Helen Hayes Award Nominees Announced

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Photo Source: Joan Marcus
The nominees for the 28th annual Helen Hayes Awards, recognizing excellence in the Washington, D.C. theater community, were announced on Monday, February 27.

Notable nominees include Cate Blanchett, Jan Maxwell, Leah Hocking, Hugo Weaving, Tracy Letts, Amy Morton, and Paxton Whitehead, among others. The Kennedy Center's production of "Follies," which transferred to Broadway last year and will move to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles this summer, received several nominations as a resident production. The Arena Stage production of Lynn Nottage's "Ruined," the Folger Theatre production of "Cyrano," and the Studio Theatre 2ndStage production of "Pop!" are also nominated for multiple awards for resident productions. Deb Margolin's "Imagining Madoff," about investment schemer Bernard Madoff, is among seven nominees for the Charles MacArthur Award for outstanding new play or musical.

Faction of Fools, a troupe devoted to commedia dell'arte in residence at Gallaudet University, is the recipient of the 2012 John Aniello Award for outstanding emerging theater company.

The awards are administered by TheatreWashington to honor theater work seen in 2011 in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas, including Maryland and Virginia.

The Helen Hayes Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, April 23, 2012 at the Warner Theatre and the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.theatrewashington.org.

The complete list of nominees is below:

Outstanding Director, Resident Play

David Muse, "The Habit of Art," The Studio Theatre
David Muse, "Venus in Fur," The Studio Theatre
Aaron Posner, "Cyrano," Folger Theatre
Charles Randolph-Wright, "Ruined," Arena Stage
Serge Seiden, "Charlotte's Web," Adventure Theatre
Paata Tsikurishvili, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
John Vreeke, "A Bright New Boise," Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical

Matt August, "Liberty Smith," Ford's Theatre
Keith Alan Baker, "Pop!," The Studio Theatre 2ndStage
Hunter Styles, Jennifer Harris, and Michael Baron, "A Year With Frog and Toad," Adventure Theatre
Toby Orenstein and Lawrence B. Munsey, "Chicago," Toby's Dinner Theatre
Eric Schaeffer, "Hairspray," Signature Theatre
Janet Stanford, "Dr. Dolittle," Imagination Stage

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production

Michael J. Bobbitt and Fabian Barnes, Mirandy and Brother Wind, Adventure Theatre Karma Camp and Brianne Camp, "Hairspray," Signature Theatre
Dale Anthony Girard, "Cyrano," Folger Theatre
Robb Hunter, "The Walworth Farce," The Studio Theatre
Susan Shields, "Stay," Theater of the First Amendment
Irina Tsikurishvili and Ben Cunis, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
Kate Arnold Wernick, "A Year With Frog and Toad," Adventure Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production

Jay Crowder, "Liberty Smith," Ford's Theatre
Jon Kalbfleisch, "Hairspray," Signature Theatre
James Moore, "Follies," The Kennedy Center
Christopher Youstra, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Olney Theatre Center
Christopher Youstra, "Pop!," The Studio Theatre 2ndStage

Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production

Phil Charlwood, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
Daniel Conway, "Cyrano," Folger Theatre
David Ghatan, "Voices Underwater," Rorschach Theatre
Misha Kachman, "A Bright New Boise," Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
James Noone, "The Habit of Art," The Studio Theatre
Collin Ranney, "A Year With Frog and Toad," Adventure Theatre
Lee Savage, "Much Ado About Nothing," Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production

Colin K. Bills, "A Bright New Boise," Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Michael Gilliam, "Ruined," Arena Stage
Andrew F. Griffin, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
Andrew F. Griffin, "Othello," Folger Theatre
Chris Lee, "The Hollow," Signature Theatre
Tyler Micoleau, "Much Ado About Nothing," Shakespeare Theatre Company
Thom Weaver, "Cyrano," Folger Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production

Georgi Alexi-Meskhishvili, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
Gregg Barnes, "Follies," The Kennedy Center
Esosa, "Ruined," Arena Stage
Kendra Rai, "The Green Bird," Constellation Theatre Company
Chelsey Schuller, "A Year With Frog and Toad," Adventure Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production

Chris Baine, "A Bright New Boise," Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Steven Cahill, "Much Ado About Nothing," Shakespeare Theatre Company
Irakli Kavsadze and Konstantine Lortkipanidze, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
Nicole Martin, "Voices Underwater," Rorschach Theatre
Neil McFadden , "An Almost Holy Picture," Rep Stage
Matt Rowe, "Hairspray," Signature Theatre
Tom Teasley, "The Green Bird," Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play

Mi?enka ?echová, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
Margaret Daly, "The Habit of Art," The Studio Theatre
Gabriela Fernández-Coffey, "After the Fall," Theater J
Catherine Flye, "Pride and Prejudice," Round House Theatre
Donnetta Lavinia Grays, "Ruined," Arena Stage
Jennifer Mendenhall, "Imagining Madoff," Theater J

The James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play

Ben Cunis, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
Aubrey Deeker, "The Walworth Farce," The Studio Theatre
Chris Dinolfo, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
Philip Fletcher, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
Ted van Griethuysen, "Much Ado About Nothing," Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical

Tracy Lynn Olivera, "The Sound of Music," Olney Theatre Center
Nova Y. Payton, "Hairspray," Signature Theatre
Kirstin Riegler, "A Year With Frog and Toad," Adventure Theatre
Lauren Williams, "Hairspray," Signature Theatre
Rachel Zampelli, "Pop!," The Studio Theatre 2ndStage

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical


Matthew Delorenzo, "Pop!," The Studio Theatre 2ndStage
Ricardo Frederick Evans, "Dr. Dolittle," Imagination Stage
Kevin McAllister, "Parade," Ford's Theatre and Theater J
Jobari Parker-Namdar, "A Year With Frog and Toad," Adventure Theatre
Bobby Smith, "The Sound of Music," Olney Theatre Center
Vishal Vaidya, "A Year With Frog and Toad," Adventure Theatre
Dan Van Why, "National Pastime," The Keegan Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production

Maximilien A. Baud, "Billy Elliot the Musical," The Kennedy Center
Ben Cook, "Billy Elliot the Musical," The Kennedy Center
Hayley McElhinney, "Uncle Vanya," The Kennedy Center
Hugo Weaving, "Uncle Vanya," The Kennedy Center
Patrick Wetzel, "Billy Elliot the Musical," The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play

Rena Cherry Brown, "Wit," The Bay Theatre Company, Inc.
Jenny Jules, "Ruined," Arena Stage
Ira Koval, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
Mona Martínez, "¡Ay, Carmela!," GALA Hispanic Theatre
Lizan Mitchell, "The Trip To Bountiful," Round House Theatre
Erica Sullivan, "Venus in Fur," The Studio Theatre
Irina Tsikurishvili, "King Lear," Synetic Theater

The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play

Mitchell Hébert, "After the Fall," Theater J
Irakli Kavsadze, "King Lear," Synetic Theater
James McMenamin, Edward Albee's "At Home at the Zoo," Arena Stage
Michael Russotto, "A Bright New Boise," Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Ted van Griethuysen, "The Habit of Art," The Studio Theatre
Paxton Whitehead, "The Habit of Art," The Studio Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical

Nancy Anderson, Side By Side By Sondheim, Signature Theatre
Jessica Lauren Ball, The Sound of Music, Olney Theatre Center
Carolyn Cole, "Hairspray," Signature Theatre
Kelly Karbacz, "Liberty Smith," Ford's Theatre
Jan Maxwell, "Follies," The Kennedy Center
Bernardine Mitchell, "His Eye is On the Sparrow," MetroStage

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical

Rob McQuay, "Dr. Dolittle," Imagination Stage
Euan Morton, "Parade," Ford's Theatre and Theater J
Geoff Packard, "Liberty Smith," Ford's Theatre
Tom Story, "Pop!, "The Studio Theatre 2ndStage
Alan Wiggins, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production

Cate Blanchett, "Uncle Vanya," The Kennedy Center
Leah Hocking, "Billy Elliot the Musical," The Kennedy Center
Rozina Kambos, "Return to Haifa," Theater J
Melanie Marshall, "Fela!," Shakespeare Theatre Company
Amy Morton, Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," Arena Stage

Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production

Lex Ishimoto, "Billy Elliot the Musical," The Kennedy Center
Tracy Letts, Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," Arena Stage
J. Mark McVey, "Les Misérables," The Kennedy Center
Sahr Ngaujah, "Fela!," Shakespeare Theatre Company
Richard Roxburgh, "Uncle Vanya," The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play

"¡Ay, Carmela!," GALA Hispanic Theatre
"Birds of a Feather," The Hub Theatre
"Cyrano," Folger Theatre
"The Habit of Art," The Studio Theatre
"King Lear," Synetic Theater
"Oedipus El Rey," Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
"The Walworth Farce," The Studio Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical

"A Year With Frog and Toad," Adventure Theatre
"Hairspray," Signature Theatre
"Liberty Smith," Ford's Theatre
"Pop!," The Studio Theatre 2ndStage
"The Sound of Music," Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Non-Resident Production

"The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs," Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
"Billy Elliot the Musical," The Kennedy Center
Edward Albee's "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," Arena Stage
"Equivocation," Arena Stage
"Uncle Vanya," The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences

"A Year With Frog and Toad," Adventure Theatre
"Aladdin's Luck," Imagination Stage
"Charlotte's Web," Adventure Theatre
"Dr. Dolittle," Imagination Stage
"Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse," Adventure Theatre

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical

"Beertown," devised by dog & pony dc, dog & pony dc
"Birds of a Feather," by Marc Acito, The Hub Theatre
"Cyrano," by Edmond Rostand, translated by Michael Hollinger, adapted by Michael Hollinger and Aaron Posner, Folger Theatre
"The Heir Apparent," adapted by David Ives from the comedy by Jean-François Regnard, Shakespeare Theatre Company
"Imagining Madoff," by Deb Margolin, Theater J
"Lungs," by Duncan Macmillan, The Studio Theatre
"Wonderful Life," adapted by Helen Pafumi and Jason Lott, The Hub Theatre

Outstanding Resident Musical

"Follies," The Kennedy Center
"Hairspray," Signature Theatre
"Liberty Smith," Ford's Theatre
"Pop!," The Studio Theatre 2ndStage
"Side By Side By Sondheim," Signature Theatre
"The Sound of Music," Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Resident Play

"A Bright New Boise," Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
"Cyrano," Folger Theatre
"King Lear," Synetic Theater
"Ruined," Arena Stage
"Venus in Fur," The Studio Theatre