DC Hayes Winners Include Dead Man's Cell Phone, Macbeth, Reefer Madness, Irwin, Kudisch

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/572ef98cc5f7f4114ec658cd188e0cfa-FF8AD2D6E3E345B680200A61A64EA198.jpg — Marc Kudisch stars in *The Wtiches of Eastwick*. Photo by Scott Suchman

The play, seen in 2007 in a staging by Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, was one of many titles and artists honored in the biggest night of the year for DC-area professional theatres.

Synetic Theater's Macbeth was named Outstanding Resident Play, and Studio Theatres 2nd Stage's Reefer Madness won Outstanding Resident Musical.

The annual awards were passed out at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC, on Monday and were followed by a gala.

Avenue Q was named Outstanding Non-Resident Production. Bill Irwin (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), Caroline Stefanie Clay (Doubt) and Cherry Jones (Doubt) won in Non-Resident acting categories.

Locally and nationally-known theatre peeople were also recognized: Heidi Blickenstaff (for playing a tough-tender reporter in Meet John Doe), Marc Kudisch (for playing the devil in The Witches of Eastwick), Eric Schaeffer (for directing Meet John Doe at Ford's Theatre), Nancy Robinette (for playing tone-deaf Florence Foster Jenkins in the Studio Theatre's Souvenir), Erik Liberman (for playing Charley in Merrily We Roll Along at Signature) and E. Faye Butler (for her performance in Signature's Saving Aimee), among others. The 24th Annual Helen Hayes Awards honored work seen on DC-area stages between Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2007.

In anticipation of the 24th Helen Hayes Awards, four special awards were announced April 11. They are:

The Helen Hayes Tribute, presented to preeminent British classical actor and director Sir Derek Jacobi in recognition of his illustrious career on stage and screen for more than 50 years. The Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Non-Resident Production was given to Jacobi in 1985 for Cyrano de Bergerac and again in 1988 for Breaking the Code. The Helen Hayes Tribute is sponsored by Washington philanthropists Gilbert and Jaylee Mead "to honor outstanding professionals who have enriched our lives and made a profound and lasting contribution to the theatre."

The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community, presented to the alliance of Arena Stage, the Crystal City BID, Vornado/Charles E. Smith, Marriott and Arlington County Economic Development. "While undergoing major renovations, Arena Stage, Washington's largest not-for-profit producing theatre, has temporarily moved to Crystal City in Arlington County, VA. This was only possible thanks to the arts, businesses, and community working together to create a vibrant urban destination." The Washington Post Award is meant "to honor individuals and organizations leading the way in fostering Washington theatre."

The first John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company, to Taffety Punk Theatre Company. Since their debut in 2004, Taffety Punk has "impressed Washington audiences with their unwavering commitment to establish a dynamic ensemble of actors, dancers, and musicians who ignite a public passion for theatre by making the classical and the contemporary exciting, meaningful, and affordable." Established "in memory of John Aniello, a devoted champion of young, promising talent and an avid theatregoer since 1960…The John Aniello Award recognizes and encourages the efforts of companies who are just getting started yet have produced a body of work that is new, daring, and exciting."

The Governor's Award, to Bob Davis and Henry Schalizki in recognition of their long-time roles as dedicated audience members for almost 50 years. "In that time, they have rarely missed an opening night and have been cheering on Washington theatre each in their own way — Bob through his loved WGMS-FM broadcasts which ended with his signature send-off, 'See it!,' and Henry as a passionate theatregoer who encouraged others to attend and appreciate the work on the stage." This is only the third time the Governor's Award has been granted. The first went to Arena Stage founder Zelda Fichandler and the second to theatre critic Roger Meersman. The awards are named for the stage and screen star who was born in Washington, DC, and did her first acting there.

For more information visit www.helenhayes.org.

Nominees and winners of the 24th Annual Helen Hayes Awards follow: Recipients are indicated by boldface type and an asterisk. Voting in some categories resulted in a tie.

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
Karma Camp, The Witches of Eastwick, Signature Theatre
Christopher D'Amboise, The Studio, Signature Theatre
Matthew Gardiner, Reefer Madness: The Musical, Studio Theatre 2ndStage
Eric Lucas and Kerry Lucas, Alone It Stands, The Keegan Theatre
Irina Tsikurishvili, Hamlet ... the rest is silence, Synetic Theater
*Irina Tsikurishvili, Macbeth, Synetic Theater
Irina Tsikurishvili, The Fall of the House of Usher, Synetic Theater

Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production
Murell Horton, Edward II, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Jennifer Moeller, Tamburlaine, Shakespeare Theatre Company
*Reggie Ray, Souvenir, A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, Studio Theatre
Anastasia Ryurikov Simes, Macbeth, Synetic Theater
Paul Tazewell, Carnival!, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
*(TIE) Keith Alan Baker, with Matt Gardiner and Ryan Christie, Reefer Madness: The Musical, Studio Theatre 2ndStage
Lawrence B. Munsey, Titanic The Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Toby Orenstein, Titanic The Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre
*(TIE) Eric Schaeffer, Meet John Doe, Ford's Theatre
Eric Schaeffer, The Witches of Eastwick, Signature Theatre
Molly Smith, The Women of Brewster Place, Arena Stage

Outstanding Director, Resident Play
Timothy Douglas, Insurrection: Holding History, Theater Alliance
Pam MacKinnon, The Unmentionables, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Serge Seiden, Souvenir, A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, Studio Theatre
Shirley Serotsky, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Rorschach Theatre
Howard Shalwitz, She Stoops to Comedy, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Rebecca Bayla Taichman, Dead Man's Cell Phone, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Rebecca Bayla Taichman, The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Paata Tsikurishvili, Hamlet ... the rest is silence, Synetic Theater
*Paata Tsikurishvili, Macbeth, Synetic Theater

Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production
Daniel Beaty, Emergence-See!, Arena Stage
Christopher Cazenove, My Fair Lady, Kennedy Center
*Bill Irwin, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Kennedy Center
Robert McClure, Avenue Q, The Broadway Musical, National Theatre
Chris McGarry, Doubt, A Parable, National Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
Will Gartshore, Merrily We Roll Along, Signature Theatre
*Marc Kudisch, The Witches of Eastwick, Signature Theatre
Lawrence Redmond, Reefer Madness: The Musical, Studio Theatre 2ndStage
Bobby Smith, Reefer Madness: The Musical, Studio Theatre 2ndStage
Bobby Smith, The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), MetroStage
Andrew Sonntag, Reefer Madness: The Musical, Studio Theatre 2ndStage

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play
James Brown-Orleans, My Children! My Africa!, Studio Theatre
Arnie Burton, I Am My Own Wife, Olney Theatre Center
Edward Gero, Shining City, Studio Theatre
Charles H. Hyman, The Unmentionables, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Christopher Innvar, The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Irakli Kavsadze, Macbeth, Synetic Theater Michael Russotto, She Stoops to Comedy, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
*J. Fred Shiffman, Souvenir, A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, Studio Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production
*Cherry Jones, Doubt, A Parable, National Theatre
Karen Kandel, Mabou Mines' Peter and Wendy, Arena Stage
Lisa O'Hare, My Fair Lady, Kennedy Center
Kelli Sawyer, Avenue Q, The Broadway Musical, National Theatre
Janet Suzman, Coriolanus, Kennedy Center

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical
*Heidi Blickenstaff, Meet John Doe, Ford's Theatre
Carolee Carmello, Saving Aimee, Signature Theatre
Jessica Dukes, Spunk, Tribute Productions and African Continuum Theatre Company
Tina Fabrique, Ella, Arena Stage
Harriett D. Foy, The Women of Brewster Place, Arena Stage
Marva Hicks, The Women of Brewster Place, Arena Stage
Donna Migliaccio, The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), MetroStage

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play
Gabriela Fernandez Coffey, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Rorschach Theatre
Naomi Jacobson, Vigils, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Polly Noonan, Dead Man's Cell Phone, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Mary Beth Peil, 33 Variations, Arena Stage
*Nancy Robinette, Souvenir, A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, Studio Theatre
Irina Tsikurishvili, Macbeth, Synetic Theater

Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production
*Colin K. Bills, Dead Man's Cell Phone, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Colin K. Bills, Macbeth, Synetic Theater
Colin K. Bills, The Unmentionables, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
David Lander, 33 Variations, Arena Stage
Charlie Morrison, Richard III, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Rui Rita, Meet John Doe, Ford's Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production
*(TIE) Jon Kalbfleisch, Merrily We Roll Along, Signature Theatre
Jon Kalbfleisch, The Witches of Eastwick, Signature Theatre
Dan Kazemi, The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), MetroStage
William Foster McDaniel, The Women of Brewster Place, Arena Stage
*(TIE) Christopher Youstra, Titanic The Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production
Marie Anne Chiment, I Am My Own Wife, Olney Theatre Center
James Kronzer, The Unmentionables, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Derek McLane, 33 Variations, Arena Stage
*Neil Patel, Dead Man's Cell Phone, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Lee Savage, Richard III, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Anastasia Ryurikov Simes, Macbeth, Synetic Theater
Narelle Sissons, The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Robin Stapley, Crime and Punishment, Round House Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production
*Irakli Kavsadze and Paata Tsikurishvili, Macbeth, Synetic Theater
Jeremy Lee, The Studio, Signature Theatre
Matthew M. Nielson, Nest, Signature Theatre
Matthew M. Nielson, The Unmentionables, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Ryan Rumery, Vigils, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Gil Thompson, Souvenir, A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, Studio Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
Michael Arnold, Carnival!, Kennedy Center
Christopher Bloch, Christmas Carol 1941, Arena Stage
Joel Blum, Meet John Doe, Ford's Theatre
Ed Dixon, Saving Aimee, Signature Theatre
*Erik Liberman, Merrily We Roll Along, Signature Theatre
Guy Paul, Meet John Doe, Ford's Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play
*(TIE) Daniel Escobar, She Stoops to Comedy, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
*(TIE) Philip Fletcher, Macbeth, Synetic Theater
Rick Foucheux, Dead Man's Cell Phone, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Peter Macon, Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare Theatre Company
J. Fred Shiffman, Vigils, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Alexander Strain, Pangs of the Messiah, Theater J

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical
*(TIE) E. Faye Butler, Saving Aimee, Signature Theatre
*(TIE) Karlah Hamilton, The Witches of Eastwick, Signature Theatre
Monique L. Midgette, The Women of Brewster Place, Arena Stage
Tracy Lynn Olivera, Merrily We Roll Along, Signature Theatre
Lauren Williams, Into the Woods, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play
Naomi Jacobson, The Unmentionables, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Susan Kellermann, 33 Variations, Arena Stage
Sarah Marshall, As You Like It, Folger Theatre
*Kate Eastwood Norris, She Stoops to Comedy, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Salma Qarnain, Macbeth, Synetic Theater
Regina Marie Williams, Redshirts, Round House Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production
Justin Bohon, My Fair Lady, Kennedy Center
*Caroline Stefanie Clay, Doubt, A Parable, National Theatre
Tim Jerome, My Fair Lady, Kennedy Center
Lisa Joyce, Doubt, A Parable, National Theatre
Timothy West, Coriolanus, Kennedy Center

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
Matt August, Meet John Doe, Ford's Theatre
Steve Connell, The Word Begins, Signature Theatre
Andrew Gerle, Meet John Doe, Ford's Theatre
Moises Kaufman, 33 Variations, Arena Stage
Motti Lerner, Pangs of the Messiah, Theater J
*Sarah Ruhl, Dead Man's Cell Phone, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Sekou (tha Misfit), The Word Begins, Signature Theatre
Eddie Sugarman, Meet John Doe, Ford's Theatre
Dana Yeaton, Redshirts, Round House Theatre

Outstanding Non-Resident Production
*Avenue Q, The Broadway Musical, The National Theatre
Doubt, A Parable, The National Theatre Emergence-See!, Arena Stage
My Fair Lady, The Kennedy Center
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Resident Musical
Into the Woods, Signature Theatre
Meet John Doe, Ford's Theatre
*Reefer Madness: The Musical, The Studio Theatre 2ndStage
The Witches of Eastwick, Signature Theatre
The Women of Brewster Place, Arena Stage
Titanic, The Musical, Toby's Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Resident Play
Dead Man's Cell Phone, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Hamlet … the rest is silence, Synetic Theater
*Macbeth, Synetic Theater
Souvenir, A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, The Studio Theatre
The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare Theatre Company
The Unmentionables, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
The Word Begins, Signature Theatre

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play or Musical
Alone It Stands, The Keegan Theatre
*Hamlet … the rest is silence, Synetic Theater
Insurrection: Holding History, Theater Alliance
Scenes from the Big Picture, Solas Nua
She Stoops to Comedy, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Vigils, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
The Word Begins, Signature Theatre

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/230177b8ec2a9d240a49bc1ec5b91fcd-DeadMansCellPhoneDC460.jpg — Naomi Jacobson, Polly Noonan and Sarah Marshall in *Dead Man's Cell Phone.* Photo by Stan Barouh

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