Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C.

Helen Hayes Awards Enter a New Era: Two Sets of Honorees

Also see Susan's reviews of Lights Rise on Grace, Simply Sondheim and The Island

The Helen Hayes Awards, recognizing excellence in Washington professional theater, entered a new era at the 31st annual ceremony, April 6 at the historic Lincoln Theatre. The 2015 awards, presented by theatreWashington, are the first to assign each production to one of two categories: "HELEN," for primarily non-Equity productions, and "HAYES," for majority Equity productions.

The top honors went to Studio Theatre's production of Cock, Outstanding Play, HAYES; Theatre Alliance's The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Outstanding Play, HELEN; Signature Theatre's Sunday in the Park with George and the Kennedy Center's Side Show, tied for Outstanding Musical, HAYES; and Theatre Alliance's Black Nativity, Outstanding Musical, HELEN.

Sunday in the Park with George also was honored for outstanding direction of a musical, Matthew Gardiner; outstanding musical direction, Jon Kalbfleisch; and outstanding lead actress in a musical, Brynn O'Malley. Olney Theatre Center's production of Colossal also received four awards: outstanding sound design, Christopher Baine; outstanding choreography in a play, Ben Cunis and Christopher d'Amboise; outstanding direction of a play, Will Davis; and the Charles MacArthur Award for outstanding original new play or musical. Side Show, which subsequently transferred to Broadway, also was honored for outstanding costume design, Paul Tazewell, and outstanding ensemble in a musical.

The Wonderful World of Dissocia also received awards for outstanding direction of a play, Colin Hovde and Nathaniel Mendez; outstanding sound design, Matthew M. Nielson and Christopher Baine; and outstanding lighting design, John Burkland. Black Nativity also was recognized for outstanding musical direction, e'Marcus Harper-Short, and outstanding ensemble for a musical.

Erin Weaver received two acting awards in the HAYES category: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play for Arena Stage's Mother Courage and Her Children and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical for Round House Theatre's Ordinary Days. She also was among the honorees for Outstanding Play or Musical Adaptation for the Kennedy Center's The Gift of Nothing, along with Patrick McDonnell, Aaron Posner, and Andy Mitton (music and lyrics).

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

For more information, visit www.theatrewashington.org.

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

Outstanding Performer, Visiting Production
Caroline Bowman, Evita, The Kennedy Center
Bethan Cullinane, King Lear, Folger Theatre
Tovah Feldshuh, Golda's Balcony, Theater J
Joseph Marcell, King Lear, Folger Theatre
Alex Mugnaioni, King Lear, Folger Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play-HELEN Production
Bonita Brisker, Seven Guitars, No Rules Theatre Company
Katy Carkuff, One Man, Two Guvnors, 1st Stage
Maggie Erwin, Failure: A Love Story, The Hub Theatre
Lisa Hodsoll, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Theater Alliance
Carolyn Kashner, Failure: A Love Story, The Hub Theatre
Irina Kavsadze, Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play-HAYES Production
Katie deBuys, Seminar, Round House Theatre
Sarah Marshall, Marie Antoinette, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Nancy Robinette, Tribes, Studio Theatre
Erin Weaver, Mother Courage and Her Children, Arena Stage
Emily Young, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Folger Theatre

The James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play -HELEN Production
Wayne Bennett, Seven Guitars, No Rules Theatre Company
Daniel Corey, One Man, Two Guvnors, 1st Stage
Michael Kevin Darnall, Failure: A Love Story, The Hub Theatre
Irakli Kavsadze, Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater
Alex Mills, Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog), Synetic Theater

The James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play-HAYES Production
Zachary Fine, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Folger Theatre
Richard Gallagher, Tribes, Studio Theatre
Andy Grotelueschen, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Folger Theatre
Matthew McGee, The BFG, Imagination Stage
Scott Parkinson, Cock, Studio Theatre
Alexander Strain, Seminar, Round House Theatre
Michael Anthony Williams, Two Trains Running, Round House Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical- HELEN Production
David James, Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre
David Jennings, Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Nick Lehan, Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Darren McDonnell, Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Jeffrey Shankle, Shrek the Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Joshua Simon, Dani Girl, Unexpected Stage Company

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical-HAYES Production
Matthew A. Anderson, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Ford's Theatre
George Dvorsky, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Olney Theatre Center
Samuel Edgerly, Ordinary Days, Round House Theatre
Lawrence Redmond, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Olney Theatre Center
Bobby Smith, The Threepenny Opera, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical-HELEN Production
Miranda Medugno, Visible Language, WSC Avant Bard
Ines Nassara, Hair, The Keegan Theatre
Lynne Sigler, Memphis, The Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Sarah Anne Sillers, Visible Language, WSC Avant Bard
Dani Stoller, Bat Boy: The Musical, 1st Stage

