The Jeff Awards- 52nd Anniversary Non-Equity Nominations

THE JEFF AWARDS ANNOUNCES NOMINATIONS FOR THE 52nd ANNIVERSARY NON-EQUITY THEATER AWARDS  Editor’s Note: A complete list of recipients can also be found online in the Non-Equity and News and Events sections at www.jeffawards.org. (February 4, 2026 – Chicago, IL) – Celebrating its 52nd anniversary awarding recognition for Non-Equity theater, the Joseph Jefferson Awards announces its nominations for theater excellence among Non-Equity theater during the 2025 season. In keeping with governing Jeff Awards procedures, ballots compiled throughout the entire Non-Equity season are comparatively analyzed to determine the nominees who will be represented in each category. This year’s Non-Equity awards spotlight 147 theater artists across 26 categories of excellence in theater production among shows from 26 companies. During the most recent season, which ran from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, Jeff Awards members attended 102 Non-Equity productions. From these, 47 productions became Jeff Recommended and, therefore, eligible for award nominations. Theaters well known for their musicals garnered the most total nominations. Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre led the awards with 20 nominations for three productions, including “Diana the Musical” (10), “Urinetown” (9) and “Tell Me On A Sunday” (one). Kokandy Productions received a total of 17 nominations for “Jekyll and Hyde” which is tied for the largest number for a single production (10) with Theo Ubique’s “Diana: The Musical”, and an additional seven nominations for “Amélie”. Multiple productions at both Invictus Theatre Company and Red Theater earned their institutions 14 and 8 nominations, respectively. Among New Work, five world premiere plays are in award consideration. In addition, Short Run Productions (nine to 17 performances) have nominees for Production, Direction, New Work, Performers in Principal and Supporting Roles and Design. “Continuing our mission to recognize artistic and technical excellence on theater stages across Chicagoland we are thrilled to announce the nominees for the upcoming Non-Equity Awards,” said Paulette Petretti, Jeff Awards Chair.  “As one of the most active and engaged theater awards organizations in the country, The Jeff Awards is professionally independent and voting members of the committee are unaffiliated with any theater companies or producing organizations. For decades, The Jeff Awards has judged thousands of plays and musicals and honored theatrical work across dozens of categories for eligible theater companies which have invited the organization to evaluate for awards consideration. We are honored to share this year’s nominations.” 2025 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES PRODUCTION – PLAY “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre “Girls & Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater “The Pilon” – Red Theater “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company PRODUCTION – MUSICAL “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre ENSEMBLE – PLAY “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Company “The Pilon” – Red Theater “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company “Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery” – Pegasus Theatre Chicago “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company ENSEMBLE – MUSICAL “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre NEW WORK Zach Barr – “The Pilon” – Red Theater Susan H. Pak – “The F*ck House” – Strawdog Theatre Company Omer Abbas Salem – “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater Lisa Sanaye Dring – “Kairos” – Red Theater Chase Wheaton-Werle – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – The Factory Theater DIRECTOR – PLAY Charles Askenaizer – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Mikael Burke – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre Jessica Love – “The Pilon” – Red Theater Nadya Naumaan – “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater Robin Witt – “Girls & Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company DIRECTOR – MUSICAL Fred Anzevino & Brenda Didier – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Danny Kapinos – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Derek Van Barham – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions Derek Van Barham – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY Kirk Anderson (Hamm) – “Endgame” – Facility Theatre William Delforge (Gary) – “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” – Redtwist Theatre Terry Guest (Courtney / Anthony) – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre Ryan Hake (Prior Walter) – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Brookelyn Hébert (Hedda Gabler) – “Hedda Gabler” – The Artistic Home Lenin Izquierdo (Angel Cruz) – “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” – City Lit Theater Company Olivia Lindsay (Steff) – “The F*ck House” – Strawdog Theatre Company David Lovejoy (Galileo) – “Galileo” – Trap Door Theatre Seoyoung Park (Eliza) – “Tom & Eliza” – TUTA Theatre Bradford Stevens (Lucius Jenkins) – “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” – City Lit Theater Company Scott Westerman (Arthur Pryszbyszewski) – “Superior Donuts” – The Artistic Home PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL Jesús Barajas (Pablo) – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre Evan Bradford (Giorgio Bachetti) – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company Brittney Brown (Fosca) – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company Teah Kiang Mirabelli (Charity Hope Valentine) – “Sweet Charity” – Blank Theatre Company David Moreland (Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde) – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Kate McQuillan (Diana) – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Luke Nowakowski (Bobby Strong) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Aurora Penepacker (Amélie Poulain) – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions Joshua Zambrano (Kid Prince) – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre SOLO PERFORMER Cynthia Marker (Woman) – “Girls & Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company Dani Pike (Emma) – “Tell Me on a Sunday” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY Patrick Blashill (Clarence Seward / Thomas Edison) – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – The Factory Theater Amber Dow (Paulina) – “The Winter’s Tale” – Invictus Theatre Company Caty Gordon (Lady Teazle) – “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company Michael D. Graham (Roy M. Cohn) – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Company Dakota Hughes (Liza Minnelli) – “Queen for a Day” – Hell