Follow Us On Twitter
At its typically festive and buoyant Non-Equity Awards Ceremony at the Park West, the Jeff Awards Committee gave out 27 Non-Equity Jeff Awards in 23 categories, in addition to a Special Award honoring Michael Menendian and JoAnn Montemurro of Raven Theatre for their lifelong contributions to Chicago theatre, in an event emceed by composer - actor Jon Steinhagen.
Top honors for Outstanding Production - Play went to Lifeline Theatre for its adaptation of the eerie tale of "The Island of Dr. Moreau" (which also won Outstanding New Adaptation honors for Robert Kauzlaric, and the most awards for a single production - 5) and Outstanding Production - Musical went to Bailiwick Repertory Theatre's U.S. premiere of "Jerry Springer - The Opera" and Signal Ensemble Theatre's "1776." Directing honors went to Greg Kolack for Raven Theatre's "columbinus," a stark telling of the school shootings tragedy, and Fred Anzevino for his intimate staging of "Cabaret" for Theo Ubique Theatre Company (which came in second among productions with 4 awards).
The highly-coveted Outstanding Ensemble award went to Teatro Luna's "Machos," a depiction of the modern American male by an all-Latina cast in men's garb, based on hundreds of interviews conducted nationwide. "Machos" also garnered Outstanding New Work honors for Teatro Luna & Coya Paz.
Rogers Park venues walked off with 11 of the awards, including 5 for Lifeline Theatre and 4 for Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Beverle Bloch & Michael James (both in the Glenwood Avenue Arts District). Bohemian Theatre Ensemble received one award for "Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde," which was also presented on Glenwood Avenue, and one award went to the side project, performing in a storefront on Jarvis Avenue.
Principal Actor awards went to Jeremy Trager for "Cabaret" and Sam Wootten for "Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde" (Bohemian Theatre Ensemble), while Principal Actress awards went to Elizabeth Lanza for "Can-Can" (Circle Theatre) and Vanessa Greenway for "The Constant Wife" (Griffin Theatre Company).
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 Chicagoland'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 40th Anniversary Equity Awards Ceremony, honoring productions presented under union contracts, will be held on October 20, 2008, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.
2008 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD RECIPIENTS:
PRODUCTION - PLAY
"The Island of Dr. Moreau" - Lifeline Theatre
PRODUCTION - MUSICAL
"Jerry Springer - The Opera" - Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
"1776" - Signal Ensemble Theatre
ENSEMBLE
"Machos" - Teatro Luna
DIRECTOR - PLAY
Greg Kolack - "columbinus" - Raven Theatre
DIRECTOR - MUSICAL
Fred Anzevino - "Cabaret" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Beverle Bloch & Michael James
NEW WORK
Teatro Luna & Coya Paz - "Machos" - Teatro Luna
NEW ADAPTATION
Robert Kauzlaric - "The Island of Dr. Moreau" - Lifeline Theatre
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL
Elizabeth Lanza - "Can-Can" - Circle Theatre
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY
Vanessa Greenway - "The Constant Wife" - Griffin Theatre Company
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL
Jeremy Trager - "Cabaret" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Beverle Bloch & Michael James
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY
Sam Wootten - "Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL
Danielle Brothers - "Cabaret" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Beverle Bloch & Michael James
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY
Kathleen Ruhl - "Dolly West's Kitchen" - TimeLine Theatre Company
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL
Jeremy Rill - "Jerry Springer - The Opera" - Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY
Hans Fleischmann - "In a Dark Dark House" - Profiles Theatre
Ron Wells - "A Prayer for My Daughter" - Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.
SCENIC DESIGN
Michael Menendian & Leif Olsen - "The Night of the Iguana" - Raven Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN
Elizabeth Shaffer - "An Ideal Husband" - Circle Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN
Kevin D. Gawley - "The Island of Dr. Moreau" - Lifeline Theatre
SOUND DESIGN
Stephen Ptacek - "Faster" - the side project
CHOREOGRAPHY
Brenda Didier - "The Life" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Victoria DeIorio - "The Island of Dr. Moreau" - Lifeline Theatre
Gregor Mortis & Mikhail Fiksel - "A Lie of the Mind" - Strawdog Theatre Company
Kevin O'Donnell - "The Nutcracker" - The House Theatre of Chicago
MUSIC DIRECTION
Joshua Stephen Kartes - "Cabaret" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Beverle Bloch & Michael James
MASK DESIGN
Kimberly G. Morris - "The Island of Dr. Moreau" - Lifeline Theatre
2008 NON-EQUITY STATISTICS AND MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS
In the Season ended March 31, 2008, the Jeff Awards Committee judged the opening nights of 143 non-Equity productions from 61 producing organizations. Of these, 66 productions were recommended by the opening night judges and became eligible for nominations.
Total Nominations for 2007 - 2008 Season - 113
Total Categories - 23
Total Producing Entities Receiving Nominations - 28
Total Number of Awards - 27 (plus 1 Special Award)
MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS
THEATRES:
Lifeline Theatre - 5
Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w/ Beverle Bloch & Michael James - 4
Bailiwick Repertory Theatre - 2
Bohemian Theatre Ensemble - 2
Circle Theatre - 2
Raven Theatre - 2
Teatro Luna - 2
PRODUCTIONS:
"The Island of Dr. Moreau" - 5
"Cabaret" - 4
"Jerry Springer - The Opera" - 2
"Machos" - 2