Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C.

2018 Helen Hayes Awards
The Anthem
Review by Susan Berlin | Season Schedule

Also see Susan's reviews of The Invisible Hand, The Crucible and Titus Andronicus

GALA Hispanic Theatre's Spanish-language production of In the Heights received nine Helen Hayes Awards in the Helen (majority non-Equity) category, including Outstanding Production in a Musical, at ceremonies May 14 hosted by theatreWashington at a new location: The Anthem, a performance venue on the recently developed Potomac River waterfront in Southwest Washington, DC.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of Twelfth Night received four awards in the Hayes (majority Equity) category, including Outstanding Production in a Play. Another production of In the Heights, a co-production of Olney Theatre Center and Round House Theatre, was honored as Outstanding Production in a Musical-Hayes, and Rayanne Gonzales, as Abuela Claudia, was named Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical-Hayes. Outstanding Production in a Play-Helen went to Still Life with Rocket at Theater Alliance, which also received Outstanding Choreography in a Play-Helen for Kelly Maxner and Mollye Maxner.

In addition to In the Heights, Round House Theatre also received two awards for Or, and one for Caroline, or Change. Arena Stage received three awards: for The Pajama Game, Blakely Slaybaugh, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical-Hayes as Prez, tied with Kevin McAllister as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the Ford's Theatre production of Ragtime, and Parker Esse, Outstanding Choreography in a Musical-Hayes, tied with Denis Jones for Signature Theatre's Crazy for You, and Lizan Mitchell, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play-Hayes as Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun.

Signature Theatre also received three additional awards in the Hayes category: two for A Little Night Music, Will Gartshore, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical as Carl-Magnus, and Tracy Lynn Olivera, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical as Charlotte, and Outstanding Lighting Design for Jesus Christ Superstar.

Nancy Robinette, who has received five Helen Hayes Awards and 18 nominations in a 35-year career in Washington, was honored with the Helen Hayes Tribute.

Following is the complete list of Helen Hayes Award nominations for 2018. The award recipients are designated in bold. For more information, visit www.theatrewashington.org.

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical - Hayes
Karma Camp, Jesus Christ Superstar, Signature Theatre
Tie: Parker Esse, The Pajama Game, Arena Stage
Tie: Denis Jones, Crazy for You, Signature Theatre

Marcos Santana, In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre
Robert Bowen Smith, Wonderland: Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, Imagination Stage

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical - Helen
Rachel Leigh Dolan, Parade, The Keegan Theatre
Shalyce Hemby, Dreamgirls, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Ilona Kessell, The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company
Mark Minnick, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Luis Salgado, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Choreography in a Play - Hayes
Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi, Nina Simone: Four Women, Arena Stage
Dell Howlett, Wig Out!, Studio Theatre
Robb Hunter, HIR, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Joe Isenberg, Watch on the Rhine, Arena Stage
Josh Prince, Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Choreography in a Play - Helen
Dody DiSanto, Mnemonic, Theater Alliance
Happenstance Theater, Bon Voyage! A Happenstance Escapade, Happenstance Theater
Kelly Maxner, Mollye Maxner, Still Life with Rocket, Theater Alliance
Jonathan Ezra Rubin, Noah Schaefer, Flying V Fights: The Secret History of the Unknown World, Flying V
Irina Tsikurishvili, Vato Tsikurishvili, The Adventures of Peter Pan, Synetic Theater

Outstanding Musical Direction - Hayes
Matt Hinkley, Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing, Signature Theatre
Jon Kalbfleisch, A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre
Jon Kalbfleisch, Caroline, Or Change, Round House Theatre
Darius Smith, Nina Simone: Four Women, Arena Stage
Christopher Youstra, Ragtime, Ford's Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction - Helen
Karen Hansen, Bon Voyage! A Happenstance Escapade, Happenstance Theater
Walter "Bobby" McCoy, Blues in the Night, Creative Cauldron
Walter "Bobby" McCoy, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Walter "Bobby" McCoy, The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company
Ross Scott Rawlings, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Toby's Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design - Hayes
Murell Horton, The School for Lies, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Helen Q. Huang, Fickle: A Fancy French Farce, Olney Theatre Center
Jennifer Moeller, Twelfth Night , Shakespeare Theatre Company
Kendra Rai, Or, Round House Theatre
Alejo Vietti, The Pajama Game, Arena Stage

