So Who Won This Year’s Helen Hayes Awards?!

On Monday, May 19, the Washington theatre community gathered in full force at The Anthem to celebrate the 41st annual Helen Hayes Awards — an evening that honored excellence across the region’s vibrant professional theatre scene.

Hosted by the effervescent duo Felicia Curry and Mike Millan, this year’s ceremony recognized standout productions and performances from 165 eligible shows presented during the 2024 calendar year, including 57 musicals, 108 plays, and 37 world premieres.

Over 1,600 artists, patrons, and supporters filled the iconic venue for a spirited night of celebration, music, and moving tributes. The program featured musical numbers and live performances from a talented ensemble including Quadry Brown, Alex De Bard, Caroline Graham, Jordyn Taylor, and Wood Van Meter, all under the direction and choreography of Ashleigh King, who also took home a Helen Award for Outstanding Choreography in a Musical for She Persisted at Adventure Theatre MTC.

Major Wins and Standout Productions

Topping the list of individual theatres with the most awards this year was Signature Theatre, which earned six awards, followed by 1st Stage and The Keegan Theatre, with four each. Two productions emerged as the most celebrated of the night, each earning four awards: The Nance at 1st Stage and Private Jones, a world premiere musical at Signature Theatre.

Outstanding Production awards were spread across genres and age groups:

• Outstanding Non-Resident Production: SIX at the National Theatre
• Outstanding Production – Theatre for Young Audiences: Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood at Imagination Stage
• Outstanding Musical – Helen: Merrily We Roll Along at The Keegan Theatre
• Outstanding Musical – Hayes: Mexodus, a co-production of Mosaic Theater Company and Baltimore Center Stage
• Outstanding Play – Helen: The Nance at 1st Stage
• Outstanding Play – Hayes: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, a co-production by Arena Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater

The awards continue to be presented in two tracks—“Helen” and “Hayes”—based on the number of Equity contracts involved in a given production.

A Tribute to Robert Hooks

One of the most powerful moments of the evening came with the Helen Hayes Tribute, presented to legendary actor, producer, and civil rights activist Robert Hooks. Honored for his pioneering contributions to Black theatre and representation in the arts, Hooks is the founder of the DC Black Repertory Company, the Negro Ensemble Company, and New York’s Group Theatre Workshop.

As the first Black actor to star in a network television drama (N.Y.P.D.), Hooks’ legacy has had a lasting impact on stage and screen. His decades of advocacy, artistry, and leadership have shaped the future for countless performers and creators. He is a recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Lifetime Achievement and was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.

Celebrating Community and Creativity

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were not only a reflection of the region’s artistic excellence but also of its deep commitment to community.

Named for Washington native and First Lady of the American Theatre Helen Hayes, the awards have served as a hallmark of professional theatre achievement in the region for more than four decades. Administered by Theatre Washington, the Helen Hayes Awards continue to spotlight the stories, talent, and voices that make DC one of the most dynamic theatre capitals in the nation.

For a full list of award recipients, visit theatrewashington.org