Rob McClure, National Tours of KIMBERLY AKIMBO and SOME LIKE IT HOT Among 2026 Helen Hayes Award Nominees

The 2026 Helen Hayes Award nominations have been announced, recognizing outstanding achievement in professional theatre across the Washington, D.C. region. This year’s nominees include several artists familiar to Broadway audiences, as well as national touring productions presented at Broadway at the National. Tony Award nominee Rob McClure is nominated for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical (Hayes) for Damn Yankees at Arena Stage. Douglas Sills, known for his Broadway performance in The Scarlet Pimpernel, is recognized for Fiddler on the Roof at Signature Theatre, while Ana Villafañe, who originated the role of Gloria Estefan in On Your Feet! on Broadway, is also nominated for Damn Yankees. Hayley Podschun and Kyle Taylor Parker are nominated for Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Sawyer Smith is recognized for Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Signature Theatre. The Outstanding Non-Resident Production category includes the national tours of Kimberly Akimbo and Some Like It Hot, both presented at Broadway at the National. Performers from those productions are also nominated in the Outstanding Performer, Non-Resident Production category, including Carolee Carmello and DeQuina Moore, along with other members of the touring companies. In Outstanding Production – Musical (Hayes), nominees include Damn Yankees (Arena Stage), Fiddler on the Roof (Signature Theatre), Guys and Dolls (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Signature Theatre), Play On! (Signature Theatre), and The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical (Signature Theatre). In the Helen division, nominated productions include A Strange Loop (Visionaries of the Creative Arts & Deaf Austin Theatre), Botiquín de boleros Columbia Heights (GALA Hispanic Theatre), Evil Dead the Musical (Workhouse Arts Center), Head Over Heels (Constellation Theatre Company), and Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show (Spooky Action Theater). Outstanding Production – Play (Hayes) nominees are Bad Books (Round House Theatre), Kunene and the King (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Merry Wives (Shakespeare Theatre Company), The American Five (Ford’s Theatre), and The Inheritance: Parts One and Two (Round House Theatre). Helen nominees in the category include American Fast (Theater Alliance), Birthday Candles (1st Stage), Furlough’s Paradise (Theater Alliance), hang (1st Stage), and The Immigrant (Synetic Theater). New work is represented in the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical, with nominees including Sharyn Rothstein (Bad Books), Larissa FastHorse (Fake It Until You Make It), Lucy Eden (CIRCUS OF THE SELF: A Show About Queer Joy), Danny Paller and Myra Noveck (November 4 – a musical), Chess Jakobs (The American Five), and Matthew Capodicasa (The Scenarios). The Helen Hayes Awards recognize excellence in professional theatre in the Washington metropolitan area across performance, direction, design, and production categories in both the Hayes and Helen divisions. The awards ceremony will honor productions from the 2025–2026 season. Outstanding CHOREOGRAPHY in a Musical, Hayes Sergio Trujillo — Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Sarah Parker — Fiddler on the Roof — Signature Theatre Joshua Bergasse — Guys and Dolls — Shakespeare Theatre Company Shani Talmor — In the Heights — Signature Theatre Karla Puno Garcia — Senior Class — Olney Theatre Center Outstanding CHOREOGRAPHY in a Musical, Helen Valeria Cossu — Botiquín de boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia H…) — GALA Hispanic Theatre Maurice Johnson — Head Over Heels — Constellation Theatre Company Christen Svingos — Saturday Night Fever — Toby’s Dinner Theatre Ashleigh King & Ryan Sellers — The Lightning Thief — Adventure Theatre MTC Mark Minnick — The Music Man — Toby’s Dinner Theatre Outstanding CHOREOGRAPHY