Equity Jeff Award Nominations Announced

The committee for Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards has announced their nominees -- 158 of 'em -- honoring Equity productions that opened between August 1, 2016 and July 31, 2017. There are 33 different categories for Jeff Awards, ranging from large-scale musicals and plays to actors, designers, directors and solo performers. In an interesting twist, all four Solo Performance nominees come from Greenhouse Theater Center.

Nominees with local connections include ISU alums Joe Court (nominee for Best Sound Design for 10 Out of 12 at Theater Wit), Gary Griffin (two Best Director nominations, for Hand to God at Victory Gardens and Parade at Writers Theater), Theresa Ham (nominated for Best Costume Design for both Disney's The Little Mermaid at Paramount Theatre and Mamma Mia! at Marriott Theatre), Jeffrey Kmiec (Best Scenic Design nominee for The Little Mermaid), Angela Weber Miller (Best Scenic Design nominee for Captain Blood at First Folio), William Osetek (Best Director nominee for Chicago at Drury Lane), Linda Reiter (nominated for Best Solo Performance for Rose at Greenhouse), and Gene Weygandt (another Solo Performance nominee from The Greenhouse, for Uncle Phillip's Coat), along with Eureka College's Cat Davis (nominated for her Lighting Design of The River Bride at Halcyon) U of I's Jonathan Butler-Duplessis (nominated as Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for both Little Mermaid and Parade) and Bri Sudia (also with two nominations, as Best Actress in a Musical for Wonderful Town at the Goodman and Paramount Theatre's Sweeney Todd). IWU alum Evan Dolan was part of the ensemble in that Sweeney Todd, which picked up a nomination as Best Musical.

Here are some of the major nominees:

PRODUCTION (Play-Large)
Blues for an Alabama Sky, Court Theatre
East Texas Hot Links, Writers Theatre
Hand to God, Victory Gardens Theater
Man in the Ring, Court Theatre
Uncle Vanya, Goodman Theatre

PRODUCTION (Play-Midsize)
Born Yesterday, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
The Columnist, American Blues Theater
End of the Rainbow, Porchlight Music Theatre
It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, American Blues Theater
Silent Sky, First Folio Theatre

PRODUCTION (Musical-Large)
Chicago the Musical, Drury Lane Productions
Crazy for You, Drury Lane Productions
Disney's The Little Mermaid, Paramount Theatre
Parade, Writers Theatre
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Paramount Theatre

PRODUCTION (Musical-Midsize)
Disney's Mary Poppins, Mercury Theater Chicago
In the Heights, Porchlight Music Theatre
The Scottsboro Boys, Porchlight Music Theatre

PRODUCTION (Revue)
Marry Me a Little, Porchlight Music Theatre
Smokey Joe's Café, Drury Lane Productions
Spamilton, The Royal George Theatre

ENSEMBLE
Blizzard '67, 16th Street Theater
East Texas Hot Links, Writers Theatre
It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, American Blues Theater
The Scottsboro Boys, Porchlight Music Theatre
Smokey Joe's Café, Drury Lane Productions
Spamilton, The Royal George Thea tre

NEW PLAY
Michael Cristofer, Man in the Ring, Court Theatre
Selina Fillinger, Faceless, Northlight Theatre
Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Northlight Theatre
Ike Holter, The Wolf at the End of the Block, Teatro Vista
Antoinette Nwandu, Pass Over, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Madhuri Shekar, Queen, Victory Gardens Theater
Charles Smith, Objects in the Mirror, Goodman Theatre

DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
David Darlow, Born Yesterday. Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Gary Griffin, Hand to God, Victory Gardens Theater
Charles Newell, Man in the Ring, Court Theatre
Ron OJ Parson, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Court Theatre
Ron OJ Parson, East Texas Hot Links, Writers Theatre
Chuck Smith, Objects in the Mirror, Goodman Theatre

DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL OR REVUE
Jim Corti, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Paramount Theatre
Matthew Crowle, Crazy for You, Drury Lane Productions
Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Smokey Joe's Café, Drury Lane Productions
Gary Griffin, Parade, Writers Theatre
William Osetek, Chicago the Musical, Drury Lane Productions

PRINCIPAL ACTOR IN A PLAY 
Allen Gilmore, Man in the Ring, Court Theatre
Allen Gilmore, Objects in the Mirror, Goodman Theatre
Erik Hellman, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Northlight Theatre
Daniel Kyri, Objects in the Mirror, Goodman Theatre 
Mike Nussbaum, Relativity, Northlight Theatre
Alex Weisman, Hand to God, Victory Gardens Theater

