Helen Hayes Awards Will Require Theatres to Pay Artists for Future Eligibility

According to the Washington Post, the Helen Hayes Awards (the major theatrical awards for the Washington D.C. area) are in the midst of some big changes. In 2013, Theatre Washington announced that the awards would be split into two categories, fitting both Equity and non-Equity productions. Now, theatres will have to pay their artists a minimum wage in order to be considered in either category.

Actors will have to paid $12.50/day or $75/week for rehearsals and $18.75/performance or $150/week for performances. Directors will have to earn a minimum of $750/production; $500/production for designers; and 6% gross to playwrights.

Theatre Washington CEO Linda Levy commented: "The change is really because the definition of what is professional has changed so much over the last 30 years. It's about whether or not the theater company or a particular production is professional defined by whether or not they compensate their artists at an industry-appropriate level."

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One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, since 1985 the Helen Hayes Awards has celebrated outstanding achievement in over 90 professional theatres throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Named for the legendary First Lady of the American Theatre, nominated artists and companies exemplify the excellence found on all Washington stages, and therefore propel Washington as a nationally and internationally recognized theatre town.

The Helen Hayes Awards honors and celebrates that work and, by so doing, brings national attention to our region's greatest cultural resource. This past year, artistic achievement was awarded in 26 categories as well as two special awards: The Helen Hayes Tribute for an extraordinary contribution to the American theatre and The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community. Every year, artistic, corporate, philanthropic, social, and political leaders join together to honor these collective efforts which have established Washington as the second most prolific theatre town in the country.

On Monday, April 21, 2014, over 1,800 members of Washington theatre-from audiences to supporters to theatre professionals and artists-came together to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2013 season.