Eleven world premiere plays and musicals seen first by Chicago audiences were among those receiving nominations by the Jeff Awards, announced today. A total of 192 nominations were made in 34 categories that honor Chicago Equity theatrical productions that opened between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019. During the 2018-19 season, Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 132 Equity productions offered by 43 producing organizations and from these openings, 112 productions were "Jeff Recommended" and eligible for award nominations.
Production - Play - Large
"Downstate" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
"Indecent" - Victory Gardens Theater
"Photograph 51" - Court Theatre
"Radio Golf" - Court Theatre
"The Steadfast Tin Soldier" - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Production - Play - Midsize
"Frankenstein" - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
"Noises Off" - Windy City Playhouse
"On Clover Road" - American Blues Theater
"The Recommendation" - Windy City Playhouse
"Something Clean" - Sideshow Theatre Company and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Production - Musical - Large
"Disney's Beauty and the Beast" - Drury Lane Productions
"Next to Normal" - Writers Theatre
"The Producers" - Paramount Theatre
"Six" - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
"The Wizard of Oz" - Paramount Theatre
Production - Musical - Midsize
"Caroline, or Change" - Firebrand Theatre i/a/w TimeLine Theatre Company
"A Chorus Line" - Porchlight Music Theatre
"A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" - Porchlight Music Theatre
"Gypsy" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Production - Revue
"Djembe! The Show" - Doug Manuel, Ashley DeSimone and TSG Theatricals
"Women of Soul" - Black Ensemble Theater
"You Can't Fake the Funk: A Journey through Funk Music" - Black Ensemble Theater
Ensemble - Play
"Familiar" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
"For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf" - Court Theatre
"Indecent" - Victory Gardens Theater
"Noises Off" - Windy City Playhouse
"Small Mouth Sounds" - A Red Orchid Theatre
"Twilight Bowl" - Goodman Theatre
Ensemble - Musical or Revue
"A Chorus Line" - Porchlight Music Theatre
"Million Dollar Quartet" - Marriott Theatre
"Queen of the Mist" - Firebrand Theatre
"Six" - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
"You Can't Fake the Funk: A Journey through Funk Music" - Black Ensemble Theater
New Work - Play
David Auburn - "The Adventures of Augie March" - Court Theatre
David Catlin - "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Jenny Connell Davis - "Scientific Method" - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Ike Holter - "Lottery Day" - Goodman Theatre
Manual Cinema - "Frankenstein" - Court Theatre
Bruce Norris - "Downstate" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Jen Silverman - "Witch" - Writers Theatre
Mary Zimmerman - "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" - Lookingglass Theatre Company
New Work - Musical
David Cale - "We're Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time" - Goodman Theatre i/a/w The Public Theater
Michael Mahler and Jason Brett - "Miracle" - William A. Marovitz and Arny Granat
Daniel Zaitchik - "Darling Grenadine" - Marriott Theatre
Director - Play - Large
Gary Griffin - "Indecent" - Victory Gardens Theater
Pam MacKinnon - "Downstate" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Ron OJ Parson - "Radio Golf" - Court Theatre
Ron OJ Parson - "Too Heavy for Your Pocket" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Vanessa Stalling - "Photograph 51" - Court Theatre
Mary Zimmerman - "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Director - Play - Midsize
Ian Frank - "Frankenstein" - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Halena Kays - "On Clover Road" - American Blues Theater
Jess McLeod - "Wolf Play" - The Gift Theatre
Scott Weinstein - "Noises Off" - Windy City Playhouse
Jonathan Wilson - "The Recommendation" - Windy City Playhouse
Director - Musical - Large
Jim Corti - "The Producers" - Paramount Theatre
David Cromer - "Next to Normal" - Writers Theatre
Amber Mak - "The Wizard of Oz" - Paramount Theatre
Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage - "Six" - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
William Osetek - "Mamma Mia!" - Drury Lane Productions
Alan Souza - "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" - Drury Lane Productions
Director - Musical - Midsize
Lili-Anne Brown - "Caroline, or Change" - Firebrand Theatre i/a/w TimeLine Theatre Company
Brenda Didier - "A Chorus Line" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Elizabeth Margolius - "Queen of the Mist" - Firebrand Theatre
Stephen Schellhardt - "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Michael Weber - "Gypsy" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Performer In A Principal Role - Play
