TheatreWashington, administrator of the Helen Hayes Awards, announced the nominations for the 28th Annual Helen Hayes Awards February 27 at the Helen Hayes Gallery of Washington's National Theatre.

Synetic Theater's silent production of King Lear led the number of nominations with 15, followed by nine nominations each for Hairspray at Signature Theatre and A Year with Frog and Toad at Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo, Maryland.

Nominations for Outstanding Resident Musical include Hairspray; the Kennedy Center's production of Follies, which transferred to Broadway; Liberty Smith at Ford's Theatre; Pop!, Studio Theatre 2ndStage; Side by Side by Sondheim, Signature Theatre; and The Sound of Music, Olney Theatre Center.

In the running for Outstanding Resident Play are A Bright New Boise, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company; Cyrano, Folger Theatre; King Lear; Arena Stage's production of Ruined; and Venus in Fur, Studio Theatre.

The awards will be presented April 23 at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC. The full list of nominations is available at www.theatreWashington.org.