Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C.

Taming of the Shrew, Dreamgirls Take Top Honors
at Helen Hayes Awards

Also see Susan's review of Hello, Dolly!

The Folger Theatre's Wild West-themed production of The Taming of the Shrew received the Outstanding Resident Play honor at the 29th Annual Helen Hayes Awards, April 8 in Washington, DC. Signature Theatre's production of Dreamgirls was recognized as Outstanding Resident Musical, also receiving awards for Cedric Neal, Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical, and Frank Labovitz's costume design.

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, at MetroStage, received awards for Bobby Smith, Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical; Natascia Diaz, Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical; and Serge Seiden, Outstanding Director, Resident Musical.

Studio Theatre's adaptation of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man earned awards for Christopher McElroen, Outstanding Director, Resident Play; Mary Louise Geiger, Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production; and Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play. The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe,, at Imagination Stage, was named Outstanding Production, Theater for Young Audiences, and Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company received Helen Hayes Awards for two different productions: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Joe Isenberg, Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production, and Misha Kachman, Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production—a tie with Todd Rosenthal's scenic design for Red at Arena Stage—and Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, Jonathan Tuzman, Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production. Arena Stage's production of Pullman Porter Blues earned E. Faye Butler the Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play, award.

Performers at the Shakespeare Theatre Company received two of the lead acting awards: Steven Epp, the Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Production, for The Servant of Two Masters and Francisca Faridany, Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Production, for Strange Interlude. The company also hosted Black Watch, which received the honor for Outstanding Non-Resident Production.

Really Really by Paul Downs Colaizzo, presented by Signature Theatre, received the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical.

The Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by the late Jaylee Mead, was presented to Actors Equity in recognition of its centennial. Current Equity President Nicholas Wyman and former President Ellen Burstyn received the honor.

The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community was presented to Capital Fringe, a combined effort of the Capital Fringe Festival and the Fringe Training Factory. Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue received the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company.

More information is available at www.theatreWashington.org.

The complete list of Helen Hayes Award nominations follows. Award recipients' names appear in bold.

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
Tie: Priscilla Cuellar, Legally Blonde the Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Tie: 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...¡fuá!, 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
Jose 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's Journey Into Night, 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 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 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 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 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 J. 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 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 and Lawrence B. Munsey, The Color Purple, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Mark A. Rhea and 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 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 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 M. Nielson, The Illusion, Forum Theatre
David Remedios, Invisible Man, The Studio Theatre
Brendon Vierra, Hum, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production
Riccardo Hernandez, Pullman Porter Blues, Arena Stage
Troy Hourie, Invisible Man, The Studio Theatre
Tie: Misha Kachman, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Tie: 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

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
A Commedia Christmas Carol, Matthew R. Wilson, adaptor; based on the novel by Charles Dickens, Faction of Fools Theatre Company
Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus, Jason Gray Platt, Round House Theatre
Dirt, Bryony Lavery, The Studio Theatre
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, 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, Imagination Stage
Pullman Porter Blues, Cheryl L. West, Arena Stage
Really Really, Paul Downs Colaizzo, Signature Theatre
The Religion Thing, Renee Calarco, 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 and David Palmer, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Imagination Stage

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

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 MTC

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

John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company
Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue