Jeff Equity Awards

Continuing a tradition of recognizing achievement in Chicago's diverse theatre scene, The Jeff Awards announced 150 nominations in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2007 and July 31, 2008. The Jeff Awards sent judges to the opening nights of 123 openings offered by 52 producing organizations. From these openings, 88 Equity productions were "Jeff recommended", which made them eligible for Jeff Award nominations. Beginning with this season, the Jeff Awards acknowledged the work of Large and Midsize theatres in separate categories for productions and technical elements. The list of Theatres and Categories in each Tier are at the end of this Release. The Jeff Awards is pleased to announce that Actors' Equity Association will continue its support of the Equity Jeff Awards by sponsoring the highly valued Outstanding Ensemble Award.

The 40th Annual Jeff Awards ceremony, celebrating the four-decade tradition of honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area, will be held on Monday, October 20, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Boulevard. A pre-show Appetizer Buffet will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the Awards Ceremony, directed by Michael Weber, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Advance purchase tickets, which include the ceremony and the pre-show buffet, are $75 ($55 for members of Actors' Equity Association, United Scenic Artists, Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and the Dramatists Guild of America). The evening is black tie optional, and the public is cordially invited to attend. To purchase tickets, visit the Jeff Awards website at www.jeffawards.org.

Chicago's abundance of strong playwrights is on display in the nominations for New Works and New Adaptations. Chicago Dramatists lived up to its name with two bold Chicago style works, Keith Huff's A Steady Rain and Bill Jepsen's Cadillac. Chicago Shakespeare Theater scored two nominations with the new work Funk It Up About Nothin', a hip-hop musical by GQ and JQ, and the new adaptation The Comedy of Errors, a hilarious 40's blitzkrieg of Shakespeare's comedy by Ron West. New works at About Face Theatre, Silk Road Theatre Project, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Victory Gardens Theater and a new adaptation from Lookingglass Theatre Company completed the fields.

Marriott Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and Goodman Theatre led the Large Tier in nominations, with Marriott's Les Misérables garnering nine honors, the most for a Large Tier production. Lookingglass Theatre's Around the World in 80 Days and Marriott's The Producers received seven nominations each. Shattered Globe Theatre and Chicago Dramatists led the Midsize Tier nominations with Shattered Globe's Requiem for a Heavyweight bringing in seven nominations.

Two unique nominations of the nine nods to Les Misérables recognized husband and wife John Cudia, (Actor in a Principal Role - Musical) and Kathy Voytko (Actress in a Supporting Role - Musical). Multiple recognitions in different categories went to nominees Mike Tutaj and Nick Sandys. Tutaj's four nominations included Sound Design of Requiem for a Heavyweight and Suddenly, Last Summer at Shattered Globe Theatre, Projections Design for I Do! I Do! at American Theater Company and Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat at Silk Road Theatre Project. Sandys garnered three nominations, for Principal Actor in Much Ado About Nothing at First Folio Shakespeare Festival and for Fight Choreography in The Defiant Muse at Victory Gardens Theater and Requiem for a Heavyweight at Shattered Globe Theatre.

The Jeff Awards are given annually by The Jeff Awards Committee to honor excellence in professional theatre produced in the immediate Chicago area. The Committee, organized in 1968, consists of up to 50 men and women with varying backgrounds in theatre, but united by their commitment to Chicago's theatre community. The Committee evaluates over 250 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies annually. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the Committee established the Non-Equity Wing in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union Chicago theatre. The next Non-Equity awards ceremony will be held in June 2009.

