Award Categories

Theatre Washington divides nominees into two pools (a restructuring that began in 2013) – “Helen” and “Hayes” – based on the percentage of Actors’ Equity union contracts in a production’s cast. The judging pool was split into four panels for plays and musicals under both Helen and Hayes categories, plus a New Play panel to adjudicate original works and new adaptations. 

In August 2020, Theatre Washington announced the elimination of gender-segregated performance categories for the Helen Hayes Awards. The decision was the result of conversations, research, and extensive consultation with peer award organizations and input from the Washington, DC-area theatre community – including nonbinary and transgender performers. 

Additionally, in 2020, a new award for Outstanding Media/Projection design was introduced to recognize the growing design contributions and the need for a distinct category. 

The current Helen Hayes Awards categories are:

Helen Categories

  • Outstanding Play

  • Outstanding Director of a Play 

  • Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play 

  • Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play 

  • Outstanding Ensemble in a Play 

  • Outstanding Choreography in a Play 

  • Outstanding Musical 

  • Outstanding Director of a Musical 

  • Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical 

  • Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical 

  • Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical 

  • Outstanding Choreography in a Musical 

  • Outstanding Musical Direction

  • Outstanding Costume Design 

  • Outstanding Lighting Design 

  • Outstanding Set Design 

  • Outstanding Sound Design 

Hayes Categories

  • Outstanding Play

  • Outstanding Director of a Play 

  • Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play 

  • Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play 

  • Outstanding Ensemble in a Play 

  • Outstanding Choreography in a Play 

  • Outstanding Musical 

  • Outstanding Director of a Musical 

  • Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical 

  • Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical 

  • Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical 

  • Outstanding Choreography in a Musical 

  • Outstanding Musical Direction

  • Outstanding Costume Design 

  • Outstanding Lighting Design 

  • Outstanding Set Design 

  • Outstanding Sound Design 

  • Outstanding Media/Projection Design


Additional Categories

  • Outstanding Visiting Production

  • Outstanding Performer, Visiting Production 

  • Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences

  • The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Original New Play or Musical

  • Outstanding Original Play or Musical Adaptation

  • The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre

  • The Helen Hayes Tribute