Washington, D.C
Theatre Washington to host 41st Helen Hayes Awards May 19 at the Anthem
Acclaimed theater artists Felicia Curry and Mike Millan will host the 41st Helen Hayes Awards at The Anthem on the Wharf on Monday, May 19, 2025. The ceremony celebrates the DC area’s vibrant and diverse theater industry and recognizes the outstanding work of over 200 nominees and theater-makers. This year’s Helen Hayes Tribute will honor actor, producer, and political activist Robert Hooks. The evening includes a red carpet, cocktail hour, seated dinner, and presentation of Awards with performances from some of the region’s favorite artists. The ceremony is directed and choreographed by Ashleigh King, and music is directed by Christopher Wingert.
“The arts bring us together; they are a vehicle for shared experience, understanding, and empathy, and the evening recognizes DC theater’s impact on our community. Now, more than ever, we need to celebrate theater-makers, and acknowledge diverse voices and contributions,” said Amy Austin, Theatre Washington President and CEO.
The event will recognize productions on regional stages from the 2024 calendar year, with nominations made in 42 categories. Nominations are the result of 51 carefully vetted judges considering work, such as design, direction, choreography, performances, writing, and more. Productions under consideration in 2024 included 57 musicals, 108 plays, and 37 world premieres. See the full list of nominees.
The 2025 Helen Hayes Tribute will be awarded to Robert Hooks for his distinguished career as an actor, producer, and political activist who significantly increased the visibility and representation of Black voices in the arts and was a prominent figure in the Black Arts Movement that arose during the Civil Rights Era. He founded three Black theater companies: New York’s Group Theatre Workshop, the Negro Ensemble Company, and the DC Black Repertory Company, and worked as an actor on Broadway, in film and on television, becoming the first black male lead of a network drama in David Susskind’s N.Y.P.D. Among his numerous awards and accolades are an NAACP Image Award for Lifetime Achievement, and induction into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
“Robert Hooks is the touchstone for Black Theater in DC. With the DC Black Repertory Theatre, he created the beginnings of a Black community of theater artists, musicians, designers and educators and opened its doors to all races. Bobby’s dream has taken root and lives on in our vibrant and diverse theatre community,” said Bonnie Nelson Schwartz, founder of the Helen Hayes Awards.
About the Helen Hayes Awards Committee
Jan Du Plain of Du Plain Global Enterprises is serving as Chair of the Helen Hayes Awards with Dr. Judith Kuriansky as Co-Producer, and Host Committee Members: Andrew R. Ammerman, Sherrie Beckstead Luxury Group, Marilynn Bianco, Michael Burke & Carl Smith, Gary P. Fontaine and O’Shelya S. Brown, Holly Hassett, John & Meg Hauge, Kevin Hennessy & David Lamdin, Karina Hou, Debbie Jackson & Bill Lammers, Renée Klish, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Abel Lopez, Bonnie Nelson Schwartz, Craig Pascal, Robin Phillips, Alan Savada & Will Stevenson, Sharon Lewis Tompkins, Annie Simonian Totah, and José Alberto Uclés & Tom Noll.
The 2025 Helen Hayes Awards are generously supported by:
Destination DC, Events DC, Giant Food, School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, Share Fund, TodayTix, United Media Group, and the Chinese American Museum DC.
About The Helen Hayes Awards
Named for actor Helen Hayes – a Washington native and legendary First Lady of the American Theater – the Helen Hayes Awards has honored excellence in professional theater throughout the Washington region, now celebrating forty years. Nominations are grouped in “Helen” or “Hayes” cohorts, depending on the number of Equity members involved in the production.
About Theatre Washington
Through collaborative partnerships and programs, Theatre Washington supports the Washington, DC, area’s professional theater community to celebrate artistic achievement, strengthen the theatrical workforce, support institutional growth and advancement, and cultivate collective action. Theatre Washington’s core programs include the Helen Hayes Awards, Theatre Week, Theatre Work, and the Taking Care Fund.
WASHINGTON (7News) — An early Wednesday morning incident at D.C.’s Metro Center left multiple riders injured after a work vehicle made contact with a Silver Line train just before the end of service.
According to Metro officials, the train was holding at the station when the work vehicle struck the rear car shortly after midnight. Officials said there were 27 customers on board at the time.
Officials say 11 people reported non-life-threatening injuries and that Metro personnel were not seriously injured.
SEE ALSO | Metro’s board to vote on budget that calls for fully automated trains on the Red Line
Passengers who did not report injuries were transferred to another train and continued toward Downtown Largo.
The train involved was the final Silver Line run of the night.
Metro said the incident remains under investigation as crews work to determine the cause.
As of 3:30 a.m., it’s not clear what the potential impacts to the morning service may be.
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Here are a few ways to give you a better idea of how much it may cost you if you’re considering moving to a new city.