Outstanding Costume Design - Helen
Robert Croghan, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Kendra Rai, The Adventures of Peter Pan, Synetic Theater
Debra Kim Sivigny, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, 1st Stage
Erik Teague, The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company
Erik Teague, The Arabian Nights, Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design - Hayes
Colin K. Bills, A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre
Colin K. Bills, Macbeth, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Jason Lyons (Lighting Designer), Zachary G. Borovay (Projection Designer), Jesus Christ Superstar, Signature Theatre
Cory Pattak, In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre
Scott Zielinski, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design - Helen
Christopher Annas-Lee, Don Juan Tenorio, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Christopher Annas-Lee, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
William K. D'Eugenio, Lela & Co., Factory 449
William K. D'Eugenio (Lighting Designer), Patrick W. Lord (Projection Designer), Mnemonic, Theater Alliance
A.J. Guban, The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Set Design - Hayes
Paige Hathaway (Set Designer), Olivia Sebesky (Projection Designer), Me...Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall, The Kennedy Center
Paige Hathaway, Or, Round House Theatre
Misha Kachman, HIR, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Milagros Ponce de León, In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre
Lee Savage, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Set Design - Helen
Tony Cisek, The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company
A.J. Guban, The Arabian Nights, Constellation Theatre Company
Elizabeth Jenkins McFadden, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Debra Kim Sivigny, Forgotten Kingdoms, Rorschach Theatre
Debra Kim Sivigny & Patti Kalil, Hello, My Name Is…, The Welders

Outstanding Sound Design - Hayes
Broken Chord, Macbeth, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Palmer Hefferan, Baby Screams Miracle, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Ryan Hickey, A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre
Lindsay Jones, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Neil McFadden, Misterman, Solas Nua
Ryan Rumery, The Father, Studio Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design - Helen
Reid May, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, 1st Stage
Kenny Neal (Sound Designer), Todd Robinson (Composer), Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook, Adventure Theatre MTC
Matthew M. Nielson, Mnemonic, Theater Alliance
Matthew M. Nielson, Still Life with Rocket, Theater Alliance
Justin Schmitz, The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company
Tom Teasley, The Arabian Nights, Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction in a Musical - Hayes
Kathryn Chase Bryer, Wonderland: Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, Imagination Stage
Peter Flynn, Ragtime, Ford's Theatre
Aaron Posner, Me...Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall, The Kennedy Center
Marcos Santana, In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre Eric Schaeffer, A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Direction in a Musical - Helen
Christina A. Coakley, Susan Marie Rhea, Parade, The Keegan Theatre
Matt Conner, Blues in the Night, Creative Cauldron
Toby Orenstein, Mark Minnick, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Luis Salgado, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Allison Arkell Stockman, The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction in a Play - Hayes
Michael Kahn, The School for Lies, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Ethan McSweeney, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company
David Muse, The Father, Studio Theatre
Aaron Posner, Or, Round House Theatre
Bill Rauch, Roe, Arena Stage

Outstanding Direction in a Play - Helen
Randy Baker, Hello, My Name Is…, The Welders
Rick Hammerly, Lela & Co., Factory 449
Colin Hovde, Mnemonic, Theater Alliance
Mark Jaster, Sabrina Mandell, Bon Voyage! A Happenstance Escapade, Happenstance Theater
Mollye Maxner, Still Life with Rocket, Theater Alliance
Amber Paige McGinnis, Dry Land, Forum Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical - Hayes
A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre
Crazy for You, Signature Theatre
In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre
Me...Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall, The Kennedy Center
Ragtime, Ford's Theatre
Wonderland: Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, Imagination Stage

