Acclaimed theater artists Felicia Curry and Mike Millan will host the 41st Helen Hayes Awards at The Anthem on the Wharf on Monday, May 19, 2025. The ceremony celebrates the DC area’s vibrant and diverse theater industry and recognizes the outstanding work of over 200 nominees and theater-makers. This year’s Helen Hayes Tribute will honor actor, producer, and political activist Robert Hooks. The evening includes a red carpet, cocktail hour, seated dinner, and presentation of Awards with performances from some of the region’s favorite artists. The ceremony is directed and choreographed by Ashleigh King, and music is directed by Christopher Wingert.
“The arts bring us together; they are a vehicle for shared experience, understanding, and empathy, and the evening recognizes DC theater’s impact on our community. Now, more than ever, we need to celebrate theater-makers, and acknowledge diverse voices and contributions,” said Amy Austin, Theatre Washington President and CEO.
The event will recognize productions on regional stages from the 2024 calendar year, with nominations made in 42 categories. Nominations are the result of 51 carefully vetted judges considering work, such as design, direction, choreography, performances, writing, and more. Productions under consideration in 2024 included 57 musicals, 108 plays, and 37 world premieres. See the full list of nominees.
The 2025 Helen Hayes Tribute will be awarded to Robert Hooks for his distinguished career as an actor, producer, and political activist who significantly increased the visibility and representation of Black voices in the arts and was a prominent figure in the Black Arts Movement that arose during the Civil Rights Era. He founded three Black theater companies: New York’s Group Theatre Workshop, the Negro Ensemble Company, and the DC Black Repertory Company, and worked as an actor on Broadway, in film and on television, becoming the first black male lead of a network drama in David Susskind’s N.Y.P.D. Among his numerous awards and accolades are an NAACP Image Award for Lifetime Achievement, and induction into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
“Robert Hooks is the touchstone for Black Theater in DC. With the DC Black Repertory Theatre, he created the beginnings of a Black community of theater artists, musicians, designers and educators and opened its doors to all races. Bobby’s dream has taken root and lives on in our vibrant and diverse theatre community,” said Bonnie Nelson Schwartz, founder of the Helen Hayes Awards.
About the Helen Hayes Awards Committee
Jan Du Plain of Du Plain Global Enterprises is serving as Chair of the Helen Hayes Awards with Dr. Judith Kuriansky as Co-Producer, and Host Committee Members: Andrew R. Ammerman, Sherrie Beckstead Luxury Group, Marilynn Bianco, Michael Burke & Carl Smith, Gary P. Fontaine and O’Shelya S. Brown, Holly Hassett, John & Meg Hauge, Kevin Hennessy & David Lamdin, Karina Hou, Debbie Jackson & Bill Lammers, Renée Klish, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Abel Lopez, Bonnie Nelson Schwartz, Craig Pascal, Robin Phillips, Alan Savada & Will Stevenson, Sharon Lewis Tompkins, Annie Simonian Totah, and José Alberto Uclés & Tom Noll.
The 2025 Helen Hayes Awards are 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.
About The Helen Hayes Awards
Named for actor Helen Hayes – a Washington native and legendary First Lady of the American Theater – the Helen Hayes Awards has honored excellence in professional theater throughout the Washington region, now celebrating forty years. Nominations are grouped in “Helen” or “Hayes” cohorts, depending on the number of Equity members involved in the production.
About Theatre Washington
Through collaborative partnerships and programs, Theatre Washington supports the Washington, DC, area’s professional theater 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.
