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The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee announced 109 nominations in 26 categories for Chicago's non-Equity theatrical productions that opened during the 2006-07 season (April 1, 2006 - March 31, 2007). The Jeff Awards Committee judged the opening nights of 127 productions offered by 55 non-Equity producing organizations, and recommended 55 productions for further judging, that made these 55 eligible for Jeff Citations nominations.
True to Chicago theatre’s tradition, where money is no prerequisite to quality, nominees were drawn from such diverse venues as a YMCA classroom with folding chairs around the perimeter, a drafty warehouse, a church meeting room, and a storefront with a stage smaller than most walk-in closets. Bohemian Theatre Ensemble’s “Side Show,” the company’s first Jeff-eligible production, was a major mainstage musical shoe-horned into Theatre Building Chicago’s smallest space – and was honored with 9 nominations. Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James, performing in a Rogers Park café on a stage barely bigger than a platform bed, received 7 nominations spread between two of their offerings this season.
Chicago companies also continued in their dedication to the risky business of offering new material. Four New Work nominations were shared equally by Stage Left Theatre for David Alan Moore's "In Times of War" with a storyline presaging today's debate on the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, and David Rush's "One Fine Day" and The House Theatre of Chicago with "Hatfield & McCoy" (Shawn Pfautsch) and "The Sparrow" (which had an additional run at Steppenwolf's Garage) by Chris Mathews, Jake Minton and Nathan Allen. In the New Adaptation category, Lifeline Theatre continued its strong presence with Christina Calvit's adaptation of "A Room With a View," and Frances Limoncelli's adaptation of "Gaudy Night." Also nominated for New Adaptations were William Massolia's "Letters Home, Voices of American Troops from the Battlefields of Iraq" for Griffin Theatre Company, and Terry McCabe's story of Conan Doyle's characters "Holmes and Watson" for City Lit Theater Company.
Top-nominated productions, with 10 apiece, were TimeLine Theatre Company’s “Fiorello! – their first-ever staging of a musical, and The House Theatre of Chicago’s world premiere modern-day tale of guilt and redemption with magic and "psycho-kinetic" powers thrown into the mix, “The Sparrow.” Profiles Theatre's much-extended "Fat Pig," striking a chord with local audiences, netted 3 nominations.
Among individual nominees, Michael Mahler was nominated twice as Actor in a Principal Role – Musical for his work in “My Favorite Year” (Bailiwick Repertory Theatre) and “Sweet Smell of Success” (Circle Theatre); and Danielle Brothers (last year’s Recipient in the same category) was nominated twice as Actress in a Supporting Role – Musical or Revue for “Flora, the Red Menace” and “Side by Side by Sondheim” (both with Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James). Also nominated twice in the same category were Bob Knuth for Scenic Design for "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Stone Cold Dead Serious" (both at Circle Theatre); Kevin Bellie for Choreography for "Mack & Mabel" and "Meet Me in St. Louis" (also both at Circle Theatre); Michael Griggs for Sound Design for "The Sparrow" (The House Theatre of Chicago) and (with Mikhail Fiksel) "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" (The Hypocrites in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre); and Kevin O'Donnell for Original Incidental Music for "The Sparrow" (The House Theatre of Chicago) and "Once Upon a Time (or the Secret Language of Birds)" (Redmoon Theater). Peter Oyloe received two nominations in different categories for Actors Workshop Theatre's "Equus" – for Actor in a Principal Role – Play, and for Original Incidental Music, together with Shannon Bengford and Miles Polaski. Additional double nominations were earned by Nathan Allen, Shawn Pfautsch, and Miles Polaski.
The Jeff Awards are given annually by The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee to honor excellence in professional theatre produced in the immediate Chicago area. The committee, organized in 1968, consists of up to 45 men and women with varying backgrounds in theatre, but united by an active interest and concern. They come to the committee with an academic background in theatre, significant professional experience, a history of theatre involvement, and/or years of consistent theatre attendance in Chicago and in the other major theatre capitals of the world. The committee evaluates approximately 250 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies annually. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the committee established the Citations (non-Equity) wing in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union Chicago theatre. The next Equity awards ceremony will be held on October 29, 2007, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.
