Washington’s big night out, the 35th Annual Helen Hayes Awards. List of all 2019 nominees and recipients

The following artists and production companies were honored for their contributions of excellence to what, we learned last night, is now the fastest growing professional theatre community in the United States – the greater Washington area theatre.

theatreWashington dubbed the ceremony “Washington’s Big Night Out” and the glamorous, excited crowd of theatre makers and supporters filling The Anthem in Washington, D.C. made it just that.

Jon Jon Johnson reflects on the 35th Helen Hayes Awards
All Ryan Maxwell photos – awards ceremony, reception and after party

Keys:
Helen and Hayes sub-categories defined
Categories in Red, Recipients in bold

2019 Nominees and Recipients
May 13, 2019

Lisa Helmi Johanson and Corbin Bleu *Anything Goes* at Arena Stage. Outstanding Choreography: Parker Esse; Corbin Bleu, Outstanding Lead Actor – Musical Hayes (Photo: Maria Baranova)

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical – Hayes

Parker Esse Anything Goes Arena Stage
Matthew Gardiner, Mark Orsborn Billy Elliot Signature Theatre
Dell Howlett The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
Tara Jeanne Vallee On the Town Olney Theatre Center
Tara Jeanne Vallee Elf, The Musical Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical – Helen

Rachel Leigh Dolan Chicago The Keegan Theatre
Ilona Kessell Disney’s Newsies Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Ahmad Maaty Pippin Monumental Theatre Company
Mark Minnick Young Frankenstein Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Liz Tenuto A Chorus Line Compass Rose Theater

Outstanding Choreography in a Play – Hayes

Stephanie Paul The Wolves Studio Theatre
Karma Camp, David Leong The Comedy of Errors Shakespeare Theatre Company
Matthew Gardiner The Legend of Georgia McBride Round House Theatre
Orange Grove Dance-Colette Krogol & Matt Reeves How to Catch a Star The Kennedy Center
Erika Chong Shuch Indecent Arena Stage

Outstanding Choreography in a Play – Helen
Irina Tsikurishvili Sleepy Hollow Synetic Theater
Kathy Gordon Rite of Spring Pointless Theatre
Happenstance Theater Cabaret Noir: A Film Noir Theatrical Montage Happenstance Theater
Tori Tolentino The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Synetic Theater
Irina Tsikurishvili The Trial Synetic Theater

(l-r) Christopher Michael Richardson (Lion), Ines Nassara (Dorothy), Hasani Allen (Scarecrow), Kevin
McAllister (Tinman) in the Ford’s Theatre production of “The Wiz,” Darius Smith: Outstanding Musical Direction – Hayes. Hasani Allen, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical – Hayes (Photo: Carol Rosegg)

Outstanding Musical Direction – Hayes

Darius Smith The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
James Cunningham Camelot Shakespeare Theatre Company
Bob Eisenstein Macbeth Folger Theatre
Jon Kalbfleisch Passion Signature Theatre
Alexander Sovronsky Indecent Arena Stage

Paul Sportelli Anything Goes Arena Stage

Outstanding Musical Direction – Helen

Britt Bonney Girlfriend Signature Theatre
Jake Null Chicago The Keegan Theatre
Walter “Bobby” McCoy Fly by Night 1st Stage
Walter “Bobby” McCoy Aida Constellation Theatre Company
Markus Williams A Civil War Christmas 1st Stage

Outstanding Costume Design – Hayes
Kara Harmon The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
Alejo Vietti Anything Goes Arena Stage
Ana Kuzmanic Camelot Shakespeare Theatre Company
Robert Perdziola Passion Signature Theatre
Ivania Stack Cinderella Imagination Stage

The Trial from Synetic Theater. Costume designs: Erik Teague (photo: Johnny Shryock)

Outstanding Costume Design – Helen

Erik Teague The Trial Synetic Theater
Sandra Spence The Comedy of Errors Annapolis Shakespeare Company
Kelsey Hunt The Caucasian Chalk Circle Constellation Theatre Company
Debra Kim Sivigny The Lathe of Heaven Spooky Action Theater and Georgetown University
Debra Kim Sivigny Swimming With Whales 1st Stage
Erik Teague Sleepy Hollow Synetic Theater

Outstanding Lighting Design – Hayes

Robert Wierzel Camelot Shakespeare Theatre Company
Andrew Cissna John Signature Theatre
Josh Epstein Indecent Arena Stage
Kimberly Purtell Snow Child Arena Stage
Rui Rita The Wiz Ford’s Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design – Helen

