Presented by TheatreWashington, the 2016 Helen Hayes Awards were celebrated May 23, honoring theatrical productions in Washington, D.C. Dear Evan Hansen, currently playing an acclaimed, sold-out engagement Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre, took home the Hayes prize for Outstanding Musical Production. Director Michael Greif was also the recipient of the Outstanding Director of a Musical Award.
The , and Steven Levenson musical, which debuted in D.C. at Arena Stage, was nominated for Musical Direction, Set Design, Lighting Design and Outstanding Ensemble as well as for The Award for Outstanding Original New Play or Musical.
The awards are divided into two categories: Helen and Hayes. Shows with the majority of the performers who are Equity actors are categorized as Hayes shows, and shows that do not employ a majority of Equity actors are Helen shows.
Below is a list of Hayes Awards and Special Awards nominees, with the winners highlighted in bold followed by an asterisk.
Outstanding Choreography in a MusicalÌý
Parker Esse, West Side Story (Signature Theatre)
, Kiss Me, Kate (Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
Tommy Rapley, Carousel (Olney Theatre Center)
, The ProducersÌý(Olney Theatre Center)
Outstanding Choreography in a PlayÌý
Robert Barry Fleming, Destiny of DesireÌý(Arena Stage)
Melanie George, Women Laughing Alone With SaladÌý(Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company)
Thomas W. Jones II, Uprising (MetroStage)
Andrea Moon, When She Had WingsÌý(Imagination Stage)
Ami Shulman, ³§²¹±ô´Ç³¾Ã© (Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
Outstanding Musical DirectionÌý
, Dear Evan HansenÌý(Arena Stage)
George Fulginiti-Shakar, Man of La ManchaÌý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Jon Kalbfleisch, Cabaret (Signature Theatre)
Jon Kalbfleisch, Simply SondheimÌý(Signature Theatre)
Jon Kalbfleisch, West Side Story (Signature Theatre)*
Outstanding Costume Design
Jess Goldstein, 's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Arena Stage)
, ³§²¹±ô´Ç³¾Ã©Ìý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Collin Ranney, Flowers StinkÌý(The Kennedy Center)
, Kiss Me, KateÌý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Julie Weiss, Destiny of DesireÌý(Arena Stage)*
Outstanding Lighting Design
Colin K. Bills, The OriginalistÌý(Arena Stage)
Michael Gilliam, The Blood Quilt (Arena Stage)
, ³§²¹±ô´Ç³¾Ã©Ìý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
Thom Weaver, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are DeadÌý(Folger Theatre)
, Dear Evan HansenÌý(Arena Stage)
Outstanding Set Design
Michael Carnahan, The Blood Quilt (Arena Stage)
Andrew Cohen, , Murder BalladÌý(Studio Theatre)
Susan Hilferty, ³§²¹±ô´Ç³¾Ã©Ìý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
(Set Design),Ìý (Projection Design), Dear Evan HansenÌý(Arena Stage)
, Man of La ManchaÌý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Outstanding Sound Design-HAYES Production
Christopher Baine, When She Had WingsÌý(Imagination Stage)*
, ³§²¹±ô´Ç³¾Ã© (Shakespeare Theatre Company)
David Budries, Nathan A. Roberts, The Widow (Lincoln Ford's Theatre)
Frank DiSalvo Jr. (Sound Design),ÌýSteven Carpenter (Live Sound Design) It's a Wonderful Life:
A Live Radio PlayÌý(Washington Stage Guild)
Timothy M. Thompson (Sound Design),ÌýToshi Reagon (Composer) The Blood QuiltÌý(Arena Stage)
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Kathryn Chase Bryer, Wiley and the Hairy Man (Imagination Stage)
, West Side Story (Signature Theatre)
Michael Greif, Dear Evan Hansen (Arena Stage)*
Colin Hovde, A Year with Frog and Toad (Imagination Stage)
, Man of La Mancha (Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Outstanding Director of a Play
Jeremy B. Cohen, Bad Dog (Olney Theatre Center)
Yaël Farber,Ìý³§²¹±ô´Ç³¾Ã©Ìý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
Eleanor Holdridge, Queens Girl in the World (Theater J)
Aaron Posner,ÌýRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Folger Theatre)
Gaye Taylor Upchurch, Animal (Studio Theatre)
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
A Year with Frog and Toad (Imagination Stage)
Cabaret (Signature Theatre)*
Dear Evan Hansen (Arena Stage)
Man of La ManchaÌý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)
West Side Story (Signature Theatre)
Outstanding Ensemble in a Play
Bad Dog (Olney Theatre Center)
The Blood QuiltÌý(Arena Stage)
Jumpers for GoalpostsÌý(Studio Theatre)
Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes MysteryÌý(Arena Stage)
³§²¹±ô´Ç³¾Ã© (Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