COMPLETE LIST OF JEFF EQUITY NOMINATIONS

Production - Play - Large

  • "Around the World in 80 Days", Lookingglass Theatre Company
  • "As You Like It," Writers' Theatre
  • "The Comedy of Errors," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • "The Crucible," Steppenwolf Theatre Company
  • "Passion Play: a cycle in three parts," Goodman Theatre
  • "Superior Donuts," Steppenwolf Theatre Company
  • "The Trip to Bountiful," Goodman Theatre

    • Production - Play - Midsize

  • "Cadillac," Chicago Dramatists
  • "Defiance," Next Theatre Company
  • "Juno and the Paycock," The Artistic Home
  • "The Philadelphia Story," Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
  • "Requiem for a Heavyweight," Shattered Globe Theatre
  • "A Steady Rain," Chicago Dramatists
  • "W;t," The Gift Theatre

    • Production - Musical - Large

  • "Carousel," Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
  • "La Cage aux Folles," Theatre at the Center
  • "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre
  • "Passion," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • "The Producers," Marriott Theatre
  • "Sweet Charity," Drury Lane Oakbrook

    • Production - Musical - Midsize

  • "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
  • "Nine," Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago

    • Production - Revue

  • "Ain't Misbehavin'," Goodman Theatre
  • "Campaign Supernova! or How Many Democrats Does It Take to Lose an Election?," The Second City e.t.c.
  • "Ella," Northlight Theatre
  • "The Mistress Cycle," Apple Tree Theatre

    • Ensemble - sponsored by Actors' Equity Association

  • "Altar Boyz," Altar Boyz Chicago, LLC
  • "Around the World in 80 Days," Lookingglass Theatre Company
  • "Because They Have No Words," Piven Theatre
  • "Campaign Supernova! or How Many Democrats Does It Take to Lose an Election?," The Second City e.t.c.
  • "Funk It Up About Nothin'," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre
  • "Nine," Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
  • "Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler (Old School vs. New School)," Black Ensemble Theater

    • New Work

  • Yussef El Guindi, "Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat," Silk Road Theatre Project
  • Keith Huff, "A Steady Rain," Chicago Dramatists
  • Bill Jepsen, "Cadillac," Chicago Dramatists
  • Joel Drake Johnson, "Four Places," Victory Gardens Theater
  • Tracy Letts, "Superior Donuts," Steppenwolf Theatre Company
  • GQ and JQ, "Funk It Up About Nothin'," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Eric Rosen, "Wedding Play," About Face Theatre

    New Adaptation
  • Laura Eason, "Around the World in 80 Days," Lookingglass Theatre Company
  • Ron West, "The Comedy of Errors," Chicago Shakespeare Theater

    • Director - Play

  • William Brown, "As You Like It," Writers' Theatre
  • Lou Contey, "Requiem for a Heavyweight," Shattered Globe Theatre
  • Barbara Gaines, "The Comedy of Errors," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Mark E. Lococo, "The Miser," Northlight Theatre
  • PJ Paparelli, "Speech & Debate," American Theater Company
  • Edward Sobel, "Cadillac," Chicago Dramatists
  • Russ Tutterow, "A Steady Rain," Chicago Dramatists

    • Director - Musical

  • Jim Corti, "Meet Me in St. Louis," Drury Lane Oakbrook
  • Jim Corti, "Sweet Charity," Drury Lane Oakbrook
  • Gary Griffin, "Passion," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Dominic Missimi, "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre
  • Charles Newell, "Carousel," Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
  • Marc Robin, "The Producers," Marriott Theatre

    Director - Revue
  • Stafford Arima, "Altar Boyz," Altar Boyz Chicago, LLC
  • Jim Carlson, "No Country For Old White Men," The Second City
  • Kurt Johns, "The Mistress Cycle," Apple Tree Theatre
  • Rob Ruggiero, "Ella," Northlight Theatre
  • Chuck Smith, "Ain't Misbehavin'," Goodman Theatre

    Actor in a Principal Role - Play
  • Jon Michael Hill, "Superior Donuts," Steppenwolf Theatre Company
  • D. J. Howard, "Driving Miss Daisy," First Folio Shakespeare Festival
  • John Judd, "Shining City," Goodman Theatre
  • Nick Sandys, "Much Ado About Nothing," First Folio Shakespeare Festival
  • Randy Steinmeyer, "A Steady Rain," Chicago Dramatists
  • Sean Sullivan, "Requiem for a Heavyweight," Shattered Globe Theatre

