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courtesy of ‘dbking’

My pal Brieahn J. DeMeo calls it Theatre Prom.

I call it the fanciest event I ever had to get dressed for.

Sure I’ve been to weddings, but it’s easy when you know you just have to rent a tux and you are all set. For this one I had to call in the big guns- I rang up Brittany and she set me straight.

I’m talking about the Helen Hayes awards, the annual night where the local theatre community honors the outstanding plays and musicals of the past year. It’s kind of like the Tony’s- but for stuff that happens at Kennedy Center and Arena Stage. 26 awards will be presented tonight as well as three special awards to Ford’s Theatre (Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community), Factory 449 and No Rules Theatre Company (Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company), and stage legend Tommy Tune will be honored with the he Helen Hayes Tribute.

Tonight also marks the debut of a Helen Hayes commemorative stamp issued by the United States Postal Service.

Presenters include actor John Michael Higgins, playwright Ken Ludwig, Studio Theatre‘s David Muse, and other actors, signers, and dancers.

At first glance at the nominees, I will be rooting for Clybourne Park, which recently won a Pulitzer and will be returning to Woolly Mammoth this summer. Other than that I’ll be personally rooting for shaking hands with Laurence Fishburne or Phylicia Rashad who are nominated tonight. Hopefully they will make it out to little ol’ DC.

Ok well I gotta go pick up my shows and make sure my suit is in order- if it’s theatre prom does that mean I have to have a bender at my parents’ beach house tomorrow?

Also I will be live-tweeting the event on Twitter with Maura Judkis from TBD. I also hear ShowBizRadio will be on the air as well.

Patrick Pho

Patrick has been blogging since before it was called blogging. At We Love DC Patrick covers local Theatre, and whatever catches his eye. Patrick’s blog stories, rants, and opinions have been featured in The Washington City Paper, Washington Post Express, CNN, Newschannel 8 Washington, and NBC Washington. See why Patrick loves DC.

You can e-mail him at ppho [at] welovedc.com