Blanchett, Noll, Brochu, Parsons Garner Helen Hayes Awards Nominations; Awards Ceremony to be Held April 5

Theatre artists and productions nominated for The 26th Annual Helen Hayes Awards were announced this evening at a press conference hosted by The National Theatre in its Helen Hayes Gallery. The complete list of nominees can be found below. 

Out of Washington's 73 professional theatres, 57 theatres produced 182 productions that met eligibility requirements during the January 1 - December 31, 2009 judging cycle. From these shows, 151 artists, ensembles and productions from 25 theatres were nominated in 26 categories.

Sixty-three judges, selected by a panel of area artistic directors, cast 22,558 scores in consideration of 2821  pieces of work (performances, designs, productions, directions etc). From that work, 1,669 were acting  performances alone.

In comparison, in 2009 (for adjudicated productions from January 1 - December 31, 2008, 45 eligible theatres  produced 172 productions that met Awards' eligibility requirements, resulting in 150 nominations. A summary of  the Helen Hayes Awards Adjudication Process is available at www.helenhayes.org.

This year's nominations mark the first year that the award for Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young  Audiences will be presented. Productions eligible for this category must be intended specifically for audiences age  12 and under.

As occurred in 2009, the quantity and quality of ensemble work necessitated the division of The Canadian  Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble into two separate categories: one for ensemble of a play and the other  for ensemble of a musical. This distinction is applied in any year when there are a similarly large number of  ensembles garnering such high scores.

Upon welcoming the crowd of approximately 200 theatre leaders, artists and patrons, Victor Shargai, Chairman of  The Helen Hayes Awards Board of Directors, announced that:  The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company will be given to 1st Stage, an  exciting young theatre company who has made their home in Tysons Corner specifically to provide opportunities to emerging talents so they can in fact be the "first stage" in their careers. This award was established in 2008 in memory of John Aniello, a devoted champion of young, promising  talent and an avid theatergoer since 1960. The John Aniello Award recognizes and encourages the  efforts of companies who are just getting started yet have produced a body of work that is new, daring,  and exciting. This is the third year the award will be presented, having been previously been given to  Taffety Punk in 2008 and Constellation Theatre Company in 2009.

Before announcing the nominees, Helen Hayes Awards President & CEO Linda Levy Grossman announced a  new initiative: "Helen Hayes Recommended" a marketing initiative to help encourage attendance during the run of a show. The endorsement is determined by judges attending productions throughout the year as part of their  balloting process. If a production is recommended by the judges, the endorsement of "Helen Hayes  Recommended" and a special logo is sent to the producing theatre for their use in up-to-the-minute marketing  and communications efforts.

In 1983, Helen Hayes Awards Founder Bonnie Nelson Schwartz recognized that the 14 professional theatres that,  at the time made Washington their home, were worthy of great attention and celebration. So when the first Helen  Hayes Awards judging cycle began in 1984, the stage was set to cultivate a theatre community that would  become the second most prolific theatre town in the country.

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Helen Hayes began her lifelong love affair with theatre at the age of five after seeing her first play at The National  Theatre. Her legendary work ethic and standards of excellence earned her the title "First Lady of the American  Theatre." Eighty years after her first visit to The National Theatre, she presided over the inaugural presentation of  her namesake awards and continued to inspire the Washington artists that followed in her footsteps. The  National Theatre is now operated by the non-profit National Theatre Corporation, and managed by The Shubert  Organization.

The Helen Hayes Awards is among the area's chief community builders, helping to strengthen our region by  building one of its most powerful assets: the professional theatre. While the organization takes center stage on  one night each year to celebrate Washington area theatre, our work behind the scenes to build audiences, honor  excellence, and educate youth continues for 365 nights - and days.

The 26th Annual Helen Hayes Awards will be held on Monday, April 5, 2010 at the Warner Theatre and JW Marriott Hotel. One of our country's most prestigious cultural events, The Helen Hayes Awards annually honors excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

For more information about the Helen Hayes Awards programs and services and tickets to the Awards Gala, go to www.helenhayes.org or call 202-337-4572.