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical - Helen
Blues in the Night, Creative Cauldron
The Gospel at Colonus, WSC Avant Bard
In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Parade, The Keegan Theatre
The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play - Hayes
The Father, Studio Theatre
Roe, Arena Stage
Skeleton Crew, Studio Theatre
Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Ford's Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play - Helen
Bon Voyage! A Happenstance Escapade, Happenstance Theater
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, 1st Stage
Mnemonic, Theater Alliance
Peter and the Starcatcher, Constellation Theatre Company
Still Life with Rocket, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Performer - Visiting Production
Tie: Alessandra Baldacchino, Fun Home, The National Theatre
Miche Braden, The Devil's Music: The Life & Blues of Bessie Smith, Mosaic Theater Company of DC
Tie: Abby Corrigan, Fun Home, The National Theatre
Grey Henson, Mean Girls, The National Theatre
Kate Rockwell, Mean Girls, The National Theatre
Nilaja Sun, Pike St., Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - Hayes
Aaron Bliden, Wonderland: Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, Imagination Stage
Will Gartshore, A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre
Michael J. Mainwaring, In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre
Bobby Smith, Jesus Christ Superstar, Signature Theatre
Marquise White, In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical - Hayes
Valerie Leonard, My Fair Lady, Olney Theatre Center
Tracy Lynn Olivera, A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre
Nova Y. Payton, Ragtime, Ford's Theatre
Awa Sal Secka, Caroline, Or Change, Round House Theatre
Korinn Walfall, Caroline, Or Change, Round House Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - Helen
Rafael Beato, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Jeremy Scott Blaustein, Beauty & the Beast, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Bryan Jeffrey, Dreamgirls, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Malcolm Lee, Parade, The Keegan Theatre
Félix Marchany, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical - Helen
Kari Ginsburg, The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company
Shadia Fairuz, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Gabriella Pérez, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Scheherazade Quiroga, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Michelle Rios, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play - Hayes
J Anthony Crane, Watch on the Rhine, Arena Stage
Will LeBow, Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing, Signature Theatre
Gregory Linington, Or, Round House Theatre
Jim Lichtscheidl, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Cody Nickell, The School for Lies, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Derek Smith, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play - Hayes
Catherine Castellanos, Roe, Arena Stage
Felicia Curry, Nina Simone: Four Women, Arena Stage
Anna O'Donoghue, I Wanna Fucking Tear You Apart, Studio Theatre
Antoinette Robinson, As You Like It, Folger Theatre
Erin Weaver, Or, Round House Theatre

James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play - Helen
Jordan Campbell, Peter and the Starcatcher, Constellation Theatre Company
Nick DePinto, The Late Wedding, The Hub Theatre
Matt Dewberry, Peter and the Starcatcher, Constellation Theatre Company
Jose Guzman, Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train, 1st Stage
Alex Vernon, Peter and the Starcatcher, Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play - Helen
Lise Bruneau, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Theater J
Caroline Dubberly, Top Girls, The Keegan Theatre
Julie Garner, Hello, My Name Is…, The Welders
Gwen Grastorf, The Late Wedding, The Hub Theatre
Susan Rome, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Theater J

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical - Hayes
Robin De Jesús, In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre
Danny Gardner, Crazy for You, Signature Theatre
Kevin McAllister, Annie, Olney Theatre Center
Tie: Kevin McAllister, Ragtime, Ford's Theatre
Tie: Blakely Slaybaugh, The Pajama Game, Arena Stage

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical - Hayes
Nancy Anderson, The Pajama Game, Arena Stage
Brittany Campbell, My Fair Lady, Olney Theatre Center
Rayanne Gonzales, In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre
Tracy Lynn Olivera, Ragtime, Ford's Theatre
Nova Y. Payton, Caroline, Or Change, Round House Theatre
Holly Twyford, A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical - Helen
Juan Luis Espinal, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Michael Innocenti, Parade, The Keegan Theatre
Jimmy Mavrikes, The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company
Vaughn Ryan Midder, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre>
Wood Van Meter, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Toby's Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical - Helen
Verónica Alvarez, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Iyona Blake, Blues in the Night, Creative Cauldron
Caroline Bowman, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Laura Lebrón, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Eleanor Todd, Parade, The Keegan Theatre

Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play - Hayes
Gregory Linington, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Ford's Theatre
Andrew Long, Watch on the Rhine, Arena Stage
Rafi Silver, The Effect, Studio Theatre
Ted van Griethuysen, The Father, Studio Theatre
Gregory Wooddell, The School for Lies, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play - Hayes
Caroline Stefanie Clay, Skeleton Crew, Studio Theatre
Tessa Klein, The Hard Problem, Studio Theatre
Lizan Mitchell, A Raisin in the Sun, Arena Stage
Debra Monk, Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing, Signature Theatre
Holly Twyford, Or, Round House Theatre

Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play - Helen
Frank Britton, Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train, 1st Stage
Ben Gunderson, Still Life with Rocket, Theater Alliance
Clayton Pelham Jr., Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, 1st Stage
Doug Wilder, Trevor, 1st Stage
Michael Anthony Williams, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, 1st Stage

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play - Helen
Felicia Curry, Lela & Co., Factory 449
Megan Graves, Peter and the Starcatcher, Constellation Theatre Company
Annie Houston, Still Life with Rocket, Theater Alliance
Lisa Hodsoll, Laura Bush Killed a Guy, The Klunch
Mary Myers, Marx in Soho, Nu Sass Productions
Sarah Olmsted Thomas, Bon Voyage! A Happenstance Escapade, Happenstance Theater

Outstanding Original Play or Musical Adaptation
Meg Miroshnik, Fickle: A Fancy French Farce, Olney Theatre Center
Patrick McDonnell, Andy Mitton, & Aaron Posner (Book), Andy Mitton (Music & Lyrics), Me...Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall, The Kennedy Center
Alexandra Petri, to tell my story: a hamlet fanfic, The Welders
Nathan Weinberger, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Synetic Theater
Karen Zacarías (Book), Deborah Wicks La Puma (Music), Ella Enchanted, Adventure Theatre MTC

Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Original New Play or Musical
Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, Hooded, Or Being Black for Dummies, Mosaic Theater Company of DC
Morgan Gould, I Wanna Fucking Tear You Apart, Studio Theatre
Happenstance Theater, Bon Voyage! A Happenstance Escapade, Happenstance Theater
Andrew Hinderaker, The Magic Play, Olney Theatre Center
Mollye Maxner with the cast, Still Life with Rocket, Theater Alliance
Felonious Munk, Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains), Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Production - Theatre for Young Audiences
Drumming with Dishes, Arts on the Horizon
Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook, Adventure Theatre MTC
Nutt and Bolt, Arts on the Horizon
Me...Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall, The Kennedy Center
Wonderland: Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, Imagination Stage

Outstanding Visiting Production
Cabaret, The Kennedy Center
The Devil's Music: The Life & Blues of Bessie Smith, Mosaic Theater Company of DC
Fun Home, The National Theatre
Mean Girls, The National Theatre
Pike St., Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Production in a Musical - Hayes
A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre
Caroline, Or Change, Round House Theatre
Crazy for You, Signature Theatre
In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre
Ragtime, Ford's Theatre

Outstanding Production in a Play - Hayes
The Father, Studio Theatre
Or, Round House Theatre
A Raisin in the Sun, Arena Stage
Skeleton Crew, Studio Theatre
Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Ford's Theatre

Outstanding Production in a Musical - Helen
Blues in the Night, Creative Cauldron
In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Parade, The Keegan Theatre
The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Production in a Play - Helen
Lela & Co., Factory 449
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, 1st Stage
Mnemonic, Theater Alliance
Still Life with Rocket, Theater Alliance
Trevor, 1st Stage

Helen Hayes Tribute: Nancy Robinette

John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company (eligible companies, not nominees)
LiveArtDC
Monumental Theatre Company