The Jeff Awards announced, via a special video presentation, a total of 127 nominations in 26 categories for the 44th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017. Hosting the video presentation were Alexis Roston and Lillian Castillo, who will be this year's Mistresses of Ceremonies at the Awards event on June 5 at The Athenaeum.
In the Production-Musical category, three of the nominated Productions each had eight nominations. These included "Urinetown" at BoHo Theatre, "The Wiz" at Kokandy Productions and "High Fidelity" at the newly eligible Refuge Theatre Project. Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre scored a total of 11 nominations this year, including seven for "The Most Happy Fella."
In the Production-Play category, three of the nominated Productions each had four nominations: "Prowess" at Jackalope Theatre Company, "At The Table" at Broken Nose Theatre (another newly-eligible company) and "The North Pool" at Interrobang Theatre Project.
The coveted Ensemble nominations were spread among seven productions: "At The Table" at Broken Nose Theatre, "Bat Boy The Musical" at Griffin Theatre Company, "truth and reconciliation" at Sideshow Theatre Company, "good friday," produced by Kristiana Rae Colon and Tara Branham in association with Oracle Productions, "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" at Trap Door Theatre, "How We got On" at Haven Theatre Company and "High Fidelity" at Refuge Theatre Project.
The 2016-2017 season also rewarded the efforts of Non-Equity theaters producing New Plays and New Musicals in Chicago, citing nine nominations for world premieres. Seven playwrights were nominated in the New Play category, including
Ike Holter for "Prowess" at Jackalope Theatre Company, Jerre Dye for "Distance" at Strawdog Theatre Company,
Alex Lubischer for "Bobbie Clearly" at Steep Theatre Company, Zeljko Djukic for "Gentle" at TUTA Theatre Chicago,
Philip Dawkins for "The Happiest Place on Earth" at Greenhouse Theater Center in association with Sideshow Theatre, Shepsu Aakhu for "Feral" at MPAACT, and the team of Heather McNama and Nancy Nyman for "Resolution" at Pride Films and Plays. New Musical nominations went to
Robert Kauzlaric and
George Howe for "Northanger Abbey" at Lifeline Theatre, as well as Alex Higgin-Houser & David Kornfeld for "Haymarket: The Anarchist's Songbook" at Underscore Theatre Company.
The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract.
Jeff Judges attended opening nights of 147 productions offered by 66 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Awards recommended 68 of those productions (or 46%), making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 68 Jeff Recommended productions, 53 (or 77%) received nominations, representing 34 theatre companies.
The 44th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, June 5, 2017, at The Athenaeum, located at 2936 N. Southport Ave in Chicago.
Doors open at 6 PM with several cash bars available. The awards ceremony will start at 7:30 p.m., followed by an After Party with a light buffet and all cash bars open. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. A group rate of $40 is available for parties of 10 or more. Festive cocktail attire is suggested, and the public is cordially invited. Tickets may be purchased online with a credit card at
www.jeffawards.org or by mail with the downloadable mail-order form, also found at
www.jeffawards.org. For more information, contact
John D. Glover, Non-Equity Wing Chair, at
nonequitywing@jeffawards.org. Follow live twitter feeds from the ceremony and behind the scenes at #JeffAwards2017.
The Jeff Awards has been honoring outstanding theatre artists annually since it was established in 1968. With up to 55 members representing a wide variety of backgrounds in theatre (including producers, directors, actors, playwrights, designers, professors of theatre, entertainment lawyers and agents, and theatre lovers), the Jeff Awards are committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors. Opening night judges include not only the members but also the team of Artistic & Technical theatre volunteers (the "AT Team") which include Artistic Directors, producers, directors from the major Chicago theatres, actors, designers, etc. The Jeff Awards fosters the artistic growth of area theatres and theatre artists and promotes educational opportunities, audience appreciation, and civic pride in the achievements of the theatre community. Each year, the Jeff Awards adjudicate over 250 theatrical productions and host two awards ceremonies. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the Jeff Awards established the Non-Equity Wing in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre. The next Equity Awards ceremony, honoring productions presented under union contracts, will be held on Monday, November 5, 2017, at Drury Lane Oakbrook in Oakbrook Terrace.
