Washington, D.C
Theaters and thespians from the D.C. region honored at the 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards
By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to The AFRO
Theatre Washington honored the region’s stellar theater community during the 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards, held at The Anthem on the District Wharf on May 18.
This year’s ceremony, hosted by actors Felicia Curry and Derrick Truby, and actor/director Holly Twyford, included performances from the Helen Hayes Awards Ensemble that illustrated the creativity of the local theater community.
The most-awarded productions of the evening included “Damn Yankees” from Arena Stage with eight honors, followed by “The Inheritance: Parts One and Two” from Round House Theatre, and “Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show” from Spooky Action Theater, each with five honors. Both Arena Stage and Round House Theatre picked up an additional award for “Fremont Ave.,” and “Bad Books,” respectively.
Amy Austin, president and CEO of Theatre Washington, an alliance that promotes an environment of creative and diverse regional theaters, said with a tradition that spans 42 years of recognizing the best in the industry, those who win or are nominated for an award consider it among the highlights of their career.
“Many people who live in the D.C. area may be unfamiliar with the Helen Hayes Awards, unless they’re part of the theater community,” Austin said. “But for us, it represents a major accomplishment – it means you’ve been recognized by your peers which is something that doesn’t come easy in this profession.”
“And while we may not have the glitz and glamour of Broadway in New York City, Washington, D.C., has a proud legacy of its own within the theater world. Arena Stage has been here for over 75 years – even before The Kennedy Center. And rather than yield to the discriminatory practices prevalent in the 1950s when it opened, Arena Stage, under the direction of its first artistic director and co-founder, Zelda Fichandler, bears the distinction of being the first racially integrated theater in Washington, D.C.,” Austin continued. “There’s something for everyone on the stages in this region – from Shakespeare’s ‘Merry Wives’ being set in the Caribbean to works being done in both Spanish and English.”
Native Washingtonian Ashleigh King, who served as co-director and choreographer for the awards, said this year’s theme, “Make a Scene,” speaks to the power of words which in a city like D.C., often have life or death implications.
“Through the words delivered by the actors, staged theatrical performances remind us of the transformative power of empathy and often share portraits of cultures different from one’s own,” King said. “The theaters in the region are among the most diverse in the country with some working with huge budgets and others with more limited funds producing works from church basements. But none of them are afraid to take risks and they’re willing to make bold statements.”
“For two hours, a room full of strangers hear stories, listen to those around them react with laughter and applause, and are touched by human experiences that they may not have felt for a while or ever. But they feel them,” Kind added. “And while change may not happen overnight, those feelings people experienced during a performance go with them as they move forward in their own lives.”
Austin agreed and said this year’s ceremony and chosen theme showcase “the essential role of theater in today’s world as both an art form and a platform for conversation, change, and reflection.”
The Helen Hayes Awards honored work presented during the 2025 calendar year from 149 eligible productions, including 42 musicals, 107 plays, and 33 world premieres. Awards were presented across 41 categories, including gender-inclusive performance categories.
Austin said as the awards platform has continued to expand, even smaller theater companies and part-time actors find encouragement.
“Since our founding in 1983, Theatre Washington has emerged as the official representative for the area’s robust and diverse theater scene,” Austin said. “Some only have about 100 seats, while others put on productions in churches or are run by immigrants from Eastern Europe. But even if an actor or a stagehand cannot commit to making theater a full-time job, they can be part of the theatrical community. So, everyone gets a chance to both participate and to be recognized.”
“We’re the only large scale awards system for the theater community in Washington, D.C. – at least for now. And it’s an opportunity that becomes more exciting each year.”
Two weeks after White House officials touted President Donald Trump’s efforts to make the city “safe and beautiful,” the water in the 13-basin fountain at Meridian Hill Park has turned into a murky, rust-orange hue.
(Courtesy CNN)
Courtesy CNN
(Courtesy CNN)
Courtesy CNN
(Courtesy CNN)
Courtesy CNN
(CNN) — At a ceremony in front of the iconic cascading fountain at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC, earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top US officials touted President Donald Trump’s efforts to make the city “safe and beautiful.”
But less than two weeks later, the historic park that served as Hegseth’s backdrop has become the latest hurdle President Donald Trump is facing in his mission to give the nation’s capital a facelift, as the water in the 13-basin fountain has turned into a murky, rust-orange hue.
