The 44th Annual “Non-Equity” Jeff Awards

June 5, 2017 – Chicago, IL.  “At the Table”, Michael Perlman’s drama of scintillating conversation between diverse friends during a weekend in the country, took home the most honors on Monday, June 5, during the 44th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in non-union Chicago theatre.  The awards show was held at the Athenaeum Theatre for the first time, a fitting venue since it is home to several non-Equity theater companies.

There are many who found this change of venue fitting and of course having the ability to hold a larger crowd was the reason for the change. Many “theater-goers” are unaware that the Award festivities are open to the public. While they are not typical “theater”. the opportunity to see many of those you see “on stage”, off is a treat on its own.

The problem with the new venue is that the foyer is not conducive to the serving of food after the almost three hours of festivities. It was awkward and crowded, but there is a change that in the near future there could be an added “party room” ( so a little birdie said) and that might ease the pressure. There was ample parking tonight, despite a Cubs game and a beautiful Monday night in Chicago. I am sure the minds that put the Jeff Awards shows together along with the minds that have made the Athenaeum Theatre the powerful venue that it is will come up with something by next year. 45 should be a magical year.

Approximately 750 people were in attendance, and the evening featured production numbers and excerpts from the season’s nominated musicals and plays.  Brief memorial tributes were also paid to Martha Lavey, former Artistic Director of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and to Samuel G. Roberson Jr., the Artistic Director of Congo Square Theatre Company, both of whom passed away this year.

“At the Table”, produced by the Broken Nose Theatre, received Jeff Awards for Production-Play, Ensemble, Director-Play (Spenser Davis) and Actress In A Supporting Role-Play (Echaka Agba). These awards were quite an achievement for Broken Nose, especially since this was its first year of Jeff eligibility. Top honors in the musical category went to Refuge Theatre Project for its production of “High Fidelity”, based on the movie starring John Cusack about a record store owner and his loves and friends. “High Fidelity” received awards for Production-Musical, Director-Musical (Christopher Pazdernik), and Scenic Design (Michelle Manni). Like Broken Nose, this was also Refuge Theatre Project’s first year of Jeff eligibility.

Alexis J. Roston and Lillian Castillo were emcees for this year’s award show. Brenda Didier directed Monday’s ceremony, with musical direction provided by Jimmy Morehead. John D. Glover, Non-Equity Wing Chair of the Jeff Awards, produced the event.

David Liesse, Chair of the 55-member Jeff Awards, welcomed the audience and presented this year’s Special Jeff Award honoring David Cerda, the Artistic Director and creative force behind “Hell in a Handbag Productions”, for his theatrical and charitable contributions.  His award read: Congratulations and Thanks for “Dragging” the Chicago Theatre world into your “Hell in a Handbag” with humor, heart, hilarity and humanity.” His acceptance speech was long, but hysterical and had great meaning for the audience made up mostly of “theater people”. He fondly spoke about his relationships with Chris Jones and Hedy Weiss- putting a smile on everyone’s faces (including these two theater critics).

Season of Concern, the charity providing grants to members of the theatre community who are unable to work due to illness or injury, presented its Biscotto-Miller Award to Lifeline Theatre for raising the most money this year among non-union entities.

The Solo Performance Award went to Philip Dawkins for his work in “The Happiest Place on Earth”, produced by Greenhouse Theater Center and Sideshow Theatre Company.   Awards for Principal Performance in a Play went to Amy Johnson for her portrayal of a mother of an autistic child in “Falling” at Interrobang Theatre Project, George Seegebrecht as the Lindbergh baby kidnapper in “Hauptmann” at City Lit Theater Company, and to Gage Wallace as a sinfully elegant schemer in “Taste”, produced by Red Theater Chicago.  Awards for Principal Performance in a Musical were bestowed on Henry McGinniss for his portrayal of Bat Boy in “Bat Boy: The Musical” with Griffin Theatre Company, and to Colette Todd for her portrayal of a wife and mother coping with mental illness in “Next To Normal” at BoHo Theatre. Colette also received the award for Actor/Actress in a Revue as Angela in “Honky Tonk Angels” at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.

Supporting Actor and Actress awards went to Justin Tsatsa for his role as Josh in “Falling” at Interrobang Theatre Project, Echaka Agba as Lauren in “At the Table” with Broken Nose Theatre, Scott Danielson as Officer Lockstock  in BoHo Theatre’s musical “Urinetown”, and to Veronica Garza as  Tonya and Nancy’s mother in Underscore Theatre Company’s musical “Tonya and Nancy: The Rock Opera.”
The award for Music Direction went to Jeremy Ramey for “The Most Happy Fella” with Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, and the Choreography award went to Aubrey Adams for “Urinetown” with BoHo Theatre.  The Jeff Award for Original Music in a Play was bestowed on Natasha Bogojevich for “Gentle” with TUTA Theatre Chicago.

Technical honors went to Lighting Designer Kevin D. Gawley for “A Wrinkle In Time” at Lifeline Theatre, Scenic Designer Michelle Manni for “High Fidelity” at Refuge Theatre Project, Costume Designer John Nasca for Pride Films and Plays’ “Priscilla: Queen of the Desert” and Sound Designer Stephen Ptacek for “How We Got On” with Haven Theatre Company. Awards in Fight Choreography and Projection Design were also presented to Ryan Bourque for “Prowess” at Jackalope Theatre Company and Anthony Churchill for “The Body of an American” at Stage Left Theatre, respectively.

Additionally, three new works (two plays and one musical) were recognized: Ike Holter’s “Prowess”, produced by Jackalope Theatre Company, which is an enthralling depiction of the tender balance between well-meaning heroism and vigilante justice during a summer in Chicago;  Alex Lubischer for “Bobbie Clearly,” produced by Steep Theatre Company,  which is a dark comedy about a community trying to make sense of senseless violence in Milton, Nebraska; and to Robert Kauzlaric & George Howe for “Northanger Abbey”, produced by Lifeline Theatre, and is a musical adaptation based on the first of Jane Austen’s novels and a satire of the Gothic novels popular at the time of its first writing in 1798-99.

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 (including producers, directors, actors, playwrights, designers, professors of theatre, entertainment lawyers and agents, and theatre lovers), the Jeff Awards are committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors.   Opening night judges include not only the members but also the team of Artistic & Technical theatre volunteers (the “A/T Team”) which include Artistic Directors, producers, directors from the major Chicago theatres, actors, designers, etc. 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 adjudicate over 250 theatrical productions and host 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, November 6, 2017, at Drury Lane Oakbrook in Oakbrook Terrace.