PRODUCTION – PLAY
"Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" – The Hypocrites in association with
Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
"Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
"Equus " – Actors Workshop Theatre
"Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
"The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL OR REVUE
"Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
"Side by Side by Sondheim" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with
Michael James
"Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
"tick, tick . . . BOOM!" - Pegasus Players
NEW WORK
Chris Mathews, Jake Minton, and Nathan Allen – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre
of Chicago
David Alan Moore – "In Times of War" - Stage Left Theatre
Shawn Pfautsch – "Hatfield & McCoy " - The House Theatre of Chicago
David Rush – "One Fine Day" - Stage Left Theatre
NEW ADAPTATION
Christina Calvit – "A Room With a View" - Lifeline Theatre
Frances Limoncelli – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
William Massolia – "Letters Home, Voices of American Troops from the Battlefields of
Iraq" - Griffin Theatre Company
Terry McCabe – "Holmes & Watson" - City Lit Theater Company
ENSEMBLE
"Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
"Marathon '33" - Strawdog Theatre Company
"The Permanent Way" - New Leaf Theatre
"Side by Side by Sondheim" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with
Michael James
"Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
"The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
"The Weir" - Signal Ensemble Theatre
DIRECTOR – PLAY
Nathan Allen – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
Steven Fedoruk – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Sean Graney – "Mud" - The Hypocrites
Joe Jahraus – "Fat Pig" - Profiles Theatre
Dorothy Milne – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
Steve Scott – "Boy Gets Girl" - Eclipse Theatre Company
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL OR REVUE
Fred Anzevino - "Side by Side By Sondheim" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in
association with Michael James
Nick Bowling – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Ilesa Duncan – "tick, tick . . . BOOM!" - Pegasus Players
Stephen M Genovese – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
David Zak – "My Favorite Year" - Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Darrell W. Cox – "Fat Pig" - Profiles Theatre
Peter Oyloe – "Equus" - Actors Workshop Theatre
Brian Parry – "Equus" - Actors Workshop Theatre
Erez Shek – "Stand-Up Tragedy" - Blindfaith Theatre
André Teamer – "Pantomime" - Pegasus Players
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE– PLAY
Jenifer Tyler – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
Michelle Courvais – "Boy Gets Girl" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Carolyn Defrin – “The Sparrow” – The House Theatre of Chicago
Deborah Hearst – "Fat Pig" - Profiles Theatre
TayLar – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Scott Gryder – "Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story" - Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
Michael Ingersoll – "tick, tick . . . BOOM!" - Pegasus Players
Michael Mahler – "My Favorite Year" - Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
Michael Mahler – "Sweet Smell of Success" - Circle Theatre
Kevin Mayes – “My Favorite Year” – Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Cat Davis – "Mack & Mabel - Circle Theatre
Vanessa Panerosa – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
Andrea Prestinario – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Cliff Chamberlain – "The Sparrow" – The House Theatre of Chicago
Peter Greenberg – "Gaudy Night" – Lifeline Theatre
James William Joseph – "Faith Healer" – Uma Productions
John Kahara – "The Swan" – Trap Door Theatre
Alfred Kemp – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE– PLAY
Danica Ivancevic – "Faith Healer" - Uma Productions
Melanie Keller – "The Weir" - Signal Ensemble Theatre
Jennifer Mathews – "Betty's Summer Vacation" - Infamous Commonwealth Theatre
Charlette Speigner – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Cora Vander Broek – "Dead End" - Griffin Theatre Company
Ann Wakefield – "The Children's Hour" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Lindsay Weisberg – "One Fine Day" - Stage Left Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
Terry Hamilton – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Michael Kingston – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Eric Lindahl – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
Jeremy Trager – "Flora, the Red Menace" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in
association with Michael James
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
Danielle Brothers – "Side by Side by Sondheim" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in
association with Michael James
Danielle Brothers – "Flora, the Red Menace" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in
association with Michael James
Rebecca Finnegan – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Maris Hudson – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
