Ripley, Diaz, Rivera & NEXT TO NORMAL Among 25th Annual Helen Hayes Award Winners

The 25th Annual Helen Hayes Awards were presented last night as one of our nation's most prestigious cultural events. Nearly 2,000 theatre artists and supporters filled the majestic
Warner Theatre in downtown DC for an evening of dazzling entertainment replete with humor,
celebration, and great tributes to Washington area professional theatre.

The evening highlighted the 2008 collective endeavors of 69 theatres plus theatre festivals which
produced 428 productions, 169 readings, and 154 festival productions totaling 8,723 performances
seen by a total of 1,997,071 audience members, the highest Washington theatre attendance number in four years. The abundance of works produced in this region stands as testament to Washington's prominence as a theatre community, second to New York City in its breadth and depth of offerings.

Stars of Washington and national stages joined together to present awards in 25 categories for artistic achievement. It was a night of many surprises with ties in five categories. Click

The Helen Hayes Awards is among the area's chief community builders, helping to strengthen the D.C. region by building one of its most powerful assets: the professional theatre. While the organization takes center stage on one night each year to celebrate Washington area theatre, its work behind the scenes to build audiences, honor excellence, and educate youth continues for 365 nights - and days. The full winners list is found below.

Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Play or Musical
Chris Lee
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Signature Theatre

Outstanding Set Design, Resident Play or Musical
Daniel Conway
Stunning
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Play or Musical
Matthew Nielson
1984
Catalyst Theater Company

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Play or Musical
Irina Tsikurishvili
Carmen
Synetic Theater

Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Play or Musical
Marianne Custer
Alice
Round House Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Play or Musical
Jon Kalbfleisch
Les Misérables
Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production
Aaron Tveit
Next to Normal
Arena Stage

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
Christopher Bloch
Les Misérables
Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical
Sherri L. Edelen
Les Misérables
Signature Theatre
Angelina Kelly
Ace: The New Musical Adventure
Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play
Floyd King
Twelfth Night
Shakespeare Theatre Company in association with McCarter
Theatre Center

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play
Helen Carey
Major Barbara
Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Eric Schaeffer
Les Misérables
Signature Theatre
Outstanding Director, Resident Play

Paata Tsikurishvili
Romeo and Juliet
Synetic Theater

Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production
Stacy Keach
Frost/Nixon
The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production
Alice Ripley
Next to Normal

Arena Stage
Nilaja Sun
No Child ...
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
David Margulies
The Happy Time
Signature Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical
Chita Rivera
The Visit
Signature Theatre

Natascia Diaz
ROOMS a Rock Romance
MetroStage and Geva Theatre Center in association with Van Hill
Entertainment, The Musical Machine, Jeffrey M. Raff, and Small
Pond Enterprises

The The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble,
Resident Musical
Les Misérables
Signature Theatre

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble,
Resident Play
Romeo and Juliet
Synetic Theater

Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident
Play
Ted Van Griethuysen
Major Barbara
Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play
Lisa Joyce
Blackbird
The Studio Theatre
Deidra LaWan Starnes
Intimate Apparel
African Continuum Theatre Company

Outstanding Non-Resident Production
Next to Normal
Arena Stage

Outstanding Resident Musical
Les Misérables
Signature Theatre

Outstanding Resident Play
Blackbird
The Studio Theatre
Twelfth Night
Shakespeare Theatre Company in association with McCarter
Theatre Center

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or
Musical
Honey Brown Eyes
Stefanie Zadravec
Theater J

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