Avant Bard is in our 35th season of boldly interrogating the classics through fresh, thought-provoking theatre productions. We approach the classics with an innovative eye, and we present new plays that speak to the classics by viewing them through a modern eye. The DMV theater community has recognized Avant Bard’s fresh approach with a variety of awards.
Mary Goldwater Awards
The Mary Goldwater Awards were presented by the Theatre Lobby between 1987 and 2006. Given from a trust fund established by alumni of the Theatre Lobby company, the awards “were given for theatrical excellence without regard to category. If the Judges thought it appropriate, they would give the Award to more than one artist in a given category. Or to none.” The Theatre Lobby gave between two and ten awards a year.
| Year | Honoree | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Rhea Seehorn | for Travesties at the Washington Shakespeare Company and The Big Slam at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company |
| 1997 | Washington Shakespeare Company | for productions of Travesties and Cymbeline |
| 2003 | Jose Carrasquillo, director | for The Maids by Jean Genet |
| 2005 | Kathleen Akerley | for Hapgood by Tom Stoppard |
| 2006 | Elizabeth Jenkins McFadden, scenic designer | especially for her work for the Washington Shakespeare Company |
| 2006 | Bruce Alan Rauscher, actor | for performances with the Washington Shakespeare Company and The American Century Theater |
| 2008 | Ayun Fedorcha, lighting designer | Jose Carrasquillo’s production of Metamorphosis |
Helen Hayes Awards
The Helen Hayes awards are presented by Theatre Washington for eligible productions in the previous calendar year. Starting in 2014, the nominations for Helen Hayes Awards were split into two groups: the Helen Group, for non-Equity productions; and the Hayes Group, for Equity productions. Most award categories are awarded for both groups. Then in August, 2020, the parallel categories for Actors and Actresses were combined into a single, gender-inclusive category, with ten nominations in each category (up from the previous cap of five) and two awardees (so that the net number of awards remained unchanged).
| Year | Category | Nominee | Production | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production | David Crandall | Hamlet | Won |
| 1992 | Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production | David Crandall | Julius Caesar | Nominated |
| 1992 | Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production | David R. Zemmels | Bloody Poetry | Nominated |
| 1992 | Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Production | T J Edwards | Hamlet | Nominated |
| 1992 | Outstanding Director, Resident Production | Jim Stone | Julius Caesar | Nominated |
| 1993 | Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production | Lynnie Raybuck | Frankenstein–Playing with Fire | Nominated |
| 1994 | Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production | David Maddox and Robin M. Heath | Edward II | Nominated |
| 1997 | Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production | Daniel Schrader | Cymbeline | Nominated |
| 1997 | Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play | Michelle Shupe | Cymbeline | Nominated |
| 1997 | Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play | David Fendig | Travesties | Nominated |
| 1997 | Outstanding Director, Resident Play | Joe Banno | Cymbeline | Nominated |
| 1998 | Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play | Rana Kay | 5th of July | Nominated |
| 1998 | Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play | Christopher Henley | Bent | Nominated |
| 1999 | Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | Jesse Berger | Marat/Sade | Won |
| 1999 | Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play | Bruce Nelson | The Triumph of Love | Nominated |
| 1999 | Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical | Rhea Seehorn | Marat/Sade | Nominated |
| 1999 | Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production | Tony Cisek | Pericles | Nominated |
| 1999 | Outstanding Resident Musical | Marat/Sade | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play | Christopher Henley | Entertaining Mr. Sloane | Nominated |
| 2001 | Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play | Kate Eastwood Norris | Strange Interlude | Nominated |
| 2001 | Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play | John Emmert | Strange Interlude | Nominated |
| 2003 | Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production | Mark K. Anduss | Tiny Alice | Won |
| 2004 | Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Production | Michelle Shupe | Lady Chatterley’s Lover | Nominated |
| 2004 | Outstanding Director, Resident Production | John Vreeke | Lady Chatterley’s Lover | Nominated |
| 2004 | Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production | John Gurski | Scaramouché | Nominated |
| 2015 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical, Helen | Miranda Medugno | Visible Language | Won |
| 2015 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical, Helen | Sarah Anne Sillers | Visible Language | Nominated |
| 2015 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Helen | Lee Liebeskind | Nero/Pseudo | Nominated |
| 2015 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Helen | Bradley Foster Smith | Nero/Pseudo | Nominated |
| 2017 | Outstanding Play or Musical Adaptation | Jonelle Walker | TAME. | Nominated |
| 2018 | Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical, Helen | The Gospel at Colonus | Nominated | |
| 2020 | Outstanding Original Play or Musical Adaptation | Matt Minnicino | A Misanthrope | Nominated |
| 2020 | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play, Helen | Louis E. Davis | Topdog/Underdog | Nominated |
| 2020 | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play, Helen | Jeremy Keith Hunter | Topdog/Underdog | Nominated |
| 2020 | Outstanding Choreography in a Play, Helen | Casey Kaleba | Topdog/Underdog | Nominated |
| 2020 | Outstanding Sound Design, Helen | E’Marcus Harper Short | Topdog/Underdog | Nominated |
| 2020 | Outstanding Set Design, Helen | Nephelie Andonyadis | Topdog/Underdog | Won |
| 2020 | Outstanding Production in a Play, Helen | Topdog/Underdog | Nominated | |
| 2020 | Outstanding Direction in a Play, Helen | Demone Seraphin | Topdog/Underdog | Nominated |
| 2020 | Outstanding Lighting Design, Helen | John D. Alexander | Topdog/Underdog | Nominated |
| 2020 | Outstanding Choreography in a Play, Helen | Casey Kaleba | Topdog/Underdog | Nominated |
| 2024 | Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play, Helen | Kimberly Gilbert | Coriolanus (co-production with Longacre Lea) | TBD |
| 2024 | Outstanding Choreography in a Play, Helen | Bess Kay | Coriolanus (co-production with Longacre Lea) | TBD |