UNCSA alumni win 2026 Helen Hayes Awards in Washington, D.C.

Several alumni of the schools of Design and Production (D&P) and Drama at UNCSA have won Helen Hayes Awards , Washington, D.C.’s equivalent of New York’s Tony Awards for outstanding theater. The 42nd Helen Hayes Awards were presented Monday, May 18, at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. and celebrated productions in the Washington region from the 2025 calendar year.

UNCSA alumni winners this year include:

• Drama alumnus David Gow (B.F.A. ’16) won outstanding lead performer, Hayes category, for “The Inheritance Parts One and Two” at Round House Theatre. The production won five Helen Hayes Awards, including outstanding production, play and outstanding director of a play.
• Drama alumnus Stephen Kime (B.F.A. ’17) won outstanding supporting performer in a play, Helen category, for “The Margriad” at Avant Bard Theatre.
• Design and Production alumnus Justin Schmitz (M.F.A. ’15) won outstanding sound design, Helen category, for “hang” at 1st Stage. Schmitz has been nominated twice for Helen Hayes Awards, for sound design of “I Call My Brothers” at Forum Theatre and “The Wild Party” at Constellation Theatre Company.

Additional UNCSA alumni nominees this year included:

• Design and Production alumnus Nadir Bey (B.F.A. ’20), who was nominated in the outstanding set design, Hayes category, for “cullud wattah” at Mosaic Theater Company and in the outstanding set design, Helen category, for “American Fast” at Theater Alliance. Bey was previously nominated for two Helen Hayes Awards including outstanding set design for “The Chosen” at 1st Stage in 2023 and “The Rainmaker” at 1st Stage in 2022.
• Drama alumnus Ro Boddie (High School ’05; B.F.A. ’09), who was nominated in the outstanding lead performer, Hayes category, for “The American Five” at Ford’s Theatre. Boddie previously won a Helen Hayes Award in 2015, receiving the Robert Prosky Award for outstanding lead actor in a play, Helen category, for “Seven Guitars.”

The Helen Hayes Awards are presented by Theatre Washington and honor achievement across the Washington metropolitan theater community.

Information in this release reflects what could be obtained by press time and will be updated online if additional information is made available.

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