SCENIC DESIGN
Kevin Hagan – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Bob Knuth – "Stone Cold Dead Serious" - Circle Theatre
Bob Knuth – "Meet Me in St. Louis" - Circle Theatre
Melania Lancy – "The Weir" - Signal Ensemble Theatre
Timothy Mann – "Pantomime" - Pegasus Players
Courtney O'Neill – "Mud" - The Hypocrites
LIGHTING DESIGN
Kevin D. Gawley – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
Sean Mallory – "Tooth of Crime, Second Dance" - Strawdog Theatre Company
Jared Moore – "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" - The Hypocrites in
association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
Keith Parham – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
COSTUME DESIGN
Theresa Ham – "Side Show" – Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
Joel Klaff and John Diekmann – "The GoldenTruffle" – Redmoon Theater
Suzanne Mann – "Meet Me in St. Louis" – Circle Theatre
Alex Wren Meadows – "The General from America" – TimeLine Theatre Company
Jesus Perez – "Mack & Mabel" - Circle Theatre
SOUND DESIGN
Victoria DeIorio – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
Michael Griggs – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
Michael Griggs and Mikhail Fiksel – "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" –
The Hypocrites in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
Nick Keenan – "Book of Days" - Raven Theatre Company
Miles Polaski – "Equus" - Actors Workshop Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
Kevin Bellie – "Mack & Mabel" - Circle Theatre
Kevin Bellie – "Meet Me in St. Louis" - Circle Theatre
Brenda Didier and Andrew Waters – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
Tommy Rapley – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Shannon Bengford, Peter Oyloe, and Miles Polaski – "Equus" - Actors Workshop Theatre
Kevin O'Donnell – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
Kevin O'Donnell – "Once Upon a Time (or the Secret Language of Birds)" - Redmoon Theater
Shawn Pfautsch – ”Hatfield & McCoy" - The House Theatre of Chicago
MUSIC DIRECTION
Joshua Kartes – "Side By Side by Sondheim" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in
association with Michael James
Doug Peck – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
William A. Underwood – "tick, tick . . .BOOM!" - Pegasus Players
A. Scott Williams – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
OTHER CATEGORIES - RECIPIENTS
Object Design
The Object Design Team – "The Golden Truffle" – Redmoon Theater
Projections Design
Lucas Merino – "The Sparrow" – The House Theatre of Chicago
Fight Choreography
Matt Hawkins – "Hatfield & McCoy" – The House Theatre of Chicago
Puppet Design
Kass Copeland – "Once Upon a Time (or the Secret Language of Birds)" –
Redmoon Theater
2007 Citations Nominees – Statistics
In the Season ended March 31, 2007, the Jeff Committee judged the opening nights of 127 non-Equity productions from 55 producing organizations. Of these, 55 productions were recommended by the opening night judges and became eligible for Citations nominations.
Total Citations Nominations for 2006 -2007 Season – 109
Total Categories – 26
Total Producing Entities Receiving Nominations – 25
MULTIPLE NOMINEES – PRODUCING ORGANIZATIONS:
The House Theatre of Chicago – 13
TimeLine Theatre Company - 12
Bohemian Theatre Ensemble – 9
Circle Theatre – 8
Lifeline Theatre – 9
Bailiwick Repertory Theatre – 7 (3 in association with The Hypocrites)
Eclipse Theatre Company – 7
Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James - 7
Pegasus Players - 6
Actors Workshop Theatre – 5
The Hypocrites – 5 (3 in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre)
Redmoon Theater - 4
Profiles Theatre – 3
Signal Ensemble Theatre – 3
Stage Left Theatre - 3
Griffin Theatre Company – 2
Strawdog Theatre Company – 2
Uma Productions – 2
MULTIPLE NOMINEES - PRODUCTIONS:
“Fiorello!" – 10
“The Sparrow" - 10
“Side Show" - 9
“Gaudy Night" - 7
“Blues for an Alabama Sky" - 5
“Equus" – 5
“Side by Side by Sondheim" – 5
“tick, tick . . . BOOM!" - 4
"Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" – 3
"Fat Pig" – 3
"Hatfield & McCoy" – 3
"Mack & Mabel" – 3
"Meet Me in St. Louis" – 3
"My Favorite Year" – 3
"The Weir" - 3
"Boy Gets Girl" – 2
"Faith Healer" – 2
"Flora, the Red Menace" – 2
"The Golden Truffle - 2
"Mud – 2
"Once Upon a Time (or the Secret Language of Birds)" – 2
"One Fine Day" – 2
"Pantomime" – 2
MULTIPLE NOMINEES - INDIVIDUALS:
Nathan Allen - 2
Kevin Bellie – 2
Danielle Brothers – 2
Michael Griggs – 2
Bob Knuth – 2
Michael Mahler – 2
Kevin O’Donnell - 2
Peter Oyloe – 2
Shawn Pfautsch – 2
Miles Polaski - 2
The Jeff Awards Citations Ceremony will be held on Monday, June 11, 2007, at Park West, 322 W. Armitage, Chicago, IL. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Light supper at 6:30 p.m. Presentation at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Purchase tickets on line with a credit card at www.jeffawards.org or by mail.
Listen to "Talk Theatre In Chicago" for an interview with Jeff Committee members Glenn Hering and Jeff Marks as they talk about the structure of the Joseph Jefferson Awards and how the process of judging the shows works. 
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