HughE Dillon: Live Arts & Fringe Cocktail Party

Last Thursday at the Wilma, the 2011 Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe was ushered in with the first show, the Philadelphia premiere of The Method Gun by the Austin-based theater troupe Rude Mechs, and a cocktail party held after the show in the lobby. Below: After Richard Vague, board president, thanked the guests and sponsors for making this year’s festival possible, he introduced actor Jason Liebrecht from The Method Gun, and thanked him for his spirited performance.
 

 
Brenda DeFeo, John McInerney, James Claiborne, Molly Weingart and Susan Weiss enjoyed the thought-provoking play, which is about Stella Burden and her teachings of method acting.
 

 
Interior designer JT Christensen and Mike Miska said the show was great and impressive.
 

 
Below: Jeanne Ruane, Lisa Young, and Susan Letterman White. Lisa said of the play, “It was crazy on the edge, and that’s exactly what the Festival is all about.”
 

 
Below: Romy Diaz, PECO’s VP of governmental and external affairs, Stuart Alter, senior program manager for the City of Philadelphia, and Jonathan Wright, Chanticleer horticulturist.
 

 
Below: Margie Salvante, executive director of the Theater Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, and Ned Warwick, of Taylor Warwick Public Relations. Margie tells me that the Barrymore nominations will be announced today, and that this year’s Barrymore Awards are scheduled for October 3rd.
 

 
HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for the Philly Post. You can follow him on Twitter @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary at PhillyChitChat.com.