple University and a MA in Social Justice and Community Organizing from Prescott College. They have collaborated with several community-based organizations, residencies, and projects both locally and internationally, such as The Painted Bride Art Center, The Colored Girls Museum, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, Artwell Philly, Tree House Books, Residency 1111 in London, etc. Sabriaya is the author of a chapbook, Somewhere Between God & Mammy, published in 2022. In 2020, they co-founded Griot Girls - a writing collective for young Black & Brown girls. A recipient of the 2021 -2022 Philadelphia Foundation and Forman Arts Initiative Arts Works grant, 2022-2023 Rosine 2.0 Past Visions/Future Archives Micorgrant, and recently Allens Lane's Rebeccah Milena Maia Blum Curatorial Fellowship, Sabriaya is determined to cultivate performance, art, and archival spaces centered around the expressive freedom of Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.
CJ Higgins, Director of Operations and Programming
CJ Higgins (they/he) is a theatre artist who specializes in acting, directing, music, devising, playwriting, producing, and whatever else a project needs at a given moment. You may have seen his work as the Artistic Director of The Hum’n’bards Theatre Troupe, through which they have collaborated on many productions including A Queer Christmas Carol, Fear Itself, and The #Knightlife Renaissance Faire. He is also the co-host of My Gay Agenda, a queer interview podcast, and they were Theatre Horizon’s first season apprentice during the 2015/16 season. CJ’s mission as an artist is to use theatre as a tool for queer liberation and radical empathy. They are so excited and honored to work with Theatre Philadelphia to serve our community!
Theatre Philadelphia aims to increase our work with the next generation of artists transitioning into the Greater Philadelphia Theatre community. With a focus on those currently enrolled or recently graduated within the past year from an undergraduate theater program in the Greater Philadelphia area, The Ubuntu Young Artist Fellowship is an opportunity for young emerging artists interested in learning, supporting, and creating more space for fostering community between theatres, fellow young artists, theatre community mentors, and theatre-goers. Each spring we welcome four youth fellows to join Theatre Philadelphia and assist with designing and facilitating existing and new Theatre Philadelphia programming and outreach. Fellows are placed into the following sectors: Art Administration, Social Media/PR, and Community Engagement.
Raven Burckhalter (she/her) - Community Engagement Fellow
Raven Burckhalter (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based actress and recent graduate of West Chester
University, where she earned her degree in Musical Theatre. Raven’s recent credits include; Be More
Chill (Chloe Valentine), Kiss Me Kate (Lois Lane), Into the Woods (Little Red), for which she was
nominated as an Irene Ryan Acting Nominee & Musical Theatre Intensive Nominee. In addition to her
work on stage, Raven is passionate about advocacy and is the founder and former president of Change of
Scene, a BIPOC student organization at West Chester. Raven is excited to share her craft and looks
forward to the next chapter of her artistic career
Brianna Arce (she/her/hers) - Community Engagement Fellow
Brianna Arce (she/her/hers) is a first-year Liberal Arts student at the Community College of Philadelphia and emerging theater professional with intersecting interests in education, the arts, accessibility, and youth empowerment. She has worked and volunteered as a Teaching Artist for Ensemble Arts Philly, Arden Theatre Company, ASAP Drama, and Yes! And… Collaborative Arts. Outside of being a freelance TA, Brianna works as an intern for Philadelphia Young Playwrights and a Social Media Manager for the Autistic Theatermakers Alliance. She is highly passionate about community engagement and looks forward to working with Theater Philadelphia this spring!
Emma Price (she/her) - Social Media/PR Fellow
Emma Price (she/her) is a former University of the Arts student and recent Temple University graduate as of December 2024. Her educational journey began as a BFA Musical Theater major, then adding on a double major for Directing, Playwriting and Production (University of the Arts). Throughout her time at both programs, her understanding of the performing arts and its diversity in form expanded. She has been part of several different aspects of theatrical productions as an actor, writer, dramaturg, assistant stage manager and director. Each of these roles has allowed her to explore a range of ways to contribute to the art she wishes to make. She is excited and grateful to be working with the Theatre Philadelphia team in their Social Media/PR Fellowship.
Past Ubuntu Young Artist Fellows
Aubree House
Caroline Heins
Paige Bates
Rose Farrell
Jason Lindner, President
Rachel Camp, Vice President
Conrad Person, Treasurer
Erlina Ortiz, Secretary
TS Hawkins
Tai Verley
Darnelle Radford
Gilberto Vega
Patreshettarlini Adams
Jose Alicia
*Susan D. Atkinson
Iain Campbell
Eileen Cella
Akeem Davis
Ryanne Domingues
Jameson Gilpatrick
*Kevin Glaccum
*Grace E. Grillet
*Leonard C. Haas
James Ijames
Matthew F. Lewandowski II
*Amy L. Murphy
*Terry Nolen
Daniel Perelstein
*Erin Reilly
*Anne Shuff
Patricia Stranahan
Anneliese Van Arsdale
*Thom Weaver
*Steve Pacek
Deborah Block
Kash Goins
Emily Zeck
Meredith Beck
Katrina Foy
Eric Thompson
Mydera Robinson
*Founding Board Member
Learn more about our current Barrymore Award Voters
If you are a representative of a professional theatre company and would like more information about participating in the Barrymore Awards, please see our Submit a Production to the Barrymore Awards page. If you are a theatre artist or just love theatre in Philadelphia, there are many other ways for you to get involved with Theatre Philadelphia!