PRINCIPAL ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Clyde Alves, Crazy for You, Drury Lane Productions
Patrick Andrews, Parade, Writers Theatre
Alex Goodrich, She Loves Me, Marriott Theatre
Paul-Jordan Jansen, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Paramount Theatre
Nathaniel Stampley, The Bridges of Madison County, Marriott Theatre

PRINCIPAL ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Cassandra Bissell, Silent Sky, First Folio Theatre
Chaon Cross, The Hard Problem, Court Theatre
Angela Ingersoll, End of the Rainbow, Porchlight Music Theatre
Elizabeth Ledo, Bright Half Life, About Face Theatre
Eliza Stoughton, Born Yesterday, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Lisa Tejero, W;t, The Hypocrites

PRINCIPAL ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Kelly Felthous, Chicago the Musical, Drury Lane Productions
Bri Sudia, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Paramount Theatre
Bri Sudia, Wonderful Town, Goodman Theatre
Kathy Voytko, The Bridges of Madison County, Marriott Theatre
Aerial "Mon'Aerie" Williams, Black Pearl: A Tribute to Josephine Baker, Black Ensemble Theater

SOLO PERFORMANCE
Will Allan, Circumference of a Squirrel, Greenhouse Theater Center
Linda Reiter, Rose, The Greenhouse Theater Center
Simon Slater, Bloodshot, The Greenhouse Theater Cen ter
Gene Weygandt, Uncle Phillip's Coat, The Greenhouse Theater Center

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY 
Marton Csokas, Uncle Vanya, Goodman Theatre
Keith Kupferer, The Mystery of Love & Sex, Writers Theatre
Adam Poss, Queen, Victory Gardens Theater
Tommy Rivera-Vega, Parachute Men, Teatro Vista

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL 
Larry Adams, Crazy for You, Drury Lane Productions
Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Paramount Theatre
Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, Parade, Writers Theatre
Alex Goodrich, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Marriott Theatre
James Earl Jones II, She Loves Me, Marriott Theatre

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Kristen Bush, Uncle Vanya, Goodman Theatre
Kymberly Mellen, The Columnist, American Blues Theater
Lia Mortensen, The Mystery of Love & Sex, Writers Theatre
Caroline Neff, Uncle Vanya, Goodman Theatre

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Felicia Boswell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Paramount Theatre
E. Faye Butler, Chicago the Musical, Drury Lane Productions
Angela Ingersoll, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Marriott Theatre
Iris Lieberman, Cabaret, Theatre at the Center
Meghan Murphy, Mamma Mia!, Marriott Theatre

ACTOR IN A REVUE
Austin Cook, Marry Me a Little, Porchlight Music Theatre
Justin Keyes, Smokey Joe's Café, Drury Lane Productions
Yando Lopez, Spamilton, The Royal George Theatre
Evan Tyrone Martin, I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett, Mercury Theater Chicago

ACTRESS IN A REVUE 
Michelle Lauto, Spamilton, The Royal George Theatre
Donica Lynn, Smokey Joe's Café, Drury Lane Productions
Meghan Murphy, Smokey Joe's Café, Drury Lane Productions
Bethany Thomas, Marry Me a Little, Porchlight Music Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN (Large)
William Boles, Native Gardens, Victory Gardens Theater
Linda Buchanan, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Court Theatre
Jeffrey D. Kmiec, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Paramount Theatre
Jack Magaw, East Texas Hot Links, Writers Theatre
Courtney O'Neill, Harvey, Court Theatre
Todd Rosenthal, Uncle Vanya, Goodman Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN (Midsize)
Angela Weber Miller, Captain Blood, First Folio Theatre
Greg Pinsoneault, In the Heights, Porchlight Music Theatre
Christopher Rhoton, End of the Rainbow, Porchlight Music Theatre
Grant Sabin, Born Yesterday, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Joe Schermoly, Naperville, Theater Wit

COSTUME DESIGN (Large)
Theresa Ham, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Paramount Theatre
Theresa Ham, Mamma Mia!, Marriott Theatre
Rachel Healy, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Court Theatre
Susan E. Mickey, Shakespeare in Love, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Sully Ratke, Chicago the Musical, Drury Lane Productions

