The election and awards of the best Lithuanian theatre people have been organised since 1992. The ceremony takes place on the International Theatre Day, March 27. “Christopher” statues created by the sculptor Stanislovas Kuzma have been awarded since 1995. The festival was organised by the Theatre and Cinema Fund under the Lithuanian Theatre Union.

“Christopher” statues were refused in 2002-2003 and the best theatre people of the season were awarded with monetary prizes of the Ministry of Culture of Lithuania amounting to LTL 5 thousand.

It was decided to elect theatre people for 14 nominations in 2004. “Golden Stage Crosses” created by Rūta Ničajienė and prizes of LTL 5 thousand have been granted since then. From 2007 the prize amounts to 55 MLS (LTL 7150). The awards are supervised by the Ministry of Culture.

The state theatre sign of honour established in 1930 has been integrated into the “Golden Stage Cross”. The most worthy theatre artists were awarded with this sign in the inter-war Lithuania.

“Golden Stage Cross”

2015

Under the decision of the commission of experts assessing the professional theatre artists, the following artists were awarded:

Best director - Krystian Lupa for directing the play Heroes' Square (Lithuanian National Drama Theatre)

Best actor - Valentinas Masalskis for the role of Robert Schuster in the play Heroes' Square and for the roles in the play The Great Evil (Lithuanian National Drama Theatre).

Best actress Eglė Gabrėnaitė for the role of Mrs. Citel in the play Heroes' Square (Lithuanian National Drama Theatre)

Best lighting designer and video artist - set designer Łukasz Twarkowski for the video projections for the play Heroes' Square (Lithuanian National Drama Theatre).

Best set design - Paulė Bocullaitė for the set design for the play Hamlet (National Kaunas Drama Theatre).

Best music creators and performers for the theatre - composer Rūta Vitkauskaitė, composer Jens Gunnar Hedman and singer Åsa Nordgren for the creation and performance of the spatial opera in the dark Confessions (Operomanija).

Winners of the national dramaturgy nomination - director Árpád Schilling and playwright Marius Ivaškevičius for the play The Great Evil (L Lithuanian National Drama Theatre NDT).

Best supporting actor - Liubomiras Laucevičius for the roles of Polonius and Osric in the play Hamlet; also for the roles in the play Woodman (National Kaunas Drama Theatre).

Best young artist - conductor Modestas Barkauskas for conducting and presenting the musical part of the one-act ballet triptych Bolero+ (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre).

Puppeteer Karolina Jurkšaitė was awarded for the best puppet and object theatre performance (theatrical installation Love, Don't Stop; puppet theatre troupe 459).

Golden Stage Cross for the best performance for children and youth went to choreographer Birutė Banevičienė (dance performance Colored Games).

Best dance artists - ballet dancers Greta Gylytė and Eligijus Butkus for the main roles in the one-act ballet Bolero (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre).

Best choreographer - Martynas Rimeikis for the choreography for the ballet Everywhere We Have Not Been To (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre).

Best opera soloist - Viktorija Miškūnaitė for the role of Manon Lesko in the Jules Massenet's opera Manon (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre).

Best supporting female actress award went to actress Vilija Grigaitytė-Klemantienė for her roles in the play Woodman (National Kaunas Drama Theatre).

Borisas Dauguvietis earring was awarded to choreographer Agnija Šeiko-Sarulienė for directing and choreography of contemporary dance and sound performance/tour Traveling Churches. Klaipėda/Memel (dance theatre PADI DAPI Fish) as well as for the "interdisciplinary work of the last decade, which opens up wide prospects of contemporary dance interaction with other arts and cultural heritage."

The acknowledgement prize was given to opera soloist Sigutė Stonytė for many years of creative and educational activities, nurturing the art of opera and vocal music performance culture in Lithuania.

2014

Under the decision of the commission of experts assessing the professional theatre artists, the following artists were awarded:

Director Gintaras Varnas for the direction of opera "Cornet” (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre) and drama play "Biography: A Game" (Kaunas State Drama Theatre).

