Thursday, May 22, 2025
On May 19, more than 1,600 theater-makers flocked to The Anthem to attend Theatre Washington’s 41st annual Helen Hayes Awards—the premiere awards ceremony recognizing theatrical excellence in the greater Washington D.C. area. Hosted by Mike Milan and Felicia Curry, the ceremony bestowed honors upon theatrical artists across 41 categories.
Signature Theatre was the most highly decorated company of the night, taking home six awards for productions such as ‘Private Jones’ and ‘Soft Power.’ 1st Stage and The Keegan Theatre followed close behind with four awards each.
Robert Hooks received the The Helen Hayes Tribute Award this year. Hooks is a critically-acclaimed actor, producer and political activist who, in addition to performing on Broadway and the silver screen alike, has opened three Black theatre companies during his career: New York’s Group Theatre Workshop, the Negro Ensemble Company, and the DC Black Repertory Company. He has been inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame and has also been previously honored with an NAACP Image Award for Lifetime Achievement.
During the ceremony, awards are divided into two categories: Helen Awards for productions with majority non-Union casts and Hayes Awards for majority Union casts. Additionally, as of three years ago, all performance categories are gender inclusive—ten or eleven nominees compete for two awards.
Helen Awards:
Outstanding Director of a Play: Dylan Arredondo, ‘Astro Boy and the God of Comics’ from Flying V
Outstanding Director of a Musical: Allison Arkell Stockman, ‘Desperate Measures’ from Constellation Theatre Company
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical: Sarah Chapin, ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ from The Keegan Theatre; Kyle Dalsimer ‘American Psycho’ from Monumental Theatre Company
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play: Kecia Deroly, ‘Zora’ from The Essential Theatre; Michael Russotto, ‘The Nance’ from 1st Stage
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical: Leela Avilés-Dawson, ‘A Chorus Line’ fromToby’s Dinner Theatre; Nina-Sophia Pacheco, ‘Desperate Measures’ from Constellation Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play: Kimberly Gilbert, ‘Coriolanus’ from Avant Bard & Longacre Lea; Lolita Marie, ‘Cracking Zeus’ from Spooky Action Theater
Outstanding Production – Musical: ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ from The Keegan Theatre
Outstanding Production – Play: ‘The Nance’ from 1st Stage
Hayes Awards:
Outstanding Director of a Play: Psalmayene 24, ‘Metamorphoses’ from Folger Theatre
Outstanding Director of a Musical: David Mendizábal, ‘Mexodus’ from Mosaic Theater Company & Baltimore Center Stage
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical: Grace Yoo, ‘Soft Power’ from Signature Theatre; Brian Quijada, ‘Mexodus’ from Mosaic Theater Company & Baltimore Center Stage
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play: Yao Dogbe, ‘Topdog/Underdog’ from Round House Theatre; Indira Varma, ‘MACBETH’ from Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical: Erin Weaver, ‘Private Jones’ from Signature Theatre; Denée Benton, ‘tick, tick… BOOM!’ from The Kennedy Center
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play: Renea S. Brown, ‘Sojourners’ from Round House Theatre; Ben Turner, ‘MACBETH’ from Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Production – Musical: ‘Mexodus’ from Mosaic Theater Company & Baltimore Center Stage
Outstanding Production – Play: ‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’ from Arena Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, & Chicago Shakespeare Theater
A full list of winners can be found at theatrewashington.org.