Bradley Armacost (Arthur Kipps) - "The Woman in Black" - PW Productions and Pemberley Productions
Emily Berman (Lusia Weiss Pechenik) - "A Shayna Maidel" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Janet Ulrich Brooks (Maria Callas) - "Master Class" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Chaon Cross (Rosalind Franklin) - "Photograph 51" - Court Theatre
David Darlow (André) - "The Father" - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Lawrence Grimm (Martin Heidegger) - "Hannah and Martin" - Shattered Globe Theatre
Nicole Michelle Haskins (Chess) - "Hopelessly Devoted" - Piven Theatre Workshop
Wendy Robie (Queen Elizabeth I) - "Elizabeth Rex" - Oak Park Festival Theatre
Namir Smallwood (Lee) - "True West" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Meg Thalken (Peggy) - "Four Places" - The Den Theatre
Performer In A Principal Role - Musical
E. Faye Butler (Rose) - "Gypsy" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Matt Crowle (D'Ysquith Family) - "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Rashada Dawan (Caroline) - "Caroline, or Change" - Firebrand Theatre i/a/w TimeLine Theatre Company
Andrés Enriquez (Monty Navarro) - "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Kelly Felthous (Audrey) - "Little Shop of Horrors" - Drury Lane Productions
Sean Fortunato (Miss Trunchbull) - "Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical" - Drury Lane Productions
Blake Hammond (Max Bialystock) - "The Producers" - Paramount Theatre
Jacquelyne Jones (Percy Talbott) - "The Spitfire Grill" - American Blues Theater
Jake Morrissy (Leo Bloom) - "The Producers" - Paramount Theatre
Barbara E. Robertson (Anna Edson Taylor) - "Queen of the Mist" - Firebrand Theatre
Solo Performance
David Cale (David) - "We're Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time" - Goodman Theatre i/a/w The Public Theater
Matt Crowle (Crumpet) - "The Santaland Diaries" - Goodman Theatre
Joe Foust (Solo Performer) - "The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey" - American Blues Theater
Ross Lehman (Solo Performer) - "Sentimental Journey" - Citadel Theatre Company
Alexis J. Roston (Lady Day) - "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" - Congo Square Theatre Company
Performer In A Supporting Role - Play
Patrick Agada (Joey) - "Something Clean" - Sideshow Theatre Company and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Janet Ulrich Brooks (Sister Clarissa) - "Over the Tavern" - Theatre at the Center
Kirsten Fitzgerald (Tracy) - "Sweat" - Goodman Theatre
Sean Fortunato (Malvolio) - "Twelfth Night" - Writers Theatre
K. Todd Freeman (Dee) - "Downstate" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Brian Keys (Dwight Barnes) - "The Recommendation" - Windy City Playhouse
James Vincent Meredith (Roosevelt Hicks) - "Radio Golf" - Court Theatre
Scott Parkinson (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) - "Twelfth Night" - Writers Theatre
Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Levee) - "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" - Writers Theatre
Alfred H. Wilson (Elder Joseph Barlow) - "Radio Golf" - Court Theatre
Performer In A Supporting Role - Musical
Dara Cameron (Shelby Thorpe) - "The Spitfire Grill" - American Blues Theater
Kyrie Courter (Natalie Goodman) - "Next to Normal" - Writers Theatre
José Antonio García (Herbie) - "Gypsy" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Emily Goldberg (Sibella Hallward) - "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Alex Goodrich (Oscar Lindquist) - "Sweet Charity" - Marriott Theatre
Marya Grandy (Louise) - "Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn" - Marriott Theatre
Donica Lynn (Oda Mae) - "Ghost The Musical" - Theatre at the Center
Sawyer Smith (Fastrada) - "Pippin" - Mercury Theater Chicago
Catherine Smitko (Hannah Ferguson) - "The Spitfire Grill" - American Blues Theater
Nat Zegree (Jerry Lee Lewis) - "Million Dollar Quartet" - Marriott Theatre
Performer In A Revue
Robin DaSilva (Mahalia) - "Mahalia Jackson: Moving Thru the Light" - Black Ensemble Theater
Rashada Dawan (Singer) - "Djembe! The Show" - Doug Manuel, Ashley DeSimone and TSG Theatricals
Rhonda Preston (Mature Nancy) - "Style and Grace: A Tribute to Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson" - Black Ensemble Theater
Aeriel Williams (Young Lena) - "Style and Grace: A Tribute to Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson" - Black Ensemble Theater
Scenic Design - Large
William Boles - "The Producers" - Paramount Theatre
Kevin Depinet and Christopher Rhoton - "The Wizard of Oz" - Paramount Theatre
Kristen Robinson - "Familiar" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Todd Rosenthal - "How to Catch Creation" - Goodman Theatre
Todd Rosenthal - "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Arnel Sancianco - "Lottery Day" - Goodman Theatre