COSTUME DESIGN (Midsize)
Kristy Leigh Hall, Pygmalion, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Izumi Inaba, A Comedical Tragedy for Mister Punch, The House Theatre of Chicago
Kate Setzer Kamphausen, In the Heights, Porchlight Music Theatre
Bill Morey, End of the Rainbow, Porchlight Music Theatre
Mieka van der Ploeg, The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz, The House Theatre of Chicago

SOUND DESIGN (Large)
Mikhail Fiksel, The Hunter and the Bear, Writers Theatre
Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen, Julius Caesar, Writers Theatre
Andre Pluess, Man in the Ring, Court Theatre
Richard Woodbury, Uncle Vanya, Goodman Theatre

SOUND DESIGN (Midsize)
Joe Court, 10 Out of 12, Theater Wit
Heath Hays, The Room, A Red Orchid Theatre
Grover Holloway, The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz, The House Theatre of Chicago
Jeffrey Levin, The River Bride, Halcyon Theatre

LIGHTING DESIGN (Large)
Nick Belley and Jesse Klug, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Paramount Theatre
Bart Cortright, The Hunter and the Bear, Writers Theatre
Lee Fiskness, Chicago the Musical, Drury Lane Productions
Greg Hofmann, Jesus Christ Superstar, Paramount Theatre
Jesse Klug, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Paramount Theatre

LIGHTING DESIGN (Midsize)
Erik Barry, Circumference of a Squirrel, Greenhouse Theater Center
Christine Binder, Bright Half Life, About Face Theatre
Cat Davis, The River Bride, Halcyon Theatre
John Kelly, I Am My Own Wife, About Face Theatre
Michael Stanfill, W;t, The Hypocrites

The Jeff Awards will be handed out November 6 in a ceremony hosted by Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook.  Tickets are available for that ceremony. For more information on what's included or how to purchase tickets, check the main Jeff Awards page.

The New List of Nominees for Chicago's Non-Equity Jeff Awards

When the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee first announced their non-Equity nominees for excellence in Chicago theatre, the Hypocrites and their production of All Our Tragic, an adaptation of 32 Greek tragedies into one epic 12-hour work, showed up all over the lists. But then Hypocrites artistic director Sean Graney discovered that the company had been working under an Equity "CAT-N" contract during the important period, making All Our Tragic ineligible for the non-Equity part of the Jeff Awards. Graney self-reported and the nominations were rescinded, with other nominees taking the slots in some categories.

And that is why there is now a new list of non-Equity nominees for the 2015 Jeff Awards. Because All Our Tragic was so well-received, with some critics even touting it for the Pulitzer Prize, there are high hopes the production will now make an appearance when the Equity Jeff nominations are announced.

But in the meantime, these are the artists and productions vying for the non-Equity Jeffs, which will be handed out in a ceremony held at Park West, 322 West Armitage Avenue in Chicago, on Monday, June 8:

Production, Play
Exit Strategy, Jackalope Theatre Company
Men Should Weep, Griffin Theatre Company
Monstrous Regiment, Lifeline Theatre
Ruined, Eclipse Theatre Company
The Jungle, Oracle Productions

Production, Musical
Assassins, Kokandy Productions
Jesus Christ Superstar, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
The Full Monty, Kokandy Productions
The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago
Titanic, Griffin Theatre Company

Production, Revue
A Kurt Weill Cabaret, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Always...Patsy Cline, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Director - Play
Gus Menary, Exit Strategy, Jackalope Theatre Company
Jonathan Berry, Balm in Gilead, Griffin Theatre Company
Matt Foss, The Jungle, Oracle Productions
Robin Witt, Men Should Weep, Griffin Theatre Company
Steve Scott, Intimate Apparel, Eclipse Theatre Company

Director, Musical or Revue
Brenda Didier, The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago
Fred Anzevino, Always...Patsy Cline, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Linda Fortunato, Parade, Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
Rachel Edwards Harvith, Assassins, Kokandy Productions
Scott Weinstein, Titanic, Griffin Theatre Company

Ensemble 
Assassins, Kokandy Productions
Balm in Gilead, Griffin Theatre Company
Exit Strategy, Jackalope Theatre Company
The Jungle, Oracle Productions
The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago
Titanic, Griffin Theatre Company

