Tuesday, April 26, 2016-Chicago, IL. The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 121 nominations in 24 categories for the 43rd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 148 productions offered by 67 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 65 of those shows (or 44%), making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 65 Jeff Recommended productions, a record 53 (or 82%) received nominations, representing 32 theatre companies.
In the Production-Musical category, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, presenting two musicals and two revues over the season, earned 15 nominations, including six for “Rent” and four for “A Marvin Hamlisch Songbook.” Kokandy Productions presented two musicals this season and earned 10 nominations, including five each for “Heathers: The Musical” and “Loving Repeating”. Bailiwick Chicago scored six nominations for “Murder Ballad”.
In the Production-Play category, “Byhalia, Mississippi,” produced by The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company, had six nominations, the most for any play this season. Griffin Theatre Company finished strong with five nominations for “Pocatello” and three nominations for “London Wall”. Raven Theatre scored four nominations for “Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys” and Steep Theatre Company’s “Posh” earned three nominations, rounding out this year’s slate of nominees.
The 2015-2016 season also rewarded the efforts of Non-Equity theaters producing New Works and New Adaptations in Chicago, citing 11 nominations for world premieres. Seven new plays were nominated, including Peter Gwinn and Jody Shelton’s “The Story of a Story (The Untold Story)” at Underscore Theatre Company (a newly-eligible company this year), Hansol Jung’s “No More Sad Things” at Sideshow Theatre Company, Evan Linder’s “Byhalia, Mississippi” at The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company, Cody Lucas’ “Truth in Context” at The Agency Theater Collective, Carla Stillwell’s “Lawd the CVS Is Burning…A Gospel Musical Stage Play” at MPAACT, Isaiah Werner’s “Scissortail” at Adapt Theatre Productions in association with Redtwist Theatre, and Calamity West’s “Rolling” at Jackalope Theatre Company. New Adaptation nominations recognized Zachary Baker-Salmon’s “This House Believes the American Dream is at the Expense of the American Negro” at Oracle Theatre, Christine Calvit’s “Miss Buncle’s Book” at Lifeline Theatre, Elizabeth Lovelady’s “D.O.A.” at Strawdog Theatre Company, and Aaron Todd Douglas’ “Upstate” at MPAACT.
The coveted Ensemble nominations were spread among six productions: “Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys” at Raven Theatre, “The Drowning Girls” at Signal Ensemble Theatre, “The Hairy Ape” at Oracle Theatre, “Incident at Vichy” at Redtwist Theatre, “Posh” at Steep Theatre Company, and “Rent” at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.
The 43rd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, June 6, 2016, at Park West, located at 322 W. Armitage in Chicago. Emceeing the festivities are Karl Hamilton, well-known Chicago actor and Jeff Award nominee who has performed with a myriad of companies, including Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Porchlight Music Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Marriott Theatre, Mercury Theater Chicago, and First Folio Theatre; and Sarah Hayes, a talented Chicago actress, Jeff Award nominee and an Artistic Associate at Porchlight Music Theatre, who has appeared with several non-Equity companies, including Bailiwick, City Lit, Theo Ubique, Griffin, Strawdog and Kokandy Productions.
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 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 #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 promote educational opportunities, audience appreciation, and civic pride in the achievements of the theatre community. Each year the Jeff Awards evaluate over 250 theatrical productions and host two awards ceremonies annually. 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 17, 2016, at Drury Lane Oakbrook in Oakbrook Terrace.