in a Play, Hayes Sierra Young — Dodi & Diana — Mosaic Theater Company Ashleigh King — Merry Wives — Shakespeare Theatre Company Siani Nicole — Red Pitch — Olney Theatre Center Casey Kaleba — Rules for Living — Round House Theatre Britta Joy Peterson — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Outstanding CHOREOGRAPHY in a Play, Helen Siani Nicole — American Fast — Theater Alliance Irina Tsikurishvili — Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus — Synetic Theater Happenstance Theater Ensemble — JUXTAPOSE | A Theatrical Shadow Box — Happenstance Theater Irina Tsikurishvili — The Immigrant — Synetic Theater James Finley — The Margriad — Avant Bard Theatre Outstanding MUSICAL DIRECTION, Hayes Adam Rothenberg — Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Jon Kalbfleisch — Fiddler on the Roof — Signature Theatre James Lowe — Guys and Dolls — Shakespeare Theatre Company Jermaine Hill — Play On! — Signature Theatre Paul Englishby — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Outstanding MUSICAL DIRECTION, Helen Walter “Bobby” McCoy — A Strange Loop — Visionaries of the Creative Arts & Deaf Austin Theatre Ross Scott Rawlings — ELF, The Musical — Toby’s Dinner Theatre Walter “Bobby” McCoy — Head Over Heels — Constellation Theatre Company Marika Countouris — Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show — Spooky Action Theater Paata & Irina Tsikurishvili — The Immigrant — Synetic Theater Outstanding COSTUME Design, Hayes Ivania Stack — Fiddler on the Roof — Signature Theatre Paris Francesca & Julie Cray-Leong — Hello, Dolly! — Olney Theatre Center Ivania Stack — Merry Wives — Shakespeare Theatre Company Fabio Toblini — The Age of Innocence — Arena Stage Olivera Gajic — Twelfth Night — Folger Theatre Outstanding COSTUME Design, Helen Paris Francesca — Frosty The Snow Man — Adventure Theatre MTC Frank Labovitz — Head Over Heels — Constellation Theatre Company Paris Francesca — Not Your Mother’s Goose! — Adventure Theatre MTC Erik Teague — The Immigrant — Synetic Theater Janine Sunday & Sarah King — The Music Man — Toby’s Dinner Theatre Outstanding LIGHTING Design, Hayes Hailey LaRoe — cullud wattah — Mosaic Theater Company Philip S. Rosenberg — Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Jason Lynch — Play On! — Signature Theatre Colin K. Bills — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Amanda Zieve — The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical — Signature Theatre Outstanding LIGHTING Design, Helen Minjoo Kim — American Fast — Theater Alliance Alberto Segarra — Furlough’s Paradise — Theater Alliance Venus Gulbranson — hang — 1st Stage Dean Leong — So Late into the Night — Rorschach Theatre Lynn Joslin — The Turn of the Screw: The Musical — Creative Cauldron Outstanding SET Design, Hayes Meghan Raham — Bad Books — Round House Theatre Nadir Bey — cullud wattah — Mosaic Theater Company Lawrence E. Moten III — Merry Wives — Shakespeare Theatre Company Dan Conway — Play On! — Signature Theatre Lee Savage — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Wilson Chin — The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical — Signature Theatre Outstanding SET Design, Helen Nadir Bey — American Fast — Theater Alliance Ali Rocha — Evil Dead the Musical — Workhouse Arts Center Giorgos Tsappas — hang — 1st Stage Megan Holden — Not Your Mother’s Goose! — Adventure Theatre MTC August Henney — So Late into the Night — Rorschach Theatre Outstanding SOUND Design, Hayes Walter Trarbach — Damn Yankees — Arena Stage André Pluess — Fremont Ave. — Arena Stage Andrew Harper — Guys and Dolls — Shakespeare Theatre Company Eric Norris — Hedwig and the Angry Inch — Signature Theatre Daniela Hart & Uptown Works — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Outstanding SOUND Design, Helen Brandon Cook & Sayf Turkomani — American Fast — Theater Alliance Brandon Cook — Botiquín de boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia H…) — GALA Hispanic Theatre Justin Schmitz — hang — 1st Stage Kenny Neal — Not Your