Actor in a Principal Role, Play 
Aaron Kirby, Geezers, Redtwist Theatre
Aaron Kirby, Red, Redtwist Theatre
Andre Teamer, Ruined, Eclipse Theatre Company
Joseph Wiens, Look Back in Anger, Redtwist Theatre
Kevin Cox, La Bete, Trap Door Theater
Michael Manocchio, Mike and Seth, the side project, the side project, the side project
Steve O'Connell, Dead Accounts, Step Up Productions

Actor in a Principal Role, Musical
Garrett Lutz, The Full Monty, Kokandy Productions
Jim DeSelm, Parade, Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
Matthew Keffer, The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago
Maxwell J. DeTogne, Jesus Christ Superstar, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Sam Button-Harrison, The Book of Merman, Pride Films and Plays

Actress in a Principal Role, Play
Ashleigh Lathrop, Balm in Gilead, Griffin Theatre Company
Kelly Owens, Intimate Apparel, Eclipse Theatre Company
Kendra Thulin, The Vandal, Steep Theatre Company
Lori Myers, Men Should Weep, Griffin Theatre Company
Stephanie Chavara, Charles Ives, Take Me Home, Strawdog Theatre Company
TayLar, Ruined, Eclipse Theatre Company

Actress in a Principal Role, Musical or Revue
Callie Johnson, Carrie, Bailiwick Chicago
Christina Hall, Always...Patsy Cline, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Courtney Jones, The Next Thing, Signal Ensemble Theatre
Danni Smith, The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago
Sarah Bockel, Parade, Bohemian Theatre Ensemble

Actor in a Supporting Role, Play
Jack Miggins, The Vandal, Steep Theatre Company
Matthew Klingler, All My Sons, Raven Theatre
Nate Whelden, Stupid Fucking Bird, Sideshow Theatre Company
Shane Kenyon, If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet, Steep Theatre Company
Will Casey, Vieux Carre, Raven Theatre

Actor in a Supporting Role, Musical
Donterrio Johnson, Jesus Christ Superstar, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Eric Lindahl, Assassins, Kokandy Productions
Jason Richards, Assassins, Kokandy Productions
Justin Adair, Titanic, Griffin Theatre Company
Nick Graffagna, Ordinary Days, BoHo Theatre
Scott Danielson, The Full Monty, Kokandy Productions

Actress in a Supporting Role, Play
Annie Prichard, Another Bone, Redtwist Theatre
Cyd Blakewell, Balm in Gilead, Griffin Theatre Company
Ginneh Thomas, The Submission, Pride Films and Plays
Jen Short, All My Sons, Raven Theatre
JoAnn Montemurro, Vieux Carre, Raven Theatre

Actress in a Supporting Role, Musical or Revue
Caron Buinis, The Full Monty, Kokandy Productions
Courtney Jones, Ordinary Days, BoHo Theatre
Danni Smith, Always...Patsy Cline, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Danni Smith, Jesus Christ Superstar, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Hannah Dawe, Ordinary Days, BoHo Theatre
Katherine I. Condit, Carrie, Bailiwick Chicago

New Work
Erik Gernand, A Place in the Woods, The Fine Print Theatre Company
Ike Holter, Exit Strategygy, Jackalope Theatre Company
Joe Zarrow, Principal Principle, Stage Left Theatre and Theatre Seven of Chicago
Ronan Marra and Jon Steinhagen, The Next Thing, Signal Ensemble Theatre

New Adaptation
Chris Hainsworth, Monstrous Regiment, Lifeline Theatre
Matt Foss, The Jungle, Oracle Productions

Choreography
Brenda Didier, Jesus Christ Superstar, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Brenda Didier, The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago
Daniel Spagnuolo, The Full Monty, Kokandy Productions
Steve Love, Caged Dames, Hell in a Handbag Productions

Music Direction
Aaron Benham, Always...Patsy Cline, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Aaron Benham, The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago
Elizabeth Doran, Titanic, Griffin Theatre Company
Jeremy Ramey, A Kurt Weill Cabaret, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Jeremy Ramey, Jesus Christ Superstar, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Original Music in a Play
James Sugg, Stupid Fucking Bird, Sideshow Theatre Company
John Szymanski, One Came Home, Lifeline Theatre
Nicholas Tonozzi, Circle-Machine, Oracle Productions
Nicholas Tonozzi and Sam Allyn, The Jungle, Oracle Productions

