Theatrical Stars

Release Date: Tuesday, March 23rd 2010

Attention all theater lovers. The 26th Annual Helen Hayes Awards returns to the Warner Theater (1299 Pennsylvania Avenue) at 8:00 pm on Monday, April 5.

The prestigious Washington area theater celebration will bring together 2,000 theater enthusiasts, who will salute a host of outstanding directors, actresses, actors, set designers, musical choreographers-you get the picture. In total, 26 achievement and three special awards will be presented for artistic excellence.

Four theaters will represent the Downtown BID area in 21 categories--including Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Set Design, Outstanding Director and The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical. They are: Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D Street), up for 11 awards; Shakespeare Theatre Company (450 7th Street), up for 13 awards; Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street), up for 11 awards; and the National Theatre (1321 Pennsylvania Avenue), up for one award.

The Helen Hayes Awards, one of the country's most esteemed cultural events, is named for the legendary actress nicknamed "The First Lady of the American Theater." She was one of the few people to win an Emmy, an Oscar, a Grammy and a Tony award. For more information, including ticket orders, visit www.helenhayes.org.