Monday, April 24, 2017 — Chicago, IL. The Jeff Awards announced, via a special video presentation, a total of 127 nominations in 26 categories for the 44th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017. Hosting the video presentation were Alexis Roston and Lillian Castillo, who will be this year's Mistresses of Ceremonies at the Awards event on June 5 at The Athenaeum.
In the Production-Musical category, three of the nominated Productions each had eight nominations. These included "Urinetown" at BoHo Theatre, "The Wiz" at Kokandy Productions and "High Fidelity" at the newly eligible Refuge Theatre Project. Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre scored a total of 11 nominations this year, including seven for "The Most Happy Fella."
In the Production-Play category, three of the nominated Productions each had four nominations: "Prowess" at Jackalope Theatre Company, "At The Table" at Broken Nose Theatre ( another newly-eligible company ) and "The North Pool" at Interrobang Theatre Project.
The coveted Ensemble nominations were spread among seven productions: "At The Table" at Broken Nose Theatre, "Bat Boy The Musical" at Griffin Theatre Company, "truth and reconciliation" at Sideshow Theatre Company, "good friday," produced by Kristiana Rae Colon and Tara Branham in association with Oracle Productions, "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" at Trap Door Theatre, "How We got On" at Haven Theatre Company and "High Fidelity" at Refuge Theatre Project.
The 2016-2017 season also rewarded the efforts of Non-Equity theaters producing New Plays and New Musicals in Chicago, citing nine nominations for world premieres. Seven playwrights were nominated in the New Play category, including Ike Holter for "Prowess" at Jackalope Theatre Company, Jerre Dye for "Distance" at Strawdog Theatre Company, Alex Lubischer for "Bobbie Clearly" at Steep Theatre Company, Zeljko Djukic for "Gentle" at TUTA Theatre Chicago, Philip Dawkins for "The Happiest Place on Earth" at Greenhouse Theater Center in association with Sideshow Theatre, Shepsu Aakhu for "Feral" at MPAACT, and the team of Heather McNama and Nancy Nyman for "Resolution" at Pride Films and Plays. New Musical nominations went to Robert Kauzlaric and George Howe for "Northanger Abbey" at Lifeline Theatre, as well as Alex Higgin-Houser & David Kornfeld for "Haymarket: The Anarchist's Songbook" at Underscore Theatre Company.
The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 147 productions offered by 66 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Awards recommended 68 of those productions ( or 46% ), making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 68 Jeff Recommended productions, 53 ( or 77% ) received nominations, representing 34 theatre companies.
The 44th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, June 5, 2017, at The Athenaeum, located at 2936 N. Southport Ave in Chicago.
Doors open at 6 PM with several cash bars available. The awards ceremony will start at 7:30 p.m., followed by an After Party with a light buffet and all cash bars open. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. A group rate of $40 is available for parties of 10 or more. Festive cocktail attire is suggested, and the public is cordially invited. Tickets may be purchased online with a credit card at www.jeffawards.org or by mail with the downloadable mail-order form, also found at www.jeffawards.org . For more information, contact John D. Glover, Non-Equity Wing Chair, at nonequitywing@jeffawards.org . Follow live twitter feeds from the ceremony and behind the scenes at #JeffAwards2017.
The Jeff Awards has been honoring outstanding theatre artists annually since it was established in 1968. With up to 55 members representing a wide variety of backgrounds in theatre ( including producers, directors, actors, playwrights, designers, professors of theatre, entertainment lawyers and agents, and theatre lovers ), the Jeff Awards are committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors. Opening night judges include not only the members but also the team of Artistic & Technical theatre volunteers ( the "AT Team" ) which include Artistic Directors, producers, directors from the major Chicago theatres, actors, designers, etc. The Jeff Awards fosters the artistic growth of area theatres and theatre artists and promotes educational opportunities, audience appreciation, and civic pride in the achievements of the theatre community. Each year, the Jeff Awards adjudicate over 250 theatrical productions and host two awards ceremonies. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the Jeff Awards established the Non-Equity Wing in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre. The next Equity Awards ceremony, honoring productions presented under union contracts, will be held on Monday, November 5, 2017, at Drury Lane Oakbrook in Oakbrook Terrace.
