Diana Mititelu receives Best Debut Award at UNITER GALA

On Monday, July 19, at the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre in Bucharest, the 29th edition of the UNITER Awards Gala took place, honoring performances that premiered in 2020.

At this edition, the Constanța State Theatre received two nominations for the UNITER awards, the first nominations for the Constanța theatre in 24 years.

Director DIANA MITITELU was nominated in the DEBUT category for the direction of the play “Jocuri în curtea din spate” (Games in the Backyard) by Edna Mazya, which premiered on the stage of the Constanța State Theatre on February 29, 2020. The show was selected and will participate this year in the Sibiu International Theatre Festival and next year in the Interferențe Festival in Cluj-Napoca.

Actress CĂTĂLINA MIHAI was nominated for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS for the role of Speed in “Doi tineri din Verona” (Two Gentlemen of Verona) by William Shakespeare, directed by Alexandru Mâzgăreanu, which premiered on September 5, 2020.

The jury for the UNITER awards was composed of Puiu Antemir (set designer), Alina Epîngeac (theatre critic), Eugen Jebeleanu (director), Dorina Lazăr (actress), and Octavian Saiu (theatre critic).

The gala began with the DEBUT award, which went to director Diana Mititelu for the performance staged at the Constanța State Theatre. Diana thanked the actors in the cast, the Constanța State Theatre team, manager Erwin Șimșensohn, and the set designer, and expressed her gratitude to her professors at UNATC, where she pursued her master's studies—the late director Alexandru Darie and director Vladimir Anton, as well as to her professors at the “George Enescu” University of Iași, directors Ovidiu Lazăr and Antonella Cornici.

It was quickly revealed that, unfortunately, the award for Best Supporting Actress did not go to Cătălina Mihai. However, Cătălina is a talented actress, last year winning the Young Hope award at the GOPO Awards for her lead role in the film Heidi and has plenty of time for many other awards. Additionally, the nomination itself is a great achievement.

An emotional moment was the presentation of the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, given by the UNITER Senate to the actress of the Constanța State Theatre, ILEANA PLOSCARU.

Actress Mirela Pană and actor Dan Cojocaru spoke beautifully about their mentor on stage. Mirela Pană promised Mrs. Ileana Ploscaru that she would strive to be, as she learned from her, a better person every day than she was yesterday, with one condition: to dance together at Mrs. Ploscaru’s 100th birthday celebration. Dan Cojocaru recalled how, when they were together on stage, the great and generous actress would never let him make a mistake.

The director of the Constanța State Theatre, Erwin Șimșensohn, invited to accept the award on behalf of Ileana Ploscaru, recalled all the important anniversaries this year for Ileana Ploscaru and the Constanța theatre:

2021 marks the year when Ileana Ploscaru celebrated 90 years of life, 70 years since her first role at the “Lucian Blaga” National Theatre in Cluj-Napoca, and 60 years since her debut on the Constanța State Theatre stage.

Additionally, 2021 is an anniversary year for the Constanța State Theatre, as it marks 70 years since its founding on May 2, 2021.

Erwin Șimșensohn read the thank-you message from Mrs. Ileana Ploscaru, in which she addressed all the actors in the country with the plea: “LOVE THE STAGE AS MUCH AS I HAVE LOVED IT ALL MY LIFE!” and shared that she still misses the stage.