in a Handbag Productions Delia Kropp (Rhonda) – “The Pilon” – Red Theater Cynthia Marker (Wendy Lee Evans) – “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater Hanna Rhode (Janice) – “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” – Redtwist Theatre Paul Michael Thomson (Vickie / Hunter) – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre Anne Trodden (Harper Amaty Pitt) – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Company Todd Wojcik (Jorge Tessman) – “Hedda Gabler” – The Artistic Home PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL Joe Giovannetti (Nino Quincampoix) – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions Jacqueline Grandt (Queen / Barbara) – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Rachel Guth (Clara) – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company Ava Lane Stovall (Lucy Harris) – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Emily McCormick (Emma Carew) – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Amanda Rodriguez (Hope Cladwell) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Jack Saunders (Charles) – “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Ryan Stajmiger (Officer Lockstock) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Maya Tanaka Allwardt (Little Sally) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Colette Todd (Camilla) – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Shaina Toledo (Langhorne) – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre Company MUSIC DIRECTION T.J. Anderson & Anna Wegener – “Amelie” – Kokandy Productions Carolyn Brady – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Aaron Kaplan – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company Aaron Kaplan – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Nick Sula – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions SCENIC DESIGN Kevin Hagan – “Hedda Gabler” – The Artistic Home Tatiana Kahvegian – “Tom & Eliza” – TUTA Theatre Sotirios Livaditis – “Girls & Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company Ruby Lowe – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company Manuel Ortiz – “The Pilon” – Red Theater Kevin Rolfs – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Invictus Theatre COSTUME DESIGN Terrie Devine – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Invictus Theatre Patty Halajian – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Victoria Jablonski – “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company Rachel Lambert – “Hedda Gabler” – The Artistic Home Jennifer Mohr – “The Blood Countess” – Idle Muse Theatre Company Racquel Postigilione – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre CHOREOGRAPHY Kasey Alfonso – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre Brenda Didier & Cameron Turner – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Brenda Didier – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Brenda Didier – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Lauryn Schmelzer – “Sweet Charity” – Blank Theatre Company SOUND DESIGN Joe Griffin – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company Joe Griffin – “War of the Worlds” – Lifeline Theatre L.J. Luthringer – “The Blood Countess” – Idle Muse Theatre Company Matt Reich – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Petter Wahlbäck – “Angels in America” -Invictus Theatre LIGHTING DESIGN Brenden Marble – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre G. “Max” Maxin IV – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions G. “Max” Maxin IV – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Keith Parham – “Tom & Eliza” – TUTA Theatre Brandon Wardell – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Levi J. Wilkins – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Invictus Theatre PROJECTION DESIGN DJ Douglass – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company G. “Max” Maxin IV – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre David Sajewich – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – The Factory Theater ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION Jeremiah Barr – Puppet Design – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company David Blixt – Fight Choreography – “Superior Donuts” – The Artistic Home Ayanna Bria Bakari – Wig Design – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre Victoria Jablonski – Wig Design – “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company Rachel Livingston – Properties Design – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – The Factory Theater Robin Manganaro – Properties Design – “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” – Redtwist Theatre Chas Mathieu – Properties Design – “The Pilon” – Red Theater Keith Ryan – Wig Design – “The Real Housewives of the North Pole” – Hell in a Handbag Productions Petter Wahlbäck – Original Music – “The Winter’s Tale” – Invictus Theatre Company PRODUCTION – SHORT RUN “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre “The Drowning Girls” – Three Crows Theatre “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts DIRECTOR – SHORT RUN Daniel King – “The Drowning Girls” – Three Crows Theatre Tony Lawry – “Matt & Ben” – Theatre Above the Law Stefan Roseen – “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. David G. Zak – “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts NEW WORK – SHORT RUN Dominick Alesia – “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. Greta Geiser – “The Pyg Hypothesis” – Theatre Above the Law PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – SHORT RUN Courtney Abbott (Sarah Bernhardt) – “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre Connar Brown Sprenger (Matt & Ben) – “Matt & Ben” – Theatre Above the Law Andrew Kain Miller (Terrence) – “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts Shannon McEldowney (Hermia) – “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. Cameron Raasdal-Munro (Junior) – “Gangsta Baby” – Open Space Arts Kendal Romero (Matt & Ben) – “Matt & Ben” – Theatre Above the Law PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – SHORT RUN Riley Capp (Justin) – “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts Abby Denault (Maureen) – “Rent” – Suring Films & Theatrics Stephen Loch (Constant Coquelin) – “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre Josh Odor (Senior) – “Gangsta Baby” – Open Space Arts Ian Rigg (Nick Bottom) – “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. Sarah Wisterman (Professor Pickering) – “The Pyg Hypothesis” – Theatre Above the Law DESIGN – SHORT RUN Elizabeth Niemczyk, Costume Design – “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre Toria Olivier, Costume Design – “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. Jae Robinson, Sound Design – “Pussy Sludge” – Facility Theatre