2015 Helen Hayes Awards Set for Next Month at the Historic Lincoln Theatre

theatreWashington announced today that the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards will be held on Monday, April 6, 2015, at two of Washington's most renowned theatrical venues: the historic Lincoln Theatre will host the Awards ceremony and the Awards After-Party will be held a few blocks away at the legendary Howard Theatre.

The annual Helen Hayes Awards are Washington theatre's highest honors and bring together theatre makers and theatre lovers to celebrate excellence on Washington professional stages. This year - the 31st Awards presentation -- marks three important developments in the Awards' history:

• It is the debut of the new and expanded Helen Hayes Awards Adjudication with Awards given for outstanding performances, designs, direction, and productions in 47 categories produced and presented from January 1 - December 31, 2014.
• The Awards ceremony will be presented at the glorious Lincoln Theatre - made possible by generous sponsorship from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and Lincoln Theatre operator I.M.P
• The Awards After-Party will be hosted just six blocks away at the great Howard Theatre.

"This year's Helen Hayes Awards continue a long tradition of promoting Washington theatre while reflecting its ever-changing landscape and breadth," said Kurt Crowl, Chairman of theatreWashington's Board of Directors. "This evolution not only inspires theatreWashington every day, but also provides the foundation for how the Awards are presented."

For 31 years, theatreWashington has remained committed both to providing theatre professionals an affordable celebration of their collective efforts and to offering theatre audiences an opportunity to applaud the work they admire and appreciate. This year's Awards event will be hosted in two historic theatrical venues, made possible by two valued partnerships, and will give center stage to the nominated artists and their outstanding achievements in Washington professional theatre.

Both the Lincoln Theatre and Howard Theatre are rich in history and played important roles in the evolution of the Washington theatre community. The vibrancy of the U street corridor is testament to how theatre builds a vital community.

The Lincoln Theatre, built in 1922, was a renowned cultural center on U Street. Washington natives Duke Ellington and Pearl Bailey were joined by nationally acclaimed artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Nat King Cole, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and Sarah Vaughn, who performed regularly on the storied stage. In June 2013, the District of Columbia selected I.M.P to operate, promote and book the theatre. In just the last 18 months, I.M.P. has presented more than 150 shows at the legendary theatre.

The Howard Theatre opened in 1910 at the corner of 7th and T Streets NW and provided a place where color barriers blurred and music unified. It was regarded as "Theatre for The People," as both dignitaries and everyday citizens gathered to see vaudeville, live theatre, talent shows, and two performing companies. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, but forced to close in 1980. After a $29 million renovation and a 32-year hiatus, The Howard Theatre re-opened in 2012 as a hub of creativity and artistic expression.

In addition to awards in 47 categories for artistic excellence, Flying V will receive the 2015 John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company. Named in memory of a devoted champion of promising talent, The John Aniello Award recognizes emerging theatre companies that have produced both a groundbreaking and compelling body of work. Previous recipients of The John Aniello Award include Pointless Theatre, Dizzy Miss Lizzy's Roadside Revue, Faction of Fools Theatre Company, 1st Stage, Constellation Theatre Company, Factory 449: a theatre collective, No Rules Theatre Company, and Taffety Punk.

theatreWashington is extraordinarily grateful to the sponsors that continue to make The Helen Hayes Awards possible all year long: Ackerman Brown, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Vornado/Charles E. Smith, and The Washington Post.

The Helen Hayes Awards is a program of theatreWashington, the only organization dedicated solely to working with the region's dynamic theatre community to create and invigorate audiences, strengthen the region's theatrical workforce, and celebrate excellence on our stages to build an even more vibrant community for all.

For more information and tickets to the Awards visit theatreWashington.org or call 202-337-4572.

About theatreWashington - Building on nearly three decades of service as The Helen Hayes Awards, theatreWashington is the unified voice of Washington area theatre and is the only organization dedicated solely to promoting, representing and supporting all segments of Washington's professional theatre community - theatres, artists, company members and diverse audiences of all ages. The Helen Hayes Awards is a signature program of theatreWashington.

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