Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia received eight nominations
for musicals in the 29th Annual Helen Hayes Awards, more than any
other theatre in the metro area, dinner or otherwise. According to this story
by Nelson Pressley in The Washington Post, the “production of “The Color
Purple” scraped the buffet clean with eight nominations, followed by seven for “Dreamgirls”
at Signature Theatre.”
In addition to the nod for Outstanding Resident
Musical, Toby Orenstein was also nominated for Outstanding Director. The other nominations
were Dayne Quincy for Outstanding Lead Actress, David Little for Outstanding
Supporting Actor, Theresa Cunningham for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Anwar
Thomas for Outstanding Choreography, Lawrence B. Munsy for Outstanding Costume
Design and Christopher Youstra for Outstanding Musical Direction.
“The nominations, announced during a low-key, brightly
lighted event (it was live-streamed online) in the National Theatre’s Helen
Hayes Gallery, were compiled by a floating panel of 48 judges who evaluated 201
eligible productions during 2012. All shows are now closed, making the affair
ceremonial and celebratory — not a Tony Awards-style rush for box-office gold.
The 29th annual awards, administered and presented by the service organization theatreWashington, will be April 8 at
the Warner Theatre
