V.I.P. tickets are $125 and include an open bar, buffet dinner, special reserved seating for the awards ceremonies and the Celebration Bash at Club 360 that follows. Tables for 10 are $1,000 if purchased by March 31. To purchase tickets contact Lindsay Moylan at 486-5900, ext. 160. The Big Easy Entertainment Awards benefit the Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education, which supports projects that nurture the future talent of New Orleans in the performing arts. The sponsors for the event include Absolut Vodka, Harrah's New Orleans Casino, John Jay, Gambit Weekly, Barefoot Wine Cellars and Coleman E. Adler & Sons.

Chicago, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Crazy for You, Rivertown Repertory Theatre

Leader of the Pack, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

1776, Rivertown Repertory Theatre

Best Drama

Earl Long in Purgatory, Robert Couhig and The Evangeline Theatre Company

No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs, Anthony Bean Community Theater

Spinning Into Butter, Southern Repertory Theatre

Visiting Mr. Green, Coliseum Productions

Best Comedy

Dirty Blonde, All Kinds of Theatre/Director's Studio of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Fully Committed, All Kinds of Theatre

The Ritz, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Best Director (Comedy or Drama)

John Grimsley, Gross Indecency, Dog & Pony Theatre Company and the Contemporary Arts Center

Perry Martin, Earl Long in Purgatory, Robert Couhig and The Evangeline Theatre Company

Carl Walker, Dirty Blonde, All Kinds of Theatre/Director's Studio of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Best Director (Musical)

Sonny Borey and Derek Franklin, Chicago, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Alton Geno and Kelly Fouchi, Crazy for You, Rivertown Repertory Theatre

Diane Lala, Victor/Victoria, Tulane Summer Lyric Theater

Best Choreography

Alton Geno and Kelly Fouchi, , Rivertown Repertory Theatre

Karen Hebert, and Anything Goes, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Ed Kresley, Annie Get Your Gun, Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre

Best Set Design

Hugh Lester, Love's Labour's Lost, The Shakespeare Festival at Tulane

Rick Paul, Annie Get Your Gun, Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre

Chad Talkington, No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs, Anthony Bean Community Theater

Bill Walker, Leader of the Pack, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Best Lighting Design

Hugh Lester, Love's Labour's Lost, The Shakespeare Festival at Tulane

Martin Sachs, Dirty Blonde, All Kinds of Theatre/Director's Studio of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Bill Walker, Leader of the Pack, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Best Costume Design

Cecile Casey Covert, Suddenly Last Summer, Dog & Pony Theatre Company, Southeastern Louisiana University, Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, and the Contemporary Arts Center

Linda Fried, Anything Goes, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Trish McLain, Crazy for You and 1776, Rivertown Repertory Theatre

Best Performance by a Child

Gabrielle Porter, Flora the Red Menace, NORD Theatre

Katherine Raymond, No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs, Anthony Bean Community Theater

Anastacia Scott, No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs, Anthony Bean Community Theater

Bryan Wagar, Schoolhouse Rock!, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Best Actress in a Play (Comedy or Drama)

Becky Allen, Dirty Blonde, All Kinds of Theatre/Director's Studio of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Adriana Bate, Wit, Theatricks

Gwendolyne Foxworth, No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs, Anthony Bean Community Theater

Diana Shortes, Suddenly Last Summer Dog & Pony Theatre Company, Southeastern Louisiana University, Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, and the Contemporary Arts Center

Best Actor in Play (Comedy or Drama)

Karl Lengel, Gross Indecency, Dog & Pony Theatre Company and the Contemporary Arts Center

John McConnell, Earl Long in Purgatory, Robert Couhig and The Evangeline Theatre Company

Sean Patterson, Full Committed, All Kinds of Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical

Liz Argus, Victor/Victoria, Tulane Summer Lyric Theater

Karen Hebert, Chicago, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Cynthia Owen, Leader of the Pack, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Best Actor in a Musical

John Grimsley, Chicago, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Jimmy Murphy, Anything Goes, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Gary Rucker, Crazy for You, Rivertown Repertory Theatre

Best Supporting Actress in a Play (Comedy or Drama)

Lara Grice, The Ritz, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Charlotte Schully, Wit, Theatricks

Carol Sutton, Jar the Floor, Anthony Bean Community Theatre

Best Supporting Actor in a Play (Comedy or Drama)

Bob Edes Jr., Dirty Blonde, All Kinds of Theatre/Director's Studio of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Gavin Mahlie, Spinning Into Butter, Southern Repertory Theatre

Patrick Mendelson, The Ritz, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical

Terri Gervais, 1776, Rivertown Repertory Theatre

Lara Grice, Victor/Victoria, Tulane Summer Lyric Theater

Heidi Junius, Black & White Blues, The Producers Circle

Cathie Chopin Weinstein, Chicago, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical

Rendell DeBose, Songs in the Key of Life, Dog & Pony Theatre Company

Greg DiLeo, Smoke on the Mountain, Rivertown Repertory Theatre

Dane Rhodes, Chicago, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Best Musical Director

Brandt Blocker, Leader of the Pack, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Derek Franklin, Chicago, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Harry Mayronne Jr., Dirty Blonde, All Kinds of Theatre/Director's Studio of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré

Flo Presti, , Rivertown Repertory Theatre

Best Original Work in Theatre

Black & White Blues, Ricky Graham, The Producers Circle

Earl Long in Purgatory, Jason Berry; Robert Couhig and The Evangeline Theatre Company

Trust Fund Babies, R.J. Tsarov, self-produced

Best University Theatre Production

Dreamgirls, Delgado University

Glengarry Glen Ross, University of New Orleans

Moonchildren, Loyola University

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• Karen Hebert and John Grimsley earned two of the eight nominations for Chicago.

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• Karl Lengel received a nomination for Gross Indeceny.

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• Lara Grice and Liz Argus scored nominations for their work in Victor/Victoria.

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• Gwendolyn Foxworth, Oliver Thomas, Lauren Blanchard, Anastacia Scott in Anthony Bean's No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs which scored five nominations.

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• Crazy for You copped six nominations, including one for Gary Rucker (pictured) and the costumes.

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• Fully Committed, which reopens this weekend at Le Petit, earned nominations for Best Comedy and Best Actor (Sean Patterson, pictured).

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• Dirty Blonde earned six nominations, including acting nods to Becky Allen (center) and Bob Edes.

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• John McConnell earned one of three nominations for Earl Long in Purgatory.