The Studio Theatre's production of Caroline, or Change and the Folger Theatre's production of Measure for Measure earned top honors at the 23rd Annual Helen Hayes Awards, April 16 at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC. The awards recognize the best in Washington theater.

The largest number of awards, four, went to Signature Theatre's production of Assassins: Joe Calarco, Outstanding Director, Resident Musical; Will Gartshore, Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical, as John Wilkes Booth; Donna Migliaccio, Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical, as Sara Jane Moore; and Andy Brownstein, Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical, as Samuel Byck.

Julia Nixon received the award for Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical, for the title role in Caroline, or Change. Also at Studio Theatre, Andrew Long was honored as Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play, for the Secondstage production of Frozen.

Aaron Posner, director of Measure for Measure, tied with Michael Kahn, director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company's 1960s-set production of Love's Labor's Lost, as Outstanding Director, Resident Play. Kate Eastwood Norris received the Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play, award for the Folger's Art Deco Midsummer Night's Dream. Other honors for the Shakespeare Theatre Company went to Catherine Zuber, Outstanding Costume Design for Love's Labor's Lost; James Kronzer, Outstanding Set Design for The Beaux' Stratagem; and Philip Goodwin, Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play, for An Enemy of the People.

In the Continuum, presented at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, received two awards: Outstanding Non-Resident Production, and Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production, for Danai Gurira. David Burnham was named Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production, for The Light in the Piazza at the Kennedy Center, and Jeff Dumas was honored as Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production, for Monty Python's Spamalot at the National Theatre.

Arena Stage received two Helen Hayes Awards. Johanna Day took the Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play, honor for The Rainmaker, and George Fulginiti-Shakar received the Outstanding Musical Director award for Cabaret.

The following productions received one Helen Hayes Award each: The Elephant Man at the Olney Theatre Center, Charlie Morrison, Outstanding Lighting Design; Synetic Theater's Frankenstein, presented as part of the Kennedy Center's Prelude Festival, Outstanding Choreography for Irina Tsikurishvili; and Round House Theatre's A Prayer for Owen Meany, Outstanding Sound Design for Matthew N. Nielson.

The Catalyst Theater Company's production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui received the first Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play or Musical. Short Order Stories by Renee Calarco (sister of Outstanding Director Joe Calarco), performed at Charter Theatre, received the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical.

The KPMG Award for distinguished service to the Washington theater community went to Target for its support of Washington theaters including Arena Stage and GALA Hispanic Theatre. The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community recognized the Cultural Development Corporation for its efforts to save and protect Washington's landmark Source Theatre space. Longtime actress and Washington native Frances Sternhagen received the Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by Gilbert and Jaylee Mead.

Actor Jason Kravits, a native of Rockville, Md., currently appearing in The Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway, served as master of ceremonies.

More information about the Helen Hayes Awards can be found at www.helenhayes.org.

Helen Hayes Awards Nominees and Winners (winners are in bold)

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
Marion J. Caffey, 3 Mo' Divas, Arena Stage
David Neumann, Cabaret, Arena Stage
Irina Tsikurishvili, The Dybbuk, Synetic Theater and Theater J
Irina Tsikurishvili, Faust, Synetic Theater
Irina Tsikurishvili, Frankenstein, Synetic Theater as part of The Kennedy Center's Prelude Festival

Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production
Toni-Leslie James, 3 Mo' Divas, Arena Stage
Anna R. Oliver, Don Juan, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Robert Perdziola, The Beaux' Stratagem, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Kate Turner-Walker, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Folger Theatre
Catherine Zuber, Love's Labor's Lost, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Marion J. Caffey, 3 Mo' Divas, Arena Stage
Joe Calarco, Assassins, Signature Theatre
Kyle Donnelly, She Loves Me, Arena Stage
Greg Ganakas, Caroline, or Change, Studio Theatre
Molly Smith, Cabaret, Arena Stage

Outstanding Director, Resident Play
Kjetil Bang-Hansen, An Enemy of the People, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Christopher Gallu, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Catalyst Theater Company
Michael Kahn, The Beaux' Stratagem, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Tie: Michael Kahn, Love's Labor's Lost, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Tie: Aaron Posner, Measure for Measure, Folger Theatre
Blake Robison, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Round House Theatre
Paata Tsikurishvili, Frankenstein, Synetic Theater as part of The Kennedy Center's Prelude Festival
John Vreeke, Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production
David Burnham, The Light in the Piazza, The Kennedy Center
Mark Hadfield, The Canterbury Tales, Part 1, The Kennedy Center
Steve Kazee, The Subject Was Roses, The Kennedy Center
Bill Pullman, The Subject Was Roses, The Kennedy Center
Michael Siberry, Monty Python's Spamalot, National Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
Glenn Seven Allen, Cabaret, Arena Stage
Walter Charles, Cabaret, Arena Stage
Will Gartshore, Assassins, Signature Theatre
Brad Oscar, Cabaret, Arena Stage
Matthew Schleigh, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Toby's Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play
Matthew Detmer, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Round House Theatre
Andrew Long, Frozen, The Studio Theatre Secondstage
Karl Miller, Hamlet, Rep Stage
Ian Merrill Peakes, The Game of Love and Chance, Folger Theatre
Joseph Urla, An Enemy of the People, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production
Christine Andreas, The Light in the Piazza, The Kennedy Center
Danai Gurira, In the Continuum, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Judith Ivey, The Subject Was Roses, The Kennedy Center
Nikkole Salter, In the Continuum, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Elena Shaddow, The Light in the Piazza, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical
N'Kenge , 3 Mo' Divas, Arena Stage
Meg Gillentine, Cabaret, Arena Stage
Julia Nixon, Caroline, or Change, The Studio Theatre
Brynn O'Malley, She Loves Me, Arena Stage
Vivian Reed, 3 Mo' Divas, Arena Stage