Scenic Design
Courtney O'Neill, Men Should Weep, Griffin Theatre Company
Dan Stratton, Balm in Gilead, Griffin Theatre Company
Jeffrey D. Kmiec, Dividing the Estate, Raven Theatre Ray Toler, Vieux Carre, Raven Theatre
Zachary Gipson, Caged Dames, Hell in a Handbag Productions

Lighting Design
Brian Hoehne, The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago
Laura Wiley, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Idle Muse Theatre Company
Maya Michele Fein, A Kurt Weill Cabaret, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Sean Mallary, The Arsonists, Strawdog Theatre Company

Costume Design
Rachel Lambert, Intimate Apparel, Eclipse Theatre Company
Rachel Sypniewski, La Bete, Trap Door Theater
Rachel Sypniewski, Titanic, Griffin Theatre Company
Theresa Ham, The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago

Sound Design
Danny Rockett, Cookie Play, Trap Door Theater
Heath Hays, The Sweeter Option, Strawdog Theatre Company
Karli Blalock, Red, Redtwist Theatre
Sarah Espinoza, The Arsonists, Strawdog Theatre Company

Artistic Specialization
Musical Arrangements, Aaron Benham, A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Projection Design, Anthony Churchill, Ordinary Days, BoHo Theatre

Chicago's Jeff Awards for 2014

The Equity half of Chicago's annual Joseph Jefferson Awards -- AKA the Jeffs -- were handed out Monday night Drury Lane Oakbrook. Big winners included American Blues Theatre, the Goodman and Writers Theatre, but the awards were spread out over a dozen different shows by the end of the evening. A tribute to the members of the Chicago theatre community who passed away this year -- a huge loss to a tight-knit community -- was an emotional highlight of the night.

So who walked away with the hardware? Here are your winners:

PRODUCTION (Play/Large)
The Dance of Death, Writers Theatre

PRODUCTION (Play/Midsize)
The Normal Heart, TimeLine Theatre Company

PRODUCTION (Musical/Large)
Brigadoon, Goodman Theatre

PRODUCTION (Musical/Midsize)
Hank Williams: Lost Highway, American Blues Theater

PRODUCTION (Revue)
Ain't Misbehavin', Porchlight Music Theatre

DIRECTOR (Play)
Nick Bowling, The Normal Heart, TimeLine Theatre Company

DIRECTOR (Musical)
William Osetek, Next to Normal, Drury Lane Productions

DIRECTOR (Revue)
Brenda Didier, Ain't Misbehavin', Porchlight Music Theatre

ENSEMBLE
The Seafarer, Seanachaí Theatre Company

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE (Play)
Larry Yando, The Dance of Death, Writers Theatre

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE (Play)
Shannon Cochran, The Dance of Death, Writers Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE (Musical)
Matthew Brumlow, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, American Blues Theater

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE (Musical)
Susie McMonagle, Next to Normal, Drury Lane Productions

ACTOR (Revue)
John Hartman, Depraved New World, The Second City

ACTRESS (Revue)
Renee Matthews, Old Jews Telling Jokes, Daniel Okrent & Peter Gethers, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, and Marc Routh

SOLO PERFORMANCE
Gwendolyn Whiteside, Grounded, American Blues Theater

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (Play)
Mike Nussbaum, Smokefall, Goodman Theatre and South Coast Repertory

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (Play)
Sandra Marquez, A View From the Bridge, Teatro Vista

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (Musical)
Mark David Kaplan, Les Misérables, Drury Lane

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (Musical)
Jessica Rush, Gypsy, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

NEW WORK
Rebecca Gilman, Luna Gale, Goodman Theatre

NEW ADAPTATION
John Mossman, The Goddess, The Artistic Home

CHOREOGRAPHY
Rachel Rockwell, Brigadoon, Goodman Theatre

ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
PigPen Theatre Co., The Old Man and the Old Moon, Writers Theatre

MUSIC DIRECTION
Malcolm Ruhl, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, American Blues Theater

COSTUME DESIGN (Large)
Mara Blumenfeld, Brigadoon, Goodman Theatre

COSTUME DESIGN (Midsize)
Bill Morey, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Porchlight Music Theatre

LIGHTING DESIGN (Large)
William Kirkham, The Little Prince, Lookingglass Theatre Company in association with The Actors Gymnasium

LIGHTING DESIGN (Midsize)
Rebecca A. Barrett and Lee Keenan, Dorian, The House Theatre of Chicago

SCENIC DESIGN (Large)
Collette Pollard, In the Garden: A Darwinian Love Story, Lookingglass Theatre Company

