29th Helen Hayes Awards Nominees Announced

Helen Hayes Rebecca Sheir Bob Magadan

Last night Theatre Washington announced the nominees for the 29th annual Helen Hayes Awards. The DC Theatre community watched from both the Helen Hayes Gallery at the National Theatre as well as online, a first for the organization. The webcast was beautifully hosted by two darling voices of DC radio: WAMU’s Rebecca Sheir and WTOP’s Bob Madigan.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company led the board with 19 total nominations. Among the nominees for Outstanding Resident Play included Shakespeare Theatre Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company’s The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity; Studio Theatre’s Invisible Man; Theater J’s Our Class; and Folger Theatre’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Ford’s Theatre’s 1776; Toby’s Dinner Theatre’s The Color Purple; Signature Theatre’s Dreamgirls; MetroStage’s Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris; and Keegan Theatre’s Spring Awakening rounded out the slate in the Outstanding Resident Musical category.

Dizzy Miss Lizzies Roadside Revue will also be recognized with the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company.

Looking at the list, the most notable snub this year is Synetic who earned 15 nominations last year and did not get a single one this year. On Twitter the group remarked that it was a, “Disappointing night.” Woolly’s Chad Deity and Folger’s Taming of the Shrew are both the most nominated show with nine, but did anybody see the show with the second most nominations: The Color Purple at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, MD? MetroStage in Alexandria should also be thrilled this morning after earning seven nods.

There’s usually some star power in the non-resident production nominations but there isn’t much this year. The most well-known name among the nominees is Kathleen Turner for her performance in Arena’s Red Hot Patriot. Will she show up to accept a possible award in April?

The full list can be found below, the winners will be announced on Monday April 8th, 2013 at The Warner Theatre.

2013 Helen Hayes Nominees

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 & David Palmer, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (Imagination Stage)

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 Director, Resident Musical

Kathryn Chase Bryer, Rapunzel (Imagination Stage)

Matthew Gardiner, Dreamgirls (Signature Theatre)

Toby Orenstein & Lawrence B. Munsey, The Color Purple (Toby’s Dinner Theatre)

Mark A. Rhea & Susan Marie Rhea, Spring Awakening (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 Director, Resident Play

Christopher Bayes, The Servant of Two Masters (Shakespeare Theatre Company)

Robert Falls, Red (Arena Stage)

Kirsten Kelly, Big Love (Hub Theatre)

Christopher McElroen, Invisible Man (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 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 (Keegan Theatre)

Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play

August: Osage County (Keegan Theatre)

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company)

The Government Inspector (Shakespeare Theatre Company)

Invisible Man (Studio Theatre)

The Taming of the Shrew (Folger Theatre)

Pullman Porter Blues (Arena Stage)

Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production

Michael Benz, Hamlet (Folger Theatre)

Ryan Fletcher, Black Watch (Shakespeare Theatre Company)

Martin Kaye, Million Dollar Quartet (Kennedy Center)

David M. Lutken, Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie (Theater J)

Christopher Sieber, La Cage Aux Folles (Kennedy Center)

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 (Keegan Theatre)

Bobby Smith, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (MetroStage)

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production

Emily Behny, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (National Theatre)

Felicia Boswell, Memphis (Kennedy Center)

Mara Davi, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Kennedy Center)

Ashley Blair, Fitzgerald Come Fly Away(Kennedy Center)

Helen Russell, Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie (Theater J)

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 Lead Actress, Resident Play

Rena Cherry Brown, August: Osage County (Keegan Theatre)

Helen Carey, Long Day (Arena Stage)

Francesca Faridany, Strange Interlude (Shakespeare Theatre Company)

Lee Mikeska Gardner, Side Man (1st Stage)

Kathryn Kelley, The Belle of Amherst (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 (Studio Theatre)

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 (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 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 (Keegan Theatre)

Christopher Youstra, The Color Purple (Toby’s Dinner Theatre)

Jmichael, Pullman Porter Blues (Arena Stage)

Outstanding Non-Resident Production

The Animals and Children Took to the Streets (Studio Theatre)

Black Watch (Shakespeare Theatre Company)

Hamlet (Folger Theatre)

Memphis (Kennedy Center)

Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie (Theater J)

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 (Kennedy Center)

Rapunzel (Imagination Stage)

