Recognizing work from 165 eligible productions, awards were given in 41 categories
On Monday, May 19, the Washington, DC theatre community descended on The Anthem to honor the area’s best and brightest at the 2025 Helen Hayes Awards. Now in its 41st year, the annual awards, named for Washington DC native and First Lady of American theatre Helen Hayes, recognize the exceptional work of the area’s professional artists and theatre companies throughout the previous year.
Always a lively show, this year’s host were Felicia Curry (who the Washington Post called one of DC’s “biggest theatre stars'” and Mike Millan, also an area favorite who made his Broadway debut in 2018, accompanied by the Helen Hayes Awards Ensemble: Quadry Brown, Alex De Bard, Caroline Graham, Jordyn Taylor, and Wood Van Meter. “The ceremony was directed and choreographed by Ashleigh King (also a 2025 Helen Hayes Award recipient for Outstanding Choreography in a Musical, Helen for She Persisted at Adventure Theatre MTC).”
The Helen Hayes Awardees were chosen by 40 volunteer judges on five panels from 165 eligible productions. “Productions under consideration in 2024 included 57 musicals, 108 plays, and 37 world premieres. For the ninth year, the Helen Hayes Awards were given in parallel tracks determined by the ratio of Actors’ Equity contracts involved in an individual production, recognized as recipients in either the “Helen” or “Hayes” categories. For the third year, performers were adjudicated as gender inclusive, with ten or eleven nominees and two recipients in each performance category.”
Signature Theatre topped the list of winners this year with six awards, followed by 1st Stage and Keegan Theatre with four awards. Theatres that received two Helen Hayes awards included Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Company, the National Theatre, The Kennedy Center, and Mosaic Theater Company.
During the show, performer, producer, and activist, Robert Hooks was honored with a moving tribute for his immense contributions to the American theatre, a Washington, DC native, Hooks founded three significant Black theatre companies: New York’s Group Theatre Workshop, The Negro Ensemble Company, and the DC Black Repertory Company. He has appeared in both Broadway and off-Broadway productions, and starred in television’s N.Y.P.D.
“This year’s award show was supported by a variety of hosts and sponsors, led by Event Chair Jan Du Plain, Du Plain Global Enterprises Inc., and Co-Producer Dr. Judy Kuriansky. Producer-level sponsors are Andrew R. Ammerman, Karina Hou, John & Meg Hauge, Craig Pascal, The Savada-Stevenson Family. Director-level sponsors are Marilynn Bianco, The Sherrie Beckstead Luxury Group, Michael Burke & Carl Smith, Holly Hassett, Kevin Hennessy & David Lamdin, Renée Klish, Debbie Jackson and Bill Lammers, Sharon Lewis Tompkins, Abel Lopez, Sara & Ebrahim Maghsoud, Dale A. Mott, Robin Phillips, Bonnie Nelson Schwartz, and Annie Simonian Totah.
The 2025 Helen Hayes Awards were generously supported by Destination DC; Events DC; Giant Food; School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies, University of Maryland, College Park; Share Fund; TodayTix; United Media Group; and the Chinese American Museum DC.
Produced and administered by Theatre Washington, the Helen Hayes Awards honors excellence in professional theatre in the greater Washington area. A full list of award recipients is available on theatrewashington.org or at these links:”
All Recipients (alpha by last name)
Recipients by Production (count)
Recipients by Production (alpha)
The 2025 Helen Hayes Awards show took place on May 19, 2025 at The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street, SW Washington, DC 20024. For more information about the Helen Hayes Awards, please go online.
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About Theatre Washington
Through collaborative partnerships, advocacy and programs, Theatre Washington supports the Washington, DC-area’s professional theatre community to celebrate artistic achievement, strengthen the theatrical workforce, support institutional growth and advancement, and cultivate collective action. Theatre Washington’s core programs include: the Helen Hayes Awards, Theatre Week, Theatre Work, and the Taking Care Fund.