2016 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES
PRODUCTION – PLAY
| “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company |
| “Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys” – Raven Theatre |
| “London Wall” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| “Pocatello” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| “Posh” – Steep Theatre Company |
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL OR REVUE
| “Heathers: The Musical” – Kokandy Productions |
| “Loving Repeating” – Kokandy Productions |
| “A Marvin Hamlisch Songbook” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| “Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
ENSEMBLE
| “Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys” – Raven Theatre |
| “The Drowning Girls” – Signal Ensemble Theatre |
| “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre |
| “Incident at Vichy” – Redtwist Theatre |
| “Posh” – Steep Theatre Company |
| “Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
DIRECTOR – PLAY
| Jonathan Berry – “Pocatello” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| Jonathan Berry – “Posh” – Steep Theatre Company |
| Monty Cole – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre |
| Michael Menendian – “Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys” – Raven Theatre |
| Tyrone Phillips – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company |
| Robin Witt – “London Wall” – Griffin Theatre Company |
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL OR REVUE
| Fred Anzevino – “Blood Brothers” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| James Beaudry – “Heathers: The Musical” – Kokandy Productions |
| James Beaudry – “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Courtney Crouse – “A Marvin Hamlisch Songbook” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Allison Hendrix – “Loving Repeating” – Kokandy Productions |
| Scott Weinstein – “Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
| Travis Delgado (the Foundling Father) – “The America Play” – Oracle Theatre |
| Michael McKeogh (Eddie) – “Pocatello” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| Julian Parker (Yank) – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre |
| Brian Parry (George) – “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – Redtwist Theatre |
| Mike Tepeli (Raleigh) – “Last Train to Nibroc” – Haven Theatre |
| Stephen Walker (Teach) – “American Buffalo” – Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. |
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
| Matt Frye (Hunter) – “[title of show]” – The Brown Paper Box Co. |
| Quinton Guyton (Mama) – “Lawd the CVS is Burning…A Gospel Musical Stage Play” – MPAACT |
| Christopher Logan (Peter Allen) – “The Boy From Oz” – Pride Films and Plays |
| Tommy Novak (Max Bialystock) – “The Producers” – NightBlue Performing Arts Company |
| Patrick Rooney (Roger) – “Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
| Amanda Drinkall (May) – “Last Train to Nibroc” – Haven Theatre |
| Jacqueline Grandt (Margie) – “Good People” – Redtwist Theatre |
| Jacqueline Grandt (Martha) – “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – Redtwist Theatre |
| Liz Sharpe (Laurel) – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company |
| Eliza Stoughton (Lila Green) – “A Loss of Roses” – Raven Theatre |
| Jenifer Tyler (Miss Buncle) – “Miss Buncle’s Book” – Lifeline Theatre |
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
| Kyrie Anderson (Mrs. Johnstone) – “Blood Brothers” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Amanda Giles (Young Gertrude) – “Loving Repeating” – Kokandy Productions |
| Emily Goldberg (Rose) – “Dogfight” – BoHo Theatre |
| Courtney Mack (Veronica) – “Heathers: The Musical” – Kokandy Productions |
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
| Stephen Cefalu, Jr. (Nick) – “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – Redtwist Theatre |
| Dennis Grimes (Sam) – “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” – Eclipse Theatre Company |
| Steve Love (Helen) – “Miracle!” – Hell in a Handbag Productions |
| JP Pierson (Mendy) – “The Lisbon Traviata” – Eclipse Theatre Company |
| Michael Woods (Trigorin) – “The Seagull” – Eclectic Full Contact Theatre |
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
| Justin Adair (Performer) – “Fugitive Songs” – BoHo Theatre |
| Carl Herzog (Ensemble) – “My Way” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Christopher Logan (Tom) – “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Aubrey McGrath (Angel) – “Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Jordan Phelps (Narrator) – “Blood Brothers” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
| Marzena Bukowska (Babushka/Baba Yaga/Yaroslava) – “The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls” – Trap Door Theatre |
| Simina Contras (Masha) – “The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls” – Trap Door Theatre |
| Ann James (Janet) – “Rolling” – Jackalope Theatre Company |
