2011 Helen Hayes Awards Nominations Announced

CONGRATULATIONS

to Lauren 'Coco' Cohn on her Helen Hayes nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical in Glimpses of the Moon!

What a wonderfully funny performance!

And the winner is ... MetroStage

Alexandria's MetroStage may have come in third in the final tally at the 2010 Helen Hayes Awards, but that's just fine with Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin.

"This will probably never happen again," said Griffin, still on a high from the ceremony that took place April 5 at the Warner Theatre. "Only two theatres garnered more awards than MetroStage — the Kennedy Center and the Shakespeare Theatre and they had actors like Cate Blanchett and Stacy Keach. That was the level of our competition."

CLICK HERE to read the entire Alexandria Times article >

Carolyn Griffin, Producing Artistic Director, and William Knowles, Music Director, at the Helen Hayes Awards (Photos by Joel Markowitz)

Congratulations MetroStage On Receiving 3 Helen Hayes Awards April 5th

Congratulations to the 2010 Helen Hayes Awards Recipients!

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
♦ Maurice Hines, Cool Papa's Party

Outstanding Music Direction, Resident Production
♦ William Knowles, Cool Papa's Party

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play
♦ Heroes


To see all the results, CLICK HERE

Read what the artists told DC Theatre Scene in their "Meet the 2010 Helen Hayes Nominees" article, prior to the Helen Hayes Awards:

William Knowles

Cool Papa’s Party

Why this show?
I’m always interested in new work. I like being a part of creative team.

Greatest challenge…
There was a lot of information to teach in a short amount of time. This was the first time the show was on it’s feet. There was hardly any revision time.

Your best contribution…
With today’s technology, one is able to mock up examples of the work. In other words, you have a good idea of what it sounds like before you have to pay lots of people.

If you could work with anyone…
There is a strong connection between jazz musicians and theater. I would have loved to look over Eubie Blake’s shoulder for Shuffle Along, or Fats Waller’s for Hot Chocolates.

Is there a particular work of art you would like to see turned into a musical and why?
I’d like to do a piece on Nina Simone.

Next?
Cool Papa’s Party has legs. I intend to see where they carry me.


Heroes

John Vreeke, Director

When did you first realize there was something special about working with this cast?
After about a week of table work discussions and getting on our feet. This cast, the three of them together, have, well, let’s say over 100 years of experience in theater collectively.

- They work without ego…being beyond, past those needs…no time for ego…it’s stupid and counterproductive…never a moment of neediness or self doubt. – They know how to work…no teaching, no cajoling, no caretaking needed – They respect, love language…Stoppard’s is great for them…they know about music in language and how to make it sing – They have, again, years of technique experience so they know how to deliver the language. – They genuinely like and respect each other…love being in each other’s company…which pays off for the three way friendship in Heroes.

What moment(s) in the play do you think best exemplify the ensemble’s work?
The entire play.

To see the full story, click on the links below:
http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/03/28/meet-the-2010-helen-hayes-nominees-1/
http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/03/28/meet-the-2010-helen-hayes-nominees-2/

A Note From The Artistic Director

MetroStage is proud to announce that Cool Papa's Party, which premiered at MetroStage January 2009, has received six Helen Hayes Awards nominations: Outstanding Director Thomas W. Jones II, Outstanding Music Director William Knowles, Outstanding Choreographer Maurice Hines, Outstanding Lead Actor Jahi Kearse, Outstanding Supporting Actor Anthony Manough and Outstanding Ensemble in a Resident Musical. Congratulations to Tom, William and Maurice and to this remarkable ensemble of Jahi, Roz, William, Anthony, Gary, Lori, Gia, and Ben who tapped, sang and acted as they told the story of the "world's greatest entertainer." Since its premiere, Cool Papa's Party has continued to be workshopped in Atlanta, here at MetroStage and later this spring in New York in anticipation of future productions prior to a New York run.

Heroes, translated by Tom Stoppard and starring Ralph Cosham, Michael Tolaydo, and John Dow who so exquisitely portrayed three old soldiers passing their time on a park bench and displaying their camaraderie with wit and poignance, was recognized by the Helen Hayes judges with a nomination as Outstanding Ensemble in a Resident Play. Congratulations to Ralph, Michael, John, and to director John Vreeke who was so instrumental in creating this amazing ensemble. Heroes received four Moliere nominations in Paris and won an Olivier in London. This Helen Hayes Awards nomination is another honor for this lovely "little gem" and its wonderful cast.

Carolyn Griffin

2010 Helen Hayes Awards Nominations Announced

We are pleased to announce that two MetroStage productions have received recognition from the Helen Hayes Awards. The 2010 nominations were announced this week and Cool Papa's Party and Heroes both received nominations. Congratulations and thanks to the casts, the creative teams and the crews that made these productions possible!

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
♦ Maurice Hines, Cool Papa's Party

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
♦ Thomas W. Jones II, Cool Papa's Party

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
♦ Jahi Kearse, Cool Papa's Party

Outstanding Music Direction, Resident Production
♦ William Knowles, Cool Papa's Party

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
♦ Anthony Manough, Cool Papa's Party

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical
♦ Cool Papa's Party

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play
♦ Heroes






The 26th Annual Helen Hayes Awards will be presented on Monday, April 5, 2010 at 8:00pm, a gala celebration bringing together 2,000 theatre makers and theatre lovers to The Warner Theatre and JW Marriott Hotel in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C.

Click here to see the complete list of nominees >

Click here to read Tim Treanor's article "Small is big..." from DC Theatre Scene >

Helen Hayes Awards held Sunday, April 12, 2009

Congratulations to Natascia Diaz for winnning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical (ROOMS, a rock romance)!

For a complete list of the nominees and winners, CLICK HERE >

2009 Helen Hayes Awards Nominations Announced

We are pleased to announce that two MetroStage musicals have received recognition from the Helen Hayes Awards. The 2009 nominations were announced this week and ROOMS a rock romance and Cookin' at the Cookery both received nominations. Congratulations and thanks to the casts, the creative teams and the crews that made these productions possible!

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
♦ Scott Schwartz, ROOMS a rock romance, MetroStage and Geva Theatre Center

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
♦ Doug Kreeger, ROOMS a rock romance, MetroStage and Geva Theatre Center

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical
♦ Natascia Diaz, ROOMS a rock romance, MetroStage and Geva Theatre Center
♦ Janice Lorraine, Cookin' at the Cookery, MetroStage

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
♦ ROOMS a rock romance, Book, Music & lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman, MetroStage and Geva Theatre Center
♦ ROOMS a rock romance, Book by Miriam Gordon, MetroStage and Geva Theatre Center

Outstanding Resident Musical
♦ ROOMS a rock romance, MetroStage and Geva Theatre Center, in association with Van Hill Enterainment, The Musical Machine, Jeffrey M. Raff and Small Pond Enterprises

The 25th Anniversary Helen Hayes Awards will be presented on Monday, April 13, 2009 at 8:00pm, a gala celebration bringing together 2,000 theatre makers and theatre lovers, at The Warner Theatre and JW Marriott Hotel in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C.