The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee honored 47 recipients in 23 categories with Jeff Citations at its 32nd annual Jeff Citations Awards ceremony at Park West June 13. Lawyers for the Creative Arts also received a Special Citation Award for 30 years of pro bono service to the Chicago theater community.
Best Production of a Play was shared by A Streetcar Named Desire, produced by Raven Theatre, and Equus, produced by The Hypocrites. Parade by Bailiwick Repertory was named Best Production of a Musical or Revue.
The three individuals each receiving two Jeff Citations are: Terry Hamilton for Best Actor–Play in This Happy Breed and Best Supporting Actor–Play in Pravda, both by TimeLine Theatre Company; Andrew Hansen for Sound Design of Antigone, greasy joan & co., and Original Incidental Music for This Happy Breed, TimeLine Theatre Company, and Michael Menendian for Director–Play and Scenic Design for A Streetcar Named Desire, Raven Theatre.
Two Jeff Citations honored Best New Works for The Upper Room by David Barr III and produced by Pegasus Players and Arrangement for Two Violas by Susan Lieberman and produced by Vision & Voices Theatre. Best New Adaptation went to Frances Limoncelli for Strong Poison, produced by Lifeline Theatre Co.
Four directors received Jeff Citations, three for Best Director–Play and one for Best Director–Musical or Revue. They are: Nick Bowling, This Happy Breed, TimeLine Theatre Company; Sean Graney, Equus, The Hypocrites; Michael Menendian, A Streetcar Named Desire, Raven Theatre, and David Zak, Parade, Bailiwick Repertory.
Ensemble honors went to Action Movie: The Play, produced by Defiant Theatre in association with Keith Geller and John York Noble.
Productions receiving the most Jeff Citations were: Parade, 7, produced by Bailiwick Repertory; This Happy Breed, 6, produced by TimeLine Theatre Company, and A Streetcar Named Desire, 5, produced by Raven Theatre.
Theatre companies garnering the most Citations were: Bailiwick Repertory, 9; TimeLine Theatre Company, 7; Raven Theatre, 5; The House Theatre of Chicago, 5; Circle Theatre, 4, and The Hypocrites, 4.
During the 2004-05 Citation season ( running April 1, 2004–March 31, 2005 ) , the 45-member Jeff Committee judged a total of 104 productions from 53 producing companies, resulting in 107 nominations from 36 productions.
Founded in 1968, the mission of The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee is to honor excellence in theatrical productions in the Chicago theatre community. Originally chartered to recognize Equity productions, the Citations ( non-equity ) wing was founded in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union Chicago theatre.
The committee, comprised of theatre professionals and experienced theatergoers, evaluates approximately 200 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies annually. The 2004-05 Equity Awards will be held November 7.