Those works were all named in production categories. The fresh take on the international hit Les Miz was produced in an intimate venue in Signature's Arlington, VA, home. Director Eric Schaeffer, performers Christopher Bloch and Sherri L. Edelen, the Ensemble and musical director Jon Kalbfleisch also won Hayes Awards for their work.

Next to Normal, a new rock musical that opens on Broadway April 15, was seen at Arena Stage in 2008 after a world premiere Off-Broadway. Changes were made since its first New York production and since its Arena staging (which was considered a Non-Resident Production despite being hosted by Arena), leading to the current Broadway run. In the Hayes category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non-Resident Production, Next to Normal star Alice Ripley shared the award with Nilaja Sun (No Child…). Ripley plays a mentally troubled suburban mom in Next to Normal. Aaron Tveit played her son and won the Hayes as Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Non-Resident Production. (Both appear in the Broadway staging.)

Lead Actor in a Non-Resident Production went to Stacy Keach, who plays Richard M. Nixon in the national tour of Frost/Nixon.

Stefanie Zadravec's Honey Brown Eyes, a play set in war-torn Bosnia in 1992, won the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Play or Musical.

Natascia Diaz and Chita Rivera tied in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical for The Visit and ROOMS, a Rock Romance, respectively. The 25th anniversary Helen Hayes Awards ceremony was held at the Warner Theatre and JW Marriott Hotel. For additional information, visit helenhayes.org.

The 2009 nominees and recipients of the Helen Hayes Awards (representing 2008 productions) are listed below. Recipients are marked in boldface with an asterisk. More than one recipient is possible in each category.

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
Michael J. Bobbitt, Goodnight Moon, Adventure Theatre and Tribute Productions
Karma Camp, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Signature Theatre
Robin McFarquhar, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare Theatre Company
David Pelzig, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Ann Reinking, The Visit, Signature Theatre
*Irina Tsikurishvili, Carmen, Synetic Theater, Main Stage
Irina Tsikurishvili, Romeo and Juliet, Synetic Theater, Main Stage

Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production
*Marianne Custer, Alice, Round House Theatre
Kathleen Geldard, The Neverending Story, Imagination Stage
Miranda Hoffman, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company in association with McCarter Theatre Center
Helen Q. Huang, Stunning, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Robert Perdziola, Major Barbara, Shakespeare Theatre Company
David Zinn, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Arena Stage

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Frank Galati, The Visit, Signature Theatre
*Eric Schaeffer, Ace: The New Musical Adventure, Signature Theatre
Eric Schaeffer, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Signature Theatre
Eric Schaeffer, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre
Scott Schwartz, ROOMS a Rock Romance, MetroStage and Geva Theatre Center
Mary Hall Surface, Goodnight Moon, Adventure Theatre and Tribute Productions

Outstanding Director, Resident Play
Ethan McSweeny, Major Barbara, Shakespeare Theatre Company
David Muse, Blackbird, The Studio Theatre
David Muse, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Aaron Posner, Macbeth, Folger Theatre
Rebecca Bayla Taichman, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company in association with McCarter Theatre Center
Teller, Macbeth, Folger Theatre
*Paata Tsikurishvili, Romeo and Juliet, Synetic Theater, Main Stage
John Vreeke, Boom, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production
Alan Cox, Frost/Nixon, The Kennedy Center
Brian Tyree Henry, The Brothers Size, The Studio Theatre
*Stacy Keach, Frost/Nixon, The Kennedy Center
Martin Moran, The Tricky Part, Signature Theatre
J. Robert Spencer, Next to Normal, Arena Stage

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
Will Chase, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Signature Theatre
Hunter Foster, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Signature Theatre
George Hearn, The Visit, Signature Theatre
Doug Kreeger, ROOMS a Rock Romance, MetroStage and Geva Theatre Center
*David Margulies, The Happy Time, Signature Theatre
Greg Stone, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production
Carrie Fisher, Wishful Drinking, Arena Stage
Becky Gulsvig, Legally Blonde, The Musical, Kennedy Center
Phindile Mkhize, The Lion King, Kennedy Center
*Alice Ripley, Next to Normal, Arena Stage
*Nilaja Sun, No Child …, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical
*Natascia Diaz, ROOMS a Rock Romance, MetroStage and Geva Theatre Center
Janice Lorraine, Cookin' at the Cookery, MetroStage
Jill Paice, Ace: The New Musical Adventure, Signature Theatre
*Chita Rivera, The Visit, Signature Theatre
Barbara Walsh, Grey Gardens, The Studio Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play
Tana Hicken, The Road to Mecca, The Studio Theatre
*Lisa Joyce, Blackbird, The Studio Theatre
Sarah Marshall, Maria/Stuart, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Kimberly Schraf, Measure for Pleasure, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
*Deidra LaWan Starnes, Intimate Apparel, African Continuum Theatre Company
Holly Twyford, The Road to Mecca, The Studio Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production
Colin K. Bills, Stunning, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Andrew Cissna, 1984, Catalyst Theater Company
Daniel Covey, In the Heart of America, Rep Stage
Mark Lanks, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre
*Chris Lee, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Signature Theatre
Charlie Morrison, Rabbit Hole, Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Musical Direction, Resident Production
Jon Kalbfleisch, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Signature Theatre
*Jon Kalbfleisch, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre
Konstantine Lortkipanidze, Host and Guest, Synetic Theater, Main Stage
David Loud, The Visit, Signature Theatre
Christopher Youstra, Jerry Springer the Opera, The Studio Theatre 2ndStage

Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production
*Daniel Conway, Stunning, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Thomas Kamm, Boom, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Adam Koch, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Signature Theatre
James Kronzer, 1984, Catalyst Theater Company
James Noone, Major Barbara, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Anastasia Ryurikov Simes, Romeo and Juliet, Synetic Theater, Main Stage
Walt Spangler, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production
Karin Graybash, Macbeth, Folger Theatre
Irakli Kavsadze, Romeo and Juliet, Synetic Theater, Main Stage
Konstantine Lortkipanidze, Romeo and Juliet, Synetic Theater, Main Stage
Neil McFadden, Boom, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
*Matthew M. Nielson, 1984, Catalyst Theater Company
Ryan Rumery, Stunning, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
*Christopher Bloch, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre
Andrew Call, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre
Matthew Dellapina, This Beautiful City, The Studio Theatre, with Actors Theatre of Louisville & The Civilians
Mark Jacoby, The Visit, Signature Theatre
Chris Sizemore, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre
Jeremy Webb, The Visit, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play
Che Ayende, Resurrection, Arena Stage in collaboration with Hartford Stage
Drew Eshelman, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare Theatre Company
*Floyd King, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company in association with McCarter Theatre Center
Owen Scott, The History Boys, The Studio Theatre
Tom Story, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company in association with McCarter Theatre Center
Jay Sullivan, The History Boys, The Studio Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical
Felicia Curry, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre
*Sherri L. Edelen, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre
Carrie A. Johnson, The Happy Time, Signature Theatre
*Angelina Kelly, Ace: The New Musical Adventure, Signature Theatre
Christiane Noll, Ace: The New Musical Adventure, Signature Theatre
Tracy Lynn Olivera, Les Misérables, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play
*Helen Carey, Major Barbara, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Sarah Marshall, Boom, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Jennifer Mendenhall, Measure for Pleasure, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Nancy Robinette, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company in association with McCarter Theatre Center
Deidra LaWan Starnes, Doubt: A Parable, Olney Theatre Center

Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production
Jennifer Damiano, Next to Normal, Arena Stage
Sofia Jean Gomez, Argonautika, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Robert Prosky, The Price, Theater J
Mark Shunock, The Lion King, The Kennedy Center
*Aaron Tveit, Next to Normal, Arena Stage

The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
Stunning, David Adjmi, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
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
Chasing George Washington: A White House Adventure, music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, The Kennedy Center in collaboration with The White House Historical Association
Mermaids, Monsters, and the World Painted Purple, Marco Ramirez, The Kennedy Center
Chasing George Washington: A White House Adventure, book & lyrics by Karen Zacarías, The Kennedy Center in collaboration with The White House Historical Association
*Honey Brown Eyes, Stefanie Zadravec, Theater J

The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play
René Auberjonois, The Imaginary Invalid, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Aubrey Deeker, Boom, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Edward Gero, Nixon's Nixon, Round House Theatre
Karl Kenzler, Major Barbara, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Floyd King, The History Boys, The Studio Theatre
Ian Merrill Peakes, Macbeth, Folger Theatre
*Ted van Griethuysen, Major Barbara, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Jerry Whiddon, Blackbird, The Studio Theatre

Outstanding Non-Resident Production
Frost/Nixon, The Kennedy Center
The Lion King, The Kennedy Center
*Next to Normal, Arena Stage
No Child …, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
The Price, Theater J

Outstanding Resident Musical
Ace: The New Musical Adventure, Signature Theatre
Jerry Springer the Opera, The Studio Theatre 2ndStage
Kiss of the Spider Woman, Signature Theatre
*Les Misérables, Signature Theatre
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 Visit, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Resident Play
*Blackbird, The Studio Theatre
Macbeth, Folger Theatre
Major Barbara, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Romeo and Juliet, Synetic Theater
*Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company in association with McCarter Theatre Center

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical
Goodnight Moon, Adventure Theatre and Tribute Productions
Jerry Springer the Opera, The Studio Theatre 2ndStage
Kiss of the Spider Woman, Signature Theatre
*Les Misérables, Signature Theatre
This Beautiful City, The Studio Theatre, in association with Actors Theatre of Louisville and The Civilians
The Visit, Signature Theatre

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play
Alice, Round House Theatre
Carmen, Synetic Theater
The History Boys, The Studio Theatre
In the Heart of America, Rep Stage
Intimate Apparel, African Continuum Theatre Company
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Forum Theatre
Measure for Pleasure, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Rabbit Hole, Olney Theatre Center
Resurrection, Arena Stage in collaboration with Hartford Stage
*Romeo and Juliet, Synetic Theater
Translations, The Keegan Theatre
Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company in association with McCarter Theatre Center

*

There were two unusual aspects to the 2008 nominations: The voting resulted in many tied scores that could not be broken; and "the quantity and quality of ensemble work necessitated the division of The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble into two separate categories (one for ensemble of a play and the other for ensemble of a Musical)."

Beginning with the 2009 Awards presentation, the award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play will be named The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play. The naming of this award, approved unanimously by the Helen Hayes Awards board of directors, will continue to honor the legacy of the American actor who died in 2008.

This year's Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by Jaylee Mead, which recognizes some of the most distinguished artists in the theatre profession, was presented to The Artistic Directors of Washington's professional theatres — "almost 70 artistic directors who dedicate every day of their lives to creating exceptional theatre, routinely do everything from pick out a season to pick up the trash; and, possess unique artistic visions that forge our exceptionally rich theatre community."

The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company was given to Constellation Theatre. This award was established in 2008 in memory of John Aniello, a devoted champion of young, promising talent and an avid theatregoer since 1960. The John Aniello Award "recognizes and encourages the efforts of companies who are just getting started yet have produced a body of work that is new, daring, and exciting."