The fountain had been devoid of water for seven years before the Trump administration repaired and reopened it in May in a $4 million renovation that delighted residents. After the renovation, residents flocked to the park in the evenings, sitting on the steps bordering the fountain, having picnics, and reading books.
But this week, parkgoers observed a brown color overtaking the reservoirs.
“It looks like mud,” said James Langan, a New York resident visiting DC.
The fixture at Meridian Hill Park is one of nine fountains being returned to service under Trump’s March 2025 executive order calling to make DC “safe and beautiful” coinciding with preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. When CNN visited the nine fountains scattered across DC this week, only one appeared to still be inoperable, and two had brown-colored water.
Some residents and visitors said they welcomed running water at Meridian Hill Park, despite the coloring.
“Whenever I’d like come here before, I was kind of disappointed that the water was never on, and it was kind of like overrun with trash,” Washington, DC, resident Jedi Sworobuk told CNN. “I think it’s nice to have, especially in the heat in the summer.”
The Interior Department told CNN on Tuesday evening that the brown water at Meridian Hill Park is “sediment as a result of the reopening of two water lines that had been out of service for some time,” noting it expected the water to run clean in the next 24 to 36 hours.
A CNN crew observed workers cleaning the cascading basins on Wednesday, following social media buzz about the browning water.
On Saturday, the pools of water were still murky, but less orange.
The Interior Department did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday on the state of the Meridian Hill fountain, and on the fountains at the General Philip Sheridan statue in Sheridan Circle, which were inactive.
The fountain at Meridian Hill Park caught the attention of Alexandra McKenna, a London resident who traveled to DC and made the park a stop on her trip.
“It looks pretty gross,” McKenna said, laughing.
McKenna pointed to the water at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which has also generated headlines in recent weeks, adding, “It’s kind of a thing going on in Washington at the moment.”
The Meridian Hill Park scramble comes after the Reflecting Pool saga dominated conversations in Washington. After Trump called for the pool’s renovation in April, the more than $14 million project has taken on a lifecycle of draining, painting, filling and peeling.
Trump alleged vandals gashed the pool’s lining. In recent weeks, at least three people were charged with destruction of property after allegedly removing pieces of blue paint from the pool, and a former Olympian was indicted on that allegation. The canoeist, David Hearn, pleaded not guilty.
During a May Cabinet meeting, Trump said most of the fountains were in final stages or fixed.
In his recent July Fourth address on the National Mall, Trump declared the city “safe, gleaming, and beautiful again,” though some beautification projects, like the Reflecting Pool, appear to be in progress.
The National Park Service said work to restore and rehabilitate historic landscapes will occur in phases, noting that the public may experience closures or limited access at certain sites.
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Washington, D.C
Sen. Graham’s death shocked Washington. What will be his legacy? : Consider This from NPR
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina at a hearing to examine the 2027 budget for the Department of Defense on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on May 12, 2026.
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The nation continues to react to the unexpected death of South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham was a veteran politician, a dealmaker and military hawk. He was also one of President Trump’s staunchest critics before his election, only to become one of Trump’s close allies on Capitol Hill after his victory.
Former Republican Senator Jeff Flake served alongside Graham from 2013-2019, and said he and Graham were “friends to the end,” despite moments of tension and disagreement. Flake weighs in on what will be Sen. Graham’s legacy.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Henry Larson, with audio engineering by Peter Ellena.
It was edited by Michael Levitt.
Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.
A road trip through Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington DC reveals the many layers of history behind the America250 celebrations
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As the US gears up for its big birthday, there’s no better way to mark 250 years of independence than in true American style: hitting the highway for a road trip exploring one of its most historic regions.
Following in the footsteps of those who shaped a nation, this route through the East Coast triangle of Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington DC is a great suggestion for US-bound clients inspired by the fireworks and festivals of Independence Day but who want to delve deeper into the stories from centuries of history.
United States Capitol, Washington, DC. Image credit: Shutterstock/Volodmyr Tverdokhlib.
What to see in Annapolis, Maryland
To really get under the skin of American independence, you need to tread the same paths as its Founding Fathers, starting with Annapolis, Maryland’s capital city, set on the shores of Chesapeake Bay.
Winding down to the waterfront, the cobbled streets, red-brick mansions and colourful clapboard houses of its historic district feel like wandering through a Disney set.
Maryland State House, the oldest state capitol still in continuous use, was built between 1772 and 1779, just as unrest was fomenting into a full-blown war of independence between the British and the 13 colonies that would go on to form the first United States.
