Signature Theatre was the big winner at the 2012 Helen Hayes Awards, taking home top honors in five categories in Washington's equivalent of Broadway's Tony Award celebration.
Held April 23 at the Warner Theatre, the Signature Theatre production of “Hairspray” led all other theatres, taking home five awards including the coveted honor of Outstanding Resident Musical.
Carolyn Cole won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical Award for her portrayal of Tracy Turnblad in the blockbuster musical while Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Resident Musical went to Nova Payton for the role of Motormouth Maybelle. Outstanding Musical Direction in a Resident Production went to Jon Kalbfleisch and the “Hairspray” cast was honored as Outstanding Ensemble.
Arlington's Synetic Theater walked away with four awards for its silent “King Lear,” including for Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Ensemble in a Resident Play.
2012 Helen Hayes Award Winners
Outstanding Resident Play: "Ruined" (Arena Stage)
Outstanding Resident Musical: "Hairspray" (Signature Theatre)
Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences: "Charlotte's Web" (Adventure Theatre)
Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play: Erica Sullivan, "Venus In Fur" (Studio Theatre)
Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play: Rena Brown, "Wit" (Bay Theatre Company)
The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play: Mitchell Hebert, "After The Fall" (Theater J)
Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical: Carolyn Cole, "Hairspray" (Signature Theatre)
Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical: Euan Morton, "Parade" (Ford's Theatre and Theater J)
Outstanding Non-Resident Production: "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" (Arena Stage)
Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play: "King Lear" (Synetic Theater)
Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical: "Hairspray" (Signature Theatre)
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play: Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey, "After The Fall" (Theater J)
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play: Ted van Griethuysen, "Much Ado About Nothing" (Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production: Sahr Nguajah, "Fela!" (Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production: Cate Blanchett, "Uncle Vanya" (Kennedy Center)
The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company: Faction of Fools
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical: Nova Payton, "Hairspray" (Signature Theatre)
Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production: Hugo Weaving, "Uncle Vanya" (Kennedy Center)
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical: Matthew Delorenzo, "Pop!" (Studio Theatre 2ndStage)
Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production: Kendra Rai, "Green Bird" (Constellation Theatre Company)
Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production: Ben Cunis and Irina Tsikurishvili, "King Lear" (Synetic Theater)
Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production: Jon Kalbfleisch, "Hairspray" (Signature Theatre)
Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production: Irakli Kavsadze and Konstantine Lortkipanidze, "King Lear" (Synetic Theater)
Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production: Chris Baine, "A Bright New Boise" (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company)
Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production: Andrew Griffin, "King Lear" (Synetic Theater)
Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production: Lee Savage, "Much Ado About Nothing" (Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Outstanding Director, Resident Play: Aaron Posner, "Cyrano" (Folger Theatre)
Outstanding Director, Resident Musical: Michael Baron, "A Year With Frog And Toad" (Adventure Theatre)
The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical: "Birds of a Feather" (Hub Theatre)