Signature Theatre’s Dreamgirls won for outstanding resident musical. Cedric Neal, center, was named outstanding supporting actor. (Signature Theatre/Christopher Mueller)
Signature Theatre’s production of the Motown musical Dreamgirls and the Folger Theater’s production of The Taming of the Shrew took home the top prizes at last night’s Helen Hayes Awards. Dreamgirls also picked up trophies for costume design and best supporting actor—Cedric Neal—while another Signature show, Paul Downs Colaizzo’s Really Really, snagged the prize for best new play.
There were no juggernauts—no production took home more than three awards—but some favorites stood out. The Studio Theatre’s Invisible Man won for best director, lighting design, and ensemble in a resident play. MetroStage’s Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris also grabbed three, for lead actor, lead actress, and director in a resident musical.
Despite the producers’ best efforts to speed the ceremony along, the Helen Hayes Awards felt as languorous as ever. Even short announcements by WETA’s Around Town host Robert Aubrey Davis and pairs of awards presenters introducing the next set of envelope-openers couldn’t make up for acceptance speeches that just got longer and longer.
Not that the speeches were all bad. E. Faye Butler won outstanding supporting actress in a resident play for her turn in Pullman Porter Blues. “I told you you could do it,” her husband yelled from the audience.
“Shut up!” she replied from the stage.
Theatre Washington, the organization that puts the awards on, presented its Helen Hayes Tribute to Actors’ Equity Association, the 100-year-old union representing stage actors. In accepting the award, Ellen Burstyn, a former Actors’ Equity president, reminded the audience members at the Warner Theatre, “I need a job.”
The line was repeated by every successive winning actor last night. Remember, Ellen Burstyn used to be a union boss.
Complete list of winners:
John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theater Company
Dizzy Miss Lizzie’s Roadside Revue
Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
Joe Isenberg, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production
Frank Labovitz, Dreamgirls, Signature Theatre
Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Serge Seiden, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, MetroStage
Outstanding Director, Resident Play
Christopher McElroen, Invisible Man, The Studio Theatre
Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical
Imagination Stage, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play
The Studio Theatre, Invisible Man
Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production
David M. Lutken, Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie, Theater J
Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
Bobby Smith, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, MetroStage
Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production
Felicia Boswell, Memphis, The Kennedy Center
Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical
Natascia Diaz, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, MetroStage
Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play
Francesca Faridany, Strange Interlude, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production
Mary Louise Geiger, Invisible Man, The Studio Theatre
Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production
Jonathan Tuzman, Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Outstanding Non-Resident Production
Shakespeare Theatre Company, Black Watch
Outstanding Production, Theatre For Young Audiences
Imagination Stage, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
Outstanding Resident Musical
Signature Theatre, Dreamgirls
Outstanding Resident Play
Folger Theatre, The Taming of the Shrew
Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production (tie)
Misha Kachman, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Todd Rosenthal, Red, Arena Stage
Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production
Matthew M. Nielson, The Illusion, Forum Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
Cedric Neal, Dreamgirls, Signature Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical (tie)
Priscilla Cuellar, Legally Blonde the Musical, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Theresa Cunningham, The Color Purple, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play
E. Faye Butler, Pullman Porter Blues, Arena Stage
Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production
Christopher Saul, Hamlet, Folger Theatre
The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
Paul Downs Colaizzo, Really Really, Signature Theatre
The James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play
Matthew McGee, Taking Steps, Constellation Theatre Company
The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play
Steven Epp, The Servant of Two Masters, Shakespeare Theatre Company