Arnel Sancianco - "Photograph 51" - Court Theatre
Scenic Design - Midsize
Jeffrey D. Kmiec - "Gypsy" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Jeffrey D. Kmiec - "Noises Off" - Windy City Playhouse
Angela Weber Miller - "All Childish Things" - First Folio Theatre
Lauren Nigri - "The Recommendation" - Windy City Playhouse
Arnel Sancianco - "Something Clean" - Sideshow Theatre Company and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Joe Schermoly - "This Bitter Earth" - About Face Theatre
Costume Design - Large
Hugh Durrant - "Nell Gwynn" - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Rueben Echoles - "You Can't Fake the Funk: A Journey through Funk Music" - Black Ensemble Theater
Theresa Ham - "The Wizard of Oz" - Paramount Theatre
Ana Kuzmanic - "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Ryan Park - "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" - Drury Lane Productions
Jordan Ross - "The Producers" - Paramount Theatre
Costume Design - Midsize
Rachel Boylan - "Pippin" - Mercury Theater Chicago
Jeff Hendry - "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Bill Morey - "Gypsy" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Sound Design - Large
Mikhail Fiskel - "Cambodian Rock Band" - Victory Gardens Theater
Jeffrey Levin - "A Shayna Maidel" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Ray Nardelli - "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" - Writers Theatre
Adam Rosenthal - "The Wizard of Oz" - Paramount Theatre
Rick Sims - "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Kyle Vegter and Ben Kauffman - "Frankenstein" - Court Theatre
Sound Design - Midsize
Eric Backus - "The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey" - American Blues Theater
Eric Backus - "Wolf Play" - The Gift Theatre
Christopher Kriz - "Frankenstein" - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Jeffrey Levin - "Small Mouth Sounds" - A Red Orchid Theatre
Matt Reich - "The Worst Mother in the World" - Halcyon Theatre
Lighting Design - Midsize
Mike Durst - "Frankenstein" - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Denise Karczewski - "A Chorus Line" - Porchlight Music Theatre
John Kelly - "This Bitter Earth" - About Face Theatre
Alexander Ridgers - "Pinocchio" - The House Theatre of Chicago
Cat Wilson - "Queen of the Mist" - Firebrand Theatre
Choreography
Christopher Chase Carter - "A Chorus Line" - Porchlight Music Theatre
Brenda Didier - "Pippin" - Mercury Theater Chicago
Brenda Didier - "The Producers" - Paramount Theatre
Denis Jones - "Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn" - Marriott Theatre
Alex Sanchez - "Sweet Charity" - Marriott Theatre
Original Music
Christopher Kriz - "Frankenstein" - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Andre Pluess and Amanda Dehnert - "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Rick Sims - "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Kyle Vegter and Ben Kauffman - "Frankenstein" - Court Theatre
Richard Woodbury - "The Winter's Tale" - Goodman Theatre
Music Direction
Roberta Duchak - "Six" - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Robert Reddrick - "You Can't Fake the Funk: A Journey through Funk Music" - Black Ensemble Theater
Malcolm Ruhl - "The Spitfire Grill" - American Blues Theater
Andra Velis Simon - "Caroline, or Change" - Firebrand Theatre i/a/w TimeLine Theatre Company
Tom Vendafreddo - "The Producers" - Paramount Theatre
Fight Choreography
Jon Beal - "Cardboard Piano" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Matt Hawkins - "Hamlet" - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Matt Hawkins - "Witch" - Writers Theatre
Ned Mochel - "True West" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Puppet Design
Lizi Breit and Drew Dir - "Frankenstein" - Court Theatre
Chicago Puppet Studio - "Pinocchio" - The House Theatre of Chicago
Chicago Puppet Studio - "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Stephanie Diaz - "Wolf Play" - The Gift Theatre
Phillip Huber - "Darling Grenadine" - Marriott Theatre
Projection Design
Anthony Churchill - "Scientific Method" - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Rasean Davonte Johnson - "Frankenstein" - Court Theatre
Kevan Loney - "The Wizard of Oz" - Paramount Theatre
G. "Max" Maxin IV - "The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey" - American Blues Theater
Mike Tutaj - "Hamlet" - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Artistic Specialization
Kristy Leigh Hall - Makeup Design - "Frankenstein" - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Richard Jarvie - Wig & Make-up Design - "Nell Gwynn" - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Cassy Schillo and Wendy A. Huber - Properties Design - "All Childish Things" - First Folio Theatre
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