theatreWashington to Announce 2014 Helen Hayes Nominees, 1/27

theatreWashington begins its 30th Anniversary celebration with the announcement of The Helen Hayes Awards Nominees on Monday, January 27th, 2014, from the stage of the historic National Theatre where Helen Hayes herself - at the age of 5 - began her "life long love affair with the theatre".

Theatre leaders from across the region will be in attendance to hear the names of the artists and productions who will be nominated for Helen Hayes Awards in 27 categories for outstanding achievement from 198 eligible productions produced during the 2013 calendar year Artists and audiences, both local and international, will share the excitement via a live webcast, hosted by theatreWashington Board Member Glen Howard.

Nominations are for productions and artists eligible in the 2013 calendar year, and are the culmination of a rigorous process of adjudication and statistical analysis. This year, the nominations further celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Helen Hayes Awards and, thus, three decades of excellence in Washington area theatre. The celebration of the community's achievements culminates with this year's Helen Hayes Awards celebration, to be held on Monday, April 21.

An honor acknowledged by audiences across the United States and beyond, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates outstanding achievement in over 80 professional theatres throughout the Washington area. Named for the legendary First Lady of the American Theatre, the award recognizes artists and companies who exemplify the excellence found on Washington stages. In doing so, it brands and promotes the entire region as a destination for theatre lovers from around the globe.

The Helen Hayes Awards Nominations webcast can be seen on www.theatrewashington.org, on LiveStream.com, and on theatreWashington's Facebook page. The webcast, which begins at ­7:15pm, will include the reading of the nominations, a retrospective look at the 2013 theatre season, and interviews with notable Washington-area theatre professionals. A complete list of the 30th Anniversary Helen Hayes Awards nominees will be available at www.theatrewashington.org at 9pm on Monday, January 27.

For more information on the 30th Anniversary Helen Hayes Awards, to be celebrated on Monday, April 21st, 2014, call 202-337-4572.

The Helen Hayes Awards is just one element of theatreWashington, an organization dedicated to strengthening, representing, and supporting all segments of Washington's professional theatre community, including theatre companies, artists, staff, and diverse audiences of all ages. During three decades of support and advocacy, theatreWashington has played a vital role in the transformation of the city's cultural identity, and the resulting revitalization of the community as a whole.