The recipient of the 2013 John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company was previously announced: It went to Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue, founded in 2009 and drawing on "theatre, rock 'n' roll and the traditions of American music and storytelling to bridge the gap between a night at the theatre and a night at a rock concert."
Other special honors went to Actors' Equity Association (AEA), which received The Helen Hayes Tribute (accepted by president Nicholas Wyman and former president and Oscar, Tony and Emmy-winning actress Ellen Burstyn); and Capital Fringe, which received The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership. The Helen Hayes Tribute was presented on the occasion of the Actors' Equity Association's centennial anniversary.
This year saw 150 individual nominated artists, ensembles and productions in 26 categories. During the 2012 season (January 2012-December 2012) 54 of 84 resident theatres produced 201 productions that met Helen Hayes Awards eligibility requirements. Nearly a quarter of the eligible plays produced in 2012 — 49 of 201 productions — were world premieres.
The 26 category awards were presented by political, media and theatre luminaries, including Helen Hayes and Tony Award-winning actor, singer and choreographer Maurice Hines; radio personality Kojo Nnamdi; DC councilmember David Grosso; Emmy Award-winning journalist Wendy Rieger; and Helen Hayes family members H.B. MacArthur and Juliette Rappaport.
The show was helmed by director Jerry Whiddon, playwright Renee Calarco, choreographer Michael Bobbitt, musical director George Hummel, with Christopher Youstra contributing original songs for the event. The awards are named for DC native Helen Hayes, the 20th century actress of Broadway and American stages.
The 29th Helen Hayes Awards ceremony was held at the Warner Theatre and JW Marriott Hotel. For more information, visit theatrewashinton.org.
Here are Helen Hayes Award winners for the theatre year 2012 (winners are in bold, preceded by an asterisk):
Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
Matthew A. Anderson
Seussical
Imagination Stage
Brooks Ashmanskas
1776
Ford's Theatre
James Gardiner
Little Shop of Horrors
Olney Theatre Center
Doug Kreeger
Brother Russia
Signature Theatre
Paul Scanlan
Spring Awakening
The Keegan Theatre
*Bobby Smith
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
MetroStage
Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical
Mary Bridget Davies
One Night with Janis Joplin
Arena Stage
*Natascia Diaz
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
MetroStage
Nova Y. Payton
Dreamgirls
Signature Theatre
Dayna Quincy
The Color Purple
Toby's Dinner Theatre
Erin Weaver
Xanadu
Signature Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
Christopher Bloch
1776
Ford's Theatre
Michael John Casey
Rapunzel
Imagination Stage
Robert Cuccioli
1776
Ford's Theatre
David Little
The Color Purple
Toby's Dinner Theatre
*Cedric Neal
Dreamgirls
Signature Theatre
Nicholas Rodriguez
My Fair Lady
Arena Stage
Bobby Smith
Little Shop of Horrors
Olney Theatre Center
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical
*Priscilla Cuellar
Legally Blonde the Musical
Toby's Dinner Theatre
*Theresa Cunningham
The Color Purple
Toby's Dinner Theatre
Sherri L. Edelen
Xanadu
Signature Theatre
Crystal Joy
Dreamgirls
Signature Theatre
Donna Migliaccio
The Music Man
Arena Stage
Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
MetroStage
Josephine Tonight
MetroStage
*The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
Imagination Stage
Puerto Rico...
GALA Hispanic Theatre
Rapunzel
Imagination Stage
Spring Awakening
The Keegan Theatre
The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play
Teagle F. Bougere
Invisible Man
The Studio Theatre
*Steven Epp
The Servant of Two Masters
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Larry Marshall
Pullman Porter Blues
Arena Stage
Cody Nickell
The Taming of the Shrew
Folger Theatre
Jos_ Joaqu P_rez
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play
Rena Cherry Brown
August: Osage County
The Keegan Theatre
Helen Carey
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Arena Stage
*Francesca Faridany
Strange Interlude
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Lee Mikeska Gardner
Side Man
1st Stage
Kathryn Kelley
The Belle of Amherst
The Bay Theatre Company
Kate Eastwood Norris
The Taming of the Shrew
Folger Theatre
Kathleen Turner
Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins
Arena Stage
Holly Twyford
Dirt
The Studio Theatre
The James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play
Adam Green A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Adi Hanash
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
*Matthew McGee
Taking Steps
Constellation Theatre Company
Danny Scheie
The Taming of the Shrew
Folger Theatre
Bradley Foster Smith
Suite Surrender
1st Stage
Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production
Emily Behny
Disney's Beauty and the Beast
The National Theatre
*Felicia Boswell
Memphis
The Kennedy Center
Mara Davi
Irving Berlin's White Christmas
The Kennedy Center
Ashley Blair Fitzgerald
Come Fly Away
The Kennedy Center
Helen Russell
Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie
Theater J
Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production
Robert Jack
Black Watch
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Julie Johnson
Memphis
The Kennedy Center
Tom Lawrence
Hamlet
Folger Theatre
Adam McNamara
Black Watch
Shakespeare Theatre Company
*Christopher Saul
Hamlet
Folger Theatre
Chris Starkie
Black Watch
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production
Colin K. Bills
Brother Russia
Signature Theatre
Colin K. Bills
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Chuan-Chi Chan
The Servant of Two Masters
Shakespeare Theatre Company