SCENIC DESIGN (Midsize)
Katie-Bell Springman, Cock, Profiles Theatre

SOUND DESIGN (Large)
Mikhail Fiksel, The Old Man and the Old Moon, Writers Theatre

SOUND DESIGN (Midsize)
Lindsay Jones, Grounded, American Blues Theater

PROJECTIONS/VIDEO DESIGN
Sage Marie Carter, Les Misérables, Drury Lane

ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Austin Cook, Piano/Conductor: Ain't Misbehavin', Porchlight Music Theatre
Jeff Klapperich, Portrait Artist: Dorian, The House Theatre of Chicago

GEORGE and GOOD PEOPLE Score at Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards

Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards for Equity productions were handed out last night, with Steppenwolf's production of David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's Sunday in the Park with George taking home the big awards.

I saw that Sunday, and it was a beautiful and emotional experience. I chose to end my end-of-the-year post with it, as a matter of fact. Jeff voters chose this Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine show as the best musical of the year in the "large production" category, and also honored director Gary Griffin. Although stars Jason Danieley and Carmen Cusack (seen at right) were nominated, the awards for best actor and actress in a musical went to Bill Larkin for his performance as Edward Kleban in A Class Act at Porchlight and Christine Sherrill in Sunset Boulevard at Drury Lane. A Class Act and Porchlight also won the "midsize" musical award, with Callie Johnson's performance in Pal Joey at Marriott honored as best cameo and Alexis J. Rogers' work in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill at Porchlight named best solo performance.

Andre De Shields' star turn in the Goodman's Jungle Book won in the supporting actor in a musical category, while Bethany Thomas was named best supporting actress in a musical for South Pacific at the Marriott Theatre.

Steppenwolf's Good People took top honors as the best play by a big theatre, but William Brown, who directed The Liar for Writers Theatre, was named best director of a play. Still, Good People star Mariann Mayberry, who also happens to be an alum of Illinois Wesleyan University, was honored as best actress for her terrific work as a blue collar Boston woman whose life has hits the skids. And Michael Shannon, whose career has blown up big-time, won best actor in a play for Sam Shepard's Simpatico at Red Orchid Theatre, his stomping grounds before Hollywood and Broadway came calling.

Mariann Mayberry and Keith Kupferer in Good People

Awards in the supporting categories for plays went to Raymond Fox for Blood and Gifts at TimeLine and Elizabeth Ledo for Tartuffe at Court Theatre. TimeLine also picked up the best "midsize" play award for its production of Moises Kaufman's 33 Variations.

The Second City Guide to the Opera, a collaboration between Second City and the Lyric Opera, was named best revue, with director Billy Bungeroth also honored. Best actor in a revue went to David M. Lutken, who played Woody Guthrie in Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie, a revue at Northlight Theatre in Skokie.

Best ensemble was the cast of Othello: The Remix at Chicago Shakes, and best new work was shared by Luis Alfaro, for Mojada at Victory Gardens, and Rajiv Joseph, for The Lake Effect at Silk Road Rising.

You can see all the complete list of nominations and winners here, including all the technical awards and the best choreography honor, which went to Linda Fortunato, choreographer of 42nd Street at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana. Fortunato's father is Jerry Parsons, longtime teacher and coach at Normal U-High, and her mother is Marcy Parsons, who is involved with Illinois Voices Theatre and could be found again volunteering her services at the Discovery Walk at Evergreen Cemetery last month.

Chicago's Jeff Awards Honor the Best in 2012 Non-Equity Productions

Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards for non-Equity productions were handed out earlier this week, with When the Rain Stops Falling, an Australian play produced by Circle Theatre, Under a Rainbow Flag, a Pride Films and Plays musical production, and Smokey Joe's Cafe, a revue from Theo Ubique Cabaret, coming away with Best Production honors in the play, musical and revue categories.

When the Rain Stops Falling, a 2008 play by Andrew Bovell that looks into family ties and troubles over a span of eight decades and four generations, also won for director John Gawlik and projection designer Kevin Bellie at Circle Theatre, while Theo Ubique director Brenda Didier and musical director Jeremy Ramey were honored for their contributions to Smokey Joe's Cafe, a celebration of the 20th century pop songbook of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

Pride Films and Plays had a world premiere with Leo Schwartz's Under a Rainbow Flag, a musical look at the lives of gay soldiers during World War II performed at Profiles Theatre in March and April, 2012. In addition to the Best Musical prize, Rainbow Flag earned a Best New Work award for Leo Schwartz, who wrote the score and the book.

