Program Overview

In partnership with the region’s dynamic professional theatre community, theatreWashington creates and invigorates audiences, strengthens the region’s theatrical workforce, and celebrates excellence on Washington stages to build and an even more vibrant community for all.

Celebrating Excellence

The annual Helen Hayes Awards honors extraordinary achievement in Washington-area professional theatres. Through a rigorous adjudication process, the work of theatre artists is evaluated and tabulated to identify those whose work will be recognized as outstanding. Over its thirty year history, the Helen Hayes Award has brought national and international attention to the Washington area’s thriving theatre community.

Building Audiences

theatreWashington.org is the go-to web resource for all things theatrical in the Washington area, with a special emphasis on bringing new audiences into theatres and neighborhoods. In addition to the interactive Show Selector and Education Explorer (see below), the site offers an increasing number of in-depth feature stories, along with weekly artist spotlights, discount offers, etc.

tixCertificates are the perfect gift to introduce—or re-introduce—family and friends to the experience of live theatre via gift certificates valid at over 40 participating theatres in the Washington area.


The Helen Hayes Recommended moniker is a real-time endorsement linked to the adjudication process of the Helen Hayes Awards. It provides theatres with the ability to promote exceptional work and cultivate audiences while productions are still running.


The monthly showTunes & Cocktails brings theatre-lovers together with a piano-playing host and celebrity guests from the Washington theatre community. Along with the opportunity to belt out some show tunes, the event offers theatreWashington the chance to cultivate new audiences and patrons.

The web-based showSelector is an interactive tool that matches audiences with the theatre productions that best suit their needs using criteria that include dates, genre, location, and age appropriateness. Similarly, the educationExplorer matches web visitors with the ideal classes, workshops, camps, and after-school programs.

An annual week-long celebration, theatreWeek builds awareness of Washington’s vibrant theatre community through media partnerships, special events, and ticketing opportunities. The focus is on inspiring first-time theatregoers and on encouraging existing patrons to try new venues.

Professional Development and Support

The state-of-the-art theatreWork interactive database links theatre artists with job opportunities specific to their skills and interests. Already populated with nearly 1,000 names, theatreWork’s first phase focuses on actors and the casting directors who seek them. The remaining three phases will focus on opportunities for directors and choreographers, designers, and administrators.

The Taking Care of Our Own fund provides emergency assistance to members of the theatre community who find themselves in sudden need. Funds are collected through the Bucket Brigade, in which actors solicit donations following designated performances; the Summer Hummer, an annual burlesque fundraiser; and I Can Cook Too, a collection of favorite recipes from Washington-area theatre artists.

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