Noll, Blanchett, RAGTIME, STREETCAR Among 26th Annual Helen Hayes Award Winners

The 26th Helen Hayes Awards were presented at the historic Warner Theatre on Monday April 5. In addition to 151 theatre artists, ensembles and productions nominated in 26 categories, three special awards were given:

The Helen Hayes Tribute sponsored by JayLee Mead to legendary playwright Edward Albee, The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community to theatre and arts activist Andy Shallal; and The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company to Tyson Corner, Virginia's 1st Stage.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The full winners list is found below.

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
    Meisha Bosma, Fever/Dream, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
    Ben Cunis, Dracula, Synetic Theater
    Maurice Hines, Cool Papa's Party, MetroStage     (Award Recipient)
    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
    Jimm Halliday, Ragtime, The Kennedy Center     (Award Recipient)
    Santo Loquasto, Ragtime, The Kennedy Center     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)

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     (Award Recipient)
    Holly Twyford, Lost in Yonkers, Theater J

Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production
    Colin K. Bills, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Forum Theatre     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    Harry A. Winter, Show Boat, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play
    Edward Gero, King Lear, Shakespeare Theatre Company
    Eric Hissom, Arcadia, Folger Theatre     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)

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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    The Bread of Winter, Victor Lodato
Theater Alliance
    Antebellum, Robert O'Hara
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company     (Award Recipient)
    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 Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by JayLee Mead
    Edward Albee     (Award Recipient)

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

The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community
    Andy Shallal     (Award Recipient)

Outstanding Non-Resident Production
    A Streetcar Named Desire, The Kennedy Center     (Award Recipient)
    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      
    Heidi, Imagination Stage      
    Lyle the Crocodile, Imagination Stage      
    The Tale of the Fisherman and the Golden Fish, Synetic Family Theater     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    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     (Award Recipient)
    Show Boat, Signature Theatre     

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

The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company
    1st Stage     (Award Recipient)