Only at the Helen Hayes awards will you have three acceptance speeches referencing the word “girdle.”

The celebratory, at times irreverent ceremony took place in front of a sold-out crowd at the Warner Theater last night.

The big winners of the evening were Synetic Theater, the edgy dance-dominant Rosslyn troupe, solidifying its place as one of the most innovative companies working in the area right now. Five out of the group’s six trophies were for its stunning silent version of Macbeth, including Outstanding Resident Play, and the ensemble award for its (also silent) Hamlet.

An unexpected development of the night was Studio Theater SecondStage’s zany little production of Reefer Madness swiping the Outstanding Resident Musical trophy from other, more bombastic competitors. Reefer’s director Keith Alan Baker shared the prize with Signature’s Eric Schaeffer, who also won for Meet John Doe.

Meet John Doe, a pleasant surprise from Ford Theater last year, had a generally strong showing at the awards, where Signature Theater often dominates the musical categories. Its female lead, Heidi Blickenstaff, took the trophy for best actress in a resident musical.