2017 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES
PRODUCTION - PLAY
"At the Table" - Broken Nose Theatre
"How We Got On" - Haven Theatre Company
"Miss Holmes" - Lifeline Theatre
"The North Pool" - Interrobang Theatre Project
"Our Lady of 121st Street" - Eclipse Theatre Company
PRODUCTION - MUSICAL
"High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project
"The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
"Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre
"Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre
"The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions
ENSEMBLE
"At the Table" - Broken Nose Theatre
"Bat Boy The Musical" - Griffin Theatre Company
"good friday" - Kristiana Rae Colon and Tara Branham in collaboration with Oracle Productions
"High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project
"How We Got On" - Haven Theatre Company
"The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" - Trap Door Theatre
"truth and reconciliation" - Sideshow Theatre Company
DIRECTOR - PLAY
Spenser Davis - "At the Table" - Broken Nose Theatre
Jonathan L. Green - "truth and reconciliation" - Sideshow Theatre Company
Robert Kauzlaric - "Cymbeline" - Strawdog Theatre Company
Victor Quezada-Perez - "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" - Trap Door Theatre
James Yost - "The North Pool" - Interrobang Theatre Project
DIRECTOR - MUSICAL
Fred Anzevino - "The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Elise Kauzlaric - "Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre
Christopher Pazdernik - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project
Stephen Schellhardt - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre
Scott Weinstein - "Bat Boy The Musical" - Griffin Theatre Company
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY
Salar Ardebili ( Khadim ) - "The North Pool" - Interrobang Theatre Project
Ryan Hallahan ( Dan ) - "The Body of an American" - Stage Left Theatre
John Henry Roberts ( Danny ) - "The Little Flower of East Orange" - Eclipse Theatre Company
George Seegebrecht ( Hauptmann ) - "Hauptmann" - City Lit Theater Company
Kevin V. Smith ( Vic ) - "Taste" - Red Theater Chicago
Gage Wallace ( Terry ) - "Taste" - Red Theater Chicago
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL
Maxwell J. DeTogne ( Rob ) - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project
Henry McGinniss ( Bat Boy/Edgar ) - "Bat Boy The Musical" - Griffin Theatre Company
Henry McGinniss ( Bobby Strong ) - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre
Jordan Phelps ( Tick ) - "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" - Pride Films and Plays
William Roberts ( Tony Esposito ) - "The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY
Jeannie Affelder ( Marie ) - "The Little Flower of East Orange" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Kim Boler ( Mabry ) - "Human Terrain" - Broken Nose Theatre
Elaine Carlson ( Eleanor of Aquitaine ) - "The Lion in Winter" - Promethean Theatre Ensemble
Amy Johnson ( Tami ) - "Falling" - Interrobang Theatre Project
Kat McDonnell ( May ) - "Once in a Lifetime" - Strawdog Theatre Company
Shalyn Welch ( Darcy ) - "The Kid Thing" - Nothing Without A Company
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL
Sydney Charles ( Dorothy ) - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions
Molly Hernandez ( Amy ) - "The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Amanda Horvath ( Tonya Harding ) - "Tonya and Nancy The Rock Opera" - Underscore Theatre Company
Stephanie Stockstill ( Catherine Morland ) - "Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre
Colette Todd ( Diana ) — "Next to Normal" — BoHo Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY
Adam Bitterman ( Mick ) - "The Seedbed" - Redtwist Theatre
Matt Edmonds ( Biff ) - "Death of a Salesman" - Redtwist Theatre
Robert Koon ( Riley ) - "Chagrin Falls" - The Agency Theater Collective
D'Wayne Taylor ( Lucius ) - "Jesus Hopped the "A" Train" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Justin Tsatsa ( Josh ) - "Falling" - Interrobang Theatre Project
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE — MUSICAL
Chuckie Benson ( Lion ) - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions
Scott Danielson ( Officer Lockstock ) - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre
