2024 Helen Hayes Awards Recap

The 40^th Annual Helen Hayes Awards took place at The Anthem earlier this month. The celebration of all things theater in D.C. honored productions including “Fela!” which won five awards at the event, including best production of a musical.

Photo from instagram.com/theatrewash

Host TheatreWashington had four hosts for the show, including Felicia Curry, Rayanne Gonzales, Maria Rizzo and Holly Twyford (we interviewed Twyford in November 2022 about directing Georgetown University students in “Dog Act”). There was a live band playing jazz throughout the show, and a great opening number with D.C.-themed parodies of musicals like “In the Heights” and “Sweeney Todd.”

151 total productions were nominated across 41 categories.

Here are other awards and the shows that won them:

• Best Director: Lili-Anne Brown, “Fela!”
• Best Choreographer: Breon Arzell, “Fela!”
• Best Supporting Performer: Melody A. Betts, “Fela!”
• Best Ensemble: “Fela!”
• Helen Hayes Tribute: Peter Marks, former Washington Post theater critic
• Outstanding Musical: Seussical: The Musical

Photo from instagram.com/theatrewash

tags2024 Helen Hayes AwardsDC theaterHelen Hayes AwardsTheatreWashington