    Actor in a Principal Role - Musical
  • Larry Adams, "Phantom," Theatre at the Center
  • Guy Adkins, "The Producers," Marriott Theatre
  • John Cudia, "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre
  • Ross Lehman, "The Producers," Marriott Theatre
  • Jeff Parker, "Nine," Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago

    Actress in a Principal Role- Play
  • Karen Aldridge, "The Cook," Goodman Theatre
  • Shannon Cochran, "The Lion in Winter," Writers' Theatre
  • Mary Beth Fisher, "The Little Dog Laughed," About Face Theatre
  • Alexandra Main, "W;t," The Gift Theatre
  • Lois Smith, "The Trip to Bountiful," Goodman Theatre
  • Mary Ann Thebus, "Four Places," Victory Gardens Theater

    Actress in a Principal Role - Musical
  • Ana Gasteyer , "Passion," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Heidi Kettenring, "Little Women," Marriott Theatre
  • Johanna McKenzie Miller, "Phantom," Theatre at the Center
  • Summer Naomi Smart, "Sweet Charity," Drury Lane Oakbrook
  • Kathy Voytko, "Passion," Chicago Shakespeare Theater

    Solo Performance
  • Bradley Armacost, "C. S. Lewis on Stage," Provision Theater Company
  • Thomas J. Cox, "Nelson Algren: For Keeps and a Single Day," Lookingglass Theatre and the Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Judith Ivey, "The Lady With All The Answers," Northlight Theatre
  • Michael Joseph Mitchell, "Underneath the Lintel," City Lit Theater with BoarsHead Theater and CRM Productions
  • Nilaja Sun, "No Child…," Lookingglass Theatre Company

    Actor in a Supporting Role - Play
  • Joe Dempsey, "Wedding Play," About Face Theatre
  • Kevin Douglas, "Around the World in 80 Days," Lookingglass Theatre Company
  • Kevin McKillip, "Jeeves Intervenes," First Folio Shakespeare Theatre
  • Rob Riley, "Cadillac," Chicago Dramatists
  • Brian Sills, "Cymbeline," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Mark Ulrich, "Juno and the Paycock," The Artistic Home
  • Larry Yando, "As You Like It," Writers' Theatre

    Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical
  • Richard Todd Adams, "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre
  • Brandon Dahlquist, "Knute Rockne All-American," Theatre at the Center
  • Rob Lindley, "Carousel," Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
  • Michael Aaron Lindner, "The Producers," Marriott Theatre
  • Stephen Schellhardt, "Little Women," Marriott Theatre

    Actress in a Supporting Role - Play
  • Lesley Bevan, "Othello," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Hallie Foote, "The Trip to Bountiful," Goodman Theatre
  • Ora Jones, "Carter's Way," Steppenwolf Theatre Company
  • Polly Noonan, "Passion Play: a cycle in three parts," Goodman Theatre
  • Jacqueline Williams, "The Miser," Northlight Theatre

    Actress in a Supporting Role - Musical
  • Marilynn Bogetich, "Phantom," Theatre at the Center
  • Cory Goodrich, "Hello, Dolly!," Theatre at the Center
  • Jessie Mueller, "Carousel," Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
  • Alene Robertson, "The Full Monty," Marriott Theatre
  • Kathy Voytko, "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre

    Actor in a Revue
  • John Steven Crowley, "Ain't Misbehavin'," Goodman Theatre
  • Brian Crum, "Altar Boyz," Altar Boyz Chicago, LLC
  • James Rank, "The American Dream Songbook," Next Theatre Company

    • Actress in a Revue

  • E. Faye Butler, "Ain't Misbehavin'," Goodman Theatre
  • E. Faye Butler, "Ella," Northlight Theatre
  • Laura Grey, "Campaign Supernova! or How Many Democrats Does It Take to Lose an Election?," The Second City e.t.c.
  • Angela Ingersoll, "The Mistress Cycle," Apple Tree Theatre
  • Amber Ruffin, "No Country For Old White Men" The Second City