2017 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES
PRODUCTION - PLAY
"At the Table" - Broken Nose Theatre |
"How We Got On" - Haven Theatre Company |
"Miss Holmes" - Lifeline Theatre |
"The North Pool" - Interrobang Theatre Project |
"Our Lady of 121st Street" - Eclipse Theatre Company |
PRODUCTION - MUSICAL
"High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project |
"The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
"Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre |
"Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre |
"The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions |
ENSEMBLE
"At the Table" - Broken Nose Theatre |
"Bat Boy The Musical" - Griffin Theatre Company |
"good friday" - Kristiana Rae Colon and Tara Branham in collaboration with Oracle Productions |
"High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project |
"How We Got On" - Haven Theatre Company |
"The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" - Trap Door Theatre |
"truth and reconciliation" - Sideshow Theatre Company |
DIRECTOR - PLAY
Spenser Davis - "At the Table" - Broken Nose Theatre |
Jonathan L. Green - "truth and reconciliation" - Sideshow Theatre Company |
Robert Kauzlaric - "Cymbeline" - Strawdog Theatre Company |
Victor Quezada-Perez - "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" - Trap Door Theatre |
James Yost - "The North Pool" - Interrobang Theatre Project |
DIRECTOR - MUSICAL
Fred Anzevino - "The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
Elise Kauzlaric - "Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre |
Christopher Pazdernik - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project |
Stephen Schellhardt - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre |
Scott Weinstein - "Bat Boy The Musical" - Griffin Theatre Company |
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY
Salar Ardebili (Khadim) - "The North Pool" - Interrobang Theatre Project |
Ryan Hallahan (Dan) - "The Body of an American" - Stage Left Theatre |
John Henry Roberts (Danny) - "The Little Flower of East Orange" - Eclipse Theatre Company |
George Seegebrecht (Hauptmann) - "Hauptmann" - City Lit Theater Company |
Kevin V. Smith (Vic) - "Taste" - Red Theater Chicago |
Gage Wallace (Terry) - "Taste" - Red Theater Chicago |
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL
Maxwell J. DeTogne (Rob) - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project |
Henry McGinniss (Bat Boy/Edgar) - "Bat Boy The Musical" - Griffin Theatre Company |
Henry McGinniss (Bobby Strong) - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre |
Jordan Phelps (Tick) - "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" - Pride Films and Plays |
WilLiam Roberts (Tony Esposito) - "The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY
Jeannie Affelder (Marie) - "The Little Flower of East Orange" - Eclipse Theatre Company |
Kim Boler (Mabry) - "Human Terrain" - Broken Nose Theatre |
Elaine Carlson (Eleanor of Aquitaine) - "The Lion in Winter" - Promethean Theatre Ensemble |
Amy Johnson (Tami) - "Falling" - Interrobang Theatre Project |
Kat McDonnell (May) - "Once in a Lifetime" - Strawdog Theatre Company |
Shalyn Welch (Darcy) - "The Kid Thing" - Nothing Without A Company |
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL
Sydney Charles (Dorothy) - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions |
Molly Hernandez (Amy) - "The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
Amanda Horvath (Tonya Harding) - "Tonya and Nancy The Rock Opera" - Underscore Theatre Company |
Stephanie Stockstill (Catherine Morland) - "Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre Colette Todd (Diana) - "Next to Normal" - BoHo Theatre |
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY
Adam Bitterman (Mick) - "The Seedbed" - Redtwist Theatre |
Matt Edmonds (Biff) - "Death of a Salesman" - Redtwist Theatre |
Robert Koon (Riley) - "Chagrin Falls" - The Agency Theater Collective |
D'Wayne Taylor (Lucius) - "Jesus Hopped the "A" Train" - Eclipse Theatre Company |
Justin Tsatsa (Josh) - "Falling" - Interrobang Theatre Project |
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL
Chuckie Benson (Lion) - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions |
Scott Danielson (Officer Lockstock) - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre |
Nick Druzbanski (Barry) - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project |
Joe Giovannetti (Herman) - "The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
