Nominees were announced Feb. 28. Among the nationally known nominees are James Earl Jones, Leslie Uggams, Lee Roy Reams, Alan Ruck, Dana Ivey and the late composer-lyricist Frank Loesser.
Loesser's posthumous nomination was for Arena Stage's production of Señor Discretion Himself, a show Loesser (Guys and Dolls) never saw a full staging of in his lifetime. He had abandoned the project.
Loesser (music and lyrics) and modern-day collaborators Culture Clash (book, along with Loesser) were nominated for Señor Discretion Himself in the category of The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical, as were Craig Wright for Grace (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company), Ian Cohen for Lenny & Lou (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company), Craig Wright for his Winter's Tale-inspired Melissa Arctic (Folger Theatre) and Charles Way for Merlin and the Cave of Dreams (Imagination Stage).
Outstanding Resident Play nominees are Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (part of the Kennedy Center's Tennessee Williams retrospective), Cyrano (The Shakespeare Theatre), Lenny & Lou (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company), Mary's Wedding (Theater Alliance), Pericles (The Shakespeare Theatre) and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Folger Theatre).
Outstanding Non-Resident Production nominees are A Tale of a Tiger (Rorschach Theatre), Flow (The Studio Theatre), Movin' Out (The National Theatre), On Golden Pond (The Kennedy Center) and The Producers (The Kennedy Center). Outstanding Resident Musical nominees are the revised version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Allegro (Signature Theatre), William Finn's Elegies: A Song Cycle (Signature Theatre), Godspell (Toby's Dinner Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Open Circle Theatre), a revised version of the Vietnam-soldier docu-musical One Red Flower (Signature Theatre), Señor Discretion Himself (Arena Stage) and Tambourines to Glory (True Colors Theatre Company).
For their work in the Signature world premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's Van Gogh-inspired musical, The Highest Yellow, Marc Kudisch and Jason Danieley were nominated for Hayes Awards.
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The nominees are:
Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production
Fred Applegate The Producers The Kennedy Center
Kristine Bendul Movin' Out The National Theatre
Craig Bockhorn On Golden Pond The Kennedy Center
Harry Bouvy The Producers The Kennedy Center
John Ganun Thoroughly Modern Millie The Kennedy Center
Charley Izabella King The Producers The Kennedy Center
Lee Roy Reams The Producers The Kennedy Center
Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production
Holly Cruikshank Movin' Out The National Theatre
Deb Filler Filler Up! MetroStage
Julieta Gros Movin' Out The National Theatre
Darcie Roberts Thoroughly Modern Millie The Kennedy Center
Leslie Uggams On Golden Pond The Kennedy Center
Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production
James Earl Jones On Golden Pond The Kennedy Center
Will Power Flow The Studio Theatre
Alan Ruck The Producers The Kennedy Center
Lewis J. Stadlen The Producers The Kennedy Center
Ron Todorowski Movin' Out The National Theatre
Outstanding Non-Resident Production
A Tale of a Tiger Rorschach Theatre
Flow The Studio Theatre
Movin' Out The National Theatre
On Golden Pond The Kennedy Center
The Producers The Kennedy Center
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
Rick Foucheux Jesus Christ Superstar Open Circle Theatre
William Hubbard Mahalia, a Gospel Musical MetroStage
David James Godspell Toby's Dinner Theatre
Jeffery Peterson The Who's Tommy The Studio Theatre Secondstage
Harry A. Winter Allegro Signature Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical
Felicia Curry Godspell Toby's Dinner Theatre
Ann Duquesnay Hallelujah, Baby! Arena Stage and George Street Playhouse
Margo Moorer Tambourines to Glory True Colors Theatre Company
Tracy Lynn Olivera Carousel Olney Theatre Center for the Arts
Tracy Lynn Olivera Allegro Signature Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play
John Dow Boy Gets Girl Theater Alliance
David Marks The Cripple of Inishmaan The Studio Theatre
Richard Pelzman Pericles The Shakespeare Theatre
David Sabin Ivanov The Studio Theatre
David Toney Two Trains Running The African Continuum Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play
Dana Ivey Cat on a Hot Tin Roof The Kennedy Center
Valerie Leonard The Elephant Man Catalyst Theater Company
Jennifer Mendenhall Lenny & Lou Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Holly Twyford The Two Gentlemen of Verona Folger Theatre
Sarah Zimmerman The Matchmaker Ford's Theatre
Outstanding Set Design, Resident Play or Musical
Tony Cisek Mary's Wedding Theater Alliance
Daniel Conway Fences Round House Theatre
James Kronzer The Diary of Anne Frank Round House Theatre
James Noone Cyrano The Shakespeare Theatre
Milagros Ponce de León Boy Gets Girl Theater Alliance
Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Play or Musical
Howell Binkley Cyrano The Shakespeare Theatre
Dan Covey Mary's Wedding Theater Alliance
Dan Covey Merlin and the Cave of Dreams Imagination Stage
T.J. Gerckens Pericles The Shakespeare Theatre
Tim Mitchell Henry IV, Part 1 The Shakespeare Theatre
Tim Mitchell Henry IV, Part 2 The Shakespeare Theatre
Daniel MacLean Wagner The Diary of Anne Frank Round House Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Play or Musical
Gregg Barnes Allegro Signature Theatre
Zack Brown The Importance of Being Earnest Arena Stage
Mara Blumenfeld Pericles The Shakespeare Theatre
Robert Perdziola Cyrano The Shakespeare Theatre
Emilio Sosa Señor Discretion Himself Arena Stage
Kate Turner-Walker The Two Gentlemen of Verona Folger Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Play or Musical
Mark Anduss Mary's Wedding Theater Alliance
Martin Desjardins The Diary of Anne Frank Round House Theatre
