Helen Hayes Award Winner! 2020 Best New Play!
On September 9, 2020, Ken Ludwig was awarded the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Original New Play or Musical for his new play, Dear Jack, Dear Louise.
Dear Jack, Dear Louise premiered at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. from November 21 – December 29, 2019.
More about this year’s Helen Hayes Awards
The Helen Hayes Awards, now in its 36th year, recognizes outstanding achievement in more than 60 professional theaters across the Washington metropolitan area. Named for legendary First Lady of the American Theater Helen Hayes—a Washington native—the award celebrates the artists and companies whose excellence exemplifies a standard of artistry that has made Washington a thriving, internationally recognized theater town.
Nominations are the result of a rigorous year-long process in which 40 judges on five panels attend approximately 200 eligible productions, including 40 to 50 world premieres. The 2020 Awards honor the plays produced on Washington stages in 2019.
About the 2020 Helen Hayes Awards
Recognizing work from 185 eligible productions presented in the 2019 calendar year, there are 255 nominations in 47 categories grouped in “Helen” or “Hayes” cohorts, depending on the number of Equity members involved in the production. Nominations are the result of 40 carefully vetted judges’ evaluation of 2,570 individual pieces of work, including design, direction, choreography, and performances. Productions under consideration in 2019 included 46 musicals, 139 plays, and 45 world premieres.
Taking Care Fund
During the Helen Hayes Awards season, theatreWashington will be raising money for the Taking Care COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. This Fund, started in March 2020, has surpassed its original goal of $330,000—which was distributed in microgrants to local theater professionals in need during the near shutdown of our industry. We now have a gift of $25,000—from generous community donors, foundations, and the board of directors of theatreWashington—to be matched by the community, raising an additional $50,000 for this Fund. Those wishing to make a donation to the Taking Care COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, can do so here.