Luke Meierdiercks (Felicia) - "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" - Pride Films and Plays |
Steven Perkins (Tin Man) - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions |
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Philip Dawkins (Performer) - "The Happiest Place on Earth" - Greenhouse Theater Center i/a/w Sideshow Theatre Company |
Sarah Gise (Performer) - "The Amish Project" - Interrobang Theatre Project |
ACTOR/ACTRESS IN A REVUE
NEW PLAY
Shepsu Aakhu - "Feral" - MPAACT |
Philip Dawkins - "The Happiest Place on Earth" - Greenhouse Theater Center i/a/w Sideshow Theatre Company |
Zeljko Djukic - "Gentle" - TUTA Theatre Chicago |
Jerre Dye - "Distance" - Strawdog Theatre Company |
Ike Holter - "Prowess" - Jackalope Theatre Company |
Alex Lubischer - "Bobbie Clearly" - Steep Theatre Company |
Heather McNama and Nancy Nyman - "Resolution" - Pride Films and Plays |
NEW ADAPTATION
Alex Higgin-Houser and David Kornfeld - "Haymarket: The Anarchist's Songbook" - Underscore Theatre Company |
Robert Kauzlaric and George Howe - "Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre |
CHOREOGRAPHY
Aubrey Adams - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre |
Breon Arzell - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions |
Jon Martinez - "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" - Pride Films and Plays |
Christopher Pazdernik - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project |
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
Natasha Bogojevich - "Gentle" - TUTA Theatre Chicago |
Andrew Hansen - "Cymbeline" - Strawdog Theatre Company |
Andrew Hansen - "Miss Holmes" - Lifeline Theatre |
Ben Sutherland - "The Lion in Winter" - Promethean Theatre Ensemble |
Shawn Wallace - "Rutherford's Travels" - Pegasus Theatre Chicago |
MUSIC DIRECTION
SCENIC DESIGN
Kurtis Boetcher - "Gentle" - TUTA Theatre Chicago |
Kevin Hagan - "Our Lady of 121st Street" - Eclipse Theatre Company |
Jeffrey D. Kmiec - "The Assembled Parties" - Raven Theatre Company |
Michelle Manni - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project |
Greg Pinsoneault - "The North Pool" - Interrobang Theatre Project |
Ashley Ann Woods - "Miss Holmes" - Lifeline Theatre |
LIGHTING DESIGN
Erik Barry - "Haymarket: The Anarchist's Songbook" - Underscore Theatre Company |
Kevin D. Gawley - "A Wrinkle in Time" - Lifeline Theatre |
G. "Max" Maxin IV - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre |
Alexander Ridgers - "Winterset" - Griffin Theatre Company |
Brandon Wardell - "Bat Boy The Musical" - Griffin Theatre Company |
COSTUME DESIGN
Aly Renee Amidei - "Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre |
John Nasca - "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" - Pride Films and Plays |
Rachel M. Sypniewski - "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" - Trap Door Theatre |
Virginia Varland - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions |
Elizabeth Wislar - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre |
SOUND DESIGN
Eric Backus - "A Wrinkle in Time" - Lifeline Theatre |
Thomas Dixon - "peerless" - First Floor Theater |
Thomas Dixon - "Wastwater" - Steep Theatre Company |
Stephen Ptacek - "How We Got On" - Haven Theatre Company |
Stephen Ptacek - "In To America" - Griffin Theatre Company |
Matthew Reich - "The Promise of a Rose Garden" - Babes With Blades |
PROJECTION DESIGN
Brock Alter - "In To America" - Griffin Theatre Company |
Anthony Churchill - "The Body of an American" - Stage Left Theatre |
Michael Stanfill - "Prowess" - Jackalope Theatre Company |
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY
MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS
BY THEATRE
11 - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
10 - Lifeline Theatre
9 - BoHo Theatre
8 - Griffin Theatre Company
8 - Kokandy Productions
8 - Refuge Theatre Project
7 - Interrobang Theatre Project
7 - Pride Films and Plays
5 - Broken Nose Theatre
5 - Eclipse Theatre Company
5 - Strawdog Theatre Company
4 - Jackalope Theatre Company
4 - Underscore Theatre Company
3 - Haven Theatre Company
3 - Raven Theatre Company
3 - Steep Theatre Company
3 - Trap Door Theatre
2 - Greenhouse Theater Center i/a/w Sideshow Theatre Company
2 - Promethean Theatre Ensemble
2 - Red Theater Chicago
2 - Redtwist Theatre
2 - Sideshow Theatre Company
2 - Stage Left Theatre
2 - TUTA Theatre Chicago
BY PRODUCTION
BY ARTIST
2 - Andrew Hansen
2 - Stephen Ptacek
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