Outstanding Performer, Visiting Production
Victoria Clark, Gigi (The Kennedy Center)
Carmen Cusack, Bright Star (The Kennedy Center)
, Once (The Kennedy Center)*
Darrell D'Silva, Dunsinane (Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit (The National Theatre)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Clyde Alves, Kiss Me, KateÌý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
, West Side StoryÌý(Signature Theatre)
, Kid VictoryÌý(Signature Theatre)
, West Side StoryÌý(Signature Theatre)
Ryan Fitzgerald, West Side StoryÌý(Signature Theatre)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Natascia Diaz, West Side Story (Signature Theatre)
Laura Dreyfuss, Dear Evan Hansen (Arena Stage)
, Kiss Me, Kate (Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
, Murder Ballad (Studio Theatre)
Dorea Schmidt, Carousel (Olney Theatre Center)
, Dear Evan Hansen (Arena Stage)
The Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Stanley Bahorek, Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Arena Stage)
Liam Forde, Jumpers for Goalposts (Studio Theatre)
Ian Merrill Peakes, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Folger Theatre)*
Craig Wallace, The Guard (Ford's Theatre)
Michael Willis, Sons of the ProphetÌý(Theater J)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Maggie Wilder, Rapture, Blister, Burn (Round House Theatre)*
Kimberly Gilbert, Uncle Vanya (Round House Theatre)
Naomi Jacobson, Bad Dog (Olney Theatre Center)
, Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Arena Stage)
Dawn Ursula, Zombie: The American (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Michael Di Liberto, The Producers (Olney Theatre Center)
, Carousel (Olney Theatre Center)
, Kiss Me, Kate (Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Bobby Smith, Simply Sondheim (Signature Theatre)
, Man of La Mancha (Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Jessica Lauren Ball, Guys and Dolls (Olney Theatre Center)
MaryJoanna Grisso, West Side Story (Signature Theatre)
, Man of La Mancha (Shakespeare Theatre Company)
, Cabaret (Signature Theatre)*
Lauren Weinberg, Guys and Dolls (Olney Theatre Center)
The Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Adam Wesley Brown, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Folger Theatre)
Ramzi Choukair, ³§²¹±ô´Ç³¾Ã© (Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
Edward Gero, The Originalist (Arena Stage)
Mitchell Hébert, Uncle Vanya (Round House Theatre)
Michael Russotto, The Whale (Rep Stage)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Janet Ulrich Brooks, Women Laughing Alone With Salad (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company)
Caroline Clay, The Blood Quilt (Arena Stage)
Alexandra Henrikson, Ironbound (Round House Theatre)
Holly Twyford, Bad Dog (Olney Theatre Center)
Dawn Ursula, Queens Girl in the WorldÌý(Theater J)*
Outstanding Original Play or Musical Adaptation
Sheri Wilner (Book), (Book & Lyrics),ÌýAdam Gwon (Lyrics & Music), Cake OffÌý(Signature Theatre)
Caleen Sinnette Jennings, Darius & TwigÌý(The Kennedy Center)
Marc Schubring (Music),ÌýDavid S. Craig (Book & Lyrics), Double Trouble (AKA The Parent Trap)Ìý(Imagination Stage)
, The MetromaniacsÌý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
Julie Jensen, Mockingbird (The Kennedy Center)
Yaël Farber,Ìý³§²¹±ô´Ç³¾Ã© (Shakespeare Theatre Company)
The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Original New Play or Musical
Clare Lizzimore, Animal (Studio Theatre)
, The Blood Quilt (Arena Stage)
Steven Levenson (Book), Benj Pasek (Lyrics & Music),ÌýJustin Paul (Lyrics & Music), Dear Evan HansenÌý(Arena Stage)
Martyna Majok, IronboundÌý(Round House Theatre)*
Caleen Sinnette Jennings, Queens Girl in the WorldÌý(Theater J)
Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences
A Year with Frog and Toad (Imagination Stage)
Flowers Stink (The Kennedy Center)
Mockingbird (The Kennedy Center)
When She Had Wings (Imagination Stage)
Wiley and the Hairy Man (Imagination Stage)*
Outstanding Musical
CabaretÌý(Signature Theatre)
Dear Evan HansenÌý(Arena Stage)*
Kiss Me, KateÌý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Man of La ManchaÌý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)
West Side StoryÌý(Signature Theatre
Outstanding Play
Bad Dog Olney (Theatre Center)
The Blood Quilt (Arena Stage)
Queens Girl in the WorldÌý(Theater J)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are DeadÌý(Folger Theatre)
³§²¹±ô´Ç³¾Ã©Ìý(Shakespeare Theatre Company)*
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