A touring production of Broadway hit “The Book of Mormon” and local revivals of “Hello Dolly!” and “Glengarry Glen Ross” were each multiple winners April 21 at the Helen Hayes Awards, the D.C. area’s annual theater kudofest.
“Dolly,” a co-production of the Signature Theater and Ford’s Theater, shared the award for top resident musical with Olney Theater Center’s “A Chorus Line” while also nabbing honors for Karma Camp’s choreography and its ensemble. Round House Theater’s “Glengarry” was honored for Mitchell Hebert’s direction, Rick Foucheux’ lead acting and resident play ensemble.
The Hayes award for top resident play went to Woolly Mammoth Theater’s “Stupid Fucking Bird,” Aaron Posner’s irreverent riff on Chekhov’s “The Seagull.” “Bird” also nabbed the Charles MacArthur Award for outstanding new play or musical.
“Mormon’s” boffo run at the Kennedy Center picked up honors for best visiting production, as well as Christopher John O’Neill’s lead acting and Samantha Marie Ware’s supporting performance. “Mormon” also recently won four Olivier Awards for its West End incarnation.
The national touring production of “Anything Goes,” also at the Kennedy Center, drew leading actress honors for Rachel York.
The Hayes Awards, celebrating their 30th anniversary, recognize top productions by D.C.-area theaters mounted during the previous year. Its name celebrates D.C. native Hayes, who eagerly participated in the event. The Hayes format will be altered next year to separately recognize productions with and without a majority of membership in Actors’ Equity.
In another departure, this year’s Hayes awards were staged at D.C.’s spacious National Building Museum, where a raucous crowd simultaneously enjoyed the presentations and refreshments nearby — not necessarily to the benefit of grateful awardees. The event was previously held in two separate venues.
Signature Theater’s highly acclaimed revival of “Gypsy” received only one award for Jon Kalbfleisch’s musical direction, but Diana Huey and James Gardiner drew top tuner acting honors in Signature’s “Miss Saigon” and “The Last Five Years” respectively. (Huey shared her award with Jessica Vaccaro with Olney’s “A Chorus Line.”) In addition, best supporting honors in a musical went to Erin Weaver for Signature’s revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” and Bobby Smith for “Spin.”
Arena Stage was largely overlooked by Hayes judges this year, but can claim lead actress kudos for Joaquina Kalukango’s perf in ”The Mountaintop” and costume design for Merrily Murray-Walsh in “Mary T. & Lizzy K.”
Other supporting performance honors went to Dawn Ursula for Woolly Mammoth’s “The Convert” and Ted van Griethuysen for Studio Theater’s “The Apple Family Plays.”
Complete list of 2014 winners:
Resident Play
“Stupid Fucking Bird,” Woolly Mammoth Theatee Company
Resident Musical
“A Chorus Line,” Olney Theater Center
Production, Theater for Young Audiences
“Anime Momotaro,” Imagination Stage
Lead Actress, Resident Play
Joaquina Kalukango, “The Mountaintop,” Arena Stage
Lead Actor, Resident Play
Rick Foucheux, “Glengarry Glen Ross,” Round House Theater
Lead Actress, Resident Musical
Diana Huey, “Miss Saigon,” Signature Theater and Jessica Vaccaro, “A Chorus Line,” Olney Theater Center
Lead Actor, Resident Musical
James Gardiner, “The Last Five Years,” Signature Theater
Visiting Production
“The Book of Mormon,” Kennedy Center
Ensemble, Resident Play
“Glengarry Glen Ross,” Round House Theater
Ensemble, Resident Musical
“Hello Dolly!,” Ford’s Theater and Signature Theater
Supporting Actress, Resident Play
Dawn Ursula, “The Convert,” Woolly Mammoth Theater Company
Supporting Actor, Resident Play
Ted van Griethuysen, “The Apple Family Plays,” Studio Theater
Lead Actor, Visiting Production
Christopher John O’Neill, “The Book of Mormon,” Kennedy Center
Lead Actress, Visiting Production
Rachael York, “Anything Goes,” The Kennedy Center
Supporting Actress, Resident Musical
Erin Weaver, “Company,” Signature Theater
Supporting Performer, Visiting Production
Samantha Marie Ware, “The Book of Mormon,” Kennedy Center
Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
Bobby Smith, “Spin,” Signature Theater
Costume Design, Resident Production
Merrily Murray-Walsh, “Mary T. & Lizzy K,” Arena Stage
Choreography, Resident Production
Karma Camp, “Hello Dolly!,” Ford’s Theater and Signature Theater
Movement, Resident Play
Irina Tsikurishvili and Ben Cunis, “The Three Musketeers,” Synetic Theater
Musical Direction, Resident Production,
Jon Kalbfleisch, “Gypsy,” Signature Theater
Sound Design, Resident Production
Eric Shimelonis, “Never the Sinner,” First Stage
Lighting Design, Resident Production
Andrew F. Griffin, “Henry V,” Folger Theater
Set Design, Resident Production
Clint Ramos, “Appropriate,” Woolly Mammoth Theater
Director, Resident Play
Mitchell Hébert, “Glengarry Glen Ross,” Round House Theater
Director, Resident Musical
Alan Paul, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” Shakespeare Theater Company
The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
“Stupid Fucking Bird,” Woolly Mammoth Theater Company
