Jeff Awards

At its annual celebration of Chicago's dynamic and growing non-union theatre scene at the Park West on June 11, The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee presented 38 Citations for excellence in Chicago productions during the 2006 – 2007 Season (April 1 to March 31). In addition, Lifeline Theatre and Stage Left Theatre received Special Awards for the body of their work. The Citations Awards are non-competitive and multiple recipients were named in some of the categories at a festive ceremony emceed by actor-composer-music director Jon Steinhagen.

Outstanding play honors went to "The Sparrow," which received a total of 7 Citations (The House Theatre of Chicago) and "Blues for an Alabama Sky," which received 4 (Eclipse Theatre Company). Outstanding musical honors went to "Side Show," with a total of 5 Citations (Bohemian Theatre Ensemble) and "Fiorello!," which collected 4 (TimeLine Theatre Company). The directors of all 4 productions were also cited: Nathan Allen ("The Sparrow"), Stephen Fedoruk ("Blues for an Alabama Sky"), Stephen M. Genovese ("Side Show") and Nick Bowling ("Fiorello!"). Highly-prized Ensemble Citations went to the casts of "Marathon '33" (Strawdog Theatre Company) and "The Sparrow" (The House Theatre of Chicago).

Outstanding New Works were "The Sparrow" (House) by Chris Mathews, Jake Minton and Nathan Allen and "In Times of War" (Stage Left) by David Alan Moore. Frances Limoncelli's "Gaudy Night" (Lifeline) was cited as outstanding New Adaptation.

Top acting honors went to Michael Mahler (Principal Actor – Musical) for Bailiwick's "My Favorite Year," Peter Oyloe (Principal Actor – Play) for Actors Workshop's "Equus," and both Michelle Courvais for Eclipse's "Boy Meets Girl" and Deborah Hearst for Profiles' long-running "Fat Pig" (Principal Actress – Play). Principal Actress – Musical honors were shared by all 3 nominees: Cat Davis for Circle's "Mack & Mabel" and Vanessa Panerosa and Andrea Prestinario as the twins in Bohemian's "Side Show."

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
  • "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
  • "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
    PRODUCTION – MUSICAL OR REVUE
  • "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
  • "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
    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
    NEW ADAPTATION
  • Frances Limoncelli – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
  • Terry McCabe – "Holmes & Watson" - City Lit Theater Company
    ENSEMBLE
  • "Marathon '33" - Strawdog Theatre Company
  • "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
    DIRECTOR – PLAY
  • Nathan Allen – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
  • Steven Fedoruk – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
    DIRECTOR – MUSICAL OR REVUE
  • Nick Bowling – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
  • Stephen M Genovese – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
    ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
  • Peter Oyloe – "Equus" - Actors Workshop Theatre
    ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
  • Michelle Courvais – "Boy Gets Girl" - Eclipse Theatre Company
  • Deborah Hearst – "Fat Pig" - Profiles Theatre
    ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
  • Michael Mahler – "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
  • Alfred Kemp – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
    ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
  • Danica Ivancevic – "Faith Healer" - Uma Productions
  • Charlette Speigner – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
  • Lindsay Weisberg – "One Fine Day" - Stage Left Theatre
    ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
  • Terry Hamilton – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
  • Eric Lindahl – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
    ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
  • Danielle Brothers – "Flora, the Red Menace" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James
    SCENIC DESIGN
  • Courtney O'Neill – "Mud" - The Hypocrites
    LIGHTING DESIGN
  • Jared Moore – "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" - The Hypocrites in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
    COSTUME DESIGN
  • Jesus Perez – "Mack & Mabel" – Circle Theatre
    SOUND DESIGN
  • Michael Griggs and Mikhail Fiksel – "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" – The Hypocrites in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
    CHOREOGRAPHY
  • Tommy Rapley – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
    ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
  • Kevin O'Donnell – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
    MUSIC DIRECTION
  • Doug Peck – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
    OTHER CATEGORIES
  • Object Design: The Object Design Team – "The Golden Truffle" – Redmoon Theater
  • Projections Design: Lucas Merino – "The Sparrow" – The House Theatre of Chicago
  • Fight Design: 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 STATISTIC AND MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS

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
  • Total Citations Awarded – 38 (plus 2 Special Awards)
    THEATRES
  • The House Theatre of Chicago - 8
  • Bohemian Theatre Ensemble - 5
  • Eclipse Theatre Company - 5
  • TimeLine Theatre Company - 4
  • Bailiwick Repertory Theatre (including 2 i/a/w/ The Hypocrites) - 3
  • The Hypocrites (including 2 i/a/w/ Bailiwick Repertory Theatre) - 3
  • Circle Theatre - 2
  • Redmoon Theater - 2
  • Stage Left Theatre (not including Special Award) - 2
    PRODUCTIONS
  • "The Sparrow" - 7
  • "Side Show" - 5
  • "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - 4
  • "Fiorello!" - 4
  • "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" - 2
  • "Mack & Mabel" - 2
    INDIVIDUALS
  • Nathan Allen (1 together with Chris Mathews & Jake Minton) - 2