| Becca Savoy (Becky) – “Pocatello” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| Cecelia Wingate (Celeste) – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company |
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
| Cara Chumbley (Ulla) – “The Producers” – NightBlue Performing Arts Company |
| Emily Goldberg (Alice B. Toklas) – “Loving Repeating” – Kokandy Productions |
| Stephanie Hansen (Featured Singer) – “A Marvin Hamlisch Songbook” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Amanda Horvath (Sara) – “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Michelle Lauto (Liza Minnelli) – “The Boy From Oz” – Pride Films and Plays |
SOLO PERFORMANCE
| Anna Dauzvardis (April, et al.) – “Liberty City” – eta Creative Arts Foundation |
| Charlie Irving (Daisy Fay) – “The Summer of Daisy Fay” – New American Folk Theatre i/a/w Redtwist Theatre |
| Nelson Rodriguez (Man on the Verge) – “Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown” – Pride Films and Plays |
NEW WORK
| Peter Gwinn and Jody Shelton – “The Story of a Story (The Untold Story)” – Underscore Theatre Company |
| Hansol Jung – “No More Sad Things” – Sideshow Theatre Company |
| Evan Linder – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company |
| Cody Lucas – “Truth in Context” – The Agency Theater Collective |
| Carla Stillwell – “Lawd the CVS is Burning…A Gospel Musical Stage Play” – MPAACT |
| Isaiah Werner – “Scissortail” – Adapt Theatre Productions i/a/w Redtwist Theatre |
| Calamity West – “Rolling” – Jackalope Theatre Company |
NEW ADAPTATION
| Zachary Baker-Salmon – “This House Believes the American Dream is at the Expense of the American Negro” – Oracle Theatre |
| Christina Calvit – “Miss Buncle’s Book” – Lifeline Theatre |
| Elizabeth Lovelady – “D.O.A.” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| Aaron Todd Douglas – “Upstate” – MPAACT |
CHOREOGRAPHY
| Kim Green and Jenna Schoppe – “The Producers” – NightBlue Performing Arts Company |
| Christopher Logan – “A Marvin Hamlisch Songbook” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Stephen Schellhardt – “Dogfight” – BoHo Theatre |
| Sawyer Smith – “Heathers: The Musical” – Kokandy Productions |
| Cameron Turner – “The Boy From Oz” – Pride Films and Plays |
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
| Leif Olsen – “Beast on the Moon” – Raven Theatre |
| Danny Rockett – “How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients” – Trap Door Theatre |
| Andrew Rovner – “The December Man” – Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. |
MUSIC DIRECTION
| Kory Danielson – “Heathers: The Musical” – Kokandy Productions |
| Kory Danielson – “Loving Repeating” – Kokandy Productions |
| Nicholas Davio – “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Jeremy Ramey – “My Way” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Jeremy Ramey – “Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
SCENIC DESIGN
| William Boles – “Barefoot in the Park” – Step Up Productions |
| Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “A Loss of Roses” – Raven Theatre |
| Kevin Hagan – “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” – Eclipse Theatre Company |
| Mike Mroch – “After Miss Julie” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| Joe Schermoly – “Pocatello” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| John Wilson – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company |
LIGHTING DESIGN
| Michael C. Smith – “The Drowning Girls” – Signal Ensemble Theatre |
| Charles Cooper – “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Diane D. Fairchild – “No More Sad Things” – Sideshow Theatre Company |
| John Kelly – “D.O.A.” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| Eric Watkins – “Porcelain” – Prologue Theatre Company |
COSTUME DESIGN
| Raquel Adorno – “D.O.A.” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| John Nasca – “The Boy From Oz” – Pride Films and Plays |
| John Nasca – “Design for Living” – Pride Films and Plays |
| Kate Setzer Kamphausen – “Miracle!” – Hell in a Handbag Productions |
| Rachel M. Sypniewski – “London Wall” – Griffin Theatre Company |
SOUND DESIGN
| Joe Court – “Last Train to Nibroc” – Haven Theatre |
| Cooper Forsman – “A Perfect Ganesh” – Eclipse Theatre Company |
| Jeffrey Levin – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre |
| Jeffrey Levin – “The Long Christmas Ride Home” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| Danny Rockett – “The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls” – Trap Door Theatre |
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
| Breon Arzell – Step Master – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre |
| R&D Choreography – Violence Design – “D.O.A.” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| Stephanie Diaz – Puppet Design – “The Long Christmas Ride Home” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| David Knezz – Mask Design – “Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys” – Raven Theatre |
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