    Scenic Design - Large
  • Brian Sidney Bembridge, "The Goodbye Girl," Drury Lane Oakbrook
  • Brian Sidney Bembridge, "Meet Me in St. Louis," Drury Lane Oakbrook
  • E. David Cosier, "The Trip to Bountiful," Goodman Theatre
  • Allen Moyer, "Passion Play: a cycle in three parts," Goodman Theatre
  • Keith Pitts, "The Defiant Muse," Victory Gardens Theater

    Scenic Design - Midsize
  • Kevin Depinet, "Cadillac," Chicago Dramatists
  • Kevin Hagan, "Suddenly, Last Summer," Shattered Globe Theatre
  • Kevin Hagan, "Requiem for a Heavyweight," Shattered Globe Theatre
  • Chelsea Meyers, "Juno and the Paycock," The Artistic Home
  • Jacqueline & Richard Penrod, "The Philadelphia Story," Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

    Costume Design - Large
  • Nikki Delhomme, "La Cage aux Folles," Theatre at the Center
  • Ana Kuzmanic, "The Comedy of Errors," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Nancy Missimi, "The Producers," Marriott Theatre
  • Nancy Missimi, "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre
  • Tatjana Radisic, "Meet Me in St. Louis," Drury Lane Oakbrook

    Costume Design - Midsize
  • Karen Kawa, "Fatboy," A Red Orchid Theatre
  • Rachel Laritz, "The Philadelphia Story," Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
  • Elsa Hiltner, "Driving Miss Daisy," First Folio Shakespeare Festival
  • Cybele Moon, "Suddenly, Last Summer," Shattered Globe Theatre
  • Bill Morey, "Nine," Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago

    Sound Design - Large
  • Cecil Averett, "Passion Play: a cycle in three parts," Goodman Theatre
  • Barry G. Funderburg, "Carter's Way," Steppenwolf Theatre Company
  • Andrew Hansen, "As You Like It," Writers' Theatre
  • Joshua Horvath, "Around the World in 80 Days," Lookingglass Theatre Company
  • Andre Pluess, "The Turn of the Screw," Writers' Theatre

    Sound Design - Midsize
  • Jack Arky, "Because They Have No Words," Piven Theatre
  • Andre Pluess, "Much Ado About Nothing," First Folio Shakespeare Festival
  • Miles Polaski, "White People," The Gift Theatre
  • Mike Tutaj, "Requiem for a Heavyweight," Shattered Globe Theatre
  • Mike Tutaj, "Suddenly, Last Summer," Shattered Globe Theatre

    • Lighting Design - Large

  • Lee Keenan, "Around the World in 80 Days," Lookingglass Theatre Company
  • Jesse Klug, "Sweet Charity," Drury Lane Oakbrook
  • J. R. Lederle, "The Turn of the Screw," Writers' Theatre
  • Philip S. Rosenberg, "Cymbeline," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Diane Ferry Williams, "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre

    Lighting Design - Midsize
  • Christopher Ash, "Wedding Play," About Face Theatre
  • Mike Durst, "Requiem for a Heavyweight," Shattered Globe Theatre
  • John Horan, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
  • John Horan, "W;t," The Gift Theatre
  • J. R. Lederle, "Fiction," Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

    Choreography
  • David H. Bell, "Knute Rockne All-American," Theatre at the Center
  • Christopher Gattelli, "Altar Boyz," Altar Boyz Chicago, LLC
  • Mitzi Hamilton, "Sweet Charity," Drury Lane Oakbrook
  • Rudy Hogenmiller, "La Cage aux Folles," Theatre at the Center
  • Marc Robin, "The Producers," Marriott Theatre

    • Original Incidental Music

  • Andrew Hansen, "As You Like It," Writers' Theatre
  • Alaric Jans & Lindsay Jones, "Cymbeline," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Darrell Leonard, "Carter's Way," Steppenwolf Theatre Company
  • Kevin O'Donnell, "Around the World in 80 Days," Lookingglass Theatre Company
  • David Pavkovic, "Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day," Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art

