According to the Jeff Awards, the Non-Equity season ran from January 1 through December 31, 2025, with members attending 102 productions. From that slate, 47 productions earned the “Jeff Recommended” designation and became eligible for nominations, leading to recognition for 147 theatre artists across 26 categories, representing work from 26 companies.
This year’s nomination totals underscore just how dominant Chicago’s musical specialists were in the Non-Equity conversation. Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre led all companies with 20 nominations across three productions, paced by “Diana the Musical” with 10 nominations and “Urinetown” with nine, plus an additional nod for “Tell Me On a Sunday.” Kokandy Productions followed closely with 17 nominations, including 10 for “Jekyll & Hyde” and seven for “Amélie,” with “Jekyll & Hyde” and “Diana the Musical” tied for the most nominations by a single production.
Beyond the headline totals, the nominees paint a vivid picture of what audiences and judges responded to in 2025: bold leading performances, deep benches of supporting actors, and a strong range of craft categories—from sound and lighting to projections and specialized theatrical artistry. The nomination list also reflects Chicago’s continued appetite for new work, with multiple world premieres represented among the year’s contenders.
“Continuing our mission to recognize artistic and technical excellence on theater stages across Chicagoland we are thrilled to announce the nominees for the upcoming Non-Equity Awards,” said Paulette Petretti, Jeff Awards Chair. “As one of the most active and engaged theater awards organizations in the country, The Jeff Awards is professionally independent and voting members of the committee are unaffiliated with any theater companies or producing organizations. For decades, The Jeff Awards has judged thousands of plays and musicals and honored theatrical work across dozens of categories for eligible theater companies which have invited the organization to evaluate for awards consideration. We are honored to share this year’s nominations.
The 2025 Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony is set for March 23 at the Harris Theater in downtown Chicago, where this season’s nominees will be celebrated and this year’s recipients announced.
2025 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES
PRODUCTION – PLAY
- “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre
- “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre
- “Girls & Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company
- “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater
- “The Pilon” – Red Theater
- “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL
- “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions
- “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions
- “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
ENSEMBLE – PLAY
- “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Company
- “The Pilon” – Red Theater
- “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company
- “Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery” – Pegasus Theatre Chicago
- “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company
ENSEMBLE – MUSICAL
- “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions
- “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions
- “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
NEW WORK
- Zach Barr – “The Pilon” – Red Theater
- Susan H. Pak – “The F*ck House” – Strawdog Theatre Company
- Omer Abbas Salem – “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater
- Lisa Sanaye Dring – “Kairos” – Red Theater
- Chase Wheaton-Werle – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – The Factory Theater
DIRECTOR – PLAY
- Charles Askenaizer – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre
- Mikael Burke – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre
- Jessica Love – “The Pilon” – Red Theater
- Nadya Naumaan – “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater
- Robin Witt – “Girls & Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL
- Fred Anzevino & Brenda Didier – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Danny Kapinos – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Derek Van Barham – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions
- Derek Van Barham – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
- Kirk Anderson (Hamm) – “Endgame” – Facility Theatre
- William Delforge (Gary) – “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” – Redtwist Theatre
- Terry Guest (Courtney / Anthony) – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre
- Ryan Hake (Prior Walter) – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre
- Brookelyn Hébert (Hedda Gabler) – “Hedda Gabler” – The Artistic Home
- Lenin Izquierdo (Angel Cruz) – “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” – City Lit Theater Company
- Olivia Lindsay (Steff) – “The F*ck House” – Strawdog Theatre Company
- David Lovejoy (Galileo) – “Galileo” – Trap Door Theatre
- Seoyoung Park (Eliza) – “Tom & Eliza” – TUTA Theatre
- Bradford Stevens (Lucius Jenkins) – “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” – City Lit Theater Company
- Scott Westerman (Arthur Pryszbyszewski) – “Superior Donuts” – The Artistic Home
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
- Jesús Barajas (Pablo) – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre
- Evan Bradford (Giorgio Bachetti) – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company
- Brittney Brown (Fosca) – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company
- Teah Kiang Mirabelli (Charity Hope Valentine) – “Sweet Charity” – Blank Theatre Company
- David Moreland (Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde) – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions
- Kate McQuillan (Diana) – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Luke Nowakowski (Bobby Strong) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Aurora Penepacker (Amélie Poulain) – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions
- Joshua Zambrano (Kid Prince) – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre
SOLO PERFORMER
- Cynthia Marker (Woman) – “Girls & Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company
- Dani Pike (Emma) – “Tell Me on a Sunday” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
- Patrick Blashill (Clarence Seward / Thomas Edison) – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – The Factory Theater
- Amber Dow (Paulina) – “The Winter’s Tale” – Invictus Theatre Company
- Caty Gordon (Lady Teazle) – “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company
- Michael D. Graham (Roy M. Cohn) – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Company
- Dakota Hughes (Liza Minnelli) – “Queen for a Day” – Hell in a Handbag Productions
- Delia Kropp (Rhonda) – “The Pilon” – Red Theater
- Cynthia Marker (Wendy Lee Evans) – “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater
- Hanna Rhode (Janice) – “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” – Redtwist Theatre
- Paul Michael Thomson (Vickie / Hunter) – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre
- Anne Trodden (Harper Amaty Pitt) – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Company
- Todd Wojcik (Jorge Tessman) – “Hedda Gabler” – The Artistic Home
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
- Joe Giovannetti (Nino Quincampoix) – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions
- Jacqueline Grandt (Queen / Barbara) – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Rachel Guth (Clara) – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company
- Ava Lane Stovall (Lucy Harris) – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions
- Emily McCormick (Emma Carew) – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions
- Amanda Rodriguez (Hope Cladwell) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Jack Saunders (Charles) – “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Ryan Stajmiger (Officer Lockstock) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Maya Tanaka Allwardt (Little Sally) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Colette Todd (Camilla) – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Shaina Toledo (Langhorne) – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre Company
MUSIC DIRECTION
- T.J. Anderson & Anna Wegener – “Amelie” – Kokandy Productions
- Carolyn Brady – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Aaron Kaplan – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company
- Aaron Kaplan – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Nick Sula – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions
SCENIC DESIGN
- Kevin Hagan – “Hedda Gabler” – The Artistic Home
- Tatiana Kahvegian – “Tom & Eliza” – TUTA Theatre
- Sotirios Livaditis – “Girls & Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company
- Ruby Lowe – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company
- Manuel Ortiz – “The Pilon” – Red Theater
- Kevin Rolfs – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Invictus Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN
- Terrie Devine – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Invictus Theatre
- Patty Halajian – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Victoria Jablonski – “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company
- Rachel Lambert – “Hedda Gabler” – The Artistic Home
- Jennifer Mohr – “The Blood Countess” – Idle Muse Theatre Company
- Racquel Postigilione – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
- Kasey Alfonso – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre
- Brenda Didier & Cameron Turner – “Diana: The Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Brenda Didier – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions
- Brenda Didier – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
- Lauryn Schmelzer – “Sweet Charity” – Blank Theatre Company
SOUND DESIGN
- Joe Griffin – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company
- Joe Griffin – “War of the Worlds” – Lifeline Theatre
- L.J. Luthringer – “The Blood Countess” – Idle Muse Theatre Company
- Matt Reich – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions
- Petter Wahlbäck – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN
- Brenden Marble – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre
- G. “Max” Maxin IV – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions
- G. “Max” Maxin IV – “Jekyll & Hyde” – Kokandy Productions
- Keith Parham – “Tom & Eliza” – TUTA Theatre
- Brandon Wardell – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre
- Levi J. Wilkins – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Invictus Theatre
PROJECTION DESIGN
- DJ Douglass – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company
- G. “Max” Maxin IV – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre
- David Sajewich – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – The Factory Theater
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
- Jeremiah Barr – Puppet Design – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company
- David Blixt – Fight Choreography – “Superior Donuts” – The Artistic Home
- Ayanna Bria Bakari – Wig Design – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre
- Victoria Jablonski – Wig Design – “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company
- Rachel Livingston – Properties Design – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – The Factory Theater
- Robin Manganaro – Properties Design – “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” – Redtwist Theatre
- Chas Mathieu – Properties Design – “The Pilon” – Red Theater
- Keith Ryan – Wig Design – “The Real Housewives of the North Pole” – Hell in a Handbag Productions
- Petter Wahlbäck – Original Music – “The Winter’s Tale” – Invictus Theatre Company
PRODUCTION – SHORT RUN
- “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
- “The Drowning Girls” – Three Crows Theatre
- “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co.