The Snowy Day (Adventure 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 (Keegan Theatre)

Outstanding Resident Play

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare Theatre Company)

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company)

Invisible Man (Studio Theatre)

Our Class (Theater J)

The Taming of the Shrew (Folger Theatre)

Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production

Riccardo Hernandez, Pullman Porter Blues (Arena Stage)

Troy Hourie, Invisible Man (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 Sound Design, Resident Production

Christopher Baine, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company)

Cliff Eberhardt and Christopher Baine, The Taming of the Shrew (Folger Theatre)

Matthew Nielson, The Illusion (Forum Theatre)

David Remedios, Invisible Man (Studio Theatre)

Brendon Vierra, Hum (Theater Alliance)

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 Supporting Actress, Resident Play

E. Faye Butler, Pullman Porter Blues (Arena Stage)

Sarah Marshall, The Taming of the Shrew (Folger Theatre)

Natalia Payne, Dirt (Studio Theatre)

Nancy Robinette, The Government Inspector (Shakespeare Theatre Company)

Holly Twyford, The Taming of the Shrew (Folger Theatre)

Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production

Robert Jack,  Black Watch (Shakespeare Theatre Company)

Julie Johnson, Memphis (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)

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical

Matthew R. Wilson, A Commedia Christmas Carol (Faction of Fools)

Jason Gray Platt, Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus (Round House Theatre)

Bryony Lavery, Dirt (Studio Theatre)

Kathryn Chase Bryer, David Palmer, Janet Stanford, Septime Webre, 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)

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)

The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play

Teagle F. Bougere, Invisible Man (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)

Helen Hayes Nominees By The Numbers

Nominations by Theatre

Shakespeare Theatre Company: 19

Arena Stage: 18

Folger Theatre: 14

Signature Theatre: 12

Studio Theatre: 12

Imagination Stage:10

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: 10

Toby’s Dinner Theatre: 9

Kennedy Center: 8

MetroStage: 7

Keegan Theatre: 7

Theater J: 5

Ford’s Theatre: 4

1st Stage: 2

Olney Theatre Center: 2

Adventure Theatre MTC: 1

Bay Theatre Company: 1

National Theatre: 1

Adventure Theatre: 1

Forum Theatre: 1

Theater Alliance: 1

GALA Hispanic Theatre: 1

Constellation Theatre Company: 1

Hub Theatre: 1

Round House Theatre: 1

Faction of Fools: 1

Nominations by Show

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity: 9

The Taming of the Shrew: 9

The Color Purple: 8

Invisible Man: 7

Dreamgirls: 7

Pullman Porter Blues: 6

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris: 6

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: 5

The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe: 5

Spring Awakening: 5

Black Watch: 5

The Government Inspector: 4

Rapunzel: 4

Hamlet: 4

1776: 4

The Servant of Two Masters: 3

Dirt: 3

The Music Man: 3

Red: 3

Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie: 3

Memphis: 3

August: Osage County: 2

Brother Russia: 2

Little Shop of Horrors: 2

Xanadu: 2

My Fair Lady: 2

One Night with Janis Joplin: 2

The Animals and Children Took to the Streets: 1

The Merry Wives of Windsor: 1

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: 1

Hum: 1

Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play: 1

Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus: 1

Legally Blonde the Musical: 1

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas: 1

The Illusion: 1

Big Love: 1

Million Dollar Quartet: 1

Really Really: 1

Fitzgerald Come Fly Away: 1

Josephine Tonight: 1

The Belle of Amherst: 1

Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins: 1

The Conference of the Birds: 1

Seussical: 1

Long Day: 1

Side Man: 1

A Commedia Christmas Carol: 1

La Cage Aux Folles: 1

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg: 1

Strange Interlude: 1

The Religion Thing: 1

Sucker Punch: 1

The Snowy Day: 1

Suite Surrender: 1

A Little House Christmas: 1

Taking Steps: 1

Our Class: 1

Puerto Rico… :1

Patrick has been blogging since before it was called blogging. At We Love DC Patrick covers local Theatre, and whatever catches his eye. Patrick’s blog stories, rants, and opinions have been featured in The Washington City Paper, Washington Post Express, CNN, Newschannel 8 Washington, and NBC Washington. See why Patrick loves DC.

You can e-mail him at ppho [at] welovedc.com

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