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"In the Heights" at GALA Hispanic Theatre.

‘In the Heights’ Tops the Helen Hayes Awards

GALA Hispanic Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company took home the most awards.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: On Monday night, the D.C. theatre community gathered at the Anthem, a newly built concert venue, for the 34th annual Helen Hayes Awards. The most-lauded productions were GALA Hispanic Theatre’s Spanish-language production of In the Heights with nine awards, and Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Twelfth Night with four wins, including Outstanding Production in a Play. Two productions of In the Heights, GALA’s and a coproduction with Olney Theatre Center and Round House Theatre, took home the two prizes for Outstanding Production in a Musical.

Administered by theatreWashington, the awards recognize professional productions and performances presented in the District throughout the 2017 calendar year. This year, 258 nominees were selected from 64 theatres, and 48 awards were doled out. Each of the categories has two tracks: “Helen” and “Hayes,” depending on the number of Actors’ Equity members involved in a production.

Michael J. Bobbitt and Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan co-hosted the event, and Monty Hoffman served as the honorary chairman for the awards.

The Helen Hayes Tribute was given to Nancy Robinette, a mainstay performer in the D.C. theatre community who has won 5 Helen Hayes Awards and received 18 nominations throughout her career. Monumental Theatre Company was awarded the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company.

The full list of winners are below:

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical – Hayes
Parker Esse, The Pajama Game, Arena Stage
Denis Jones, Crazy for You, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical – Helen
Luis Salgado, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Choreography in a Play – Hayes
Robb Hunter, HIR, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Choreography in a Play – Helen
Kelly Maxner and Mollye Maxner, Still Life with Rocket,Theater Alliance

Outstanding Musical Direction – Hayes
Jon Kalbfleisch, Caroline, Or Change, Round House Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction – Helen
Walter “Bobby” McCoy, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design – Hayes
Kendra Rai, Or, Round House Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design – Helen
Robert Croghan, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design – Hayes
Jason Lyons (Lighting Designer) and Zachary G. Borovay (Projection Designer), Jesus Christ Superstar, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design – Helen
Christopher Annas-Lee, In the Heights,GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Set Design – Hayes
Lee Savage, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Set Design – Helen
Debra Kim Sivigny, Forgotten Kingdoms, Rorschach Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design – Hayes
Palmer Hefferan, Baby Screams Miracle, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Sound Design – Helen
Matthew M. Nielson, Mnemonic, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Direction in a Musical – Hayes
Kathryn Chase Bryer, Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, Imagination Stage

Outstanding Direction in a Musical – Helen
Luis Salgado, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Direction in a Play – Hayes
Ethan McSweeny, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction in a Play – Helen
Rick Hammerly, Lela & Co, Factory 449

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical – Hayes
Ragtime, Ford’s Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical – Helen
In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play – Hayes
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Ford’s Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play – Helen
Peter and the Starcatcher, Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Performer – Visiting Production
Alessandra Baldacchino, Fun Home, The National Theatre
Abby Corrigan, Fun Home, The National Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical – Hayes
Will Gartshore, A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical – Hayes
Tracy Lynn Olivera, A Little Night Music, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical – Helen
Félix Marchany, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical – Helen
Kari Ginsburg, The Wild Party, Constellation Theatre Company

James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play – Hayes
Jim Lichtscheidl, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play – Hayes
Erin Weaver, Or, Round House Theatre

James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play – Helen
Jose Guzman, Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train, 1st Stage

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play – Helen
Susan Rome, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Theater J

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical – Hayes
Kevin McAllister, Ragtime, Ford’s Theatre
Blakely Slaybaugh, The Pajama Game, Arena Stage

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical – Hayes
Rayanne Gonzales, In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical – Helen
Michael Innocenti, Parade, The Keegan Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical – Helen
Laura Lebrón, In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play – Hayes
Ted van Griethuysen, The Father, Studio Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play – Hayes
Lizan Mitchell, A Raisin in the Sun, Arena Stage

Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play – Helen
Frank Britton, Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train, 1st Stage

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play – Helen
Felicia Curry, Lela & Co, Factory 449

Outstanding Original Play or Musical Adaptation
Karen Zacarías (Book), Deborah Wicks La Puma (Music), Ella Enchanted Adventure Theatre, MTC

Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Original New Play or Musical
Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, Hooded, Or Being Black for Dummies, Mosaic Theater Company of DC

Outstanding Production – Theatre for Young Audiences
Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, Imagination Stage

Outstanding Visiting Production
Mean Girls, The National Theatre

Outstanding Production in a Musical – Hayes
In the Heights, Olney Theatre Center & Round House Theatre

Outstanding Production in a Play – Hayes
Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Production in a Musical – Helen
In the Heights, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Production in a Play – Helen
Still Life with Rocket,Theater Alliance

Helen Hayes Tribute
Nancy Robinette

John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company
Monumental Theatre Company

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