THE JEFF AWARDS ANNOUNCES THE
50^th ANNIVERSARY AWARDS FOR NON-EQUITY THEATER

A complete list of recipients can also be found online in the Non-Equity and News and Events sections at www.jeffawards.org.

(March 25, 2024 – Chicago, IL) – Celebrating its 50^th anniversary awarding recognition for Non-Equity theater, the Joseph Jefferson Awards announces the recipients for theater excellence among Non-Equity theater during the 2023 season. At this year’s ceremony at Park West, 32 award recipients were honored from among 144 theater artists nominees across 24 artistic and technical categories. Awards were presented live in an evening co-hosted by Chicago entertainers Neala Barron and Ari Gato, under the direction of Adrian Abel Azevedo with music direction by Dr. Michael McBride and featured the work of many of the nominated productions and dozens of local theater artists as presenters.

The 50th Anniversary presentation was dedicated to Molly LeCaptain, who passed away after a fight with Cancer. A talent that each and every actor who had worked with her said that their lives were changed forever from the experience. May her memory be for a blessing.

Refracted Theatre Company received the most awards, with eight this season for its production of “Tambo & Bones” including honors for Production, Direction, Principal Performers, Lighting, Projection and Sound Designs as well as Original Music in a Play. For musicals, Kokandy Productions took home six awards including four for “American Psycho,” which received awards for Production, Director, Principal Performer and Choreography, and two additional awards for “The SpongeBob Musical” including Supporting Performer and Artistic Specialization for Foley Design.

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre captured three awards with its production of “Assassins” for Ensemble-Musical, Performer in a Supporting Role and Musical Direction. Tied for two awards each were Facility Theater including Ensemble-Play for “Right Now,” Red Theater for Performer in a Supporting Role in “Indoor Cats,” and Visión Latino Theatre Company, which took the Short Run awards (defined by 9-17 performances) in Production and Direction for “That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven.”

Directing honors recognized Mikael Burke as Director – Play for “Tambo & Bones” with Refracted Theatre Company, and Derek Van Barham with Director – Musical for “American Psycho” at Kokandy Productions. Xavier M. Custodio was presented with the directing award for the Short Run Production of “That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven” performed by Visión Latino Theatre Company.

The Jeff Awards New Work category recognized three authors, including Mora V. Harris for “Indoor Cats” at Red Theater, John Hildreth for “Cat’s Cradle” at Lifeline Theatre, and Shannon O’Neill for her work “The Kelly Girls” produced by The Factory Theater.

Performance awards were presented for Performer in a Principal Role – Play to both Patrick Newson Jr. and William Anthony Sebastian Rose II for “Tambo & Bones.” Kyle Patrick from “American Psycho” shared Principal Performer in a Musical honors with Rory Schrobilgen from “Promises, Promises” (Blank Theatre Company). For their performances, Shawna Franks in “Right Now” (Facility Theatre) and Sarah Wisterman in “Indoor Cats” (Red Theater) received the award for Performer in a Supporting Role – Play. In the Supporting Role for a Musical, Parker Guidry was recognized for their work in “The SpongeBob Musical” along with Jon Parker Jackson from “Assassins.” For the Short Run category, Jack Hradecky in “The Minutes” at Edge of the Wood Theatre and Kris Tori in the Water People Theater production of “North & Sur” were recipients of the Performer in a Principal Role award.

Among the technical awards, Kevin Hagan received the award for Scenic Design for work on “Dying For It” at The Artistic Home. Costume Design was awarded to Beth Laske-Miller & Rachel Sypniewski for “I Promised Myself to Live Faster” at Hell in a Handbag Productions. “Tambo & Bones” teams received recognition for
Eric Watkins (Lighting Design), Eme Ospina-López (Projection Design) and two awards for Ethan Korvne (Sound Design and Original Music in a Play).

Additional technical awards were presented for Choreography to Breon Arzell for “American Psycho” and Musical Direction to Heidi Joosten for “Assassins.”  The Artistic Specialization award was presented to Ele Matelan for Foley Design in “The SpongeBob Musical”.

