Block, Cuccioli, Mays, Oscar, Redgrave, et al. Receive Helen Hayes Award Nominations

Stephanie J. Block, Robert Cuccioli, Jefferson Mays, and Vanessa Redgrave are among the nominees for this year’s Helen Hayes Awards, honoring the best in theater in the Washington D.C. area. The awards ceremony will take place at the Warner Theatre on Monday, April 17. It will be hosted by Brad Oscar, who received a nomination for his work in the Arena Stage production of Damn Yankees.

In total, the Hayes committee bestowed 140 nominations, spread out over 56 separate shows. The Signature Theatre Company received 12 nominations for its production of Urinetown and six for its production of Pacific Overtures. Among the other shows that earned multiple nominations are the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Othello, the Ford’s Theatre production of Big River, and the national tour of Wicked. In addition to the competitive awards, special honors will be presented to set designer Ming Cho Lee and costume designer Jane Greenwood.

Block, who was nominated for her work as Elphaba in Wicked, and Redgrave, who was nominated for playing the title role in Hecuba, will compete in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production alongside Kendra Kassebaum (Wicked), Keala Settle (Hairspray), and Amy Ziff (Betty Rules). Mays, who is nominated for I Am My Own Wife, will compete in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production alongside magician Ricky Jay and the stars of Red, White and Tuna, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams.

Cuccioli, who was recognized for his work in Lorenzaccio, is one of 10 performers nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play. His competitors include Daniel Breaker (The Comedy of Errors), Rick Foucheux (Take Me Out), and Patrick Page (Othello). Oscar is one of six nominees in the Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical category, alongside Christopher Corrigan, Michael McElroy, and Bill O’Brien, the three stars of Big River; and Will Gartshore, who was nominated for his work in both Urinetown and Pacific Overtures.

For a complete list of nominees and other information on the awards, visit www.helenhayes.org.