A mix of euphoria, cheering and emotion highlighted the XV Braskem Theater Award ceremony held May 5 at Castro Alves Theater, in Salvador. On a night directed by actor and director Filinto Coelho, with the theme "The Woman on Stage", not only those who stood out in 2007’s productions shined, but so did actress Nadja Turenko, who conducted everything in a fitting tribute to the theme. More than just present the awards, she also sang, danced and acted for nearly two hours.

Honored at this edition, veteran Mário Gadelha, with more than 60 plays and a 52-year career, said he was "restarting his career" receiving this distinction after so many years of work. "I would like to thank Braskem for everything the company has been doing for art and artists in Bahia through this award," said Gadelha, underscoring that the theater encompasses music, literature and plastic arts.

The play "The House of Bernarda Alba" was the highlight of 2007. Besides winning the Best Play, it also took the Best Actor award, won by Amarílio Sales, and Best Supporting Actress, won by Andréa Nunes (also in "The Witches of Salem").

"Peter and the Fire Snake" won two awards: Best Script, won by Tom Figueiredo, and the coveted Best Children’s Play, beating out the also awarded "Africas" (Best Supporting Actor - Erico Brás) and "Ring-Around-A-Rosy of Fear" (Special Category/Choreography - Lulu Pugliese).

Carolina Kharo Ribeiro won as Best Actress for her role in "Grand Theater: Bread & Circus", and the Best Director award went to Roberto de Abreu with "Official Lie Report". Meanwhile the CAN - Abdias do Nascimento Actors’ Center won the statue for Revelation.

The Braskem Theater Award, an already consolidated tradition in Bahia’s cultural scene, is held annually and its objective is to valorize, acknowledge and award the state’s theater production, making room for the emergence of new talents. In this 15th edition, 41 adult and 14 children’s plays competed in ten different categories.

The indications were made by a judging commission, which is renewed every year, who watched all of the plays staged in Salvador last year.