Recognizing unparalleled support of small Chicago theaters, arts philanthropists Michael and Mona Heath were also honored for their instrumental shaping of the cultural landscape of Chicago theater. Over the last decade, the Heaths have emerged as outstanding pillars of support for storefront Chicago theater. Their passion for the arts lives through a remarkable commitment to attending hundreds of shows annually as well as generous contributions made by the Michael and Mona Heath Fund, which has provided vital financial assistance to countless theaters and artists.

For its 50^th Anniversary Non-Equity season, January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, Jeff Awards members attended 91 Non-Equity productions. From these, 46 productions became “Jeff Recommended” and, therefore, eligible for award nominations.  There were year’s Non-Equity awards spotlight 144 theater artists nominated across 24 categories of excellence in theater production among shows from 32 companies.

2024 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD RECIPIENTS

PRODUCTION – PLAY
“Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL
“American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions

ENSEMBLE – PLAY
“Right Now” – Facility Theatre

ENSEMBLE – MUSICAL
“Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

NEW WORK
Mora V. Harris – “Indoor Cats” – Red Theater
John Hildreth – “Cat’s Cradle” – Lifeline Theatre
Shannon O’Neill – “The Kelly Girls” – The Factory Theater

DIRECTOR – PLAY
Mikael Burke – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company

DIRECTOR – MUSICAL
Derek Van Barham – “American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions

PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Patrick Newson Jr. (Bones) – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
William Anthony Sebastian Rose II (Tambo) – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company

PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Kyle Patrick (Patrick Bateman) – “American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions
Rory Schrobilgen (Chuck Baxter) – “Promises, Promises” – Blank Theatre Company

PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Shawna Franks (Juliette) – “Right Now” – Facility Theatre
Sarah Wisterman (Panda) – “Indoor Cats” – Red Theater

PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Parker Guidry (Sheldon J. Plankton) – “The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions
Jon Parker Jackson (Samuel Byck) – “Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

PRODUCTION – SHORT RUN
“That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven” – Visión Latino Theatre Company

ENSEMBLE – SHORT RUN
“Once on This Island” – PULSE Theatre Company

DIRECTOR – SHORT RUN
Xavier M. Custodio – “That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven” – Visión Latino Theatre Company

PERFORMER – SHORT RUN
Jack Hradecky (Mr. Peel) – “The Minutes” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
Kris Tori (Alfonsina Storni) – “North & Sur” – Water People Theater

SCENIC DESIGN
Kevin Hagan – “Dying For It” – The Artistic Home

COSTUME DESIGN
Beth Laske-Miller & Rachel Sypniewski – “I Promised Myself to Live Faster” – Hell in a Handbag Productions

SOUND DESIGN
Ethan Korvne – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company

LIGHTING DESIGN
Eric Watkins – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company

PROJECTION DESIGN
Eme Ospina-López – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company

CHOREOGRAPHY
Breon Arzell – “American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions

MUSIC DIRECTION
Heidi Joosten – “Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
Ethan Korvne – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company

ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Ele Matelan (Foley Design) – “The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions

Editor’s notes: As one of the theater companies opted to have an opening tonight, I was the only working press member in attendance. The non-equity gala is more party than the Equity, with a lot more whooping and hollering. Since the event is held in a more intimate venue, almost like a night club, with tables and booths where theater companies sit amongst themselves, it is not like we are watching the show on the stage, it is like a competition between companies as nominees are called off and winners announced.

I can assure you that , based on the activity and the shriek’s, that the bar business was well above what may have been anticipated. I am certain that this was a profitable evening for Park West which is perfect for this type of party/celebration, and this was an amazing night for the young actors, directors, tech people and choreographers who are working their way into Chicago’s theater world. We have seen 90% of the plays that were nominated and for the most part the Jeff people got it right!

Happy 50th Jeff Awards- see you next year!