Paul Edwards won Best Adaptation for his version of Peyton Place created for City Lit.

Acting honors were spread around different theaters and productions, with Blake Montgomery singled out for his solo performance in Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs 'A Christmas Carol.' Again, which he created and performed at the Building Stage, Lindsey Pearlman taking Best Actress in a Principal Role in a Play for her role as the female half of a pair of twins with love troubles in Never the Bridesmaid at Polarity Ensemble Theatre, Kelli Harrington winning Best Actress in a Principal Role in a Musical for her role as a French actress with love troubles in Aspects of Love at Theo Ubique, Jeremy Trager named Best Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for playing the man accused of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby in Hauptmann at Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, and Peter Oyloe winning Best Actor in a Principal Role in a Musical for playing the title role in Hank Williams: Lost Highway with Filament Theatre Ensemble.

Supporting actor honors went to Walter Briggs as the Gentleman Caller in The Glass Menagerie at Mary-Arrchie, Jason Richards as one of the puppeteers in Avenue Q at NightBlue Performing Arts, Felisha McNeal as Lola, the middle generation in Cheryl West's family drama Jar the Floor at eta Creative Arts Foundation, and Danni Smith, who played multiple roles in Michael John LaChuisa's See What I Wanna See at Bailiwick Chicago.

The cast of Sideshow Theatre Company's production of Idomenus, a rewind and replay of Roland Schimmelpfennig's musing on the mythological tale of a King of Crete who made a terrible promise, was named Best Ensemble.

The Den Theatre's City of Dreadful Night picked up awards for its scenic design by Henry Behel, lighting design by Cat Wilson and incidental music composed by Mikey Moran, while Hell in a Handbag's Sexy Baby won Best Costume Design for Kate Setzer Kamphausen.

You can see the complete list of nominees and winners here. As always, the Non-Equity Jeff Awards paint a colorful picture of what's been happening at Chicago's creative, original small theaters.

ICEMAN and FOLLIES Score Big at the Jeff Awards

Chicago's annual Joseph Jefferson Awards were handed out for Equity productions on Monday at the Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre, with the Goodman Theatre's production of Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh and Follies, the Sondheim/Goldman musical produced at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, each taking home six statuettes.

The Second City's We're All in This Room Together revue and The Doyle and Debbie Show, a lonesome road production in association with Jim Jensen and Lisselan Productions, which played for a few months at the Royal George Theatre, each won two.

Illinois State University alumni also won two awards, with Gary Griffin winning for his direction of Follies, and Kevin Depinet picking up an award for his scenic design for Iceman at the Goodman. Depinet earned his MFA at ISU, and his local set designs included Beast on the Moon at Heartland Theatre.

Follies was named Best Musical (Large), with director Griffin,  Musical Director Brad Haak, Costume Designer Virgil C. Johnson, Actress in a Principal Role Caroline O'Connor and Supporting Actress Hollis Resnick all named winners.

In addition to Depinet's Scenic Design award, Iceman won Best Production of a Play (Large) as well as Best Director for Robert Falls, Best Ensemble for the acting crew, Best Supporting Actor for Brian Dennehy, and Best Lighting Design for Natasha Katz.

Lee Hall's The Pitman Painters won Best Play (Midsize) for its TimeLine production, while Doyle and Debbie was named Best Musical (Midsize). Brian Arntson, one of the creators of Doyle and Debbie, won as Best Actor in a Principal Role in a Musical.

Other acting awards went to Larry Yando for his performance as Roy Cohn in Court Theatre's Angels in America, Diane D'Aquila from Chicago Shakes' Elizabeth Rex, Timothy Edward Kane in Court's An Iliad, Alex Goodrich in HERO, the Musical at the Marriott Theatre, and Natalie West in The Butcher of Baraboo at Red Orchid Theatre. Edgar Blackmon took top honors for performers in the Revue category for Who Do We Think We Are? at Second City.

For Best New Play, Ayad Akthar's Disgraced tied with Sarah Gubbins' The Kid Thing, while HERO the Musical, with book by Aaron Thielen and music and lyrics by Michael Mahler, won as Best New Musical. Oren Jacoby's Invisible Man was the winner in the Best New Play (Adaptation) category.

