by Gregory Gorton

The 19th annual Helen Hayes Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in professional theatre for Washington D.C., Baltimore and Northern Virginia, were awarded at a gala celebration May 5th, 2003. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts once again served as the evening's perfect host. Despite the grandeur and glitz that are trademarks of the Kennedy Center, there was a palpable spirit of community in the air; a definite awareness that honorees and onlookers alike were celebrating all of our efforts as theater professionals.

The producers of the event took a different approach to this year's staging. Instead of a celebrity emcee and a host of other celebrity presenters, the choice was made to use local luminaries. The "unofficial" hosts for the night were Jane Pesci-Townsend and Marty Lodge playing a pair of tourists who introduced, interceded, and interwove their patter with a cast of theatre favorites.

The cast performed excerpts from the six new plays nominated for The Charles MacArthur Award, and were outstanding in presenting vocal selections from all of the nominated musicals. It was a terrific opportunity for all of their peers to see some marvelous performances and some thrilling moments from the nominated shows.

Other members of the cast who helped make the evening memorable were; Halo Wines, Mia Whang, E. Faye Butler, Brian Childers and Howard Shalwitz, Artistic Director for Wooly Mammoth Theatre for the past twenty-three years.

The evening was further enhanced by the outstanding talents of Desire' DoBose, Doug Eskew, Bill Grimmett, Jason Kravits, and Donna Magliacci. Each of them is well-known for individual talent: together they were an effective and formidable ensemble troupe.

The Kennedy Center itself was honored with five awards: Kelli Fournier received the Outstanding Performer in a Non-Resident musical for AIDA. The other four awards were split among the performers and crews of the Kennedy Center's remarkable Sondheim Celebration, including Outstanding Resident Musical for SWEENEY TODD.

Upon winning the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Non-Resident Musical for MAN OF LA MANCHA at The National Theatre, Brian Stokes Mitchell commented that it was, ". . . an honor to trod the same boards where MAN OF LA MANCHA opened thirty- five years ago. Thanks to my favorite cast member, my wife, Allison."

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Resident Musical, Rick Hammerly accepted his award while encouraging some audience participation. "I'm going to do something a little different. I am going to give out the Charo Awards. As I read the names of these people, put your hands up in the air and give a little "coochie, coochie."

Lori Tan Chinn won the Outstanding Supporting Actress award for Arena Stage's production of SOUTH PACIFIC. Said Ms. Chinn, "I would like to thank our wonderful LIVE orchestra."

Holly Twyford was awarded the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Play in THE SHAPE OF THINGS at Studio Theatre, and made a point of thanking her early influences. "My parents are here tonight, and I'd like to thank them for taking me to the theater when I was growing up."

Charter Theatre's production of THE TASTE OF FIRE garnered an award for Jon Cohn as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Resident Play.

The Woolly Mammoth Theatre was presented with two of the major acting awards. Sarah Jones received the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non-Resident Production for SURFACE TRANSIT; and Michael Ray Escamilla was honored as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Resident Play for RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS. One of Washington's favorite actresses, Nancy Robinette, received the Outstanding Supporting Actress award for THE LITTLE FOXES at The Shakespeare Theatre. " I love, love, LOVE doing this role", Nancy said.

Ted L. Levy was awarded the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Resident Musical for Ford's Theatre's HOT MIKADO.

Aside from honoring many familiar shows, The Helen Hayes Awards also honor outstanding new works. James MacArthur, the son of Helen Hayes and playwright Charles MacArthur, presented The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play to The Round House Theatre's production of SHAKESPEARE, MOSES, AND JOE PAPP by Ernie Joselovitz. The Arena Stage production of POLK COUNTY was given the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Musical. POLK COUNTY was written by Zora Neale Hurston and Dorothy Waring; adapted by Kyle Donnelly and Cathy Madison, with music composed, adapted, and directed by Stephen Wade.

The Outstanding Non-Resident Production award went to LYPSINKA! THE BOXED SET, produced at The Studio Theatre.

The award for Outstanding Musical Direction in a Resident Musical was presented to Rob Berman, for The Kennedy Center's Sondheim Celebration production of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE.

The KPMG Award for Distinguished Service to the Washington Theater Community was presented by Frank Ross of KPMG to Mr. Robert Stephens, President and Chief Operations Officer for Lockheed Martin.

The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theater Community was presented by The Post's Beau Jones, Jr. to Mr. Michael Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center's Sondheim Celebration. In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Kaiser said, " I would like to thank the stage hands of the Eisenhower Theatre....This proves that even in bad economic times, artistic initiative can be awarded and supported."

One of the refreshing aspects of the Helen Hayes Awards is that the evaluators try to see every show that qualifies and they never shy away from leveling the playing field. Sometimes a theater that has been up and running for only a few years can suddenly find itself playing with the big boys. Such was the case with Synetic Theatre. Barely over three years in existence, Synetic was honored with three Helen Hayes Awards. Irina Tsikurishvili was awarded for her work in Outstanding Choreography for Synetic's production of HAMLET. The award for Outstanding Director of a Resident Play went to Synetic's HAMLET as well, and to director Paata Tsikurishvili. HAMLET continued to have a rewarding evening, earning one of the nights top honors with the Helen Hayes for Outstanding Resident Play.

One of the two categories to have a tie in the voting results was that of Outstanding Director of a Resident Musical. Christopher Ashley won for his direction of SWEENEY TODD at The Kennedy Center. Toby Orenstein was also awarded for her direction of JEKYLL AND HYDE, performed at Toby's Dinner Theatre. In accepting her award, Ms. Orenstein summed up much of the spirit that surrounds the awards themselves and the theater community in general; "The Helen Hayes Awards prove that it doesn't matter if you perform in a warehouse, The Kennedy Center or a dinner theater."