Brian S. Allard Titus Andronicus Synetic Theater
Brian S. Allard The Trial Synetic Theater
Adam Bacigalupo The Lathe of Heaven Spooky Action Theater and Georgetown University
Colin K. Bills Girlfriend Signature Theatre
David A. Hopkins Disney’s The Little Mermaid Toby’s Dinner Theatre

(l-r) Sarah Corey, Jordan Moral, Jimmy Mavrikes, Alexandra Palting, Nora Achrati, Anjna Swaminathan, Emily Madden in *The Princess and the Pauper* at Imagination Stage. Emily Lotz: Outstanding Set Design-Hayes(Photo: Margot Schulman)

Outstanding Set Design – Hayes

Emily Lotz The Princess & The Pauper – A Bollywood Tale Imagination Stage
Paige Hathaway John Signature Theatre
Lee Savage Passion Signature Theatre Jason Sherwood The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
Nate Sinnott You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Imagination Stage

Outstanding Set Design – Helen

Natsu Onoda Power (Set Designer), Danny Carr (Projection Designer) The Lathe of Heaven Spooky Action Theater and Georgetown University
A.J. Guban The Caucasian Chalk Circle Constellation Theatre Company
Misha Kachman Girlfriend Signature Theatre
Matthew Keenan The Undeniable Sound of Right Now The Keegan Theatre
Daniel Pinha The Trial Synetic Theater

Outstanding Sound Design – Hayes

Ken Travis Camelot Shakespeare Theatre Company
Ryan Hickey Light Years Signature Theatre
Kenny Neal (Sound Designer), Deborah Wicks La Puma (Composer) Digging Up Dessa The Kennedy Center
Tosin Olufolabi (Sound Designer), Rebecca Hart (Composer) Gloria Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Andre Pluess Indecent Arena Stage

Outstanding Sound Design – Helen

Roc Lee The Lathe of Heaven Spooky Action Theater and Georgetown University
Ryan Hickey Girlfriend Signature Theatre
Gordon Nimmo-Smith (Sound Designer), Brian Lotter & Matthew Schleigh (Composers) The Caucasian Chalk Circle Constellation Theatre Company
Sarah O’Halloran Swimming With Whales 1st Stage
Michael Winch The Frederick Douglass Project Solas Nua
Michael Winch How to Keep an Alien Solas Nua

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Outstanding Direction in a Musical – Hayes

Tina Landau Dave Arena Stage
Kathryn Chase Bryer Cinderella Imagination Stage
Matthew Gardiner Passion Signature Theatre
Kent Gash The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
Molly Smith Anything Goes Arena Stage

(l-r) Aaron Bliden, Ryan Manning, Tiziano D’Affuso, Farrell Parker, Sasha Olinick and Caroline Wolfson in Fly By Night at 1st Stage. Kathryn Chase Bryer, Outstanding Direction, Musical – Helen; Outstanding Ensemble – Helen (Photo: Teresa Castracane)

Outstanding Direction in a Musical – Helen

Kathryn Chase Bryer Fly by Night 1st Stage
Matthew Gardiner Girlfriend Signature Theatre
Mark Minnick Disney’s The Little Mermaid Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Mark A. Rhea, Susan Marie Rhea Chicago The Keegan Theatre
Michael Windsor Brooklyn The Musical Monumental Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction in a Play – Hayes

Kip Fagan Gloria Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Eric Rosen Indecent Arena Stage
Paige Hernandez Queens Girl in Africa Mosaic Theater Company of DC
Marti Lyons Botticelli in the Fire Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Marti Lyons The Wolves Studio Theatre
David Muse The Remains Studio Theatre
Alan Paul The Comedy of Errors Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction in a Play – Helen

Nick Martin Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce Constellation Theatre Company
Colin Hovde The Events Theater Alliance
Alex Levy The Farnsworth Invention 1st Stage
Alex Levy Swimming With Whales 1st Stage
Natsu Onoda Power The Lathe of Heaven Spooky Action Theater and Georgetown University

(l-r) Chaz Alexander Coffin (Mr. Tambo), Stephen Scott Wormley (Mr. Bones) and the cast of The Scottsboro Boys at Signature Theatre. Outstanding Ensemble, Musical – Hayes. (Photo by Christopher Mueller)

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical – Hayes

The Scottsboro Boys Signature Theatre
Anything Goes Arena Stage
Dave Arena Stage
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Rep Stage
The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Imagination Stage

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical – Helen

Fly by Night 1st Stage
Brooklyn The Musical Monumental Theatre Company
Chicago The Keegan Theatre
Disney’s The Little Mermaid Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Pippin Monumental Theatre Company

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play – Hayes

The Wolves Studio Theatre
The Comedy of Errors Shakespeare Theatre Company
Gloria Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
If I Forget Studio Theatre
Indecent Arena Stage
The Remains Studio Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play – Helen