You can see all the winners here and test yourself on how many of these productions you saw.

Equity Jeff Award Nominations Announced

It's an embarrassment of riches. Or nominations. This year the judges handing out nominations for the equity side of Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards went big, with ten nods in the Director of a Play category and nine each for large and midsize plays.

Meanwhile, they made the usual head-scratching choices, singling out only Caroline O'Connor among the four leads of Chicago Shakespeare's "Follies," when she was by far the least successful of the four. Sorry, Susan Moniz! I loved you.

That "Follies" led the pack with seven nominations, including one for the production itself (large musical), supporting actress Hollis Resnick (who was terrific), director Gary Griffin, musical director Brad Haak, choreographer Alex Sanchez and costume designer Virgil C. Johnson.

Other productions with seven nominations include "Death and Harry Houdini" at the House Theatre of Chicago, and "Invisible Man," at Court Theatre in association with Christopher McElroen Productions.

The cast of "The Iceman Cometh" at the Goodman, one of the most talked-about shows of the year, was given an "ensemble" nomination along with individual nods for Brian Dennehy, as Larry Slade, director Robert Falls, scenic designer Kevin Depinet, lighting designer Natasha Katz, and the show itself in the large play category.

"Clybourne Park" at Steppenwolf was another show with its ensemble outshining individuals, as the cast as a whole, along with director Amy Morton and scenic designer Todd Rosenthal, were nominated. Rosenthal collected more nominations than most shows, with his work on "An Iliad" at Court Theatre and "Red" at the Goodman also honored. 

Other big name shows -- "Elizabeth Rex" at Chicago Shakes, "Angels in America" and "An Iliad" at Court Theatre, "The March" at Steppenwolf, "Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting" and "Eastland" at Lookingglass -- were handed multiple nominations, as well.

Like Rosenthal, lighting designer Jesse Klug, scenic designer Jack Magaw, sound designer Kevin O'Donnell, and production/media designer Mike Tutaj each received three nominations.

And IWU's Amanda Dehnert ("Eastland") and ISU's Gary Griffin ("Follies") were both nominated for best direction of a large musical.

For the complete list of nominations, click here. Theatre in Chicago and the Chicago Tribune's Chris Jones have some interesting commentary on the nominations, too.

IWU Grad Melanie Keller Wins a Jeff!

When the Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards for excellence in Chicago theater were handed out last Monday, June 4, IWU alum Melanie Keller (BFA in Acting, 1997) was front and center. Keller was honored as Best Actress in a  Principal Role in a Play for her work in "East of Berlin & The Russian Play," two plays by Hannah Moscovitch, as presented at Signal Ensemble Theatre.

Keller is a member of Signal's ensemble as well as a member of Actors Equity; she appeared in "Berlin/Russian" courtesy of Actors Equity, even though this section of the Jeff Awards was for Non-Equity productions.

Since leaving Illinois Wesleyan, Keller has appeared in numerous roles with Chicago's First Folio Theatre, including playing Elvira in "Blithe Spirit" and Gilda in "Design For Living," and she was part of the Signal Ensemble in their world-premiere, Jeff-nominated production of "Landslide." For Signal, she has played Kate Hardcastle in "She Stoops to Conquer," and she was nominated for a Jeff Citation for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "The Weir." She was also named the Chicago Fellow sent to to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada, appearing in "Love's Labour's Lost," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Caesar and Cleopatra" with Christopher Plummer.

She's worked with a host of different Chicago theaters, including Northlight, Breadline, Lifeline, Seanachai, and Shaw Chicago.

Chris Jones reviewed "East of Berlin & The Russian Play" for The Chicago Tribune, talking mostly about the "East of Berlin" side of the program, which matches the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, played by Keller, with the son of one of the Nazis who engineered it, played by Billy Fenderson. Jones called the acting in "East of Berlin" exceptional, as he noted, "One scene between Fenderson's self-loathing Rudi and Keller's exquisitely vulnerable yet determined Sarah is so profoundly sad, it sits with me still. It is an intimate act interrupted by the kind of terrible questions that, when the sins of the father are so great, make even future pleasures feel immoral — or maybe transformative."

You can see the whole list of 2012 Joseph Jefferson Award winners here, including multiple honors for Sean Graney and the Hypocrites for their "Sophocles: Seven Sicknesses," "Punk Rock" at the Griffin Theatre Company, and Theo Ubique's production of "The Light in the Piazza."