A preview of this year’s Helen Hayes Awards
2023 Helen Hayes AwardsMay 22, 2023For tickets go to theatrewashington.org After three years of varying and virtual approaches, this year’s Helen Hayes Awards will be more familiar with the honors being doled out live and in person on Monday night at the Anthem.
Integral in making the 37th awards both fun and sufficiently formal is delightful actor/director Holly Twyford who’s been tapped to both co-host and co-direct the annual ceremony. “For me, it’s not as hard as it sounds,” she explains modestly. “Will Gartshore [co-director and celebrated Washington actor] has done the lion’s share of the work.
He’d already written an entire script by the time I stepped in. He’s really smart and knows music.” Undeniably, Twyford brings a lot of experience to the gig.
She’s been attending the awards since the early ‘90s, and remembers meeting the late “first lady of American theater” for whom the Awards are named, and shaking her hand.