Problem Solved
Earning enough to be considered middle class has gotten more expensive, with rising housing and everyday costs pushing the income bar higher, according to a recent report from GOBankingRates.
The median range for middle-class income across the country is between $59,000 and $104,000 in 2026, depending on which state you live in. GOBanking Rates used Pew Research Center’s definition of middle class — income ranging from two-thirds to twice a state’s median household income — and added data from the U.S. Census Bureau to report lowest middle-income, highest middle-class income and median income for each state, including Maryland and Virginia, and Washington D.C.
The current national middle-class minimum of $59,000 would have declared you middle class a decade ago in the U.S. In 2016, earning $39,000 placed a household at the lower edge of the middle class — and in regions like DC, MD and VA, median incomes were already far higher than the national median, so the “middle-class floor” was much higher than $39,000 even then.
In the DC region, the income required to be considered middle class is significantly higher than nationally, with the threshold starting around $61,000 in Virginia and nearly $69,000 in Maryland — compared with about $47,000 nationwide, GOBankingRates data shows. To be considered middle class in Washington DC, you’d have to earn at least $70,200. GoBankingRates omitted DC from their report; however, using the same formula and same US Census data cited, USA TODAY Network was able to calculate the low, high and median middle class income ranges. Here’s what the report shows and what we found for middle-class consideration in 2026.
What is middle class in Washington DC?
The middle class is a socioeconomic group in the U.S. that falls between the working class and upper class, earning around the middle of the income distribution for where they live. Middle class households often are able to cover their bills, rely on loans to buy homes or cars, and occasionally eat out or vacation, but not without careful budgeting, according to Investopedia.
Washington DC’s middle-class income in 2024 (the most recent year available from Census data) was between $70,200 and $209,600. GoBankingRates omitted DC middle-class data; however, USA TODAY Network used the same calculation, using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and the Pew Research Center’s benchmark definition of middle class. Here is the breakdown for middle-class in Washington DC:
- Median household income: $104,800
- Lowest end of middle-class income: $70,200
- Highest end of middle-class income: $209,600
Due to the region’s high cost of living, Washington DC’s middle-class median income surpasses not only the U.S. median, but it’s neighbors in Delaware, Virginia and Maryland. It also slightly surpasses the median middle-class income of New Jersey.
What is middle class in Virginia?
In Virginia, the income needed to be considered middle class starts at about $61,400 and can range up to roughly $184,200, according to GOBankingRates. That is based on Pew Research Center’s definition — two-thirds to twice the median household income. Here’s the breakdown of Virginia’s middle-class income as reported in 2026 using the latest Census data available from 2024:
- Median household income: $92,090
- Lowest end of middle-class income: $61,393
- Highest end of middle-class income: $184,180
What is middle class in Maryland?
To be considered middle-class in Maryland, the income required starts at about $68,600 and can extend up to roughly $205,800, according to GOBankingRates, which used the latest 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data available in their 2026 report.
For many Maryland households, especially in the DC suburbs, earning what sounds like a solid income does not always translate into financial comfort once housing, childcare and community costs are factored in: Maryland housing costs (rent and home prices) are well above national averages, according to Zillow market trends, and commuting costs for DC-area workers are among the longest and costliest, Census data shows. Maryland also consistently ranks among the most expensive states for childcare, often surpassing $15,000 per year per child, according to a Care.com 2024 Cost of Care report.
Highest middle-class incomes in the US
- Massachusetts income range: $69,885 to $209,656
- Maryland income range: $68,603 to $205,810
- New Jersey income range: $69,529 to $208,588
- Hawaii income range: $67,163 to $201,490
- California income range: $66,766 to $200,298
- New Hampshire income range: $66,521 to $199,564
- Washington income range: $66,259 to $198,778
- Colorado income range: $64,742 to $194,226
- Connecticut income range: $64,033 to $192,098
- Virginia income range: $61,393 to $184,180
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based news reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network’s Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.
Washington, D.C
US industry leaders take sport fishing issues to Washington DC – Angling International
The impact of tariffs on the US fishing tackle industry and the need for sound fisheries management were among the topics discussed by attendees of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA)’s first ever Keep America Fishing in DC Fly-In.
It included industry leaders who last week joined together in Washington DC and all walked hundreds of miles across the US Capital Complex to advocate for the interests of the US trade and the entire recreational fishing community.
The group also enjoyed conversations with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Director, Dr Neil Jacobs, Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Brian Nesvik, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Representative Blake Moore (R-UT).
ASA President and CEO, Glenn Hughes, said: “We look forward to continuing the conversation with legislators throughout the rest of this Congress and to an even bigger Keep America Fishing Fly-In in 2027.”
Above: From left: ASA President Glenn Hughes and Vice President of Government Affairs, Mike Leonard, with Senator Martin Heinrich (centre).
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