Oakbrook’s Drury Lane Theatre was filled with energy tonight as we gathered to watch the Jeff Awards on their stage. Hosted by Lillian Castillo and Kevin Rosten Junior with announcer Janet Ulrich Brooks adding to the excitement, it was indeed an evening to remember. We were able to watch numbers from each of the nominated musical productions ( done by the actors who played the roles) and then some videos of the plays that were up for play category. As always , it was a festive evening with a busy bar and great people, every one caring about the other. “Love was in the air”!
The 56th Equity Special Awards were presented to Charles Newell and Roche Schulfer, arts leaders whose influence has extended beyond Chicago to the national stage including regional theater Tony Awards for their respective theaters. Newell has been part of Court Theatre for more than three decades as a director, the Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director and now Senior Artistic Consultant. He has played a vital role in Court becoming a nationally recognized cultural institution and has an extensive list of local, regional and national directing credits, collaborations and industry honors for how he has helped transform the regional arts landscape. Schulfer has long been known for his leadership, artistic vitality, advocacy and generosity to the community. He spent over four decades at the Goodman Theatre overseeing more than 400 productions with nearly 200 premieres. During his tenure, the theater received numerous awards for excellence, recognition by Time magazine as the “Best Regional Theatre” in the U.S., the Pulitzer Prize for Lynn Nottage’s Ruined and many Jeff Awards for outstanding achievement in Chicago area theater, as well as completing a decade long process to relocate the Goodman to the Theatre District in 2000 where his name is part of the theater’s “Walk of Stars.”
In its 56th Anniversary season, July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, the Jeff Awards membership judged the opening nights of 99 productions. From these, 82 productions became “Jeff Recommended” which made them eligible for award nominations.
2024 EQUITY JEFF AWARD RECIPIENTS
Production – Play (Large)
“Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Production – Play (Midsize)
“Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
“A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Production – Musical (Large)
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre This is the Dr. Harlan Haimes Award!
Production – Musical (Midsize)
“Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Production – Revue
“Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Drury Lane Productions
Director – Play (Large)
Joe Mantello – “Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Phylicia Rashad – “Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Director – Play (Midsize)
Louis Contey – “A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Director – Musical (Large)
Jessica Fisch – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Director – Musical (Midsize)
L. Walter Stearns and Brenda Didier – “Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Director – Revue
E. Faye Butler – “Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Drury Lane Productions
Ensemble – Play
“The Penelopiad” – Goodman Theatre
Ensemble – Musical or Revue
“Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Drury Lane Productions
Performer in a Principal Role – Play
Scott Aiello (Eddie) – “A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Laurie Metcalf (Sarah) – “Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Performer in a Principal Role – Musical
Kaitlyn Davis (Carole King) – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Meghan Murphy (Reno Sweeney) – “Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Solo Performance
Hershey Felder (Monsieur Chopin) – “Hershey Felder as Monsieur Chopin” – Writers Theatre
Performer in a Revue
Lorenzo Rush, Jr. (Performer) – “Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Drury Lane Productions
Performer in a Supporting Role – Play
E. Faye Butler (Grace Dubose Dunbar) – “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
Mitchell J. Fain (Henry Lehman) – “The Lehman Trilogy” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Performer in a Supporting Role – Musical
Adrian Aguilar (Tommy DeVito) – “Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Andrew Mueller (Gerry Goffin) – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
New Work
Samuel D. Hunter – “Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins – “Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Choreography
Justin Peck- “Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in association with ArKtype/Thomas O. Kriegsmann
Original Music in a Play
Samuel Davis – “The Penelopiad” – Goodman Theatre
Music Direction
Nathan Koci – “Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in association with ArKtype/Thomas O. Kriegsmann
Scenic Design (Large)
Todd Rosenthal – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre
Arnel Sancianco – “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
Scenic Design (Midsize)
Grant Sabin – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Lighting Design (Large)
Cat Wilson – “A Streetcar Named Desire” – Paramount Theatre
Lighting Design (Midsize)
Mike Durst – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Costume Design (Large)
Ana Kuzmanic – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre
Costume Design (Midsize)
Aly Greaves Amidei – “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Sound Design (Large)
André Pluess – “The Lehman Trilogy” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Sound Design (Midsize)
Jeffrey Levin – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Projection Design
Mike Tutaj – “Gods and Monsters” – Frame of Reference Productions
Artistic Specialization
Timo Andres – Music Arrangements and Orchestrations – “Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in association with ArKtype/Thomas O. Kriegsmann
Short Run – Production
“Welcome to Matteson!” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Short Run – Performer
Harry Lennix (August Wilson) – “How I Learned What I Learned” – Congo Square Theatre Company and Goodman Theatre
This was a three hour event that ended with drinks and vittles and a lot of hugs, kisses and photos. Watching the Chicago actors congratulate each other shows how our theater community is truly a community. Every performer ( and those behind the scenes as well) cares about the others in a way that one doesn’t see in other businesses.
Congrats to all those honored tonight and to the winners.
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