Stage design and costumes – Medilė Šiaulytytė for stage design for the opera "Cornet" (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre);

Composer Ona Narbutaitė for music of the opera "Cornet" (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre).

Actress (main role) Agnė Šataitė for the role of Severiūtė in the play "Uncles and Aunts" and Serafima Iljinična role in the play "The Suicide" (Vilnius State Small Theatre).

Actress (minor role) Vilma Raubaitė for roles in plays "Dr. Faust" (public theatre Cesar's Group) and the role of Caesonia in "Caligula" (Theatre movement No Theatre).

Actor (main role) Dainius Svobonas for the role of Kürmann in the play "Biography: A Game” (Kaunas State Drama Theatre).

Actor (minor role) Kęstutis Macijauskas for the role of Father in the play "Simple Stories of Madness" (Klaipėda Drama Theatre).

Opera singer Joana Gedmintaitė for the role of Rosina in the opera "The Barber of Seville" (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre);

Operetta and musical – conductor Jonas Janulevičius for the operetta "Ball at the Savoy" and for the preparation of the musical part of the musical "The Count of Monte Cristo"; for Paul Abraham's operetta "Ball at the Savoy" score instrumentation (Kaunas State Musical Theatre);

Ballet soloist Anastasija Čumakova for the role of Mari in the ballet "The Nutcracker" (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre);

Dance art – Gotautė Kalmatavičiūtė for roles in dance performances, "Turn me into a Switch" and "Apollo" (Kaunas Dance Theatre Aura);

Theatre for children and youth – creative team of the play "Space+" (Lithuanian National Drama Theatre): author and director Kirsten Dehlholm; authors of the concept: Kirsten Dehlholm, Anne Mette Fisker Langkjer, Jesper Grimstrup, Magnus Pind Bjerre; script writers: Kirsten Dehlholm, Laura Mortensen, Morten Søndergaard, Anne Mette Fisker Langkjer, Mindaugas Nastaravičius, Tomas Lagermand Lundme; set designers: Anne Mette Fisker Langkjer, Mar Vicens Fuster, Maxime Robillard, Jesper Kongshaug, Kirsten Dehlholm and others; creators of video projections: Magnus Pind Bjerre, Birk Marcus Hansen; lighting designer: Jesper Kongshaug; costume designer: Sandra Straukaitė; the author of costume patterns: Anne Mette Fisker Langkjer; composers: Ernestas Kaušylas, Miša Skalskis.

Puppet and object theatre – creative team of the play "Sand Man" (Vilnius Theatre Puppet): script writer, director and puppet artist Gintarė Radvilavičiūtė; drama consultant Mindaugas Valiukas; set designer Renata Valčik; composer: Rita Mačiliūnaitė; choreographer: Sigita Mikalauskaitė.

The young artist – director Gediminas Šeduikis and conductor Ričardas Šumila for the development of Engelbert Humperdinck's opera "John and Greta" (public institution Vilnius Opera / Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra).

National drama / presentation of Lithuanian authors work – Mindaugas Nastaravičius for plays "Democracy" and "Your suit does not suit me."

2014 Borisas Dauguvietis earring went to director Karolina Žernytė for successful search for new theatrical means of expression in the performances for the blind and those who can see "Bee's Tales To Six Senses" and "Stone Water Sting."

2014 thank-you prize was given to the composer Giedrius Kuprevičius for the whole of the musical creation for the theatre and the variety of genres.

