CHICAGO, IL – The Jeff Awards celebrated their 50th anniversary on Monday, October 22, 2018 during a spirited and nostalgic ceremony at Drury Lane Oakbrook. American Blues Theater’s “Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story” received the most awards including: Production – Musical – Midsize, Director Lili-Anne Brown, Principal Performer in a Musical Zachary Stevenson, Music Director Michael Mahler, and Ensemble – Musical or Revue. Goodman Theatre’s “A View from the Bridge” received awards for Production – Play – Large, and Director Ian van Hove. Goodman was also honored with statues for Ensemble – Play for “The Wolves” and for Ellen Fairey’s New Work “Support Group for Men”.
In the acting categories, awards for Performer in Principal Role in a Play went to Tara Mallen for Rivendell Theatre Ensemble’s “The Cake” and to Caroline Neff for Victory Garden Theater’s “Lettie”. Jason Grimm in Marriott Theatre’s “Murder for Two” received an award for Performer in a Principal Role in a Musical. The Solo Performance award went to Kate Fry for Court Theatre’s “The Belle of Amherst” and Performer in a Revue went to Lorenzo Rush, Jr. for Court Theatre’s “Five Guys Named Moe”. Awards for Performer in a Supporting Role in a Musical went to Matt Crowle for Drury Lane Productions’ “South Pacific” and to Gavin Rohrer for Paramount Theatre’s “Million Dollar Quartet”. Awards for Performer in a Supporting Role in a Play went to Matt DeCaro for Drury Lane Productions’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and to Keith Kupferer for Rivendell Theatre Ensemble’s “Cal in Camo”.
Special awards were presented to four award-winning Chicago theatres that laid their foundations in drama, comedy, and musical theatre more than half a century ago and have endured to this day. The recipients are Goodman Theatre (1925), Drury Lane Productions (1949), Court Theatre (1955), and The Second City (1959). Collectively, they have received more than 1,400 nominations and over 350 awards, dating back to the first ceremony.
The evening was hosted by the Founder and Artistic Director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater Barbara Gaines and the Founder and CEO of the Black Ensemble Theater Jackie Taylor. The ceremony was directed by Porchlight Music Theatre’s Artistic Director Michael Weber and produced by Merril Prager. Highlights of the evening included live performances from nominated musicals and revues, video clips from past Jeff Awards, and a welcome from Guy Barile, one of the founders of the Jeff Awards.
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 is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards and honors. Opening night judges include not only Jeff members but also the team of Artistic and Technical theatre volunteers (the “A/T Team”) which is comprised of artistic directors, producers, directors from major Chicago theatres, actors and designers. 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 judges 300 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.
While, as always, the evening was one of dynamics where the Chicago “theater World” takes on its own life, there were some notable items of a political nature taking place on the stage and in the seating area of Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook. While we have seen many changes in the world during these 50 years, some of the changes are not quite as noticable” as they might be, but as we looked around the theater and at the after party, the changes have been happening, albeit, slower than one might hope for, it is taking place. During the next 50 years ( which I hope to be able to continue to share with my readers ( ha ha), I am sure we will see much more. The die has been cast and the youngsters behind us will take on the challenge.
Meanwhile, except for the special awards ( a bit longer than they needed to be) last night was an entertaining evening that was enjoyed by all who attended ( even the losers, as in our community, no one is a loser) and for those of you who love theater but do not feel that you are part of the community, you are. Theater patrons are the backbone and are very much loved and appreciated. You are also more thn welcome to buy a ticket and attend the Jeff Awards- stay in touch- www.jeffawards.org where you can also see all the award winners.
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