Feb. 12, 2015

A number of Catholic University students and alumni from the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music and the Department of Drama in the School of Arts and Sciences have received nominations for the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards for their performances and work in Washington, D.C.-area productions.The Helen Hayes Awards recognize outstanding achievement in plays and musicals in more than 80 professional theatres in the D.C. area. The award is named for actress Helen Hayes, whose 80-year career earned her an Emmy, a Grammy, two Oscars, and two Tony awards. She made her final stage appearance at the University's Hartke Theatre playing Mary Tyrone in a 1971 production of Eugene O'Neil's classic "Long Day's Journey into Night."Natasha Gallop, an M.F.A. candidate in the Department of Drama, was included in the ensemble nominated for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical, for her role in "Black Nativity" at Theater Alliance in D.C. Several alumni from the drama department received nominations, including Daniel Corey (M.A. 2012), who was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play, for his role in "One Man, Two Guvnors," at 1st Stage in Tysons Corner, Va. Two drama alumni were nominated in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play: Ben Cunis (B.A. 2006), for his role in "Twelfth Night" at Synetic Theater in Arlington; and Chris Dinolfo (B.A. 2006), for his role in "Stuart Little" at Adventure Theatre Musical Theater Center in Glen Echo, Md. Cunis received four separate nominations for Outstanding Choreography in a Play, for his work in "Twelfth Night" and "The Island of Dr. Moreau" at Synetic Theater, "The BFG" at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Md., and "Colossal" at Olney Theatre Center in Olney, Md. Cunis also received a nomination for Outstanding Play or Musical Adaptation for "Beauty and the Beast" at Synetic Theater. Nathan Weinberger (B.A. 2001) was nominated for the same category for Synetic Theater's "The Island of Dr. Moreau."CUAdrama instructor Paata Tsikurishvili received a nomination for Outstanding Director of a Play for Synetic Theater's "Twelfth Night." Two alumni from the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music received nominations. Jimmy Mavrikes (B.A. 2013) was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for his work in "Bat Boy: The Musical" at 1st Stage. Roc Lee (M.A. 2010) was nominated for Outstanding Sound Design for "Mother Courage and Her Children" at Arena Stage in D.C. Nick Lehan, (B.A. 2009), was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical for his role in "Spamalot" at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Md.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony April 6. For more information, visit theatrewashington.org. The Department of Drama in the School of Arts and Sciences has been the educational incubator for acclaimed playwrights, directors, and actors since 1937. The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music is Washington, D.C.'s only university school of music. More than 2,000 of its alumni have won a variety of awards as performers, music educators, and scholars.