The Frederick Douglass Project Solas Nua
The Farnsworth Invention 1st Stage
Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce Constellation Theatre Company
Swimming With Whales 1st Stage
The Trojan Women Project Brave Spirits Theatre

Outstanding Performer – Visiting Production

Ephraim Sykes Ain’t Too Proud- The Life and Times of The Temptations The Kennedy Center
Liam Brennan An Inspector Calls Shakespeare Theatre Company
Carrie Compere The Color Purple The Kennedy Center
Jennifer Kidwell Underground Railroad Game Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Marty Rea Waiting for Godot Shakespeare Theatre Company

President #45: Mary Myers as Donald J. Trump with the “Make America Great Again” jug band (l-r) Brittany Martz, Sarah Anne Sillers, Chloe Mikala) in 45 Plays for 45 Presidents at NextStop Theatre ( Photo by Lock & Company)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play – Helen

Mary Myers 45 Plays for 45 Presidents NextStop Theatre Company
Tuyet Thi Pham The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs Spooky Action Theater
Moriamo Temidayo Akibu The Interstellar Ghost Hour Longacre Lea
Tiffany Byrd The Frederick Douglass Project Solas Nua
Amanda Forstrom The Farnsworth Invention 1st Stage
Nicole Ruthmarie The Trojan Women Project Brave Spirits Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical – Hayes

Hasani Allen The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
Michael J. Mainwaring You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Imagination Stage
Kevin McAllister The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
Christopher Michael Richardson The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
Bobby Smith Light Years Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical – Hayes

Maria Rizzo Anything Goes Arena Stage
Steffanie Leigh Passion Signature Theatre
Monique Midgette The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
Awa Sal Secka The Wiz Ford’s Theatre
Awa Sal Secka You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Imagination Stage

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical – Helen

DeCarlo Raspberry Disney’s The Little Mermaid Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Michael Innocenti Chicago The Keegan Theatre
Ryan Manning Fly by Night 1st Stage
Da’Von Moody Aida Constellation Theatre Company
Harrison Smith Disney’s Newsies Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Taylor Witt Disney’s Newsies Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical – Helen

Caroline Wolfson Fly by Night 1st Stage
Linda Bard Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Adventure Theatre MTC
Kaitlin Kemp Pippin Monumental Theatre Company
Farrell Parker Fly by Night 1st Stage
Louisa Tringali Young Frankenstein Toby’s Dinner Theatre

James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play – Hayes

Kim Sullivan Familiar Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Jonathan Goldstein If I Forget Studio Theatre
Ahmad Kamal Gloria Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Song Kim Aubergine Olney Theatre Center & Everyman Theatre
Andy Truschinski Familiar Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Justin Weaks Gloria Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play – Hayes

Cheryl Lynn Bruce Familiar Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Mary Catherine Curran The Second City’s Love, Factually The Kennedy Center
Lindsley Howard The Wolves Studio Theatre
Susan Rome If I Forget Studio Theatre
Danielle Skraastad The Remains Studio Theatre

Ryan Tumulty and Jaren Shamberger in Flood City from Theater Alliance. Ryan Tumulty, Outstanding Supporting Actor, Play – Helen (Photo: C. Stanley Photography)

James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play – Helen

Ryan Tumulty Flood City    Theater Alliance
Scott Ward Abernethy The Caucasian Chalk Circle Constellation Theatre Company
Michael Kevin Darnall The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs Spooky Action Theater
Louis E. Davis The Frederick Douglass Project Solas Nua
Ryan Tumulty The Trial    Synetic Theater
Jacob Yeh East of Eden    NextStop Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical – Hayes

Corbin Bleu Anything Goes Arena Stage
Ken Clark Camelot Shakespeare Theatre Company
Drew Gehling Dave Arena Stage
David Schlumpf Elf, The Musical Olney Theatre Center
Douglas Sills Dave Arena Stage

Natascia Diaz (Fosca) and Claybourne Elder (Giorgio) in Passion — Claybourne Elder (Giorgio) and Natascia Diaz (Fosca) in Passion at Signature Theatre. Natascia Diaz, Outstanding Lead Actress, Musical – Hayes (Photo: Margot Schulman)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical – Hayes

Natascia Diaz Passion Signature Theatre
Nancy Anderson Billy Elliot Signature Theatre
Tracy Lynn Olivera On the Town Olney Theatre Center
Bryonha Marie Parham Dave Arena Stage
Awa Sal Secka Cinderella Imagination Stage

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical – Helen

Jimmy Mavrikes Girlfriend Signature Theatre
Aaron Bliden Fly by Night 1st Stage
Lukas James Miller Girlfriend Signature Theatre
Solomon Parker Pippin Monumental Theatre Company
DeCarlo Raspberry Brooklyn The Musical Monumental Theatre Company
Jamie Smithson Fly by Night 1st Stage