2013

At the decision of the professional theatre art creators evaluation experts’ committee, prizes and memory badges were granted to:

Director Yana Ross for the performance “Our Class" of the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre (LNDT);

Composer Rita Mačiliūnaitė for music in performances “59´Online”, “W(o)men” at the Arts Printing House and “Eugene Onegin” at the Lithuanian Russian Drama Theatre;

Artist Marijus Jacovskis for the set design in the performance “Our Class" (LNDT);

Actress Nelė Savičenko for the main role of Irina Arkadina in the performance “Seagull” of Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre (OKT);

Actor Martynas Nedzinskas for the main role of Trepliov in “Seagull” (OKT);

Actress (secondary role) Aldona Janušauskaitė for the role of Rachelka - Mariana in the performance “Our Class” (LNDT);

Actor (secondary role) Saulius Čiučelis for the role of Trofimov in the performance “The Cherry Orchard” at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre;

Opera soloist Tadas Girininkas for the role of King Henry in the opera “Lohengrin” and role of Silva in the opera “Ernani” at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre;

Choreographers Airida Gudaitė and Laurynas Žakevičius for the dance performance “A Trip Home” (Urban dance theatre Low Air);

Dancer Mantas Stabačinskas for the performance “The BoX Melancholique" of the dance theatre Aura.

Young artist’s award was granted to the actor Dainius Jankauskas for the work in performances “Our Class" (LNDT) and “59´Online" (Arts Printing House).

Winner in the category of theatre for children – creators of the creative studio PetPunk, theatre laboratory Atviras Ratas and Arts Printing House (performance “Father’s Tale”).

Winner of puppet and objects theatre – director and artist Saulė Degutytė-Šiekštelienė for the performance “Table of Dialects” at Stalo Theatre.

Phenomenon of the stage art of the year – contemporary dance performance “Contemporary?” (Arts Printing House) – playwright Sigita Ivaškaitė, choreographers and dancers Agnė Ramanauskaitė, Paulius Tamolė, Mantas Stabačinskas.

Winners of nomination of Lithuanian authors’ staging – contemporary opera “Have a Good Day!" (Operomanija) – playwright Vaiva Grainytė, composer Lina Lapelytė, director Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė.

The earring of Borisas Dauguvietis was granted to the director Agnius Jankevičius.

The gratitude award for merits of entire life was granted to the director of Klaipėda Drama Theatre, theatre and cinema actor Povilas Gaidys.

2012

Galina Dauguvietytė awarded the earring of Borisas Dauguvietis to the director Arūnas Areima for searches of new forms of stage expression.

“The White Shroud” according to the novel of A.Škėma was recognised the best stage interpretation of a work of Lithuanian literature. The author of the pageant is Aušra Marija Sluckaitė-Jurašienė, director Jonas Jurašas, set designer Gintaras Makarevičius, actor Dainius Svobonas.

The Golden Stage Cross of the puppet and objects theatre was awarded for the creative team of the performance “Meteo” (Vilnius theatre Lėlė) – to the director Ana Brašinskaja, artist Julija Skuratova, choreographer Sigita Mikalauskaitė and performers Šarūnas Datenis, Karolis Algimantas Butvidas, Indrė Liutkevičiūtė, Imantas Precas, Dainius Tarutis, Edita Zėčiūtė.

The cross of the young artist was granted to Šarūnas Datenis and Antanas Dubra for the performance “Rooster Who Loves Money” (Arts Printing House).

Algirdas Martinaitis was awarded for music for the performance “Fir-tree at Ivanovy’s” (Lithuanian Russian Drama Theatre).

Sandra Janušaitė was awarded for the role of Tatjana in the opera “Evgeny Onegin” (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre).

Akvilė Garbenčiūtė was awarded in the category of operetta and musical for the role in the musical review “Siegfried Werner Cabaret” (Kaunas State Musical Theatre)

Agnija Šeiko was evaluated in the category of dance art for choreography of the performance “No Free Places in the Parking Lot” (Žuvies Akis).

The performance “Dear Man of the Funfair Park” (State Vilnius Small Theatre, director Olga Lapina, performer of the main role – Edmundas Mikulskis) was recognised as the best performance for children.

The Golden Stage Cross award for the secondary role was granted to Tomas Rinkūnas for Karl’s role in the performance “Robbers” (National Kaunas Drama Theatre) and for Casius role in the performance “Julius Caesar” (OKT / Vilnius City Theatre).

