Thirty-seven Jeff Citations Awards honoring excellence in non-Equity Chicago theatre were spread among 24 productions and 20 theatres at the 33rd Annual Citations Awards Ceremony held Monday, June 5 at Park West in Chicago. First-time nominee Infamous Commonwealth Theatre Companys ambitious production of The Kentucky Cycle, Parts 1 and 2 received the Jeff Citation for Outstanding Production and Director Play, and Bailiwick Repertory Theatres Kiss of the Spider Woman received the Jeff Citation for Outstanding Production and Director Musical. The Jeff Citations are non-competitive, meaning that there can be multiple recipients, and Outstanding Director - Play honors also went to Jonathan Wilson for Pegasus Players production of August Wilsons Two Trains Running.
Fred Solari, who recently passed away, received a Special Award from The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee. A theatre and dance producer, manager of the Athenaeum, and supporter and patron to many emerging theatre and dance companies, Mr. Solari was recognized for his contributions to the theatre and arts community in Chicago.
Bailiwick Repertory Theatre garnered eight Citations (including one in association with The Hypocrites) and Infamous Commonwealth Theatre received four. Three of the top six producing entities were co-productions, reflecting a recent trend in non-Equity theatres joining forces and resources. Two Citations went to Prop Thtr in association with Rasaka Theatre Company for their South Asian-themed play with music and dance, The Masrayana.
The writing categories of Outstanding New Work Play and Outstanding New Adaptation each had two recipients. New Work Play recipients were Margaret Lewis for Fellow Travellers at Stage Left Theatre and William C. Kovacsik for The Masrayana at Prop Thtr in association with Rasaka Theatre Company. Jeff Citations for New Adaptation went to Curt Columbus for his new translation of Three Sisters produced by Strawdog Theatre Company, and John Hildreths adaptation of the novel Johnny Tremain produced by Lifeline Theatre.
Reflecting the growing ambitiousness of Chicagos smaller companies, for the first time since the Jeff Committees Citations Wing was established, this season included so many world premiere musicals offered by non-Equity companies that the Jeff Committee awarded a Citation for Outstanding New Work Musical to Christina Calvit and George Howe for Lifeline Theatres Queen Lucia.
No individual nominee received multiple Citations, as they were spread among 37 artists. The two co-stars in Bailiwick Repertory Theatres production of the Kander & Ebb musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ryan Lanning and Stan Q. Wash, shared Citations in the Actor in a Principal Role Musical category. Other top acting honors went to:
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE PLAY
Paul DAddario Hurlyburly The Gift Theatre Company
Jόrgen Hooper Whats Wrong With Angry? Circle Theatre
Paul Noble True West The Hypocrites
Alfred H. Wilson Two Trains Running Pegasus Players
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE MUSICAL
Monique Whittington Josephine Tonight! Theatre Building Chicago
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE PLAY
Donna McGough Death of a Salesman The Hypocrites
Rebekah Ward-Hays The Skin of Our Teeth BackStage Theatre Company
The complete listing of recipients and the statistical breakdown follows:
PRODUCTION PLAY
The Kentucky Cycle, Parts 1 and 2 Infamous Commonwealth Theatre
PRODUCTION MUSICAL
Kiss of the Spider Woman Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
ENSEMBLE
The Kentucky Cycle, Parts 1 and 2 Infamous Commonwealth Theatre
DIRECTOR PLAY
Jason Kae & Genevieve Thompson The Kentucky Cycle, Parts 1 and 2 Infamous Commonwealth Theatre
Jonathan Wilson Two Trains Running Pegasus Players
DIRECTOR MUSICAL OR REVUE
Susan Finque Kiss of the Spider Woman Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
NEW WORK PLAY