- “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts
DIRECTOR – SHORT RUN
- Daniel King – “The Drowning Girls” – Three Crows Theatre
- Tony Lawry – “Matt & Ben” – Theatre Above the Law
- Stefan Roseen – “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co.
- David G. Zak – “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts
NEW WORK – SHORT RUN
- Dominick Alesia – “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co.
- Greta Geiser – “The Pyg Hypothesis” – Theatre Above the Law
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – SHORT RUN
- Courtney Abbott (Sarah Bernhardt) – “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
- Connar Brown Sprenger (Matt & Ben) – “Matt & Ben” – Theatre Above the Law
- Andrew Kain Miller (Terrence) – “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts
- Shannon McEldowney (Hermia) – “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co.
- Cameron Raasdal-Munro (Junior) – “Gangsta Baby” – Open Space Arts
- Kendal Romero (Matt & Ben) – “Matt & Ben” – Theatre Above the Law
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – SHORT RUN
- Riley Capp (Justin) – “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts
- Abby Denault (Maureen) – “Rent” – Suring Films & Theatrics
- Stephen Loch (Constant Coquelin) – “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
- Josh Odor (Senior) – “Gangsta Baby” – Open Space Arts
- Ian Rigg (Nick Bottom) – “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co.
- Sarah Wisterman (Professor Pickering) – “The Pyg Hypothesis” – Theatre Above the Law
DESIGN – SHORT RUN
- Elizabeth Niemczyk, Costume Design – “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
- Toria Olivier, Costume Design – “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co.
- Jae Robinson, Sound Design – “Pussy Sludge” – Facility Theatre
MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS
By Company
| Company | Nominations |
|---|---|
| Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre | 20 |
| Kokandy Productions | 17 |
| Invictus Theatre Company | 14 |
| Red Theater | 8 |
| City Lit Theater Company | 7 |
| Idle Muse Theatre Company | 7 |
| The Story Theatre | 7 |
| The Artistic Home | 6 |
| Blank Theatre Company | 6 |
| The Impostors Theatre Co. | 6 |
| Open Space Arts | 6 |
| Lifeline Theatre | 5 |
| Theatre Above the Law | 5 |
| Edge of the Wood Theatre | 4 |
| First Floor Theater | 4 |
| Griffin Theatre Company | 4 |
| The Factory Theater | 4 |
| Redtwist Theatre | 3 |
| TUTA Theatre | 3 |
| Facility Theatre | 2 |
| Hell in a Handbag Productions | 2 |
| Strawdog Theatre Company | 2 |
| Three Crows Theatre | 2 |
By Production
| Production | Nominations |
|---|---|
| “Diana: The Musical” | 10 |
| “Jekyll & Hyde” | 10 |
| “Angels in America” | 9 |
| “Urinetown” | 9 |
| “Amélie” | 7 |
| “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” | 7 |
| “The Pilon” | 7 |
| “Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” | 6 |
| “The School for Scandal” | 5 |
| “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” | 5 |
| “Bernhardt/Hamlet” | 4 |
| “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” | 4 |
| “Girls & Boys” | 4 |
| “Hedda Gabler” | 4 |
| “Kid Prince and Pablo” | 4 |
| “Mr. Parker” | 4 |
| “One Party Consent” | 4 |
| “Passion” | 4 |
| “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” | 3 |
| “The House That Will Not Stand” | 3 |
| “Matt & Ben” | 3 |
| “Tom & Eliza” | 3 |
| “The Blood Countess” | 2 |
| “The Drowning Girls” | 2 |
| “The F*ck House” | 2 |
| “Gansta Baby” | 2 |
| “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” | 2 |
| “The Pyg Hypothesis” | 2 |
| “Superior Donuts” | 2 |
| “Sweet Charity” | 2 |
| “The Winter’s Tale” | 2 |
By Individual
| Individual | Nominations |
|---|---|
| Brenda Didier | 4 |
| G “Max” Maxin IV | 3 |
| Joe Griffin | 2 |
| Victoria Jablonski | 2 |
| Aaron Kaplan | 2 |
| Cynthia Marker | 2 |
| Derek Van Barham | 2 |
| Petter Wahlbäck | 2 |