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical – Helen

Debora Crabbe As You Like It The Keegan Theatre
Maria Rizzo Chicago The Keegan Theatre
Jessica Bennett Chicago The Keegan Theatre
Abby Middleton Disney’s The Little Mermaid Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Shayla S. Simmons Aida Constellation Theatre Company
Taylor Washington Brooklyn The Musical Monumental Theatre Company

Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play – Hayes

Eugene Lee Two Trains Running Arena Stage
Carson Elrod The Comedy of Errors Shakespeare Theatre Company
Glenn Fitzgerald The Remains Studio Theatre
Jon Hudson Odom Botticelli in the Fire Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Jack Willis The Great Society Arena Stage

Erika Rose (Outstanding Lead Actress, Play – Hayes in Queens Girl in Africa at Mosaic Theater. (Photo: Stan Barouh)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play – Hayes

Erika Rose Queens Girl in Africa Mosaic Theater Company of DC
Stephanie Berry Gem of the Ocean Round House Theatre
Julia Coffey Labour of Love Olney Theatre Center
Veanne Cox The Comedy of Errors Shakespeare Theatre Company
Naomi Jacobson Becoming Dr. Ruth Theater J

Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play – Helen

Josh Adams The Events Theater Alliance
Matthew R. Wilson Swimming With Whales 1st Stage
Sam Ludwig The Farnsworth Invention 1st Stage
Sasha Olinick The Secrets of the Universe (and other songs) The Hub Theatre and the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia
Jonathan Lee Taylor The Farnsworth Invention 1st Stage

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play – Helen

Regina Aquino The Events Theater Alliance
Tonya Beckman The Skin of Our Teeth Constellation Theatre Company
Lolita Marie The Secrets of the Universe (and other songs) The Hub Theatre and the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia
Billie Krishawn Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce Constellation Theatre Company
Madeline Mooney The Frederick Douglass Project Solas Nua

Outstanding Original Play or Musical Adaptation

Natsu Onoda Power The Lathe of Heaven Spooky Action Theater and Georgetown University
Sandra B. Eskin & Michael J. Bobbitt (Book), William Yanesh (Music & Lyrics) Blueberries for Sal Adventure Theatre MTC
Tom Kitt (Music), Thomas Meehan (Book) Nell Benjamin (Book/Lyrics) Dave Arena Stage
Patti Kalil, Rachel Menyuk, Eric Swartz Don Cristobal Pointless Theatre Jared Mezzocchi How to Catch a Star The Kennedy Center
Nathan Weinberger Sleepy Hollow Synetic Theater

Heather Raffo as Noura in Noura, produced by Shakespeare Theatre Company. Heather Raffo, Outstanding Original New Play or Musical (Scott Suchman)

Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Original New Play or Musical

Heather Raffo Noura Shakespeare Theatre Company
Caleen Sinnette Jennings Queens Girl in Africa Mosaic Theater Company of DC
Mona Mansour The Vagrant Trilogy Mosaic Theater Company of DC
Psalmayene 24 & Deirdre Kinahan The Frederick Douglass Project Solas Nua
Heather Ken Urban The Remains Studio Theatre

Outstanding Production – Theatre for Young Audiences

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Imagination Stage
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Adventure Theatre MTC
Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt Adventure Theatre MTC
My Father’s Dragon Synetic Theater
The Princess & The Pauper – A Bollywood Tale Imagination Stage
To the Clouds Arts on the Horizon

Outstanding Visiting Production

The Second City’s She the People Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
The Fall Studio Theatre
H.M.S. Pinafore Olney Theatre Center
Underground Railroad Game Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Waiting for Godot Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Production in a Musical – Hayes

Camelot Shakespeare Theatre Company
Anything Goes Arena Stage
Cinderella Imagination Stage
Dave Arena Stage The Wiz Ford’s Theatre

Outstanding Production in a Play – Hayes

Gloria Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Botticelli in the Fire Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Familiar Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Indecent Arena Stage
The Wolves Studio Theatre

Outstanding Production in a Musical – Helen

Fly by Night 1st Stage
Brooklyn The Musical Monumental Theatre Company
Chicago The Keegan Theatre
Disney’s The Little Mermaid Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Girlfriend Signature Theatre

The cast of Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce from Constellation Theatre Company (Photo: DJ Corey Photography)

Outstanding Production in a Play – Helen

Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce Constellation Theatre Company
The Events Theater Alliance
The Farnsworth Invention 1st Stage
The Lathe of Heaven Spooky Action Theater and Georgetown University
Swimming With Whales 1st Stage

John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company
Ally Theatre Company