Theatrical Excellence

Downtown theaters fared well at the 27th Annual Helen Hayes Awards, held at the Warner Theatre (513 13th Street) on April 25. DowntownDC BID area theater companies racked up 11 awards in 11 separate categories.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (the Lansburgh Theatre , 450 7th Street, and Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street) walked away with eight awards, followed by the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D Street) with two, and Ford’s Theatre (511 10th Street) with one. The winning categories are as follows:

• Outstanding Director, Resident Musical – Mary Zimmerman for Candide, Shakespeare Theatre Co.
• Outstanding Director, Resident Play – Howard Shalwitz, Clybourne Park, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co.
• Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical – Geoff Packard, Candide, Shakespeare Theatre Co.
• Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical – Lauren Molina, Candide, Shakespeare Theatre Co.
• Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production – Daniel Ostling, Candide, Shakespeare Theatre Co.
• Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical – Hollis Resnik, Candide, Shakespeare Theatre Co.
• Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play – Naomi Jacobson, Richard II, Shakespeare Theatre Co.
• The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical – The Liar, David Ives, Shakespeare Theatre Co.
• Outstanding Resident Musical – Candide, Shakespeare Theatre Co.
• Outstanding Resident Play – Clybourne Park, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co.
• The Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community – Ford’s Theatre, for their “History on Stage” and “History on Foot” programs.

The Helen Hayes Awards promote metropolitan Washington area professional theaters and salute outstanding directors, actresses, actors, set designers, musical choreographers and others.

For the complete list of 2011 winners, visit www.helenhayes.org.