Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Come From Away won four Helen Hayes Awards—which honor theatrical productions in Washington, D.C.—on May 15, for its staging at Ford’s Theatre in D.C. last year. The new musical played a number of out-of-town productions prior to arriving on Broadway in March.
Come From Away was inspired by the true story of a group of travelers whose planes were diverted to a small Newfoundland town following the September 11 attacks in 2001. The D.C. production was nominated for 14 awards—taking home Outstanding Musical Production, Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Christopher Ashley), and Outstanding Featured Actress (Jenn Colella). Both Ashley and Colella are also 2017 Tony Award nominees.
The new musical, now playing Broadway’s Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, has been nominated for seven Tony Awards including Best Musical.
The Helen Hayes Award recipients were announced at the 33rd Helen Hayes Awards gala at the Lincoln Theatre in D.C. May 15. The awards are divided into two categories: Helen and Hayes. Shows with a majority of performers who are Equity actors are categorized as Hayes shows, and shows that do not employ a majority of Equity actors are Helen shows.
Come From Away and other Canadians were nominated or won in the following categories:
Outstanding Choreography, Musical-Hayes
Christopher d’Amboise, Evita, Olney Theatre Center
Kelly Devine, Come From Away, Ford’s Theatre
Parker Esse, Carousel, Arena Stage
Jared Grimes, Jelly’s Last Jam, Signature Theatre
-nom- Sergio Trujillo, Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical, Olney Theatre Center
Outstanding Musical Direction-Hayes
Jay Crowder, 110 in the Shade, Ford’s Theatre
Ian Eisendrath, Come From Away, Ford’s Theatre
Darius Smith, Jelly’s Last Jam, Signature Theatre
☛ Paul Sportelli, Carousel, Arena Stage
Markus Williams, The Christians, Theater J
Outstanding Direction, Musical-Hayes
☛ Christopher Ashley, Come From Away, Ford’s Theatre
Will Davis, Evita, Olney Theatre Center
Matthew Gardiner, La Cage aux Folles, Signature Theatre
Matthew Gardiner, Jelly’s Last Jam, Signature Theatre
Molly Smith, Carousel, Arena Stage
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical-Hayes
Carousel, Arena Stage
☛ Come From Away, Ford’s Theatre*
Jelly’s Last Jam, Signature Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical-Hayes
Ann Arvia, Carousel, Arena Stage
☛ Jenn Colella, Come From Away, Ford’s Theatre*
Kendra Kassebaum, Come From Away, Ford’s Theatre
Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, Come From Away, Ford’s Theatre
Kate Rockwell, Carousel, Arena Stage
Q. Smith, Come From Away, Ford’s Theatre
-nom- Astrid Van Wieren, Come From Away, Ford’s Theatre
Outstanding Production, Musical-Hayes
Carousel, Arena Stage
☛ Come From Away, Ford’s Theatre
Jelly’s Last Jam, Signature Theatre
La Cage aux Folles, Signature Theatre
Titanic, Signature Theatre
From Olivia Clement at www.playbill.com.
2017-05-16
Washington, DC: "Come From Away" and Paul Sportelli wins Helen Hayes Awards