TDPS Alumni, Faculty and Students Win 2025 Helen Hayes Awards

They were honored for their outstanding achievements in regional theater.

Alumni, faculty and students from the University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) have won 2025 Helen Hayes Awards. 

The awards recognize phenomenal work in the theater scene of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Nominations are designated with “Helen” or “Hayes” depending on the number of Actors Equity Association members involved in the production. The awards ceremony took place May 19 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.

Mark Costello M.F.A. ’18 received the award for Outstanding Media/Projection Design, Helen for “Astro Boy and the God of Comics” at Flying V Theater 

Hailey LaRoe, an incoming M.F.A. design candidate, won Outstanding Lighting Design, Helen for “Las Hermanas Palacios” (The Palacios Sisters) at GALA Hispanic Theatre. 

Imagination Stage’s production of “Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood” won Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences. This production was directed by Nathaniel P. Claridad ’04, written by Joan Cushing ’70, starred Jordan Embrack ’24, and featured Edima Essien '21 in the ensemble. The production's sound was designed by Kiefer Cure ’24 and TDPS Lecturer Sam Crawford, the lighting was designed by Christian Henrriquez '24, and the set was designed by Sophia Tepermeister, who is graduating this spring with an M.F.A. in design. 

See the full list of TDPS nominees here and the complete list of Helen Hayes Award winners here. 

Photos provided by Lisa Nathans