Mother’s Goose! — Adventure Theatre MTC Koki Lortkipanidze & Irakli Kavsadze — The Immigrant — Synetic Theater Outstanding MEDIA/PROJECTION Design, Hayes Patrick W. Lord — Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies and Yogurt (with Live & Active Cultures!) — Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Mona Kasra — Andy Warhol in Iran — Mosaic Theater Company Peter Nigrini — Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Zavier Augustus Lee Taylor — Sleepova — Olney Theatre Center Mona Kasra — The American Five — Ford’s Theatre Outstanding MEDIA/PROJECTION Design, Helen Hailey LaRoe — American Fast — Theater Alliance Mark Costello — Fair Play — 1st Stage Luis Garcia — Furlough’s Paradise — Theater Alliance Luis Garcia — Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show — Spooky Action Theater Julian Kelley — Woman on Fire — Creative Cauldron Outstanding Performer, Non-Resident Production Tavis Kordell — Some Like It Hot — Broadway at the National Miguel Gil — Kimberly Akimbo — Broadway at the National DeQuina Moore — Some Like It Hot — Broadway at the National Edward Juvier — Some Like It Hot — Broadway at the National Carolee Carmello — Kimberly Akimbo — Broadway at the National Emily Koch — Kimberly Akimbo — Broadway at the National Outstanding SUPPORTING Performer in a Musical, Hayes Jordan Donica — Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Bryonha Marie — Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Michael Perrie, Jr. — Hello, Dolly! — Olney Theatre Center Rayanne Gonzales — In the Heights — Signature Theatre Awa Sal Secka — Play On! — Signature Theatre Kanysha Williams — Play On! — Signature Theatre Kanysha Williams — Sister Act — Ford’s Theatre George Salazar — The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical — Signature Theatre George Abud — The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical — Signature Theatre Allison Blackwell — Waitress — Olney Theatre Center Outstanding SUPPORTING Performer in a Musical, Helen Damien DeShaun Smith — A Strange Loop — Visionaries of the Creative Arts & Deaf Austin Theatre Rachael Small — Botiquín de boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia H…) — GALA Hispanic Theatre Facundo Agustín — Botiquín de boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia H…) — GALA Hispanic Theatre Luis Obed — Botiquín de boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia H…) — GALA Hispanic Theatre Ryan Burke — Falsettos — The Keegan Theatre Nico Ochoa — Head Over Heels — Constellation Theatre Company Sentell Harper — Jesus Christ Superstar — Workhouse Arts Center Chris Anderson — Jesus Christ Superstar — Workhouse Arts Center Jeremy Allen Crawford — Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show — Spooky Action Theater Kadejah One — Saturday Night Fever — Toby’s Dinner Theatre Outstanding SUPPORTING Performer in a Play, Hayes Anji White — Paradise Blue — Studio Theatre Aaron Bliden — The American Five — Ford’s Theatre Yao Dogbe — The American Five — Ford’s Theatre Stephen Conrad Moore — The American Five — Ford’s Theatre Adam Poss — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Robert Sella — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Robert Gant — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Nancy Robinette — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Maaike Laanstra-Corn — The Wild Duck — Shakespeare Theatre Company & Theatre for a New Audience Jade Jones — We Are Gathered — Arena Stage Outstanding SUPPORTING Performer in a Play, Helen Raghad Makhlouf — American Fast — Theater Alliance Renee Elizabeth Wilson — American Fast — Theater Alliance Jacob Yeh — Birthday Candles — 1st Stage Irene Hamilton — Not Your Mother’s Goose! — Adventure Theatre MTC Walker Vlahos — Not Your Mother’s Goose! — Adventure Theatre MTC Ryan Sellers — Not Your Mother’s Goose! — Adventure Theatre MTC Stephen Kime — The Margriad — Avant Bard Theatre James J. Johnson — The Piano Lesson — 1st Stage Shawn Naar — The Piano Lesson — 1st Stage Nadia Palacios — Woman on Fire — Creative Cauldron Outstanding LEAD Performer in a Musical, Hayes Rob McClure — Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Ana Villafañe — Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Victoria Gómez — Dory Fantasmagory — Imagination Stage Douglas Sills — Fiddler on the Roof — Signature Theatre Hayley Podschun — Guys and Dolls — Shakespeare Theatre Company Kyle Taylor Parker — Guys and Dolls — Shakespeare Theatre Company Sawyer Smith — Hedwig and the Angry Inch — Signature Theatre Nova Y. Payton — Hello, Dolly! — Olney Theatre Center Aria Kane — Sarah Silverman’s The Bedwetter – A New Musical — Arena Stage Eric William Morris — The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical — Signature Theatre Outstanding LEAD Performer in a Musical, Helen Gabriel Silva — A Strange Loop — Visionaries of the Creative Arts & Deaf Austin Theatre Fran Tapia — Botiquín de boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia H…) — GALA Hispanic Theatre Anna Malavé — Botiquín de boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia H…) — GALA Hispanic Theatre Megan Kempton — Evil Dead the Musical — Workhouse Arts Center Katie McManus — Falsettos — The Keegan Theatre Garrett Walsh — Jesus Christ Superstar — Workhouse Arts Center Caroline Graham — Lizzie The Musical — The Keegan Theatre Jordyn Taylor — Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show — Spooky Action Theater Fran Tapia — Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show — Spooky Action Theater Susan Derry — The Turn of the Screw: The Musical — Creative Cauldron Outstanding LEAD Performer in a Play, Hayes Jaysen Wright — A Case for the Existence of God — Mosaic Theater Company Kate Eastwood Norris — Bad Books — Round House Theatre Bradley Gibson — Fremont Ave. — Arena Stage Edward Gero — Kunene and the King — Shakespeare Theatre Company Kate Eastwood Norris — Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions — Studio Theatre Ro Boddie — The American Five — Ford’s Theatre David Gow — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Jordi Bertrán Ramírez — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Sarin Monae West — The Scenarios — Studio Theatre Kimberly Gilbert — What the Constitution Means to Me — Round House Theatre Sara Koviak — Your Name Means Dream — Theater J & TheaterWorks Hartford Outstanding LEAD Performer in a Play, Helen Lucy Eden — CIRCUS OF THE SELF: A Show About Queer Joy, — Spooky Action Theater James Finley — Doctor Moloch — Flying V Hillary Jones — Furlough’s Paradise — Theater Alliance Renea S. Brown — Furlough’s Paradise — Theater Alliance Drew Sharpe — Hand To God — The Keegan Theatre Lolita Marie — hang — 1st Stage Vato Tsikurishvili — The Immigrant — Synetic Theater Maryam Najafzada — The Immigrant — Synetic Theater Eli EL — The Piano Lesson — 1st Stage Deidra LaWan Starnes — The Piano Lesson — 1st Stage Outstanding DIRECTOR of a Musical, Hayes Sergio Trujillo — Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Joe Calarco — Fiddler on the Roof — Signature Theatre Francesca Zambello — Guys and Dolls — Shakespeare Theatre Company Ethan Heard — Hedwig and the Angry Inch — Signature Theatre Lili-Anne Brown — Play On! — Signature Theatre Christopher Ashley — The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical — Signature Theatre Outstanding DIRECTOR of a Musical, Helen Alexandria Wailes — A Strange Loop — Visionaries of the Creative Arts & Deaf Austin Theatre Danilo Stapula — Evil Dead the Musical — Workhouse Arts Center Allison Arkell Stockman — Head Over Heels — Constellation Theatre Company Elizabeth Dinkova — Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show — Spooky Action Theater Matt Conner — The Turn of the Screw: The Musical — Creative Cauldron Outstanding DIRECTOR of a Play, Hayes Ryan Rilette — Bad Books — Round House Theatre Rex Daugherty — Lie Low — Solas Nua Taylor Reynolds — Merry Wives — Shakespeare Theatre Company Aaron Posner — The American Five — Ford’s Theatre Tom Story — The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Outstanding DIRECTOR of a Play, Helen Reginald L. Douglas — American Fast — Theater Alliance Autumn Angelettie — Furlough’s Paradise — Theater Alliance Deidra LaWan Starnes — hang — 1st Stage Paata & Irina Tsikurishvili — The Immigrant — Synetic Theater Danielle A. Drakes — The Piano Lesson — 1st Stage Marcus Kyd — Beowulf, A Retelling — Taffety Punk Theatre Company Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical Will Power, Doug Wright, & Lynn Ahrens — The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical — Arena Stage Evgeny Shvarts, Jesse Rasmussen, & Paata Tsikurishvili — The Dragon — Spooky Action Theater Paata Tsikurishvili & Nathan Weinberg — The Immigrant — Synetic Theater Janet Stanford & Tim Guillot — The Snowman and the Snowdog — Imagination StageSharyn Rothstein — Bad Books — Round House Theatre Lucy Eden — CIRCUS OF THE SELF: A Show About Queer Joy, — Spooky Action Theater Larissa FastHorse — Fake It Until You Make It — Arena Stage Danny Paller & Myra Noveck — November 4 – a musical — Voices Festival Productions Chess Jakobs — The American Five — Ford’s Theatre Matthew Capodicasa — The Scenarios — Studio Theatre Outstanding ENSEMBLE in a Musical, Hayes Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Guys and Dolls — Shakespeare Theatre Company In the Heights — Signature Theatre Sister Act — Ford’s Theatre The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical — Signature Theatre Outstanding ENSEMBLE in a Musical, Helen A Strange Loop — Visionaries of the Creative Arts & Deaf Austin Theatre Botiquín de boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia H…) — GALA Hispanic Theatre Head Over Heels — Constellation Theatre Company Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show — Spooky Action Theater The Music Man — Toby’s Dinner Theatre Outstanding ENSEMBLE in a Play, Hayes Merry Wives — Shakespeare Theatre Company Paradise Blue — Studio Theatre The American Five — Ford’s Theatre The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Twelfth Night — Folger Theatre Outstanding ENSEMBLE in a Play, Helen Birthday Candles — 1st Stage Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus — Synetic Theater Not Your Mother’s Goose! — Adventure Theatre MTC The Immigrant — Synetic Theater The Piano Lesson — 1st Stage Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences Jennie the Cat: A Halloween Adventure — The Puppet Co. Not Your Mother’s Goose! — Adventure Theatre MTC Paper Dreams — Imagination Stage The Lightning Thief — Adventure Theatre MTC The Snowman and the Snowdog — Imagination Stage Outstanding Non-Resident Production GUAC — Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in association with The Public Theater & Change the Ref Kimberly Akimbo — Broadway at the National Some Like It Hot — Broadway at the National Outstanding Production – MUSICAL, Hayes Damn Yankees — Arena Stage Fiddler on the Roof — Signature Theatre Guys and Dolls — Shakespeare Theatre Company Hedwig and the Angry Inch — Signature Theatre Play On! — Signature Theatre The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical — Signature Theatre Outstanding Production – MUSICAL, Helen A Strange Loop — Visionaries of the Creative Arts & Deaf Austin Theatre Botiquín de boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia H…) — GALA Hispanic Theatre Evil Dead the Musical — Workhouse Arts Center Head Over Heels — Constellation Theatre Company Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show — Spooky Action Theater Outstanding Production – PLAY, Hayes Bad Books — Round House Theatre Kunene and the King — Shakespeare Theatre Company Merry Wives — Shakespeare Theatre Company The American Five — Ford’s Theatre The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre Outstanding Production – PLAY, Helen The Inheritance: Parts One and Two — Round House Theatre American Fast — Theater Alliance Birthday Candles — 1st Stage Furlough’s Paradise — Theater Alliance hang — 1st Stage The Immigrant — Synetic Theater