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical-HAYES Production
Natascia Diaz, The Threepenny Opera, Signature Theatre
Sherri L. Edelen, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Olney Theatre Center
Donna Migliaccio, Sunday in the Park with George, Signature Theatre
Nova Y. Payton, Elmer Gantry, Signature Theatre
Erin Weaver, Ordinary Days, Round House Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical-HELEN Production
G. Carlos Henderson, Black Nativity, Theater Alliance
Lee Liebeskind, Nero/Pseudo, WSC Avant Bard
Jimmy Mavrikes, Bat Boy: The Musical, 1st Stage
Lawrence B. Munsey, Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Alan Naylor, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well & Living in Paris, Creative Cauldron
Roy Patten Jr., Black Nativity, Theater Alliance
Bradley Foster Smith, Nero/Pseudo, WSC Avant Bard

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical-HAYES Production
Mitchell Jarvis, The Threepenny Opera, Signature Theatre
Sam Ludwig, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Olney Theatre Center
Kevin McAllister, Violet, Ford's Theatre
Charlie Pollock, Elmer Gantry, Signature Theatre
Matthew James Thomas, Diner, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical-HELEN Production
Priscilla Cuellar, Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Ny'a Johnson, Black Nativity, Theater Alliance
Thomascena Nelson, Black Nativity, Theater Alliance
Krislynn Perry, Black Nativity, Theater Alliance
Barbara Walsh, Carrie: The Musical, Studio Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical-HAYES Production
Mara Davi, Beaches, Signature Theatre
Erin Davie, Side Show, The Kennedy Center
Brynn O'Malley, Sunday in the Park with George, Signature Theatre
Emily Padgett, Side Show, The Kennedy Center
Alysha Umphress, Beaches, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play-HELEN Production
Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Seven Guitars, No Rules Theatre Company
Caroline Stefanie Clay, Gidion's Knot, Forum Theatre and NextStop Theatre Company
Karina Hilleard, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Theater Alliance
Nanna Ingvarsson, The Amish Project, Factory 449
Nanna Ingvarsson, Terminus, Studio Theatre
Katie Ryan, Terminus, Studio Theatre
Irina Tsikurishvili, Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play-HAYES Production
Bianca Amato, Private Lives, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Kimberly Gilbert, Marie Antoinette, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Susan Lynskey, The BFG, Imagination Stage
Emily Townley, The Totalitarians, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Kathleen Turner, Mother Courage and Her Children, Arena Stage
Holly Twyford, Sex with Strangers, Signature Theatre
Dawn Ursula, We Are Proud to Present…, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play-HELEN Production
Ro Boddie, Seven Guitars, No Rules Theatre Company
Ben Cunis, Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater
Chris Dinolfo, Stuart Little, Adventure Theatre MTC
Dylan Myers, Terminus, Studio Theatre
Doug Wilder, One Man, Two Guvnors, 1st Stage