Martin Desjardins Macbeth The Shakespeare Theatre
Irakli Kavsadze and Paata Tsikurishvili The Master and Margarita Synetic-Classika Theatre
Ron Oshima Porcelain Tsunami Theatre Company
Outstanding Choreography, Resident Play or Musical
David H. Bell Children of Eden Ford's Theatre
Ilona Kessell Cats Toby's Dinner Theatre
Kelly Parsley Mary's Wedding Theater Alliance
Doriana Sanchez Señor Discretion Himself Arena Stage
Irina Tsikurishvili The Crackpots Synetic Theater
Irina Tsikurishvili The Master and Margarita Synetic-Classika Theatre
Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Play or Musical
Jon Kalbfleisch Elegies, a Song Cycle Signature Theatre
Jon Kalbfleisch Allegro Signature Theatre
Jon Kalbfleisch The Highest Yellow Signature Theatre
William Knowles Tambourines to Glory True Colors Theatre Company
Christopher Youstra Godspell Toby's Dinner Theatre
Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
Ron Curameng Miss Saigon Toby's Dinner Theatre
Jason Danieley The Highest Yellow Signature Theatre
Will Gartshore Allegro Signature Theatre
Marc Kudisch The Highest Yellow Signature Theatre
Rob McQuay Jesus Christ Superstar Open Circle Theatre
Kevyn Morrow Tambourines to Glory True Colors Theatre Company
Stephen F. Schmidt Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka The Kennedy Center
Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical
Suzzanne Douglas Hallelujah, Baby! Arena Stage and George Street Playhouse
Sherri L. Edelen Elegies, a Song Cycle Signature Theatre
Ebony Jo-Ann Tambourines to Glory True Colors Theatre Company
Bernardine Mitchell Mahalia, a Gospel Musical MetroStage
Elena Shaddow Señor Discretion Himself Arena Stage
Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play
Doug Brown Our Lady of 121st Street Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Scott Fortier The Elephant Man Catalyst Theater Company
George Grizzard Cat on a Hot Tin Roof The Kennedy Center
Stephen Lang Beyond Glory Tribute Productions
Geraint Wyn Davies Cyrano The Shakespeare Theatre
Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play
Megan Anderson The Seagull Rep Stage
Patricia Clarkson A Streetcar Named Desire The Kennedy Center
Brigid Cleary Homebody/Kabul Theater J and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Kathleen Coons Mary's Wedding Theater Alliance
Gin Hammond The Syringa Tree The Studio Theatre
Jennifer Mendenhall Grace Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Laiona Michelle Yellowman Arena Stage
Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Kenny Leon Tambourines to Glory True Colors Theatre Company
Toby Orenstein and Rob McQuay Godspell Toby's Dinner Theatre
Charles Randolph-Wright Señor Discretion Himself Arena Stage
Suzanne Richard Jesus Christ Superstar Open Circle Theatre
Eric Schaeffer Allegro Signature Theatre
Eric Schaeffer One Red Flower Signature Theatre
Outstanding Director, Resident Play
Mike Chamberlin Porcelain Tsunami Theatre Company
Michael Kahn Cyrano The Shakespeare Theatre
Kirsten Kelly Boy Gets Girl Theater Alliance
Aaron Posner The Two Gentlemen of Verona Folger Theatre
Jeremy Skidmore Mary's Wedding Theater Alliance
Mary Zimmerman Pericles The Shakespeare Theatre
The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
Craig Wright Grace Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Ian Cohen Lenny & Lou Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Craig Wright Melissa Arctic Folger Theatre
Charles Way Merlin and the Cave of Dreams Imagination Stage
Frank Loesser (music and lyrics), Frank Loesser and Culture Clash (book) Señor Discretion Himself Arena Stage
Outstanding Resident Musical
Allegro Signature Theatre
Elegies: A Song Cycle Signature Theatre
Godspell Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Jesus Christ Superstar Open Circle Theatre
One Red Flower Signature Theatre
Señor Discretion Himself Arena Stage
Tambourines to Glory True Colors Theatre Company
Outstanding Resident Play
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof The Kennedy Center
Cyrano The Shakespeare Theatre
Lenny & Lou Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Mary's Wedding Theater Alliance
Pericles The Shakespeare Theatre
The Two Gentlemen of Verona Folger Theatre
The special award recipients are:
Canadian/Washington Theatre Partnership Award
Jennifer Nelson, artistic director of the African-American Theatre Coalition
Scott Fortier, artistic director of Catalyst Theatre
The KPMG Award for Distinguished Service to the Washington Theatre Community
Dr. Sidney Harman for The Harman Family Foundation gift to fund The Shakespeare Theatre's Harman Center for the Arts.
The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community
Joy Zinoman, Studio Theatre artistic director, in recognition of the way she transformed 14th Street and created a cultural center for the city
The Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by Gilbert and Jaylee Mead
Composer-lyricist Jerry Herman
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During 2004, 65 theatre companies presented a total of 383 productions in the metropolitan D.C. area. These productions ran for a total of 7,582 performances and played to a total of 2,133,731 audience members. The number of productions maintains Washington's standing as the second most prolific theatre town in the country. Although Washington theatre production is still abundant, in 2004 the number of producing theatres did decrease from 69 to 65, as did the number of productions (422 in 2003); the number of performances (8130 in 2003); and the number of audience members (2,211,969 in 2003). The decrease is small, but can be accounted for by several companies who didn't produce during the last year, according to the Helen Hayes Awards.
The 21st Annual Helen Hayes Awards show will be directed by seven-time Helen Hayes Award nominee, Nick Olcott, and written by five-time Helen Hayes Award nominee, playwright Norman Allen.
For more information, contact The Helen Hayes Awards at (202) 337-4572 or visit www.helenhayes.org.