Margaret Lewis Fellow Travellers Stage Left Theatre
William C. Kovacsik The Masrayana Prop Thtr in association with Rasaka Theatre Company
NEW WORK MUSICAL
Christina Calvit & George Howe Queen Lucia Lifeline Theatre
NEW ADAPTATION
Curt Columbus Three Sisters Strawdog Theatre Company
John Hildreth Johnny Tremain Lifeline Theatre
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE PLAY
Donna McGough Death of a Salesman The Hypocrites
Rebekah Ward-Hays The Skin of Our Teeth BackStage Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE MUSICAL
Monique Whittington Josephine Tonight! Theatre Building Chicago
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE PLAY
Paul D'Addario Hurlyburly The Gift Theatre Company
Jόrgen Hooper What's Wrong With Angry? Circle Theatre
Paul Noble True West The Hypocrites
Alfred H. Wilson Two Trains Running Pegasus Players
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE MUSICAL
Ryan Lanning Kiss of the Spider Woman Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
Stan Q. Wash Kiss of the Spider Woman Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE PLAY
Eric Hoffmann Loose Knit The Actors Workshop Theatre
Rian Jairell The Kentucky Cycle, Parts 1 and 2 Infamous Commonwealth Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE MUSICAL
Stephen Feder I Sing! White Horse Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE PLAY
Millie Hurley Spencer Dancing at Lughnasa Raven Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE MUSICAL OR REVUE
Danielle Brothers A Jacques Brel Revue: Songs of Love and War Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James
SCENIC DESIGN
Brian Sidney Bembridge Three Sisters Strawdog Theatre Company
Jack Magaw Two Trains Running Pegasus Players
LIGHTING DESIGN
Jared Moore Kiss of the Spider Woman Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN
Laura M. Dana Seascape Signal Ensemble Theatre
Alison Siple Time and the Conways Griffin Theatre Company
SOUND DESIGN
Mikhail Fiksel & Michael Griggs Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches The Hypocrites in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY Brenda Didier Kiss of the Spider Woman Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Nikhil Trivedi The Masrayana Prop Thtr in association with Rasaka Theatre Company
MUSIC DIRECTION
Kevin O'Donnell Valentine Victorious The House Theatre of Chicago
Robert Ollis Kiss of the Spider Woman Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
FIGHT DESIGN
Geoff Coates The Talisman Ring Lifeline Theatre
PROJECTIONS DESIGN
Mike Tutaj Martin Furey's Shot TimeLine Theatre Company
Citations Recipients Statistics
Individuals no individual received more than one Citation
Companies (20):
Bailiwick Repertory Theatre: 8 (1 in association with The Hypocrites)
Infamous Commonwealth Theatre: 4
Lifeline Theatre: 3
Pegasus Players: 3
The Hypocrites: 3 (1 in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre)
Prop Thtr in Association with Rasaka Theatre Company: 2
Strawdog Theatre Company: 2
The Actors Workshop Theatre: 1
Backstage Theatre Company: 1
Circle Theatre: 1
The Gift Theatre Company: 1
Griffin Theatre Company: 1
The House Theatre of Chicago: 1
Raven Theatre Company: 1
Signal Ensemble Theatre: 1
Stage Left Theatre: 1
Theatre Building Chicago: 1
Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James
TimeLine Theatre Company: 1
White Horse Theatre Company: 1
Productions (24):
Kiss of the Spider Woman: 7
The Kentucky Cycle, Parts 1 and 2: 4
Two Trains Running: 3
The Masrayana: 2
Three Sisters: 2
A Jacques Brel Revue: Songs of Love and War: 1
Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches: 1
Dancing at Lughnasa: 1
Death of a Salesman: 1
Fellow Travellers: 1
Hurlyburly: 1
I Sing!: 1
Johnny Tremain: 1
Josephine Tonight!: 1
Loose Knit: 1
Martin Fureys Shot: 1
Queen Lucia: 1
Seascape: 1
The Skin of Our Teeth: 1
The Talisman Ring: 1
Time and the Conways: 1
True West: 1
Valentine Victorious: 1
Whats Wrong With Angry?: 1