The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play-HAYES Production
Joseph Carlson, Colossal, Olney Theatre Center
James Caverly, Tribes, Studio Theatre
Rick Foucheux, Freud's Last Session, Theater J
James Konicek, The BFG, Imagination Stage
Alex Mandell, Bad Jews, Studio Theatre
Ron Rifkin, Camp David, Arena Stage
Tom Story, The Wolfe Twins, Studio Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design-HELEN Production
Matthew M. Nielson, Abominable, The Hub Theatre
Matthew M. Nielson and Christopher Baine, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Theater Alliance
Thomas Sowers (Sound Designer) and Konstantine Lortkipanidze (Original Music), The Island of Dr. Moreau, Synetic Theater
Thomas Sowers (Sound Designer) and Konstantine Lortkipanidze (Original Music), Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater
Tom Teasley, The Love of the Nightingale, Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Sound Design-HAYES Production
Christopher Baine, The BFG, Imagination Stage
Christopher Baine, Colossal, Olney Theatre Center
Lindsay Jones, The Tallest Tree in the Forest, Arena Stage
Roc Lee (Sound Design) and James Sugg (Composer), Mother Courage and Her Children, Arena Stage
Ryan Rumery, Tribes, Studio Theatre
Eric Shimelonis, Marie Antoinette, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design-HELEN Production
Brian S. Allard, The Jungle Book, Adventure Theatre MTC
Colin K. Bills, Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater
John Burkland, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Theater Alliance
Brittany Diliberto (Lighting Designer) and Riki K. (Multimedia Designer), The Island of Dr. Moreau, Synetic Theater
Heidi Eckwall, Healing Wars, Arena Stage
Cory Ryan Frank, La Senorita de Tacna/The Young Lady from Tacna, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design-HAYES Production
Jason Arnold (Lighting Designer) and Eric J. Van Wyk (Projection Designer), The BFG, Imagination Stage
Colin K. Bills, Colossal, Olney Theatre Center
Colin K. Bills (Lighting Designer) and Jared Mezzocchi (Video Designer), The Totalitarians, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Andrew Cissna, Sex with Strangers, Signature Theatre
Philip S. Rosenberg, Private Lives, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Costume Design-HELEN Production
Kendra Rai, Beauty and the Beast, Synetic Theater
Kendra Rai, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Synetic Theater
Kendra Rai, Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater
Collin Ranney, Black Nativity, Theater Alliance
Collin Ranney, Tiny Tim's Christmas Carol, Adventure Theatre MTC
Collin Ranney, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Costume Design-HAYES Production
Helen Huang, Marie Antoinette, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Frank Labovitz, The Threepenny Opera, Signature Theatre
Frank Labovitz, The Totalitarians, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Jeffrey Stolz, The BFG, Imagination Stage
Paul Tazewell, Side Show, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Set Design-HELEN Production
Phil Charlwood, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Synetic Theater
Dan Conway, Tiny Tim's Christmas Carol, Adventure Theatre MTC
Adam Koch, Bat Boy: The Musical, 1st Stage
Collin Ranney, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Theater Alliance
David Israel Reynoso (Set Designer) and Kate Freer (Media Designer), Healing Wars, Arena Stage
Klyph Stanford, Stuart Little, Adventure Theatre MTC
Greg Stevens, The Amish Project, Factory 449

Outstanding Set Design-HAYES Production
Tony Cisek, Two Trains Running, Round House Theatre
Simon Higlett, The Importance of Being Earnest, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Misha Kachman, Marie Antoinette, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
JD Madsen, Sex with Strangers, Signature Theatre
Eric J. Van Wyk, The BFG, Imagination Stage

Outstanding Choreography in a Play-HELEN Production
Jen Bevan, Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe, Molotov Theatre Group
Liz Lerman and Keith Thompson in collaboration with the performers, Healing Wars, Arena Stage
Irina Tsikurishvili, Beauty and the Beast, Synetic Theater
Irina Tsikurishvili (Choreographer) and Ben Cunis (Fight Choreographer), The Island of Dr. Moreau, Synetic Theater
Irina Tsikurishvili (Choreographer) and Ben Cunis (Fight Choreographer), Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater

Outstanding Choreography in a Play-HAYES Production
Ben Cunis, The BFG, Imagination Stage
Ben Cunis (Fight & Movement Choreographer) and Christopher D'Amboise (Choreographer), Colossal, Olney Theatre Center
Matthew Gardiner, Tender Napalm, Signature Theatre
Joe Isenberg, The Totalitarians, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Joe Isenberg (Fight Choreographer) and Paige Hernandez (Choreographer), We Are Proud to Present…, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
David Leong, Mother Courage and Her Children, Arena Stage
Daniel Pelzig, Private Lives, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical -HELEN Production
Michael J. Bobbitt, Miss Nelson is Missing, Adventure Theatre MTC
Princess Mhoon, Black Nativity, Theater Alliance
Mark Minnick, Mary Poppins, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Mark Minnick, Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Christen Svingos, Memphis, The Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical- HAYES Production
Byron Easley, Five Guys Named Moe, Arena Stage
Parker Esse, Fiddler on the Roof, Arena Stage
Parker Esse, Smokey Joe's Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, Arena Stage
Dan Knechtges, Beaches, Signature Theatre
Susan Stroman, Little Dancer, The Kennedy Center
Anthony Van Laast, Side Show, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Musical Direction-HELEN Production
Laura Brady, Dani Girl, Unexpected Stage Company
e'Marcus Harper-Short, Black Nativity, Theater Alliance
Charles W. Johnson, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Landless Theatre Company
Jake Null, Hair, The Keegan Theatre
Ross Scott Rawlings, Memphis, The Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Ross Scott Rawlings, Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction-HAYES Production
Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Gabriel Mangiante, Beaches, Signature Theatre
Jay Crowder, Violet, Ford's Theatre
Jon Kalbfleisch, Sunday in the Park with George, Signature Theatre
Gabriel Mangiante, The Threepenny Opera, Signature Theatre
Christopher Youstra, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Director of a Musical-HELEN Production
Melissa Baughman, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Landless Theatre Company
Christopher Goodrich, Dani Girl, Unexpected Stage Company
Mark Minnick, Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Steven Royal, Bat Boy: The Musical, 1st Stage
Eric Ruffin, Black Nativity, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Director of a Musical-HAYES Production
Bill Condon, Side Show, The Kennedy Center
Matthew Gardiner, Sunday in the Park with George, Signature Theatre
Matthew Gardiner, The Threepenny Opera, Signature Theatre
Jason Loewith, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Olney Theatre Center
Eric Schaeffer, Beaches, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Director of a Play-HELEN Production
Matt Bassett, Failure: A Love Story, The Hub Theatre
Colin Hovde and Nathaniel Mendez, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Theater Alliance
Paata Tsikurishvili, Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater
Holly Twyford, The Amish Project, Factory 449
Jerry Whiddon, Tiny Tim's Christmas Carol, Adventure Theatre MTC