The Golden Stage Cross award for the main role was granted to Valentinas Novopolskis for the Nanny’s role in the performance “Fir-tree at Ivanovy’s” (Lithuanian Russian Drama Theatre).

The artist Jonas Arčikauskas was awarded for the set design of the performance “Fir-tree at Ivanovy’s”.

The title of the best director of 2012 was awarded to Jonas Vaitkus for direction of the performance “Fir-tree at Ivanovy’s”.

The Golden Stage Cross for merits of entire life was granted to the choreographer, founder and head of Aura dance theatre Birutė Letukaitė.

2011

The best performance of the year -- Maxim Gorky's 'The Lower Depths'. Director Oskaras Koršunovas (Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre).

Stage and costume designer -- Juozas Statkevičius – for costumes and make-up for Leo Fall's operetta 'Madame Pompadour' (Kauno State Musical Theatre), for the performance 'The Public' after Federico García Lorca (Utopia Theatre), for the dance performance 'Ana Karenina' after the novel of Lev Tolstoy and music of A. Schnittke (Anželika Cholina Dance Theatre).

Composer -- Liudas Mockūnas – for music for the performance 'The Damned' after Eugene O`Neill's play 'Mourning Becomes Electra' (Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre).

Actor in a leading role -- Darius Gumauskas – for the role in Maxim Gorky's 'The Lower Depths' (Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre).

Actress in a leading role -- Eglė Mikulionytė – for the role of Antigone in Aušra Marija Sluckaitė's 'Antigone in Syberia' (Kaunas State Drama Theatre).

Actor in a supporting role -- Vytautas Anužis – for the roles of Matchmaker, General and Doctor in Gintaras Grajauskas's 'A Girl Whom God was Afraid of' (Klaipėda Drama Theatre).

Actress in a supporting role -- Gintarė Latvėnaitė – for the role of Celina in Marius Ivaškevičius's 'Master' (Vilnius State Small Theatre).

Opera and operetta -- Sigutė Stonytė – for the role of Countess in W. A. Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro' (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre).

Choreographer -- Anželika Cholina –  for the choreography for the dance performance 'Ana Karenina' after the novel of Lev Tolstoy and music of A. Schnittke (Anželika Cholina Dance Theatre).

Ballet and dance -- Eglė Špokaitė – for the role of Olimpia in Leo Delibes's 'Coppelia' (Stage Artists Association).

Puppet Theatre -- creative team of the ethnological musical action for the whole family 'A Stork's Present': director and designer Algis Mikutis, director, designer and actress Saulė Degutytė-Šiekštelienė, composer and author actress Snieguolė Dikčiūtė (Stalo Theatre).

Performance for children -- creative team of the performance 'The Very Best Tale' (Vilnius Keistuolių Theatre).

Debut / the young artist -- actress Monika Vaičiulytė – for the role of Marija in Gintaras Grajauskas's 'A Girl Whom God was Afraid of' (Klaipėda Drama Theatre).

National dramaturgy -- 'Distant Horizons' after the poetry of Paulius Širvys (Cezaris Group Theatre).

Actress Rūta Staliliūnaitė was awarded the gratitude prize for merits of entire life.

Director Cezaris Graužinis was awarded the earring of Borisas Dauguvietis.

2010

The director Eimuntas Nekrošius – for the polyphony of meanings and plastics in the performance “Idiot” (Theatre Meno Fortas).

The director Stasys Ratkevičius – the gratitude prize for merits of entire life. The award was granted to him for the founding and development of Kaunas State Puppet Theatre.

The stage and costume designer Medilė Šiaulytytė – for stage design and costumes for the performance “Trouble about Mind” (Lithuanian Russian Drama Theatre).

The choreographer Ina Petrakova – for the choreography of the performances “Running with Wolves” and “Trouble about Mind” (Lithuanian Russian Drama Theatre).

The composer of drama / musical performance Antanas Jasenka – for music for the performances “On One Summer Day” and “Story of One Breast”.

