Theaters and thespians from the D.C. region honored at the 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards

The 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards celebrated the creativity, diversity and impact of the Washington, D.C.-area theater community, honoring standout productions, performers and behind-the-scenes talent from across the region. Hosted at The Anthem, the ceremony highlighted theater’s enduring role as a platform for empathy, cultural expression and social reflection. The post Theaters and thespians from the D.C. region honored at the 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

May 27, 2026 - 16:35

Theaters and thespians from the D.C. region honored at the 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards

By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to The AFRO

Theatre Washington honored the region’s stellar theater community during the 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards, held at The Anthem on the District Wharf on May 18.

Paris Francesca, a multi-time nominee, wins her first Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Costume Design for her work on “Not Your Mother’s Goose!” at Adventure Theatre MTC, a children’s theater founded in 1951 in Glen Echo, Md. Francesca was honored during the 42nd annual awards ceremony on May 18, sponsored by Theatre Washington, at The Anthem on the District Wharf. Credit: Photo Courtesy Nina Palazzolo

This year’s ceremony, hosted by actors Felicia Curry and Derrick Truby, and actor/director Holly Twyford, included performances from the Helen Hayes Awards Ensemble that illustrated the creativity of the local theater community.

The most-awarded productions of the evening included “Damn Yankees” from Arena Stage with eight honors, followed by “The Inheritance: Parts One and Two” from Round House Theatre, and “Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show” from Spooky Action Theater, each with five honors. Both Arena Stage and Round House Theatre picked up an additional award for “Fremont Ave.,” and “Bad Books,” respectively.

Amy Austin, president and CEO of Theatre Washington, an alliance that promotes an environment of creative and diverse regional theaters, said with a tradition that spans 42 years of recognizing the best in the industry, those who win or are nominated for an award consider it among the highlights of their career.

“Many people who live in the D.C. area may be unfamiliar with the Helen Hayes Awards, unless they’re part of the theater community,” Austin said. “But for us, it represents a major accomplishment – it means you’ve been recognized by your peers which is something that doesn’t come easy in this profession.”

“And while we may not have the glitz and glamour of Broadway in New York City, Washington, D.C., has a proud legacy of its own within the theater world. Arena Stage has been here for over 75 years – even before The Kennedy Center. And rather than yield to the discriminatory practices prevalent in the 1950s when it opened, Arena Stage, under the direction of its first artistic director and co-founder, Zelda Fichandler, bears the distinction of being the first racially integrated theater in Washington, D.C.,” Austin continued. “There’s something for everyone on the stages in this region – from Shakespeare’s ‘Merry Wives’ being set in the Caribbean to works being done in both Spanish and English.”

Native Washingtonian Ashleigh King, who served as co-director and choreographer for the awards, said this year’s theme, “Make a Scene,” speaks to the power of words which in a city like D.C., often have life or death implications.

“Through the words delivered by the actors, staged theatrical performances remind us of the transformative power of empathy and often share portraits of cultures different from one’s own,” King said. “The theaters in the region are among the most diverse in the country with some working with huge budgets and others with more limited funds producing works from church basements. But none of them are afraid to take risks and they’re willing to make bold statements.”

Actors from the Greater Washington area pause for a photograph during the 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards, sponsored by Theatre Washington, on May 18, at The Anthem on the District Wharf. The ensemble of actors, who performed during the awards ceremony, represent various theaters located throughout the area. Credit: Photo Courtesy Nina Palazzolo

“For two hours, a room full of strangers hear stories, listen to those around them react with laughter and applause, and are touched by human experiences that they may not have felt for a while or ever. But they feel them,” Kind added. “And while change may not happen overnight, those feelings people experienced during a performance go with them as they move forward in their own lives.”

Austin agreed and said this year’s ceremony and chosen theme showcase “the essential role of theater in today’s world as both an art form and a platform for conversation, change, and reflection.”

The Helen Hayes Awards honored work presented during the 2025 calendar year from 149 eligible productions, including 42 musicals, 107 plays, and 33 world premieres. Awards were presented across 41 categories, including gender-inclusive performance categories.

Austin said as the awards platform has continued to expand, even smaller theater companies and part-time actors find encouragement.

“Since our founding in 1983, Theatre Washington has emerged as the official representative for the area’s robust and diverse theater scene,” Austin said. “Some only have about 100 seats, while others put on productions in churches or are run by immigrants from Eastern Europe. But even if an actor or a stagehand cannot commit to making theater a full-time job, they can be part of the theatrical community. So, everyone gets a chance to both participate and to be recognized.”

“We’re the only large scale awards system for the theater community in Washington, D.C. – at least for now. And it’s an opportunity that becomes more exciting each year.”

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