Outstanding Director of a Play-HAYES Production
Maria Aitken, Private Lives, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Jessie Austrian and Ben Steinfeld, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Folger Theatre
Kathryn Chase Bryer and Eric J. Van Wyk, The BFG, Imagination Stage
Will Davis, Colossal, Olney Theatre Center
David Muse, Cock, Studio Theatre
Aaron Posner, Sex with Strangers, Signature Theatre
Serge Seiden, Bad Jews, Studio Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical-HELEN Production
Bat Boy: The Musical, 1st Stage
Black Nativity, Theater Alliance
Hair, The Keegan Theatre
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well & Living in Paris, Creative Cauldron
Memphis, The Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical-HAYES Production
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Ford's Theatre
Beaches, Signature Theatre
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Olney Theatre Center
Side Show, The Kennedy Center
Sunday in the Park with George, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play-HELEN Production
Failure: A Love Story, The Hub Theatre
Healing Wars, Arena Stage
The Island of Dr. Moreau, Synetic Theater
Seven Guitars, No Rules Theatre Company
Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater
The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play-HAYES Production
Bad Jews, Studio Theatre
The BFG, Imagination Stage
Colossal, Olney Theatre Center
The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Folger Theatre
We Are Proud to Present…, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Original New Play or Musical
Motti Lerner, The Admission, Theater J
Andrew Hinderaker, Colossal, Olney Theatre Center
Liz Lerman (Concept); Liz Lerman and Bill Pullman (Original text sources curators); Devised text developed in collaboration with the performers, Healing Wars, Arena Stage
Lauren Gunderson, I and You, Olney Theatre Center
Steve Yockey, Pluto, Forum Theatre
Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, The Totalitarians, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Play or Musical Adaptation
Ben Cunis and Peter Cunis, Beauty and the Beast, Synetic Theater
Patrick McDonnell, Aaron Posner, and Erin Weaver; Andy Mitton (Music & Lyrics), The Gift of Nothing, The Kennedy Center
Nathan Weinberger and Lloyd Rose, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Synetic Theater
Derek Goldman, Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog), Synetic Theater
Ken Ludwig and Jack Ludwig, Tiny Tim's Christmas Carol, Adventure Theatre MTC

Outstanding Visiting Production
Brief Encounter, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Famous Puppet Death Scenes, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Golda's Balcony, Theater J
King Lear, Folger Theatre
Pippin, The National Theatre

Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences
The BFG, Imagination Stage
Cinderella: The Remix, Imagination Stage
The Jungle Book, Adventure Theatre MTC
Pinocchio!, Faction of Fools Theatre Company and NextStop Theatre Company
Stuart Little, Adventure Theatre MTC
Tiny Tim's Christmas Carol, Adventure Theatre MTC

Outstanding Musical- HELEN Production
Bat Boy: The Musical, 1st Stage
Black Nativity, Theater Alliance
Hair, The Keegan Theatre
Memphis, The Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Spamalot, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Landless Theatre Company

Outstanding Musical-HAYES Production
Beaches, Signature Theatre
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Olney Theatre Center
Tie: Side Show, The Kennedy Center
Tie: Sunday in the Park with George, Signature Theatre

The Threepenny Opera, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Play-HELEN Production
The Amish Project, Factory 449
Failure: A Love Story, The Hub Theatre
Healing Wars, Arena Stage
Twelfth Night, Synetic Theater
The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Play-HAYES Production
Bad Jews, Studio Theatre
Cock, Studio Theatre
Colossal, Olney Theatre Center
Mother Courage and Her Children, Arena Stage
Tribes, Studio Theatre
The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Folger Theatre

The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company
Flying V Theatre

The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community
National New Play Network