    Fight Choreography
  • Kevin Asselin, "As You Like It," Writers' Theatre
  • Robin McFarquhar, "Cymbeline," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Nick Sandys, "The Defiant Muse," Victory Gardens Theater
  • Nick Sandys, "Requiem for a Heavyweight," Shattered Globe Theatre

    Musical Direction
  • Rob Berman, "Passion," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • George Caldwell, "Ella," Northlight Theatre
  • Eugene Dizon, "Nine," Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
  • Brad Haak, "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre
  • Doug Peck, "Carousel," Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
  • Jimmy Tillman, "Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler (Old School vs. New School)," Black Ensemble Theater

    Artistic Specializations
  • Rupert Bohle, "Passion Play: a cycle in three parts," Goodman Theatre
  • Marty Higginbotham & Bobby Richards, "Speech & Debate," American Theater Company
  • John Musial, "Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day," Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Mike Tutaj, "I Do! I Do!," American Theater Company
  • Mike Tutaj, "Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat," Silk Road Theatre Project

    • 2008 EQUITY NOMINEE STATISTICS (MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS)

    PRODUCTIONS
    Les Misérables -9
    Around the World in 80 Days -7
    Requiem for a Heavyweight -7
    The Producers -7
    As You Like It -6
    Cadillac -5
    Carousel -5
    Nine -5
    Passion -5
    Passion Play: a cycle in three parts -5
    Sweet Charity -5
    A Steady Rain -4
    Ain't Misbehavin' -4
    Altar Boyz -4
    Cymbeline -4
    Ella -4
    The Comedy of Errors -4
    The Trip to Bountiful -4
    Campaign Supernova! or How Many Democrats Does It Take to Lose an Election? - 3
    Carter's Way -3
    Juno and the Paycock -3
    La Cage aux Folles -3
    Meet Me in St. Louis -3
    Nelson Algren: For Keeps and a Single Day -3
    Phantom -3
    Suddenly, Last Summer -3
    Superior Donuts -3
    The Mistress Cycle -3
    The Philadelphia Story -3
    W;t -3
    Wedding Play -3
    Because They Have No Words -2
    Driving Miss Daisy -2
    Four Places -2
    Funk It Up About Nothin' -2
    Knute Rockne All-American -2
    Little Women -2
    Much Ado About Nothing -2
    No Country For Old White Men -2
    Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat -2
    Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler (Old School vs. New School) -2
    Speech & Debate -2
    The Defiant Muse -2
    The Hunchback of Notre Dame -2
    The Miser -2
    The Turn of the Screw -2

    PRODUCING ORGANIZATIONS
    Marriott Theatre- 19
    Chicago Shakespeare Theater - 16
    Goodman Theatre - 15
    Shattered Globe Theatre - 10
    Chicago Dramatists - 9
    Drury Lane Oakbrook - 9
    Theatre at the Center - 9
    Writers' Theatre - 9
    Lookingglass Theatre Company - 8
    Northlight Theatre - 7
    Steppenwolf Theatre Company - 7
    Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre - 5
    First Folio Shakespeare Festival - 5
    Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago - 5
    About Face Theatre - 4
    Altar Boyz Chicago, LLC - 4
    Remy Bumppo Theatre Company - 4
    The Gift Theatre - 4
    Victory Gardens Theater - 4
    American Theater Company - 3
    Apple Tree Theatre - 3
    Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art - 3
    The Artistic Home - 3
    The Second City e.t.c. - 3
    Bailiwick Repertory Theatre - 2
    Black Ensemble Theater - 2
    Next Theatre Company - 2
    Piven Theatre - 2
    Silk Road Theatre Project - 2
    The Second City - 2

    INDIVIDUALS
    Mike Tutaj - 4
    Nick Sandys - 3
    Brian Sidney Bembridge - 2
    E. Faye Butler - 2
    Jim Corti - 2
    Kevin Hagan - 2
    Andrew Hansen - 2
    John Horan - 2
    J. R. Lederle - 2
    Nancy Missimi - 2
    Andre Pluess - 2
    Marc Robin - 2
    Kathy Voytko - 2