FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brad Kalbfeld
(571)205-2571
e-mail: bkalbfeld@1ststagespringhill.org
Web site: www.1stStageTysons.org

1st Stage named Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company by Helen Hayes Awards

Tysons Theatre to Receive John Aniello Award

McLean, Va. January 25 – 1st Stage, Tysons Corner's professional theatre, will be given the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company, the Helen Hayes Awards announced Monday.

The award will be presented at the 26th annual Helen Hayes Awards ceremony April 5 at the Warner Theatre and J.W. Marriott Hotel.

1st Stage is "an exciting young theatre company who has made their home in Tysons Corner specifically to provide opportunities to emerging talents so they can in fact be the “first stage” in their careers," said Victor Shargai, Chairman of The Helen Hayes Awards Board of Directors, in announcing the award.

"We are deeply honored by this award," said Mark Krikstan, artistic director at 1st Stage. "These first 18 months have been quite a ride, artistically and financially, and it's wonderful to have this recognition from the theatre community."

The Helen Hayes Awards' announcement said "The John Aniello Award recognizes and encourages the efforts of companies who are just getting started yet have produced a body of work that is new, daring, and exciting." The award was established in 2008 in memory of John Aniello. He was "a devoted champion of young, promising talent and an avid theatergoer since 1960", the Awards said. Previous recipients include Taffety Punk in 2008 and Constellation Theatre Company in 2009.

1st Stage is now in rehearsal for its new production, “By the Bog of Cats", which runs Feb. 5 – 28. Performances are Fridays at 8 p.m. Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.. Tickets are available at www.1stStageTysons.org/cats.

The theatre recently announced that it will donate 20% of the proceeds from the opening weekend of "By the Bog of Cats" to Red Cross Haitian relief efforts.

1st Stage is a non-profit theatre located in Tyson’s Corner, VA. It produces fresh, engaging interpretations of theatrical pieces and provides young professional artists a place to learn, perform, and nurture their careers.

http://www.helenhayes.org/

Helen Hayes Nominations (pdf)

FOLLOW US: