On april 6, Praça da Alegria hosted the fourth edition of the “Toast to the Theatre” event, organized by the Parish of Santo António.

The ceremony, in celebration of Theatre Day, inaugurated the inscription in Portuguese sidewalk of 33 personalities linked to this ancient art, on the ” Walk ofFame”. This year’s honorees include: Afonso Pimentel, Albano Jerónimo, Alda Gomes, Ana Brito e Cunha, Ana Nave, António Capelo, Carmen Santos, Catarina Avelar, César Mourão, Diogo Morgado, Flávio Gil, Florbela Queiroz, Heitor Lourenço, Helena Isabel, Helena Reis, Henrique Feist, Henrique Viana, Henriqueta Maya, Inês Herédia, João Lourenço, João Mota, João Reis, Joaquim Monchique. José de Castro, Lourdes Norberto, Luís Esparteiro, Luís Lourenço, Márcia Breia, Natalina José, Rita Salema, Rui Mendes, Sofia Grillo and Virgílio Castelo.  Each of them had their name engraved on the Portuguese sidewalk in Praça da Alegria.

Sofia Grillo, an actress, expressed her gratitude for the tribute, stressing the importance of theater for the culture of each country. “Theater is life and culture. It’s what gives each country its identity. This initiative is to be commended. It’s a huge honor for me to have the privilege of being here on the sidewalk”, she said.

Actor Luís Lourenço said that he “can’t find the words for how happy he is to be on the Walk of Fame because he “hasn’t yet assimilated what it means”.

The occasion was attended by the President of the Lisbon City Council, Carlos Moedas, the President of the Parish of Santo António, Vasco Morgado, the Councilor for the Culture of Lisbon City Council, Diogo Moura and many of the honorees.

Vasco Morgado, President of the Parish of Santo António, said that “it is always a great pleasure and pride every year to make the “Walk of Fame’ grow with more names of people linked to portuguese theater as a way or celebrating, thanking and eternalizing the names of those who, on stage, make us dream”.

At the end of the ceremony, each artist was presented with a bottle of wine, a certificate, and a gift – a laminated paving stone with their name engraved on it. It all culminated in a toast – to the theater, of course.

With this initiative, The Parish of Santo António is offering the city of Lisbon a space to pay tribute to our artists. In the name of culture. Long live the theater!