My journey starts, ironically, where the conflict came to an end, since this state house was the place where George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1783 and where the Treaty of Paris was then signed, ending the Revolutionary War.
Of course, an army marches on its stomach – so I’m delighted to discover there are some tastier sides to the history of Annapolis.
First, we gear up with grits ‘n’ gravy at Chick & Ruth’s Delly, which has been feeding Maryland’s governors since 1965. The retro diner on Main Street has dishes named in their honour, including The Hogan’s Hero, a cheesesteak tribute to long-time governor Larry Hogan.
Then it’s time for a tipple or two in Middleton Tavern, which opened in 1750 and was a favourite haunt of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Whether that’s because it was a quiet spot to plot rebellion or because of its epic Maryland crab cakes, I really couldn’t say.
Lincoln Memorial Statue. Image credit: Dwi Yoga Pujo Laksono/Shutterstock.
Things to do in Baltimore
It’s less than an hour’s drive north to Baltimore, the biggest city in Maryland. As a fan of The Wire, I was expecting gritty streets with a seedy underbelly – but I find a buzzy, attractive city with a cool vibe and a real sense of its own history.
My base at The William Fell, a Tapestry Collection hotel by Hilton in Fells Point, is perfect for seeing the best of Baltimore in just a couple of days. It’s a scenic 30-minute stroll along the waterfront to Inner Harbor where USS Constellation, the last surviving sail-only warship built by the US Navy and the only Civil War-era ship still afloat, is docked.
Commissioned in 1855, the three-masted warship still has working cannons, which are fired throughout the day – much to the fright of those lunching at Inner Harbor’s waterfront restaurants – and dozens of hammocks hanging below deck. I half-expect Jack Sparrow to swing by on a rope.
From here, I hop on a Lime bike and cycle to Locust Point and Fort McHenry, which protected Baltimore in the War of 1812 against us Brits. Now a national monument, it inspired poet Francis Scott Key to write The Star-Spangled Banner, which went on to become the US national anthem.
I wander around the ramparts with the tune running through my head, before catching the folding of the flag ceremony as the sun goes down.
Aside from boats, ballads and battles, Baltimore has an impressive beer scene. I spend a delicious couple of hours sampling hazy IPAs at The Ministry of Brewing, a cavernous brewery housed in a former church, before raising a glass to Edgar Allan Poe at one of the poet’s favourite drinking holes in Fells Point, dubbed The Horse You Came In On Saloon.
Fort McHenry, Baltimore. Image credit: Felix Lipov/Shutterstock.
Guide to Washington, DC
No road trip exploring America’s story would be complete without a stop in the capital, Washington, DC. Swapping my Zest rental car for a pre-booked Big Bus Tour, I tick off many of DC’s must-see sights: the White House, Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery among them.
I manage to squeeze in a couple of hours at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, home to the Wright brothers’ Flyer and Amelia Earhart’s Vega 5B aircraft.
As a hotbed of espionage – DC has produced more spies than anywhere else in the nation – The International Spy Museum is another essential stop. I test my spy skills in an RFID-enabled undercover mission and fail miserably. Mata Hari has nothing to worry about.
I console myself with a Nixon-style martini (seven parts gin to one part vermouth, shaken not stirred) in the whiskey bar at the infamous Watergate Hotel – an appropriate toast to my historic AB(DC) road trip.
USS Constellation, Baltimore. Image credit: Walt Bilous/Shutterstock.
Book it
North America Travel Service offers a 14-night Colonial America fly-drive, taking in Washington, Gettysburg, Shenandoah National Park, Colonial Williamsburg, Annapolis and Baltimore, from £2,816 based on two adults sharing. The price includes British Airways flights from Heathrow departing in October, four-door car hire and accommodation including the Washington Hilton and the Historic Inns of Annapolis.
northamericatravelservice.co.uk
Audley Travel’s Classic Capital Region self-drive starts in Philadelphia, travelling to Gettysburg, Shenandoah National Park and Williamsburg, before stays in Annapolis at Historic Inns of Annapolis, in Baltimore at The William Fell, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, and in Washington at the Royal Sonesta Dupont Circle. The 17-day route costs from £5,465 including flights and car hire.
audleytravel.com
Lead image: Main Street, Annapolis, Maryland. Image credit: Shutterstock/Sean Pavone.
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