The outrageously quick-witted, tart and entertaining Bianca Del Rio (aka Roy Haylock) hosted the Big Easy Theatre Awards on Monday, March 24, at Harrah's Theatre. Over the course of the evening honoring achievements in drama in 2007, however, it was the richness of the local theater community that stole the show. Playwright John Biguenet was honored as the Big Easy's first Theatre Person of the Year and also won the award for best original play for Rising Water. He discussed the importance of New Orleans in creating his Pulitzer Prize-nominated play after some colleagues suggested he make the Katrina play more universal.

'Instead, I pushed it to be more local, not universal. Shakespeare wrote for Londoners. Euripides wrote for Athenians," he told the audience. 'I wanted to provide a stage for an issue cities need to discuss. How can the greatest nation on Earth abandon one of its cities to death and destruction?"

On stage, the city's theater scene has dealt with tragedy in kind, with two original dramas about Katrina nominated for Best Original Play " and also with comedy. Becky Allen was honored for a lifetime in local theater. Having done everything from serious drama to musicals, comedy and cabaret, she encapsulated why she's stayed in the city. 'I'd rather work for New Orleans people than anyone else because they love me hard, hard, hard," she said.

The awards celebrated a rich year in theater " one which encompassed the testing of faith in Doubt, the legacy of racism in Purlie, the dark humor of The Lieutenant of Inishmore and the glitz of Sugar Babies. Doubt took home six awards including Best Drama, Best Director, Best Actor in a Drama and Best Actress in a Drama. The Lieutenant of Inishmore captured four honors, including Best Comedy, Best Director of a Comedy and Best Actor. Le Petit's Purlie won three awards including Best Actor, Actress and Supporting Actress in a Musical.

The evening also included a look forward; next year will see awards for cabaret performance. The Business Achievement Award went to Marc Fouchi for creating Stageclick.com, a Web site for theater community networking. It's been a useful tool locally and is growing in other cities with New Orleans as its central hub. The young theater company NOLA Project, which co-produced The Lieutenant of Inishmore, captured several awards. Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy winner James Bartelle shared his perspective on the future of local theater. 'We're in the middle of a renaissance," he said. 'Fill your life with art and your art with life and amazing things will happen."

The Big Easy Awards were sponsored by Gambit Weekly, Harrah's New Orleans Casino and Hotel, John Jay, and Coleman Adler & Sons. The event benefits the Foundation for Entertainment Development & Education.

2008 Big Easy Special Recognition Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award
Becky Allen

Business Recognition Award
Marc Fouchi - Stageclick.com

Theatre Person of the Year
John Biguenet

2008 Big Easy Theatre Awards Winners

Best Musical
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre

Best Comedy
The Lieutenant of Inishmore
NOLA Project & Southern Repertory Theater

Best Drama
Doubt
All Kinds of Theater & Southern Repertory Theater

Best Director of a Musical
Gary Rucker
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Rivertown Repertory

Best Director of a Comedy
Noel Wilson
The Lieutenant of Inishmore

Best Director of a Drama
Carl Walker
Doubt

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Joan C. Spraggins
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Dane Rhodes
Purlie
Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre

Best Actress in a Musical
Idella Johnson
Purlie

Best Actor in a Musical
Fenwick Broyard III
Purlie

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Cammie West
Valhalla
To Do Productions

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy
James Bartelle
The Lieutenant of Inishmore

Best Actress in a Comedy
Angela Papale
Prelude to a Kiss
Actor's Theater of New Orleans

Best Actor in a Comedy
Peter McElligott
The Lieutenant of Inishmore

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Andrea Frankle
Doubt

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Leon Contavesprie
The Pillowman
Dem Boys Productions and Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre

Best Actress in a Drama
Claire Moncrief
Doubt

Best Actor in a Drama
Jamie Wax
Doubt

Best Original Play
Rising Water
John Biguenet

Best Musical Director
Jonne Dendinger
Tunes
Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre

Best Choreography
Kelly Fouchi
The Pajama Game

Best Costume Design
R. Haylock, C. Casey-Covert, R. Schlotzhauer, C. Barrois and L. Fried
Sugar Babies
Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre

Best Set Design
David Raphel
Doubt

Best Lighting Design
William Liotta
The Breach
Southern Repertory Theater

Best University Production
Dog Sees God
Gary Rucker, Director
Tulane University

Best Performance by a Child
Andy LaRocca
Ordinary People
Actor's Theater of New Orleans

click to enlarge

• Cheryl Gerber
• Best Actress in a Musical winner Idella Johnson performed a song from Purlie.

click to enlarge

• Cheryl Gerber
• Bianca Del Rio (aka Roy Haylock) was the master of ceremonies.

click to enlarge

• Cheryl Gerber
• Previous Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bob Bruce, salon owner John Jay, Becky Allen and 2007 Entertainer of the Year Ricky Graham

click to enlarge

• Jos L. Garcia II
• Southern Rep Artistic Director Aimee Hayes, Best Set Design winner David Raphel and Best Actor in a Drama Jamie Wax

click to enlarge

• Jos L. Garcia II
• Best Costume Design team and Sugar Babies dancers include (l-r) Nicole Eckrich, Cecile Casey Covert, Carolyn Barrois, Trina Beck, Regina Schlotzhauer, Linda Fried and Angela Papale.