The stars shined bright over The Anthem on Monday night as Washington-area theater took center stage at the 42nd annual Helen Hayes Awards.
D.C.鈥檚 version of the Tony Awards is named after America鈥檚 first lady of theater, Helen Hayes; she was the second person to complete the EGOT 鈥� Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony 鈥� after composer Richard Rodgers.
The awards areto make sure theaters of similar sizes and means compete against each other.
Productions under smaller-scale equity agreements compete for the “Helen” awards, and productions under full-scale equity contacts are up for the “Hayes.”
It鈥檚 been a long journey for Bethesda, Maryland鈥檚 Paris Francesca, who is basically the Susan Lucci of the Helen Hayes Awards for her losing streak.
鈥淚’ve been nominated five times,鈥� Francesca said, laughing. 鈥淭his is my very first Helen Hayes win.鈥�
Francesca earned the Outstanding Costume Design Helen Award for the play “Not Your Mother’s Goose!” at Adventure Theatre.
Chess Jakobs also had a night he will never forget. He made his playwriting debut with his play “The American Five” premiered at Ford鈥檚 Theatre, and he walked away with the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical.
鈥淚 love the days that are reminders of why I do what I do,鈥� Jacobs told 草莓传媒. 鈥淚 love making art in D.C., and out of all the places I鈥檝e lived, it鈥檚 one of the best.鈥�
One winner didn鈥檛 need to hear the applause to feel the moment.
Director Alexandria Wailes, a deaf artist who spoke to 草莓传媒 through an interpreter, won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical for her work on “A Strange Loop,” which was shown at the Visionaries of the Creative Arts and the Deaf Austin Theatre.
鈥淲hen my name was called, I was gob smacked,鈥� Wailes said. 鈥淚 was supposed to be here for a reason.鈥�
That reason, she said, was for the “people who have been overlooked, marginalized, unseen.”
鈥淚 really want to be able to turn the tables and give them time, space and attention to make sure their stories are told,鈥� Wailes said.
While Wailes calls New York home, Hillary Jones, who won the Outstanding Lead Performer Helen for the play “Furlough鈥檚 Paradise,” is more of a local.
鈥淚’m born and raised in Chocolate City, Washington, D.C.,鈥� Jones said with a smile.
Jones told 草莓传媒 she caught the acting bug in elementary school. Asked what she鈥檇 tell that little girl today, she said, 鈥淪hout as loud as you want to, to be seen and you will be seen. You deserve to be seen.鈥�
Actor David Gow couldn鈥檛 hide his excitement after winning Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play for “The Inheritance, Parts One and Two.”
鈥淭hank you. I鈥檝e never won anything in my life,鈥� Gow declared on stage.
He described the production as 鈥渢he gayest play of all time, in the best way,鈥� and said the cast, made up entirely of queer artists, was proud to see the D.C. community embrace the show. The production earned five Hayes awards, including Outstanding Director and Outstanding Play.
Sound designer Justin Schmitz spoke to 草莓传媒 on the red carpet just minutes before winning a Helen for Outstanding Sound Design for “hang.”
鈥淭he Helen Hayes Awards are a really great opportunity to recognize the greatness that鈥檚 in our community,鈥� Schmitz said.
Moments later, Schmitz shrugged his shoulders and simply exclaimed, 鈥淲ho knew? Who knew?!”
“It鈥檚 incredible. This means the world to me,鈥� he added.
His family flew in from Wisconsin as his Midwest good luck charms. His 85-year-old father beamed and said, 鈥淚 think it’s great. He’s accomplished very much in his short life.鈥�
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