And The Irving Award goes to ...

As The Eunice Players Theater heads into it’s mid-40s, the 44th Annual Irving Awards unofficially struck up the 2014 Mardi Gras celebration in Eunice on Saturday.
David Manuel, the board president of the Eunice Players Theater, announced the line-up of productions to be performed at the Eunice Players Theater, listed the names of the new board members and took some time to pay the theater’s rent check $1 to Jack Burson, who accepted the check on behalf of the city of Eunice.
Burson stood in for Mayor Claud “Rusty” Moody, who could not attend the Irving Awards at the Northwest Community Center on Saturday. Burson spoke in support of the theater.
“Over the years, the Eunice Player’s Theater has been a wonderful way to create a community, a culture, a community of entertainment and certainly a great community to welcome our young community of talent,” said Burson. “I want to commend David Manuel and all of the other people who are here tonight, who develop so much time and energy to this theater of ours.”
This year’s stage production of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” was this year’s big Irving Award-winner taking seven categories including Best Lighting and Sound, Best Costumes, Best Hair and Make-Up, Best Supporting Actor Gabe Ortego, Best Actress Bonnie Pitre, Best Director Debi L. Crawford and Best Play.
Pitre won the Best Actress award for her portrayal of three female characters in “The 39 Steps.”
Other production and crew nominated were : The Glass Mendacity, which was directed by Jody Powell and starred Katryn Schmidt; and “Tuesdays With Morrie”, which starred the Irving Award-winner Vincent Barras for his portrayal of Morrie Schwartz. The Glass Mendacity also won for Best Set and Best Supporting actress Erin Segura. The theater officials and season-ticket holders also honored the summer, children’s production of “The Trial of Goldilocks.”
The 45th season will feature stage productions of “Tuna Does Vegas”, “The Diary of Anne Frank” and “Harvey”. The summer children’s play for the 45th season has yet to be announced.