*Mary Louise Geiger
Invisible Man
The Studio Theatre
Keith Parham
Red
Arena Stage
Justin Townsend
One Night with Janis Joplin
Arena Stage
Thom Weaver
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Director, Resident Play
Christopher Bayes
The Servant of Two Masters
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Robert Falls
Red
Arena Stage
Kirsten Kelly
Big Love
The Hub Theatre
*Christopher McElroen
Invisible Man
The Studio Theatre
Ethan McSweeny
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Aaron Posner
The Taming of the Shrew
Folger Theatre
John Vreeke
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Michael Kahn
The Government Inspector
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Kathryn Chase Bryer
Rapunzel
Imagination Stage
Matthew Gardiner
Dreamgirls
Signature Theatre
Toby Orenstein
The Color Purple
Toby's Dinner Theatre
Lawrence B. Munsey
The Color Purple
Toby's Dinner Theatre
Mark A. Rhea
Spring Awakening
The Keegan Theatre
Susan Marie Rhea
Spring Awakening
The Keegan Theatre
*Serge Seiden
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
MetroStage
Janet Stanford
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
Imagination Stage
Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production
Christopher Baine
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Cliff Eberhardt, Original Music; and Christopher Baine, Sound Design
The Taming of the Shrew
Folger Theatre
*Matthew Nielson
The Illusion
Forum Theatre
David Remedios
Invisible Man
The Studio Theatre
Brendon Vierra
Hum
Theater Alliance
The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
Matthew R. Wilson, adaptor; based on the novel by Charles Dickens
A Commedia Christmas Carol
Faction of Fools Theatre Company
Jason Gray Platt
Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus
Round House Theatre
Bryony Lavery
Dirt
The Studio Theatre
Kathryn Chase Bryer, David Palmer, Janet Stanford, Septime Webre, concept by; libretto & lyrics by Janet Stanford with additional lyrics by Bari Biern; music by Matthew Pierce
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
Imagination Stage
Cheryl L. West
Pullman Porter Blues
Arena Stage
*Paul Downs Colaizzo
Really Really
Signature Theatre
Renee Calarco
The Religion Thing
Theater J
Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
Parker Esse
The Music Man
Arena Stage
*Joe Isenberg
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Erika Chong Shuch
The Conference of the Birds
Folger Theatre
Rick Sordelet
Sucker Punch
The Studio Theatre
Anwar Thomas
The Color Purple
Toby's Dinner Theatre
Septime Webre
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
Imagination Stage
David Palmer
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
Imagination Stage
Outstanding Production, Theatre For Young Audiences
A Little House Christmas
Adventure Theatre MTC
*The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
Imagination Stage
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
The Kennedy Center
Rapunzel
Imagination Stage
The Snowy Day
Adventure Theatre
Outstanding Non-Resident Production
The Animals and Children Took to the Streets
Studio Theatre
*Black Watch
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Hamlet
Folger Theatre
Memphis
The Kennedy Center
Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie
Theater J
Outstanding Resident Play
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare Theatre Company
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Invisible Man
The Studio Theatre
Our Class
Theater J
*The Taming of the Shrew
Folger Theatre
Outstanding Resident Musical
1776
Ford's Theatre
The Color Purple
Toby's Dinner Theatre
*Dreamgirls
Signature Theatre
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
MetroStage
Spring Awakening
The Keegan Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play
*E. Faye Butler
Pullman Porter Blues
Arena Stage
Sarah Marshall
The Taming of the Shrew
Folger Theatre
Natalia Payne
Dirt
The Studio Theatre
Nancy Robinette
The Government Inspector
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Holly Twyford
The Taming of the Shrew
Folger Theatre
Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production
Michael Benz
Hamlet
Folger Theatre
Ryan Fletcher
Black Watch
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Martin Kaye
Million Dollar Quartet
The Kennedy Center
*David M. Lutken
Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie
Theater J
Christopher Sieber
La Cage Aux Folles
The Kennedy Center
Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play
August: Osage County
The Keegan Theatre
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
The Government Inspector
Shakespeare Theatre Company
*Invisible Man
The Studio Theatre
The Taming of the Shrew
Folger Theatre
Pullman Porter Blues
Arena Stage
Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production
Riccardo Hernandez
Pullman Porter Blues
Arena Stage
Troy Hourie
Invisible Man
The Studio Theatre
*Misha Kachman
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
*Todd Rosenthal
Red
Arena Stage
Lee Savage
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production
Judith Bowden
My Fair Lady
Arena Stage
Murell Horton
The Government Inspector
Shakespeare Theatre Company
*Frank Labovitz
Dreamgirls
Signature Theatre
Jennifer Moeller
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Lawrence B. Munsey
The Color Purple
Toby's Dinner Theatre
Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production
Jenny Cartney
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
MetroStage
*Jonathan Tuzman
Mr. Burns, a post-electric play
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Lawrence Goldberg
The Music Man
Arena Stage
Jon Kalbfleisch
Dreamgirls
Signature Theatre
Jake Null
Spring Awakening
The Keegan Theatre
Christopher Youstra
The Color Purple
Toby's Dinner Theatre
Jmichael
Pullman Porter Blues
Arena Stage