The drama actress Toma Vaškevičiūtė – for the role of Luise in the performance "Happy" (Kaunas State Drama Theatre).

The drama actor Valentinas Kirejevas – for the role of Balakirev in the performance “Jester Balakirev” (Lithuanian Russian Drama Theatre).

The performer of supporting role Eglė Gabrėnaitė – for the role of a Woman in the performance “Improver of the World” (Lithuanian National Drama Theatre).

The performer of supporting role Sergejus Ivanovas – for the role of Richard II in the performance “Shakespearics” (State Youth Theatre).

The singer Arūnas Malikėnas – for the role of Don Cairo in the opera “Carmen” (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre).

The singer Asmik Grigorian – for the role of Mrs. Lovet in the musical “Sweeney Todd” (Lithuanian Art Creators’ Association).

The ballet dancer Eligijus Butkus – for the role of James in the ballet “Sylphid” (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre).

The actor Daumantas Ciunis – for the role of Myshkin in the performance “Idiot” (Meno fortas).

The director Valentinas Masalskis was awarded with the special earring of Borisas Dauguvietis for the vision of theatre implemented coherently.

2009

Actress Aurelija Tamulytė – for the secondary part of Fanny in the performance "The Ugly" (Kaunas State Drama Theatre).

Soloist Raminta Vaicekauskaitė – for the part of Hanna Glawari in the performance “The Merry Widow” and the part of Ninon Tisier in the performance “Violet of Montmartre” (Kaunas State Musical Theatre).

2008

Director Aidas Giniotis – for the best work in operetta field while directing Cole Porter’s musical “Kiss Me, Kate” (Kaunas Musical Theatre).

Scenographer / costume artist Gintaras Makarevičius – for scenography for the comedy of Petras Vaičiūnas “Patriots” (State Youth Theatre, director Jonas Vaitkus) and drama of Dea Loher “Roosevelt Square” (Kaunas State Drama Theatre, director Gintaras Varnas).

Choreographer Vesta Grabštaitė – for choreography for opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck “Orpheus and Eurydice” (Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, director Jonas Jurašas) and musical of Cole Porter “Kiss Me, Kate” (Kaunas State Musical Theatre, director Aidas Giniotis).

Drama actress Asta Baukutė – for the role of Liuba Šereikienė in Petras Vaičiūnas’ comedy “Patriots” (State Youth Theatre, director Jonas Vaitkus) and the role of Consha in drama of Dea Loher “Roosevelt Square” (Kaunas State Drama Theatre, director Gintaras Varnas).

2007

Soloist Danutė Dirginčiūtė – for the secondary role of Countess Kudenstein in operetta of I. Kalman “Count’s Daughter Mariza”. Kaunas State Musical Theatre.

Soloist Raminta Vaicekauskaitė – for the role of Mariza in operetta of I. Kalman “Count’s Daughter Mariza”. Kaunas State Musical Theatre.

Playwright Daiva Čepauskaitė –for the play “Beans”.

2006

Choreographer, head of Kaunas dance theatre Aura Birutė Letukaitė – for the performance “Aseptic Zone or Lithuanian Glees”.

Actress Inesa Paliulytė – for the performance “Andersen’s Street” (KSDT).

Actress Daiva Stubraitė – for the role of Ela in KSDT performance of D.Loher “Innocent”.

Actress Milė Šablauskaitė – for the role of Mrs. Zucker in KSDT performance of D. Loher “Innocent”.

2005

Director Gintaras Varnas – for performances of Kaunas State Drama Theatre and Arts Printing House “Crime and Punishment”, “Merlin, or Devastated Land”, “Light-house”.

Actor Dainius Kazlauskas – for the roles of Porfirij Petrovich, Merlin and the Spelaean Man in performances of Kaunas State Drama Theatre, Arts Printing House, Baltic Music “Crime and Punishment”, “Merlin, or Devastated Land”, “The Spelaean Man”.

