Linda Morgan, Tramaine Morgan, and Karen Sanders (Photos: Michael Donahue)

The playโ€™s the thing. And so is the award for the play.

About 600 attended the 40th annual Memphis Ostrander Awards show, which was held August 26th at the Orpheum Theatre.

Jeff Hulett, who managed publicity for the event, says the local gala celebrates excellence in theater in the Greater Memphis area. 

More than 30 awards were given during the ceremony, which included performances by nominees. โ€œThink the Oscars for theater,โ€ Hulett says.

In addition to awards for acting, awards were given for everything from costume design and lighting to best original script, directors, and productions.

Fourteen organizations participated in the Ostranders, which were named in honor of the late actor Jim Ostrander. It began 40 years ago as the Memphis Theater Awards. The name was changed to โ€œOstranderโ€ in 2001, Hulett says. 

Michael Donahue began his career in 1975 at the now-defunct Memphis Press-Scimitar and moved to The Commercial Appeal in 1984, where he wrote about food and dining, music, and covered social events until...