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THE JEFF AWARDS Nominations Announced - THE HYPOCRITES, Griffin Theatre, and More!

By: Apr. 24, 2015
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The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 118 nominations in 24 categories for the 42nd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff Judges attended opening nights of 133 productions offered by 56 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 62 of those shows, making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 62 Jeff Recommended productions, 46 received nominations, representing 23 theatre companies.

The Hypocrites, with a mix of musicals and plays, earned 15 nods this year, the most of any theatre company. "All Our Tragic" an epic 12-hour adaptation of the 32 surviving Greek tragedies, scheduled to return in the summer of 2015, garnered ten nominations. The company's reconceptualized production of Samuel Beckett's "Endgame" earned three nominations, while its "H.M.S. Pinafore", a revisionist gender-bending take on the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, earned two nominations.

The 2014-2015 nominations also recognizEd Strong showings from Griffin Theatre Company and Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, each receiving 14 nominations. Griffin Theatre Company had three recognized productions, with six nominations for the musical "Titanic", a newly realized chamber version of the 1997 Best Musical Tony Award winner, five for "Balm in Gilead", a study of debauched characters in a 1960's greasy spoon diner, and three for "Men Should Weep", a Scottish family drama in a Glasgow tenement during the Depression. Among Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's 14 nominations was the 1970's rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar", receiving six nominations, as well as three musical revues: "Always...Patsy Cline" earning four nominations, "A Kurt Weill Cabaret" receiving three nominations and "A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters" getting one nomination.

This year's nominations also reward the efforts of Non-Equity theatres producing New Works and New Adaptations in Chicago, citing 8 nominations for world premieres. Four nominated new plays include Erik Gernand's "A Place in the Woods" at The Fine Print Theatre Company (a newly-eligible company this year), Ike Holter's "Exit Strategy" at Jackalope Theatre Company, Ronan Marra and Jon Steinhagen's original musical "The Next Thing" at Signal Ensemble Theatre, and Joe Zarrow's "Principal Principle" produced by Stage Left Theatre and Theatre Seven of Chicago. New Adaptations nominations recognize two Sean Graney productions at The Hypocrites: "All Our Tragic" and "H.M.S. Pinafore", as well as Matt Foss' "The Jungle" at Oracle Productions and Chris Hainsworth's "Monstrous Regiment" at Lifeline Theatre.

The 42nd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, June 8, 2015 at Park West, 322 W. Armitage, Chicago. Emceeing the festivites are Karl Hamilton, well-known Chicago actor who has performed at Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Porchlight Music Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Marriott Theatre, Mercury Theater Chicago and First Folio, and Chicago actress and Jeff nominee Sarah Hayes, an artistic associate at Porchlight Music Theatre who has appeared with several Non-Equity companies, including Bailiwick, City Lit, Theo Ubique and Strawdog.

Doors open with a cash bar at 6 p.m., light buffet at 6:30 p.m., and the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. A group rate of $35 is available for parties of 10 or more. Festive cocktail attire is suggested, and the public is cordially invited. Tickets are purchased online with a credit card atwww.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 #josephjefferson.

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, the Jeff Awards are committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors. 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 Committee evaluates over 250 theatrical productions and hosts 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, October 5, 2015, at Drury Lane Oakbrook in Oakbrook Terrace.

2015 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES

PRODUCTION - PLAY

"All Our Tragic" - The Hypocrites
"Exit Strategy" - Jackalope Theatre Company
"The Jungle" - Oracle Productions
"Men Should Weep" - Griffin Theatre Company
"Ruined" - Eclipse Theatre Company


PRODUCTION - MUSICAL

"Assassins" - Kokandy Productions
"The Full Monty" - Kokandy Productions
"Jesus Christ Superstar" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
"Titanic" - Griffin Theatre Company
"The Wild Party" - Bailiwick Chicago


PRODUCTION - REVUE

"Always... Patsy Cline" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
"A Kurt Weill Cabaret" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre


ENSEMBLE

"All Our Tragic" - The Hypocrites
"Balm in Gilead" - Griffin Theatre Company
"Exit Strategy" - Jackalope Theatre Company
"The Jungle" - Oracle Productions
"Titanic" - Griffin Theatre Company
"The Wild Party" - Bailiwick Chicago


DIRECTOR - PLAY

Jonathan Berry - "Balm in Gilead" - Griffin Theatre Company
Matt Foss - "The Jungle" - Oracle Productions
Sean Graney - "All Our Tragic" - The Hypocrites
Gus Menary - "Exit Strategy" - Jackalope Theatre Company
Steve Scott - "Intimate Apparel" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Robin Witt - "Men Should Weep" - Griffin Theatre Company


DIRECTOR - MUSICAL

Brenda Didier - "The Wild Party" - Bailiwick Chicago
Linda Fortunato - "Parade" - BoHo Theatre
Sean Graney - "H.M.S. Pinafore" - The Hypocrites
Rachel Edwards Harvith - "Assassins" - Kokandy Productions
Scott Weinstein - "Titanic" - Griffin Theatre Company


ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY

Kevin Cox (Valere) - "La Bête" - Trap Door Productions
Aaron Kirby (Jack) - "Geezers" - Redtwist Theatre
Aaron Kirby (Ken) - "Red" - Redtwist Theatre
Michael Manocchio (Seth) - "Mike and Seth" - the side project
Steve O'Connell (Jack) - "Dead Accounts" - Step Up Productions
André Teamer (Christian) - "Ruined" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Joseph Wiens (Jimmy Porter) - "Look Back in Anger" - Redtwist Theatre


ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL

Sam Button-Harrison (Aaron) - "The Book of Merman" - Pride Films and Plays
Jim DeSelm (Leo Frank) - "Parade" - BoHo Theatre
Maxwell J. DeTogne (Jesus) - "Jesus Christ Superstar" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Matthew Keffer (Burrs) - "The Wild Party" - Bailiwick Chicago
Garrett Lutz (Jerry Lukowski) - "The Full Monty" - Kokandy Productions


ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY

Stephanie Chavara (Laura Starr) - "Charles Ives Take Me Home" - Strawdog Theatre Company
Ashleigh LaThrop (Darlene) - "Balm in Gilead" - Griffin Theatre Company
Lori Myers (Maggie Morrison) - "Men Should Weep" - Griffin Theatre Company
Kelly Owens (Esther Mills) - "Intimate Apparel" - Eclipse Theatre Company
TayLar (Mama Nadi) - "Ruined" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Kendra Thulin (Woman) - "The Vandal" - Steep Theatre Company


ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL OR REVUE

Sarah Bockel (Lucille Frank) - "Parade" - BoHo Theatre
Christina Hall (Patsy Cline) - "Always... Patsy Cline" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Callie Johnson (Carrie White) - "Carrie" - Bailiwick Chicago
Courtney Jones (Kate Cunningham) - "The Next Thing" - Signal Ensemble Theatre
Danni Smith (Queenie) - "The Wild Party" - Bailiwick Chicago


ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY

Walter Briggs (Herakles, Pentheus the Gaunt, Agamemnon) - "All Our Tragic" - The Hypocrites
Shane Kenyon (Terry) - "If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet" - Steep Theatre Company
Matthew Klingler (Chris Keller) - "All My Sons" - Raven Theatre
BrIan Shaw (Clov) - "Endgame" - The Hypocrites
Nate Whelden (Con) - "Stupid F**king Bird" - Sideshow Theatre Company


ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL

Justin Adair (Fred Barrett/Ensemble) - "Titanic" - Griffin Theatre Company
Scott Danielson (Dave Bukatinsky) - "The Full Monty" - Kokandy Productions
Nick Graffagna (Warren) - "Ordinary Days" - BoHo Theatre
Donterrio Johnson (Judas) - "Jesus Christ Superstar" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Eric Lindahl (Booth) - "Assassins" - Kokandy Productions
Jason Richards (Byck) - "Assassins" - Kokandy Productions


ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY

Erin Barlow (Asterope, Antigone, Polyxena, Hermione) - "All Our Tragic" - The Hypocrites
Cyd Blakewell (Ann) - "Balm in Gilead" - Griffin Theatre Company
JoAnn Montemurro (Mrs. Wire) - "Vieux Carré" - Raven Theatre
Annie Prichard (Stephanie) - "Another Bone" - Redtwist Theatre
Ginneh Thomas (Emilie) - "The Submission" - Pride Films and Plays


ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL OR REVUE

Caron Buinis (Jeanette A. Burmeister) - "The Full Monty" - Kokandy Productions
Katherine L. Condit (Margaret White) - "Carrie" - Bailiwick Chicago
Hannah Dawe (Deb) - "Ordinary Days" - BoHo Theatre
Courtney Jones (Claire) - "Ordinary Days" - BoHo Theatre
Danni Smith (Louise) - "Always... Patsy Cline" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Danni Smith (Mary Magdalene) - "Jesus Christ Superstar" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre


NEW WORK

Erik Gernand - "A Place in the Woods" - The Fine Print Theatre Company
Ike Holter - "Exit Strategy" - Jackalope Theatre Company
Ronan Marra and Jon Steinhagen - "The Next Thing" - Signal Ensemble Theatre
Joe Zarrow - "Principal Principle" - Stage Left Theatre and Theatre Seven of Chicago


NEW ADAPTATION

Matt Foss - "The Jungle" - Oracle Productions
Sean Graney - "All Our Tragic" - The Hypocrites
Sean Graney - "H.M.S. Pinafore" - The Hypocrites
Chris Hainsworth - "Monstrous Regiment" - Lifeline Theatre