The Washington theater community rewarded its own last night at the 19th Annual Helen Hayes Awards. The ceremony took place in the Concert Hall of the John F. Kennedy Center and was presented by a number of DC favorites. Headed up by Jane Pesci-Townsend and Marty Lodge, the presenters included E. Faye Butler, Brian Childers, Desiré DuBose, Doug Eskew, Bill Grimmett, Jason Kravits, Donna Migliaccio, Howard Shalwitz, Mia Whang and Halo Wines. The fluid "tag team" style of presentation was not the ordinary awards show fare. However, the very efficient method made for an interesting night that was filled with emotion, laughter and more than a few surprises.

One of those surprises was Rob Berman's (Sunday in the Park With George) win over Jonathan Tunick (Company) in the category of Outstanding Musical Direction. Yet another surprise was Rick Hammerly's win of the Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical Award for his portrayal of Hedwig in Signature Theatre's production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Mr. Hammerly delivered a rousing acceptance speech that will not be soon forgotten. Stating that it was, " ... so nice to be out without a wig on ... ," Hammerly went on to recognize other members of the arts community with his own award called the Charo Award. As he listed the names of these "recipients" he led the audience in an energetic chorus of "coochee, coochee."

Even though Hammerly beat out Broadway vets John Barrowman (Company), Raúl Esparza (Sunday in the Park With George), and Brian Stokes Mitchell (Sweeney Todd) not all of them went home empty handed. Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell garnered the Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production Award for his starring role in Man of La Mancha. His Sweeney Todd co-star, Christine Baranski, won the Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical Award.

The most joyous acceptance of the evening was from Lori Tan Chinn (South Pacific), who showed up to enthusiastically accept her award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical despite suffering with a bout of laryngitis. Jon Cohn (The Taste of Fire), who can currently be seen in Olney Theatre's production of The Miser picked up the award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play and thanked his high school drama teacher who was sitting in the audience. Another veteran of the Washington theater scene, Nancy Robinette, was honored with the Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play Award for her work in Shakespeare Theatre's production of The Little Foxes.

A new award was added to the lineup this year. The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Musical was created in honor of the late playwright and husband of Helen Hayes. Presented by James MacArthur, the son of Charles MacArthur and Helen Hayes, the award was given to Arena Stage's acclaimed production of Polk County. Additionally, the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play went to Round House Theatre's Shakespeare, Moses, and Joe Papp.

As in years past, two corporately sponsored awards were distributed. The KPMG Award for Distinguished Service to the Washington Theatre Community went to Lockheed Martin for their support of venues such as The Studio Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts and the Strathmore Arts Center, among others.

The Kennedy Center's Michael Kaiser was the recipient of The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community. The honor was bestowed on Mr. Kaiser for his role in the creation of the Sondheim Celebration and its impact on Washington theater.

There was more than one tie at this year's awards ceremony. James Kronzer (Shakespeare, Moses, and Joe Papp) and Hugh Landwehr (The Little Foxes) both took home trophies for Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production. Also, Toby Orenstein (Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical) and Christopher Ashley (Sweeney Todd) received the Outstanding Director, Resident Musical Award with Sweeney Todd also winning Outstanding Resident Musical. Synetic Theater, who received three Helen Hayes Awards, walked off with the Outstanding Play Award for their take on Hamlet.

The Helen Hayes Awards sponsors programs that include the Canadian/Washington Partnership and the Washington Theatre Legacy Project. Information about these programs or the awards ceremony may be found by logging on to www.helenhayes.org.

Complete List of Winners

Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production
Mark K. Anduss
Tiny Alice
Washington Shakespeare Company

Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production
Jelena Vukmirovic and Marie Schneggenburger
Mississippi Pinocchio
Theater of the First Amendment

Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production
Howell Binkley
Sweeney Todd
The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production (tie)
James Kronzer
Shakespeare, Moses, and Joe Papp
Round House Theatre
Hugh Landwehr
The Little Foxes
The Shakespeare Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production
Kelli Fournier
Aida
The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical
Lori Tan Chinn
South Pacific
Arena Stage

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
Ted L. Levy
Hot Mikado
Ford's Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play
Michael Ray Escamilla
Recent Tragic Events
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play
Nancy Robinette
The Little Foxes
The Shakespeare Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Man of La Mancha
The National Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production
Sarah Jones
Surface Transit
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical
Christine Baranski
Sweeney Todd
The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
Rick Hammerly
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Signature Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play
Jon Cohn
The Taste of Fire
Charter Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play
Holly Twyford
The Shape of Things
The Studio Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production
Rob Berman
Sunday in the Park With George
The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
Irina Tsikurishvili
Hamlet
Synetic Theater

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical (tie)
Christopher Ashley
Sweeney Todd
The Kennedy Center
Toby Orenstein
Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical
Toby's Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Director, Resident Play
Paata Tsikurishvili
Hamlet
Synetic Theater

Outstanding Non-Resident Production
Lypsinka! The Boxed Set
The Studio Theatre

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Musical
Polk County
Written by Zora Neale Hurston & Dorothy Waring
Adapted by Kyle Donnelly & Cathy Madison
Music composed, adapted and directed by Stephen Wade
Arena Stage

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play
Shakespeare, Moses, and Joe Papp
Written by Ernie Joselovitz
Round House Theatre

Outstanding Resident Musical
Sweeney Todd
The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Resident Play
Hamlet
Synetic Theater