Theater professionals honored at UNITEM Awards Gala

About 60 theater professionals received official titles and other honors at the Awards Gala of the Theater Union of Moldova (UNITEM). The event was attended by President Nicolae Timofti and Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Info-Prim Neo reports. The excellence award was given to composer Eugen Doga and Romanian actor Florin Piersic, while the award for prodigious theatrical work went to actor Mihai Volontir. Actress Ludmila Colohina was awarded for the best women’s role, while the award for the best men’s role was given to Constantin Haret. The award for the best role played in the children’s theater went to actress Stela Focsa. The play “This country forgot about us” by Constantin Cheianu, directed by Alexandru Grecu, became the best theater play. Tenor Mihai Munteanu won the Prize of the Chisinau Municipal Council. President Nicolae Timofti, who was present at a part of the ceremony, refused to talk to the journalists. Premier Vlad Filat approved of the work of the artists and the presented plays. “It is much harder to play life than to live it. Real talent is needed to do this. I thank you for your talent and for what you do,” he stated. The UNITEM Awards Gala is organized every year under the aegis of the Government of Moldova and other states institutions as well as private organizations. This year, the Gala took place at the National Theater “Mihai Eminescu” in the evening of March 26. The jury – stage manager Alexandru Vasilache, dramatist Constantin Cheianu, critic Pavel Pelin, rector of the Academy of Music, Theater and Plastic Arts Victoria Melnic, and actor Sandu Leanca – on March 5-25 watched 26 performances in order to choose the best ones.