Nominations were announced in late January, but nominees for the 37th Helen Hayes Awards continue to be lauded in advance of Theatre Washington’s Helen Hayes Awards gala celebration on May 22, 2023.
The annual awards are named for DC “First Lady of Theatre,” Helen Hayes, whose career spanned 90 years and included an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony (EGOT).
A special reception to recognize nominees was recently held at the Perry Belmont Mansion in Dupont Circle to celebrate work from 131 eligible productions presented in the 2022 calendar year — including 39 musicals, 97 plays, and 38 world premieres — and the actors, crew, and staff that brought them to life.
“Every one of you nominees is enormously talented,” Bobby Smith, DC theatre artist, three-time Helen Hayes Award Recipient — twice nominated this year himself — shared with the crowd in attendance.
“The Helen Hayes Awards helped me launch myself as a new actor in town,” he shared while telling a story of his history with the organization.
“The awards help us bolster our community and hopefully in return we learn to give back,” he added, “all in the service of growing our theatre, to keep our doors open and welcome our returning audiences. And why theatre? Because theatre is a unique way of opening our hearts, to awaken our mind, to envision a new world and imagine our collective humanity.”
The program also featured performances from 2023 nominees such as Solomon Parker III (“Extraordinary” from Stephen Schwartz’s “Pippin”) and Alex De Bard (“Astonishing” from “Little Women”) and remarks from DC theatre notables including Bonnie Nelson Schwartz (Founder of the Helen Hayes Awards in 1984) and a Tony and Emmy-nominated producer; Amy Austin, President & CEO of Theatre Washington; Jan Du Plain, Chair of the Helen Hayes Awards Celebration; Angie Gates, President & CEO, Events DC; Brandee Mathies, 2023 nominee; and Christopher Michael Richardson, artist the award gala’s co-host.
The 2023 Helen Hayes Awards Gala will be held May 22, 2023 at The Anthem.
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