WASHINGTON, D.C.: TheatreWashington announced the winners of the 36th annual Helen Hayes Awards, which were celebrated virtually on Sept. 25. Theater Alliance walked away with eight awards, including seven for its Outstanding Production in a Play winner Blood at the Root. Signature Theatre won six awards, including five for A Chorus Line, and 1st Stage won five awards, including an Outstanding Production in a Play win for The Brothers Size.

The awards, adjudicated by 40 judges who attended approximately 200 eligible productions, recognize professional productions and performances presented during the 2019 calendar year. Each category has two tracks: “Helen” and “Hayes,” depending on the number of Actors’ Equity Association members involved in the production, with “Hayes” being for productions where a majority of the cast are union members.

This also marks the first year of the awards renaming the former “actor” and “actress” categories to “performer” categories (i.e., Outstanding Lead Performer). While this year’s categories were still adjudicated as “actor” and “actress” categories, future Helen Hayes Awards will be adjudicated as gender-inclusive and each category will be expanded to 10 nominees, up from the previous five. Two recipients will then be chosen for each category. This decision, according to theatreWashington’s website, came after research, consultation with other award organizations, and input from the community, including nonbinary and transgender performers.

The full list of winners are below:

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical – Hayes
Parker Esse, Newsies, Arena Stage

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical – Helen
Ashleigh King, Legally Blonde, The Keegan Theatre

Outstanding Choreography in a Play – Hayes
Orange Grove Dance, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Round House Theatre

Outstanding Choreography in a Play – Helen
Tiffany Quinn, Blood at the Root, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Musical Direction – Hayes
William Yanesh, Into the Woods, Ford’s Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction – Helen
Walter “Bobby” McCoy, Legally Blonde, The Keegan Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design – Hayes
Wade Laboissonniere, Into the Woods, Ford’s Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design – Helen
Frank Labovitz, Little Shop of Horrors, Constellation Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design – Hayes
William D’Eugenio, The Brothers Size, 1st Stage

Outstanding Lighting Design – Helen
Alberto Segarra (lighting designer) and Kelly Colburn (projections/media designer), Blood at the Root, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Set Design – Hayes
Paul Tate DePoo III, Grand Hotel, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Set Design – Helen
Nephelie Andonyadis, Topdog/Underdog, Avant Bard Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design – Hayes
Kenny Neal, The Royale, Olney Theatre Center & 1st Stage

Outstanding Sound Design – Helen
Tony Starnes, Blood at the Root, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Direction in a Musical – Hayes
Matthew Gardiner, A Chorus Line, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Direction in a Musical – Helen
Matt Conner, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Creative Cauldron

Outstanding Direction in a Play – Hayes
Jose Carrasquillo, The Brothers Size, 1st Stage

Outstanding Direction in a Play – Helen
Raymond O. Caldwell, Blood at the Root, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical – Hayes
A Chorus Line, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical – Helen
Fame, The Musical, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play – Hayes
School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play, Round House Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play – Helen
Blood at the Root, Theater Alliance

Outstanding Performer – Visiting Production
Pat Kinevane, Silent, Solas Nua

Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical -Hayes
Samantha M Gershman, A Chorus Line, Signature Theatre
Jeff Gorti, A Chorus Line, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical – Helen
Molly Rumberger, Be More Chill, Monumental Theatre Company
Greg Watkins, Legally Blonde, The Keegan Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play – Hayes
Temidayo Amay, School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play, Round House Theatre
Vincent Randazzo, Vanity Fair, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play – Helen
Zoe Walpole, Agnes of God, Factory 449
Matt Stover, Cyrano de Bergerac, Synetic Theater

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical -Hayes
Malinda Kathleen Reese, Once, Olney Theatre Center
Mason Alexander Park, Cabaret, Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical – Helen
Nora Palka, On Air, Creative Cauldron
John Poncy, A Christmas Story, Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play – Hayes
Alison Luff, Nell Gwynn, Folger Theatre
Gary-Kayi Fletcher, The Brothers Size, 1st Stage

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play – Helen
Billie Krishawn, Blood at the Root, Theater Alliance
Louis E. Davis, Topdog/Underdog, Avant Bard Theatre

Outstanding Original Play or Musical Adaptation
Dane Figueroa Edidi, Klytmnestra: An Epic Slam Poem, Theater Alliance

Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Original New Play or Musical
Ken Ludwig, Dear Jack, Dear Louise, Arena Stage

Outstanding Production – Theatre for Young Audiences
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Visiting Production
The Band’s Visit, The Kennedy Center

Outstanding Production in a Musical – Hayes
A Chorus Line, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Production in a Musical – Helen
Fame, The Musical, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Outstanding Production in a Play – Hayes
The Brothers Size, 1st Stage

Outstanding Production in a Play – Helen
Blood at the Root, Theater Alliance

The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company
4615 Theatre Company