Actress of Kaunas State Drama Theatre Gražina Balandytė – for the secondary role of Freulen Schneider in musical of John Kander “Cabaret” at Kaunas State Musical Theatre.

Young actor Marius Jampolskis – for Mordred’s role in the performance of the Arts Printing House and Kaunas State Drama Theatre “Merlin, or Devastated Land”.

Soloist Viktorija Streiča – for the roles of Sali and Freulen Kost in musical of John Kander “Cabaret” at Kaunas State Musical Theatre.

2004

Actor Liubomiras Laucevičius – for the role of Shailok in the performance of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre by W.Shakespeare “Merchant of Venice”.

Artist Jūratė Paulėkaitė – for performances of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre, Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Oskaras Koršunovas theatre “Merchant of Venice”, “Helver’s Night”, “Rigoletto”, “The Wonderful and Sad Story of Romeo and Juliet”.

Prize of the Ministry of Culture

2003

Actress Viktorija Kuodytė – for the role of Portia Koglen in the performance of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre “Portia Koglen”.

2002

Director Gintaras Varnas – for the performance of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre “Distant Land”.

Actress Aurelija Tamulytė – for the secondary role of Suzan in the performance of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre “Distant Land”.

Soloist Sabina Martinaitytė – for the role of Queen Bona Sforca in opera of Kaunas State Musical Theatre by Giedrius Kuprevičius “Queen Bona”.

Soloist Aušra Cicėnaitė – for the role of Anina in operetta of Kaunas State Musical Theatre by Johann Strauss “Night in Venice”.

Christopher

 

2001

Kaunas State Puppet Theatre – for creation for children.

Soloist Laimonas Pautienius – for the roles of Gustav, Falke and Erminijus in performances of Kaunas State Musical Theatre by Franz Lehar “Land of Smiles”, by Johann Strauss “The Bat”, by Karl Millöcker “Gasparone”.

2000

Composer Giedrius Puskunigis – for music for the performance of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre “Mourning Becomes Electra” and performance of Kitas Krantas “…With Goethe’s Faustus”.

Director Jūratė Januškevičiūtė – for the performance of Kaunas State Puppet Theatre “Golden Egg”.

Soloist of Kaunas State Musical Theatre Violeta Sagaitytė – for the role of Hortenzia in John Kander’s musical “Zorba”.

1999

Aristic Director of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre Gintaras Varnas – for the performance by Henrik Ibsen “Heda Gabler”.

Actress of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre Jūratė Onaitytė – for the role of Heda Gabler in the performance under the same name.

Artist of costumes Juozas Statkevičius – for costumes for the performance of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre “Heda Gabler” and performance of the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre “Stepanchikov’s Estate”.

Composer Giedrius Puskunigis – for music for the performance of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre “Heda Gabler”.

Soloist of Kaunas State Musical Theatre Gediminas Maciulevičius – for the role of Higins in operetta by F. Loewe “My Fair Lady”.

Artist Vitalijus Mazūras – for puppets to the performance of Kaunas State Puppet Theatre “Magic Light of Aladdin” and the performance of the State Youth Theatre “Dwarf Nose”.

1998

“Christopher” of gratitude to the actress Rūta Staliliūnaitė – for merits of all life to the Lithuanian and Kaunas theatre

1997

Soloist of Kaunas State Musical Theatre Danutė Dirginčiūtė – for the role of Victoria in operetta by Paul Abraham “Victoria”.

1996

Actor of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre Valentinas Masalskis – for the role of Hartman in the performance of F. K. Waechter “To Ashenfeld“ (director Thom Hinterberger).

Artist Jonas Arčikauskas – for the performance of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre “Vain Love Attempts” and the performance of the State Youth Theatre “House of Puppets”.

Composer Vidmantas Bartulis – for music for the performance of Kaunas State Academic Drama Theatre by F. K. Waechter “To Ashenfeld“.

(In the period of 1992-1995 Kaunas theatre artists were not noticed on the level of Lithuania)