Side Show and Sunday in the Park With George Come Out on Top at the Helen Hayes Awards

Washington, D.C. celebrated its past season of theater last night at the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards ceremony, held at the Lincoln Theatre. A pool of 47 judges recognized 264 artists, ensembles, and productions from 31 theaters with Helen Hayes Awards nominations in 47 categories. The awards were adjudicated under a new system, dividing productions into two categories — "Helen" and "Hayes'' — depending on the ratio of actors working in the production under an Actors' Equity contract.

The winners included several Broadway favorites including Brynn O'Malley, who ended her run in Honeymoon in Vegas on Sunday. She earned the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical (in the Hayes category) for her performance as Dot in Signature Theatre's Sunday in the Park With George. In the Helen category, Tony nominee Barbara Walsh (Company) earned the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Studio Theatre production of Carrie: The Musical.

Tony-winning director Susan Stroman took home the award for Outstanding Choreography in a Musical for the Kennedy Center production of Little Dancer. The Kennedy Center's pre-Broadway production of Side Show also received several awards, including Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical, Outstanding Costume Design (Paul Tazewell), and Outstanding Musical, which it shared with Signature Theatre's Sunday in the Park With George.

Special honors were also presented to National New Play Network, which received the Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership, and Flying V, which received the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company.

For the complete list of 2015 Helen Hayes Award winners, click here.