CHOREOGRAPHY

Brenda Didier - "Jesus Christ Superstar" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Brenda Didier - "The Wild Party" - Bailiwick Chicago
Steve Love - "Caged Dames" - Hell in a Handbag Productions
Daniel Spagnuolo - "The Full Monty" - Kokandy Productions


ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY

James Sugg - "Stupid F**king Bird" - Sideshow Theatre Company
John Szymanski - "One Came Home" - Lifeline Theatre
Nicholas Tonozzi - "Circle-Machine" - Oracle Productions
Nicholas Tonozzi - "The Jungle" - Oracle Productions


MUSIC DIRECTION

Aaron Benham - "Always... Patsy Cline" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Aaron Benham - "The Wild Party" - Bailiwick Chicago
Elizabeth Doran - "Titanic" - Griffin Theatre Company
Jeremy Ramey - "Jesus Christ Superstar" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Jeremy Ramey - "A Kurt Weill Cabaret" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre


SCENIC DESIGN

Elizabeth Bracken - "Endgame" - The Hypocrites
Zachary Gipson - "Caged Dames" - Hell in a Handbag Productions
Jeffrey D. Kmiec - "Dividing the Estate" - Raven Theatre
Dan Stratton - "Balm in Gilead" - Griffin Theatre Company
Ray Toler - "Vieux Carré" - Raven Theatre


LIGHTING DESIGN

Maya Michele Fein - "A Kurt Weill Cabaret" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Maggie Fullilove-Nugent - "Endgame" - The Hypocrites
Brian Hoehne - "The Wild Party" - Bailiwick Chicago
Sean Mallary - "The Arsonists" - Strawdog Theatre Company
JaRed Moore - "All Our Tragic" - The Hypocrites

COSTUME DESIGN

Theresa Ham - "The Wild Party" - Bailiwick Chicago
Rachel Lambert - "Intimate Apparel" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Alison Siple - "All Our Tragic" - The Hypocrites
Rachel Sypniewski - "La Bête" - Trap Door Productions
Rachel Sypniewski - "Titanic" - Griffin Theatre Company

SOUND DESIGN

Karli Blalock - "Red" - Redtwist Theatre
Sarah Espinoza - "The Arsonists" - Strawdog Theatre Company
Heath Hays - "The Sweeter Option" - Strawdog Theatre Company
Kevin O'Donnell - "All Our Tragic" - The Hypocrites
Danny Rockett - "Cookie Play" - Trap Door Productions


ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION

Aaron Benham - Musical Arrangements - "A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Ryan Borque - Fight Choreography - "All Our Tragic" - The Hypocrites
Anthony Churchill - Projections Design - "Ordinary Days" - BoHo Theatre

MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS

BY THEATRE

The Hypocrites 15
Griffin Theatre Company 14
Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre 14
Bailiwick Chicago 11
Kokandy Productions 9
BoHo Theatre 7
Eclipse Theatre Company 6
Oracle Productions 6
Redtwist Theatre 5
Jackalope Theatre Company 4
Raven Theatre 4
Strawdog Theatre Company 4
Trap Door Productions 3
Hell in a Handbag Productions 2
Lifeline Theatre 2
Pride Films and Plays 2
Sideshow Theatre Company 2
Signal Ensemble Theatre 2
Steep Theatre Company 2


BY PRODUCTION

All Our Tragic 10
The Wild Party 9
Jesus Christ Superstar 6
Titanic 6
Balm in Gilead 5
The Full Monty 5
The Jungle 5
Always... Patsy Cline 4
Assassins 4
Exit Strategy 4
Ordinary Days 4
Endgame 3
Intimate Apparel 3
A Kurt Weill Cabaret 3
Men Should Weep 3
Parade 3
Ruined 3
The Arsonists 2
Caged Dames 2
Carrie 2
H.M.S. Pinafore 2
La Bête 2
The Next Thing 2
Red 2
Stupid F**king Bird 2
Vieux Carré 2


BY ARTIST

Sean Graney 4
Aaron Benham 3
Brenda Didier 3
Danni Smith 3
Matt Foss 2
Courtney Jones 2
Aaron Kirby 2
Jeremy Ramey 2
Rachel Sypniewski 2
Nicholas Tonozzi 2

SPECIAL NOTICE TO NEWS MEDIA


Your complimentary ticket to the 42nd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony will be held at the News Media Table at the Park West only if you make a reservation in advance with Jeffrey Marks at 312.606.0400or media@jeffawards.org.


Names of award recipients will be released immediately following the presentation ceremony June 8, by email and on our website. Photos from the event will be available on our website.

A Media Curtain is available for your own photos. We will also have an interview area available to you, and will assist in bringing interviewees to that area. If you need a quote or interview with any Jeff Awards committee member, please call or e-mail Jeffrey Marks at 312.606.0400 or media@jeffawards.org.

The Jeff Awards Committee website, www.jeffawards.org, lists all the current Non-Equity nominees and statistics, along with previous recipients and nominees and other Jeff Awards information and news.

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