April 2006: Erin Driscoll, who appeared in the Act III Theatre Company's productions of West Side Story and My Fair Lady, won a 2006 Helen Hayes Award for "Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical," for her portrayal of Hope Cladwell in Urinetown at Arlington's Signature Theatre. The production which ran in fall 2005 won eight awards, including "Outstanding Resident Musical."

Erin, shown here in her role as Eliza Doolittle in Act III's July 2001 production of My Fair Lady, earned a bachelor's degree in music from James Madison University in 2003.

Marni Penning, another Act III alum, was also nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for her performance in After Ashley at the Wooly Mammoth Theatre Company.

Photograph by Larry McClemons