Theater News

Helen Hayes Award Winners Announced

Theatre Washington’s top awards went to DC theaters MetroStage, the Folger Theatre, and Signature Theatre, among others.

Paul Downs Colaizzo
Paul Downs Colaizzo
(© David Gordon)

The 29th annual Helen Hayes Awards were held Monday, April 8 at the JW Marriot Hotel.
Notable winners were actors Bobby Smith and Natascia Diaz for their leading roles in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at MetroStage, as well as Serge Seiden for his direction of that production. The Taming of the Shrew at Folger Theatre was recognized as the season’s outstanding resident play, while Signature Theatre’s Dreamgirls received the award for outstanding resident musical. In addition, the 2013 John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company was presented to Dizzy Miss Lizzie’s Roadside Revue, and Paul Downs Colaizzo received the The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical for Really Really.

The Helen Hayes Awards honor all aspects of theatrical productions in the Washington DC area’s resident companies and touring productions. Check out the full list of winners below.

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical

Matthew A. Anderson – Seussical, Imagination Stage
Brooks Ashmanskas- 1776, Ford’s Theatre
James Gardiner – Little Shop of Horrors, Olney Theatre Center
Doug Kreeger – Brother Russia, Signature Theatre
Paul Scanlan – Spring Awakening, The Keegan Theatre
Bobby Smith – Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, MetroStage

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical

Mary Bridget Davies – One Night with Janis Joplin, Arena Stage
Natascia Diaz – Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, MetroStage
Nova Y. Payton- Dreamgirls, Signature Theatre
Dayna Quincy- The Color Purple, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Erin Weaver- Xanadu, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical

Christopher Bloch- 1776, Ford’s Theatre
Michael John Casey- Rapunzel, Imagination Stage
Robert Cuccioli- 1776, Ford’s Theatre
David Little- The Color Purple, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Cedric Neal- Dreamgirls, Signature Theatre
Nicholas Rodriguez- My Fair Lady, Arena Stage
Bobby Smith- Little Shop of Horrors, Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical

Priscilla Cuellar- Legally Blonde the Musical, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Theresa Cunningham- The Color Purple, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Sherri L. Edelen- Xanadu, Signature Theatre
Crystal Joy- Dreamgirls, Signature Theatre
Donna Migliaccio- The Music Man, Arena Stage

Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, MetroStage
Josephine Tonight, MetroStage
‘The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe‘, Imagination Stage
Puerto Rico… , GALA Hispanic Theatre
Rapunzel, Imagination Stage
Spring Awakening, The Keegan Theatre

The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play

Teagle F. Bougere- Invisible Man, The Studio Theatre
Steven Epp- The Servant of Two Masters, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Larry Marshall- Pullman Porter Blues, Arena Stage
Cody Nickell- The Taming of the Shrew, Folger Theatre
José Joaquin Perez- The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play

Rena Cherry Brown- August: Osage County, The Keegan Theatre
Helen Carey- Long Day, Arena Stage
Francesca Faridany- Strange Interlude, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Lee Mikeska Gardner- Side Man, 1st Stage
Kathryn Kelley- The Belle of Amherst, The Bay Theatre Company
Kate Eastwood Norris- The Taming of the Shrew, Folger Theatre
Kathleen Turner- Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, Arena Stage
Holly Twyford- Dirt, The Studio Theatre

The James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play

Adam Green- A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Adi Hanash- The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Matthew McGee- Taking Steps, Constellation Theatre Company
Danny Scheie- The Taming of the Shrew, Folger Theatre

Bradley Foster Smith- Suite Surrender, 1st Stage

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production

Emily Behny- Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The National Theatre
Felicia Boswell- Memphis, The Kennedy Center
Mara Davi- Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, The Kennedy Center
Ashley Blair Fitzgerald- Come Fly Away, The Kennedy Center
Helen Russell- Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie, Theater J

Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production

Robert Jack- Black Watch, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Julie Johnson- Memphis, The Kennedy Center
Tom Lawrence- Hamlet, Folger Theatre
Adam McNamara- Black Watch, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Christopher Saul- Hamlet, Folger Theatre
Chris Starkie- Black Watch, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production

Colin K. Bills- Brother Russia, Signature Theatre
Colin K. Bills- The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Chuan-Chi Chan- The Servant of Two Masters, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Mary Louise Geiger- Invisible Man, The Studio Theatre
Keith Parham- Red, Arena Stage
Justin Townsend- One Night with Janis Joplin, Arena Stage
Thom Weaver- The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Director, Resident Play

Christopher Bayes – The Servant of Two Masters, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Robert Falls- Red, Arena Stage
Kirsten Kelly- Big Love, The Hub Theatre
Christopher McElroen- Invisible Man, The Studio Theatre
Ethan McSweeny- A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Aaron Posner- The Taming of the Shrew, Folger Theatre
John Vreeke- The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Michael Kahn- The Government Inspector, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical

Kathryn Chase Bryer- Rapunzel, Imagination Stage
Matthew Gardiner- Dreamgirls, Signature Theatre
Toby Orenstein- The Color Purple, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Lawrence B. Munsey- The Color Purple, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Mark A. Rhea- Spring Awakening, The Keegan Theatre
Susan Marie Rhea- Spring Awakening, The Keegan Theatre
Serge Seiden- Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, MetroStage
Janet Stanford- The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Imagination Stage

Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production

Christopher Baine- The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Cliff Eberhardt, Original Music; and Christopher Baine, Sound Design- The Taming of the Shrew, Folger Theatre

Matthew Nielson- The Illusion, Forum Theatre
David Remedios- Invisible Man, The Studio Theatre
Brendon Vierra- Hum, Theater Alliance

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical

Matthew R. Wilson, adaptor; based on the novel by Charles Dickens- A Commedia Christmas Carol, Faction of Fools Theatre Company
Jason Gray Platt- Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus, Round House Theatre
Bryony Lavery- Dirt, The Studio Theatre
Kathryn Chase Bryer, David Palmer, Janet Stanford, Septime Webre, concept by; libretto & lyrics by Janet Stanford with additional lyrics by Bari Biern; music by Matthew Pierce- The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Imagination Stage
Cheryl L. West- Pullman Porter Blues, Arena Stage
Paul Downs Colaizzo- Really Really, Signature Theatre
Renee Calarco- The Religion Thing, Theater J

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production

Parker Esse- The Music Man, Arena Stage
Joe Isenberg- The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Erika Chong Shuch- The Conference of the Birds, Folger Theatre
Rick Sordelet- Sucker Punch, The Studio Theatre
Anwar Thomas- The Color Purple, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Septime Webre- The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Imagination Stage
David Palmer- The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Imagination Stage


Outstanding Production, Theatre For Young Audiences

A Little House Christmas– Adventure Theatre MTC
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe– Imagination Stage
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg– The Kennedy Center
Rapunzel– Imagination Stage
The Snowy Day– Adventure Theatre

Outstanding Non-Resident Production

The Animals and Children Took to the Streets– Studio Theatre
Black Watch– Shakespeare Theatre Company
Hamlet– Folger Theatre
Memphis– The Kennedy Center
Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie– Theater J

Outstanding Resident Play

A Midsummer Night’s Dream– Shakespeare Theatre Company
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity– Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Invisible Man– The Studio Theatre
Our Class– Theater J
The Taming of the Shrew– Folger Theatre

Outstanding Resident Musical

1776– Ford’s Theatre
The Color Purple– Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Dreamgirls– Signature Theatre
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris– MetroStage
Spring Awakening– The Keegan Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play

E. Faye Butler- Pullman Porter Blues, Arena Stage

Sarah Marshall- The Taming of the Shrew, Folger Theatre
Natalia Payne- Dirt, The Studio Theatre
Nancy Robinette- The Government Inspector, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Holly Twyford- The Taming of the Shrew, Folger Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production

Michael Benz- Hamlet, Folger Theatre
Ryan Fletcher- Black Watch, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Martin Kaye- Million Dollar Quartet, The Kennedy Center
David M. Lutken- Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie, Theater J
Christopher Sieber- La Cage Aux Folles, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play

August: Osage County, The Keegan Theatre
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
The Government Inspector, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Invisible Man, The Studio Theatre
The Taming of the Shrew, Folger Theatre
Pullman Porter Blues, Arena Stage

Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production

Riccardo Hernandez- Pullman Porter Blues, Arena Stage
Troy Hourie- Invisible Man, The Studio Theatre
Misha Kachman- The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Todd Rosenthal- Red, Arena Stage
Lee Savage- A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production

Judith Bowden- My Fair Lady, Arena Stage
Murell Horton- The Government Inspector, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Frank Labovitz- Dreamgirls, Signature Theatre
Jennifer Moeller- A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Lawrence B. Munsey- The Color Purple, Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production

Jenny Cartney- Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, MetroStage
Jonathan Tuzman- Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Lawrence Goldberg- The Music Man, Arena Stage
Jon Kalbfleisch- Dreamgirls, Signature Theatre
Jake Null- Spring Awakening, The Keegan Theatre
Christopher Youstra- The Color Purple, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Jmichael- Pullman Porter Blues, Arena Stage

For more information about the Helen Hayes Awards, click here.