A Night Out: The Helen Hayes Awards

Veteran actor Floyd King, winner of a Helen Hayes Award for outstanding supporting actor in a resident play at last night’s 25th Anniversary Helen Hayes Awards, proved one of the rules of theater: Never follow a child’s or an animal’s act. King had no sooner exited the stage after pronouncing himself “thrilled” to be honored for Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Twelfth Night than he was followed by one of the two winners for outstanding supporting actress in a resident musical, 12-year-old Angelina Kelly, who proceeded to steal the show. “My mom told me that no matter what happened, I was to keep a smile on my face and act thrilled,” said Kelly, who won for her role in Signature Theatre’s Ace. Dramatic pause. “I’m thrilled.”

Eric Schaeffer, artistic director of Signature and the guy who cast Kelly as well as a cadre of other kids in plays this season, had plenty to smile about. His production of Les Misérables captured six awards, including outstanding resident musical and, for Schaeffer, outstanding director of a resident musical. Both outstanding lead actor in a resident musical David Margulies and one of the two winners of outstanding lead actress in a resident musical, Chita Rivera, were also honored for Signature productions (The Happy Time and The Visit, respectively).

It was also a winning night for Washington fashion. The creative community can always be counted on to glam up the occasion. Check out our photos of the event after the jump.