theatreWashington to Announce Helen Hayes Award Nominees Next Monday

In one of the most scrutinized events of the Washington theatre season, theatreWashington will announce the nominees for the Helen Hayes Awards at 7 pm on Monday, January 25th in the Helen Hayes Gallery of Washington's historic National Theatre.

More than 100 theatre leaders, artists, and patrons are expected to be in attendance as the names of nominated artists and productions are announced. The culmination of a rigorous year-long process in which carefully vetted judges attended 202 eligible productions - including 59 world premieres - Monday's announcement lays the path for the annual Helen Hayes Awards celebration this spring, with date and location to be announced.

Recognizing the achievements of theatre artists whose work appeared within the 2015 calendar year, nominations are made in "Helen" or "Hayes" cohorts, depending on the number of Equity members involved in a production, for a total of 47 award categories. (Rules for determining cohorts and eligibility can be found at theatreWashington.org.) A complete list of the 2016 Helen Hayes Awards nominees will be posted at 9 pm on January 25th.

Recently appointed President and CEO Amy Austin commented, "This will be my first nominations event in my new role with theatreWashington. It launches what I know will be an incredibly busy, incredibly challenging, and incredibly exhilarating few months - all culminating in the excitement of the awards night itself. It's going to be a wild ride, and it's one I can't wait to take."

The Helen Hayes Awards, now in its 32nd year, recognizes outstanding achievement in more than 90 professional theatres across the Washington metropolitan area. Named for the legendary First Lady of the American Theatre, the award celebrates the artists and companies whose excellence exemplifies a standard of artistry that has made Washington a thriving, internationally recognized theatre town.

The administration and celebration of the Helen Hayes Awards is just one element of theatreWashington's mission, which is to strengthen, represent, and support all segments of Washington's professional theatre community, including theatre companies, artists, staff, and diverse audiences of all ages. With three decades of support and advocacy, theatreWashington has played a vital role in the transformation of the city's cultural identity, with the resulting revitalization of the community as a whole.