Group photo of the winners of the first edition of the Monnot Awards. (Credit: Monnot Theater)
Josyane Boulos is a passionate supporter of theater. She loves actors, directors, playwrights, screenwriters, sound and lighting technicians, costume designers — and, of course, audiences. She also enjoys creating moments of celebration in the middle of crises and wars, offering people a break from the feeling of defeat.
With her trademark energy and enthusiasm, the director of Monnot Theater decided this year to launch an event long missing from Lebanon’s cultural scene: an annual celebration of the country’s theater community.
The first edition of the “Monnot Awards”, honoring actors and the many professionals behind the stage, was held Monday at Monnot Theater in Achrafieh. The nominees were selected from productions staged at the theater between September 2025 and July 2026, reflecting the venue’s growing role as one of Lebanon’s most active stages.
Boulos brought together a jury of journalists, writers and university professors, all passionate about theater and regular attendees of the season’s shows, to select the nominees and winners.
She stressed that she did not interfere in their decisions. “Otherwise, I would have made everyone win,” she joked during the ceremony on Aug. 10.
The evening focused on celebration and togetherness. It opened with a dabke performance by the young troupe from Collective Beirut Physical Lab, followed by playwright, director and actress Zeina Daccache and actor Talal Jurdi, who hosted the ceremony.
The duo kept the evening lively with humor and ease, joined by leading figures of the Lebanese theater scene — including Julia Kassar, Carlos Azar, Cynthia Karam, Randa Asmar, Georges Chalhoub and Gabriel Yammine — who helped present the awards.
The ceremony brought together established artists and young talents to discover who would take home one of the aluminum sculpture trophies designed by Katya Traboulsi.
The loudest applause went to playwright, director and actor Camille Salameh, who received a special award from Boulos for his career. The Monnot Awards also celebrated younger performers, with Maria Doueihi and Julien Chayaa winning best actress and best actor, respectively.
Beyond the better-known names, the ceremony also highlighted the work of the many professionals behind the scenes who help bring theater productions to life.
With a trophy designed by Traboulsi and music composed by Anthony Touma, the first edition of the “Monnot Awards” achieved its goal: giving Lebanese theater an evening dedicated to recognition and celebration — and laying the groundwork for what could become an annual tradition.
Winners list
Maria Doueihi, best actress award for "Kornet el Baida" ('The White Corner'); Julien Chayaa, best actor award for "La Misérable" ('The Miserable Woman'); playwright and director Yehia Jaber, best play award for "Chou Mnelboss" ('What Should We Wear?'); double honors for Joe Ramia, who won best adaptation and best director for "Rihlet Hanzallah" ('Hanzallah’s Journey'), by Saadallah Wannous; also a double win for real-life and on-stage duo Adon Khoury and Yara Zakhour, who won best set design and best original text for "Radio Transistor" ('Transistor Radio'); Aly Bleibel, best supporting actor for "Mensonge blanc" ('White Lie'), and Salma Chalaby, best supporting actress for "Hanneh;" Anthony Youssef, best music and soundtrack; Hagop Derghougassian, best lighting design; Bruno Tabbal and his brother Ralph Tabbal, best costume for "L’Étrangère de Noël" ('The Christmas Stranger'); Pia Khalil, breakout of the year; Samer Hanna, youth jury prize for his musical "Al Hawa Sawa" ('Love Is the Same'), accompanied by a $2,500 check given by the family of Yolla Noujeim.