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play
Helen Carey, Noises Off, Arena Stage
Veanne Cox, The Beaux' Stratagem, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Johanna Day, The Rainmaker, Arena Stage
Kimberly Gilbert, Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Heather Raffo, 9 Parts of Desire, Arena Stage
Nancy Robinette, Frozen, The Studio Theatre Secondstage
Deidra LaWan Starnes, A Raisin in the Sun, African Continuum Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production
Colin K. Bills, The Dybbuk, Synetic Theater and Theater J
Colin K. Bills, Frankenstein, Synetic Theater as part of The Kennedy Center's Prelude Festival
John Hoey, Measure for Measure, Folger Theatre
Charlie Morrison, An Enemy of the People, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Charlie Morrison, The Elephant Man, Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production
Howard Breitbart, Caroline or Change, Studio Theatre
George Fulginiti-Shakar, Cabaret, Arena Stage
Jon Kalbfleisch, Assassins, Signature Theatre
Jon Kalbfleisch, Caroline, or Change, Studio Theatre
Victor Simonson, 3 Mo' Divas, Arena Stage
Adam Wernick, Love's Labor's Lost, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production
Timian Alsaker, An Enemy of the People, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Daniel Conway, Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Daniel Conway, Measure for Measure, Folger Theatre
Daniel Conway, The Long Christmas Ride Home, Studio Theatre
Antje Ellermann, 9 Parts of Desire, Arena Stage
James Kronzer, The Beaux' Stratagem, Shakespeare Theatre Company
James Kronzer, The Foreigner, Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production
Martin Desjardins, An Enemy of the People, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Irakli Kavsadze, Frankenstein, Synetic Theater as part of The Kennedy Center's Prelude Festival
Neil McFadden, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Folger Theatre
Matthew M. Nielson, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Round House Theatre
Michael Roth, The Persians, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Paata Tsikurishvili, Frankenstein, Synetic Theater as part of The Kennedy Center's Prelude Festival

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
Andy Brownstein, Assassins, Signature Theatre
Jim Corti, She Loves Me, Arena Stage
Mika Duncan, Assassins, Signature Theatre
J. Fred Shiffman, Cabaret, Arena Stage
J. Fred Shiffman, She Loves Me, Arena Stage

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play
Ralph Cosham, Midsummer Night's Dream, Folger Theatre
Rick Foucheux, An Enemy of the People, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Philip Goodwin, An Enemy of the People, Shakespeare Theatre Company
James Slaughter, An Enemy of the People, Olney Theatre Center
Geraint Wyn Davies, Love's Labor's Lost, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical
Sherri L. Edelen, Cabaret, Arena Stage
Trisha Jeffrey, Caroline, or Change, Studio Theatre
Nancy Lemenager, She Loves Me, Arena Stage
Donna Migliaccio, Assassins, Signature Theatre
Kelly J. Rucker, Caroline, or Change, Studio Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play
Stephanie Burden, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Folger Theatre
Colleen Delany, The Beaux' Stratagem, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Gia Mora, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Round House Theatre
Kate Eastwood Norris, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Folger Theatre
Caitlin O'Connell, An Enemy of the People, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Sarah Grace Wilson, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Studio Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production
Tom Deckman, Monty Python's Spamalot, The National Theatre
Jeff Dumas, Monty Python's Spamalot, The National Theatre
Laura Griffith, The Light in the Piazza, The Kennedy Center
Rick Holmes, Monty Python's Spamalot, The National Theatre
David Turner, Monty Python's Spamalot, The National Theatre

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
Renee Calarco, Short Order Stories, Charter Theatre Company
Richard Greenberg, Bal Masque, Theater J
David Maddox, Lift: Icarus and Me, Theater of the First Amendment
Aaron Posner, Murder, A Mystery & A Marriage, Round House Theatre
Phoebe Rusch, 3/4 of a Mass for St. Vivian, Theater Alliance
James Sugg, A Murder, A Mystery & A Marriage, Round House Theatre
Mary Hall Surface, Lift: Icarus and Me, Theater of the First Amendment

Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play or Musical (Sponsored by The Embassy of Canada)
Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, The Studio Theatre Secondstage
Faust, Synetic Theater
Frankenstein, Synetic Theater as part of The Kennedy Center's Prelude Festival
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Catalyst Theater Company
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Longacre Lea
Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Non-Resident Production
The Canterbury Tales, Part 1, The Kennedy Center
In the Continuum, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
The Light in the Piazza, The Kennedy Center
Monty Python's Spamalot, The National Theatre
Twelve Angry Men, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Resident Musical
3 Mo' Divas, Arena Stage
Assassins, Signature Theatre
Cabaret, Arena Stage
Caroline, or Change, The Studio Theatre
She Loves Me, Arena Stage

Outstanding Resident Play
A Prayer for Owen Meany, Round House Theatre
An Enemy of the People, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Frankenstein, Synetic Theater as part of The Kennedy Center's Prelude Festival
Love's Labor's Lost, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Measure for Measure, Folger Theatre
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Catalyst Theater Company

-- Susan Berlin

Also see the Current Theatre Season Calendar for D.C.