Eric Schaeffer, Molly Smith, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Ted van Griethuysen, Donna Migliaccio, The Shakespeare Theatre — major names in the resident Equity community there — were recognized, along with "non-resident" shows Wicked, Red White and Tuna, I Am My Own Wife, Hecuba starring Vanessa Redgrave and Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants.
Overall for the eligibility period Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2005, 56 productions produced at 25 theatres received the 140 nominations.
Award recipients (they don't call then "winners") will be named during an April 17 ceremony (hosted by nominee Brad Oscar, of Arena Stage's Damn Yankees) at The Historic Warner Theatre, followed by the annual Ovation Gala, billed as "Washington's largest cast party," at the JW Marriott.
In addition to the usual acting, directing, production and design awards, three special honors will also be conferred at the awards ceremony: The KPMG Award for Distinguished Service to the Washington Theatre Community; The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community; and The Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by Gilbert and Jaylee Mead, which will be presented to "two theatre artists of immense dimension" — scenic designer Ming Cho Lee and costume designer Jane Greenwood.
Among new works vying for the Charles MacArthur Award for New Play or Musical is columbinus, a cultural pulse-taking about teens, coming-of-age and violence as refracted through the tragedy of the Columbine High School slayings. Its writers are Stephen Karam, Sean McNall, and PJ Paparelli. It was seen at Round House Theatre, following developmental productions elsewhere. Director Paparelli is also nominated. Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play, a Cycle, three different approaches to theatrical retellings of the death of Christ, seen at Arena Stage, was also nommed for a MacArthur. Her The Clean House was nominated for Outstanding Resident Play (Woolly Mammoth produced it).
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Founded in 1983, the Helen Hayes Awards are personified in their namesake, "First Lady of the American Theatre," Washington native Helen Hayes.
For more information, visit < a href=http://www.helenhayes.org>www.helenhayes.org.
2006 HELEN HAYES AWARDS NOMINEES
The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
Mickey Birnbaum, Big Death & Little Death, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Stephen Karam, Sean McNall, and PJ Paparelli, columbinus, Round House Theatre
Dianne McIntyre, Open the Door, Virginia! Theater of the First Amendment
Charles Randolph-Wright, Cuttin' Up, Arena Stage
Sarah Ruhl, Passion Play, A Cycle, Arena Stage
S. M. Shephard-Massat, Starving, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
David Emerson Toney, Kingdom, The African Continuum Theatre Company
Outstanding Resident Musical
Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Ford's Theatre
Damn Yankees, Arena Stage
Once On This Island, Round House Theatre
Pacific Overtures, Signature Theatre
Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Outstanding Resident Play
A Number, The Studio Theatre
The Clean House, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
columbinus, Round House Theatre
Hannah & Martin, Theater J
The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow The Studio Theatre Secondstage
Othello, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Take Me Out, The Studio Theatre
Outstanding Non-Resident Production
Hecuba, The Kenndy Center
I Am My Own Wife, The National Theatre
Red, White and Tuna, The Kennedy Center
Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants, The Studio Theatre
Wicked, The Kennedy Center
Outstanding Choreography - Resident Play or Musical
Kathleen Akerley and the Ensemble, shkspr prjct, Catalyst Theater Company
Karma Camp, Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Ilona Kessell, Beauty and the Beast, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Irina Tsikurishvili, Dracula, Synetic Theater
Irina Tsikurishvili, Jason and the Argonauts, Synetic Theater
Beth Wilmurt, The Death of Meyerhold, The Studio Theatre Secondstage
Outstanding Musical Direction - Resident Play or Musical
Jay Crowder, Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Nick DeGregorio, Big River, Ford's Theatre
George Fulginiti-Shakar, Damn Yankees, Arena Stage
Jon Kalbfleisch, Pacific Overtures, Signature Theatre
Adam Wernick, Othello, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Director - Resident Musical
Joe Calarco, Urinetown, Signature Theatre Jeff Calhoun, Big River, Ford's Theatre
Scot Reese, Once On This Island, Round House Theatre
Eric Schaeffer, Pacific Overtures, Signature Theatre
Molly Smith, Damn Yankees, Arena Stage
Outstanding Director - Resident Play
Jeremy B. Cohen, Hannah & Martin, Theater J
Lee Mikeska Gardner, After Ashley, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Kirk Jackson, Take Me Out, The Studio Theatre
Michael Kahn, Othello, Shakespeare Theatre Company
David Muse, The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, The Studio Theatre Secondstage
PJ Paparelli, columbinus, Round House Theatre
Rebecca Bayla Taichman, The Clean House, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Joy Zinoman, A Number, The Studio Theatre
Outstanding Set Design - Resident Play or Musical
Scott Bradley, Passion Play, A Cycle, Arena Stage
Tony Cisek, Hannah & Martin, Theater J
Simon Higlett, Lady Windermere's Fan, Shakespeare Theatre Company
James Kronzer, Camille, Round House Theatre
James Kronzer, Oliver!, Olney Theatre Center for the Arts
James Kronzer, Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Richard Montgomery, The Violet Hour, Rep Stage
Narelle Sissons, The Clean House, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Walt Spangler, The Tempest, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Lighting Design - Resident Play or Musical
Colin K. Bills, The Clean House, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Dan Covey, Hannah & Martin, Theater J
Allen Lee Hughes, The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Chris Lee, Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Charlie Morrison, Oliver!, Olney Theatre Center for the Arts
Charlie Morrison, Othello, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Charlie Morrison, The Tempest, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Daniel MacLean Wagner, Camille, Round House Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design - Resident Play or Musical
Zack Brown, The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Jess Goldstein, Othello, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Murell Horton, Lorenzaccio, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Anne Kennedy, Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Rosemary Pardee, Camille, Round House Theatre
Robert Perdziola, Lady Windermere's Fan, Shakespeare Theatre Company
James Schuette, Intimations for Saxophone, Arena Stage
Outstanding Sound Design - Resident Play or Musical
Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen, The Tempest, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Martin Desjardins, columbinus, Round House Theatre
Martin Desjardins, Othello, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Dan Murphy, Moby Dick Rehearsed, The American Century Theater
Darron L. West, Intimations For Saxophone, Arena Stage
Outstanding Supporting Actor - Resident Musical
Christopher Bloch, Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Lawrence Redmond, Damn Yankees, Arena Stage
Stephen F. Schmidt, Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Bobby Smith, A Year with Frog and Toad, Round House Theatre
Harry A. Winter, Pacific Overtures, Signature Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress - Resident Musical
Jennifer Andersen, Seussical, Imagination Stage
Eleasha Gamble, Once On This Island, Round House Theatre
Rebecca Herron, The Spitfire Grill, Theater Alliance
Joanne Schmoll, The Spitfire Grill, Theater Alliance
Jenna Sokolowski, Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Kay Walbye, Damn Yankees, Arena Stage
Outstanding Supporting Actor - Resident Play
Steve Brady, String Fever, Theater J
Daniel Breaker, The Tempest, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Cameron McNary, The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, The Studio Theatre Secondstage
Bruce R. Nelson, The Violet Hour, Rep Stage
Jake Suffian, Take Me Out, The Studio Theatre
Michael Willis, After Ashley, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress - Resident Play
Lindsay Allen, An Experiment with an Air Pump, Journeymen Theater Ensemble
Franca Barchiesi, The Clean House, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Colleen Delany, Othello, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Sarah Marshall, The Clean House, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Polly Noonan, Passion Play, A Cycle, Arena Stage
Marni Penning, After Ashley, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Outstanding Lead Actor - Non-Resident Production
Ricky Jay, Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants, The Studio Theatre
Jefferson Mays, I Am My Own Wife, The National Theatre
Joe Sears, Red, White and Tuna, The Kennedy Center
Jaston Williams, Red, White and Tuna, The Kennedy Center
Outstanding Lead Actress - Non-Resident Production
Stephanie J. Block, Wicked, The Kennedy Center
Kendra Kassebaum, Wicked, The Kennedy Center
Vanessa Redgrave, Hecuba, The Kennedy Center
Keala Settle, Hairspray, The Kennedy Center
Amy Ziff, Betty Rules, The Exception to the Musical, Theater J
Outstanding Lead Actor - Resident Musical
Christopher B. Corrigan, Big River, Ford's Theatre
Will Gartshore, Pacific Overtures, Signature Theatre
Will Gartshore, Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Michael McElroy, Big River, Ford's Theatre
Bill O'Brien, Big River, Ford's Theatre
Brad Oscar, Damn Yankees, Arena Stage
Outstanding Lead Actress - Resident Musical
Felicia Curry, Aida, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Erin Driscoll, Urinetown, Signature Theatre
Meg Gillentine, Damn Yankees, Arena Stage
Montego Glover, Once On This Island, Round House Theatre
Donna Migliaccio, Pacific Overtures, Signature Theatre
Outstanding Lead Actor - Resident Play
Daniel Breaker, The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Robert Cuccioli, Lorenzaccio, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Scott Fortier, Metamorphosis, Catalyst Theater Company
Rick Foucheux, Take Me Out, The Studio Theatre
Ted van Griethuysen, The Clandestine Marriage, Folger Theatre
Karl Miller, columbinus, Round House Theatre
Patrick Page, Othello, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Felix Solis, Passion Play, A Cycle, Arena Stage
Tom Story, A Number, The Studio Theatre
Mark Sullivan, After Ashley, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Outstanding Lead Actress - Resident Play
Suli Holum, Born Yesterday, Arena Stage
Jennifer Mendenhall, You Are Here, Theater Alliance
Jennifer Mendenhall, Sophocles' Electram MetroStage
Carolyn Pasquantonio, The Miracle Worker, Olney Theatre Center for the Arts
Elizabeth Rich, Hannah & Martin, Theater J
Erika Rose, Pretty Fire, The African Continuum Theatre Company
Vivienne Shub, The American Dream, Potomac Theatre Project, as part of the Potomac Theatre Festival
Deidra Starnes, I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young Lady from Rwanda, The African Continuum Theatre Company
MaryBeth Wise, The Miracle Worker, Olney Theatre Center for the Arts
Eunice Wong, The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, The Studio Theatre Secondstage