2010 Helen Hayes Awards Nominees

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
Meisha Bosma, Fever/Dream, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Maurice Hines, Cool Papa's Party, MetroStage
Carina Losano, Momia en el closet: The Return of Eva Perón, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Irina Tsikurishvili, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Synetic Theater
Irina Tsikurishvili, Dante, Synetic Theater
Irina Tsikurishvili, Dracula, Synetic Theater

Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production
Linda Cho, The Dog in the Manger, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Santo Loqasto, Ragtime, The Kennedy Center
Robert Perdziola, Design for Living, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Anastasia Ryurikov Simes, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Synetic Theater
Anastasia Ryurikov Simes, Dante, Synetic Theater
Alejo Vietti, A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas, Ford's Theatre
Norah Worthington, Wittenberg, Rep Stage

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Jeff Calhoun, The Civil War, Ford's Theatre
Amanda Dehnert, The Fantasticks, Arena Stage
Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime, The Kennedy Center
Thomas W. Jones, II, Cool Papa's Party, MetroStage
Mark A. Rhea, Rent, The Keegan Theatre
Susan Marie Rhea, Rent, The Keegan Theatre

Outstanding Director, Resident Play
Robert Falls, King Lear, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Jonathan Munby, The Dog in the Manger, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Lisa Peterson, The Quality of Life, Arena Stage
Aaron Posner, Arcadia, Folger Theatre
Jeremy Skidmore, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Forum Theatre
Tony Tsendeas, Wittenberg, Rep Stage
Paata Tsikurishvili, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Synetic Theater

Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production
Jim Brochu, Zero Hour, Theater J
Steve Cuiffo, Hell Meets Henry Halfway, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Joel Edgerton, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Kennedy Center
Paul Vincent O'Connor, August: Osage County, The Kennedy Center
Dito van Reigersberg, Hell Meets Henry Halfway, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
David Benoit, Adding Machine: A Musical, The Studio Theatre
Quentin Earl Darrington, Ragtime, The Kennedy Center
Parker Drown, Rent, The Keegan Theatre
Will Gartshore, Show Boat, Signature Theatre
Jahi Kearse, Cool Papa's Party, MetroStage
Ashley Robinson, Giant, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production
Cate Blanchett, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Kennedy Center
Shannon Cochran, August: Osage County, The Kennedy Center
Libby George, August: Osage County, The Kennedy Center
Estelle Parsons, August: Osage County, The Kennedy Center
Angelica Torn, August: Osage County, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical
Sandy Bainum, The Music Man, Washington Savoyards
Jessica Lauren Ball, Oklahoma!, Toby's Dinner Theatre
E. Faye Butler, Crowns, Arena Stage
Laura Conforte, Momia en el closet: The Return of Eva Perón, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Tara Giordano, Heidi, Imagination Stage
Christiane Noll, Ragtime, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play
Valerie Harper, Looped, Arena Stage
Lisa Harrow, Rock ‘n' Roll, The Studio Theatre
Tana Hicken, Lost in Yonkers, Theater J
Tonya Pinkins, Black Pearl Sings!, Ford's Theatre
Holly Twyford, Arcadia, Folger Theatre
Holly Twyford, The Little Dog Laughed, Signature Theatre
Holly Twyford, Lost in Yonkers, Theater J

Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production
Colin K. Bills, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Forum Theatre
Colin K. Bills, Fever/Dream, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Andrew F. Griffin, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Synetic Theater
Michael Philippi, King Lear, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Daniel MacLean Wagner, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Round House Theatre
Thom Weaver, Arcadia, Folger Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production
Aaron Broderick, Rent, The Keegan Theatre
Jay Crowder, The Civil War, Ford's Theatre
William Knowles, Cool Papa's Party, MetroStage
James Moore, Ragtime, The Kennedy Center
Christopher Youstra, Adding Machine: A Musical, The Studio Theatre

Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production
Tony Cisek, Black Pearl Sings!, Ford's Theatre
Misha Kachman, Fever/Dream, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
James Kronzer, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Round House Theatre
James Noone, Design for Living, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Walt Spangler, King Lear, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Klyph Stanford, Hysteria, Rep Stage

Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production
Konstantine Lortkipandze, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Synetic Theater
Ryan Rumery, The Heavens are Hung in Black, Ford's Theatre
Tom Teasley, Crazyface, Constellation Theatre Company
Veronika Vorel, Arcadia, Folger Theatre
Veronika Vorel, Black Pearl Sings!, Ford's Theatre
Veronika Vorel, Fever/Dream, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Richard Woodbury, King Lear, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
Nate Dendy, The Fantasticks, Arena Stage
John Dossett, Giant, Signature Theatre
Anthony Manough, Cool Papa's Party, MetroStage
Laurence O'Dwyer, The Fantasticks, Arena Stage
Harry A. Winter, Show Boat, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play
Edward Gero, King Lear, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Eric Hissom, Arcadia, Folger Theatre
Irakli Kavsadze, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Synetic Theater
Alex Mills, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Synetic Theater
Frederick Strother, Radio Golf, The Studio Theatre
David Turner, The Dog in the Manger, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical
Eleasha Gamble, The Civil War, Ford's Theatre
Kellee Knighten, The Civil War, Ford's Theatre
Elizabeth Rayca, Oklahoma!, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Kimberly Schraf, Show Boat, Signature Theatre
Delores King Williams, Show Boat, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play
Naomi Jacobson, The Winter's Tale, Folger Theatre
Sarah Marshall, Full Circle, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Jennifer Mendenhall, Angels in America: Perestroika, Forum Theatre
Marni Penning, Hysteria, Rep Stage
Miriam Silverman, The Dog in the Manger, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Erin Weaver, Arcadia, Folger Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production
Morgan David Jones, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Kennedy Center
Mandy McElhinney, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Kennedy Center
Robin McLeavy, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Kennedy Center
Tim Richards, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Kennedy Center
James Sugg, Hell Meets Henry Halfway, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
The Rise and Fall of Annie Hall, Sam Forman
Theater J
Eclipsed, Danai Gurira
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
The Bread of Winter, Victor Lodato
Theater Alliance
Antebellum, Robert O'Hara
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Momia en el closet: The Return of Eva Perón, book by, Gustavo Ott
GALA Hispanic Theatre
Momia en el closet: The Return of Eva Perón, conceived and composed by, Mariano Vales
GALA Hispanic Theatre

The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play
Stacy Keach, King Lear, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Karl Miller, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Forum Theatre
Karl Miller, Angels in America: Perestroika, Forum Theatre
Cody Nickell, Arcadia, Folger Theatre
Seth Reichgott, Wittenberg, Rep Stage

Outstanding Non-Resident Production
A Streetcar Named Desire, The Kennedy Center
August: Osage County, The Kennedy Center
Jersey Boys, The National Theatre
Spring Awakening, The Kennedy Center
Zero Hour, Theater J

Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences
Barrio Grrrl!, The Kennedy Center Family Theatre
Heidi, Imagination Stage
Lyle the Crocodile, Imagination Stage
The Tale of the Fisherman and the Golden Fish, Synetic Family Theater
Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth, Imagination Stage

Outstanding Resident Musical
Adding Machine: A Musical, The Studio Theatre
The Civil War, Ford's Theatre
Crowns, Arena Stage
The Fantasticks, Arena Stage
Momia en el closet: The Return of Eva Perón, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Ragtime, The Kennedy Center
Rent, The Keegan Theatre

Outstanding Resident Play
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Synetic Theater
Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Forum Theatre
Arcadia, Folger Theatre
The Dog in the Manger, Shakespeare Theatre Company
King Lear, Shakespeare Theatre Company
The Quality of Life, Arena Stage
Wittenberg, Rep Stage

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical
The Civil War, Ford's Theatre
Cool Papa's Party, MetroStage
Crowns, Arena Stage
Rent, The Keegan Theatre
Show Boat, Signature Theatre

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Synetic Theater
Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Forum Theatre
Angels in America: Perestroika, Forum Theatre
Antebellum, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Disco Pigs, Solas Nua
Heroes, MetroStage
The Quality of Life, Arena Stage