Iranian top stage actors enjoy limelight at Tehran celebration

TEHRAN,May 7(MNA) -- Iranian actor Saber Abar and actress Roya Afshar shine brightest at the 9th edition of Iranian Stage Actors Celebration at the Tehran’s City Theater Complex on Saturday. Saber Abar was picked as the Best Actor of the Year for his role in “Rooster Feather on Ration for Mourning” by Ali Nargesnejad. Abar was seen as a young boy in the play who concerns about his personality and identity. The Best Actress of the Year was Roya Afshar for Mohammad Yaqubi’s war-themed play “Winter of 1988”. She landed her role as a sympathetic mother of a dysfunctional family who is worry about fate of her children when an Iraqi missile struck Tehran for the first time on February 29 of 1988 during 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war. Actor Alireza Keymanesh got the second best actor award for his role “I and Talkhak” directed by Nima Dehqani. The second best actress award went to Mahbubeh Bayat for her role in “Khanumcheh and the Balcony” directed by Masud Delkhah. The third best actor award went to Hedayat Hashemi for “The Tale of the Tiger” by Hadi Aamel and Golab Adineh got the third best actress award for “Khordeh Khanom” directed by Kiumars Purahmad. Hossein Moheb Ahari, Shohreh Soltani, Pari Saberi, Homa Rusta, Maryam Saadat, Sadi Afshar and many other thespians attended the celebration. As a main part of the annual celebration, veteran stage director Nosrat Zamanpur, who has recently lost his sight due to an illness, was invited to the stage to light the candles of the celebration. Afterward, actor Behzad Farahani, who is also a member the Iranian Theater Forum, made a speech about bright performances Zamanpur staged during the 1960s. “He is amongst first artists who studied in the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the University of Tehran,” he said. He called on the officials to pay more attention to such artists. Director and actor Akbar Zanjanpur then read out a message written by the U.S. actor and director John Malkovich for the 50th anniversary of World Theatre Day. The ceremony continued with honoring stage actor Majid Bahrami who recovered from blood cancer after receiving treatments in a hospital in Germany. He expressed his thanks over officials of the Center for Dramatic Arts and all members of the Iranian Theater Forum for their spiritual and financial support. He also pointed out to the short time for public performances of plays in Iran and the lack of job security for stage artists as some problems which Iranian artists face. The ceremony brought to an end with honoring actor Jafar Vali with a lifetime achievement award for his 60-year career in theatrical activities.