Nick Druzbanski ( Barry ) - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project
Joe Giovannetti ( Herman ) - "The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Luke Meierdiercks ( Felicia ) - "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" - Pride Films and Plays
Steven Perkins ( Tin Man ) - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY
Echaka Agba ( Lauren ) - "At the Table" - Broken Nose Theatre
JoAnn Montemurro ( Faye ) - "The Assembled Parties" - Raven Theatre Company
Deanna Reed-Foster ( Trudy ) - "Even Longer and Farther Away" - The New Colony
Kelli Strickland ( Bananas ) - "The House of Blue Leaves" - Raven Theatre Company
Kendra Thulin ( Lisa ) - "Wastwater" - Steep Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL
Veronica Garza ( Nancy/Tonya's Mom ) - "Tonya and Nancy The Rock Opera" - Underscore Theatre Company
Nicole Michelle Haskins ( Aunt Em/Evillene ) - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions
Courtney Jones ( Cleo ) - "The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Anne Sheridan Smith ( Meredith Parker ) - "Bat Boy The Musical" - Griffin Theatre Company
Jenifer Tyler ( Mrs. Allen/Mrs. Tilney ) - "Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre
Honey West ( Bernadette ) - "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" - Pride Films and Plays
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Philip Dawkins ( Performer ) - "The Happiest Place on Earth" - Greenhouse Theater Center i/a/w Sideshow Theatre Company
Sarah Gise ( Performer ) - "The Amish Project" - Interrobang Theatre Project
ACTOR/ACTRESS IN A REVUE
Averis I. Anderson ( Performer ) - "An Anthony Newley-Leslie Bricusse Songbook" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Ian Rigg ( Performer ) - "Oh, Coward!" - Dead Writers Theatre Collective
Graham Thomas Heacock ( Performer ) - "An Anthony Newley-Leslie Bricusse Songbook" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Colette Todd ( Angela ) - "Honky Tonk Angels" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Leryn Turlington ( Darlene ) - "Honky Tonk Angels" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
NEW PLAY
Shepsu Aakhu - "Feral" - MPAACT
Philip Dawkins - "The Happiest Place on Earth" - Greenhouse Theater Center i/a/w Sideshow Theatre Company
Zeljko Djukic - "Gentle" - TUTA Theatre Chicago
Jerre Dye - "Distance" - Strawdog Theatre Company
Ike Holter - "Prowess" - Jackalope Theatre Company
Alex Lubischer - "Bobbie Clearly" - Steep Theatre Company
Heather McNama and Nancy Nyman - "Resolution" - Pride Films and Plays
NEW ADAPTATION
Alex Higgin-Houser and David Kornfeld - "Haymarket: The Anarchist's Songbook" - Underscore Theatre Company
Robert Kauzlaric and George Howe - "Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
Aubrey Adams - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre
Breon Arzell - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions
Jon Martinez - "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" - Pride Films and Plays
Christopher Pazdernik - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
Natasha Bogojevich - "Gentle" - TUTA Theatre Chicago
Andrew Hansen - "Cymbeline" - Strawdog Theatre Company
Andrew Hansen - "Miss Holmes" - Lifeline Theatre
Ben Sutherland - "The Lion in Winter" - Promethean Theatre Ensemble
Shawn Wallace - "Rutherford's Travels" - Pegasus Theatre Chicago
MUSIC DIRECTION
Jimmy Morehead - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions
Robert Ollis - "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" - Pride Films and Plays
Jeremy Ramey - "The Most Happy Fella" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Charlotte Rivard-Hoster - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre
Jon Schneidman - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project
SCENIC DESIGN
Kurtis Boetcher - "Gentle" - TUTA Theatre Chicago
Kevin Hagan - "Our Lady of 121st Street" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Jeffrey D. Kmiec - "The Assembled Parties" - Raven Theatre Company
Michelle Manni - "High Fidelity" - Refuge Theatre Project
Greg Pinsoneault - "The North Pool" - Interrobang Theatre Project
Ashley Ann Woods - "Miss Holmes" - Lifeline Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN
Erik Barry - "Haymarket: The Anarchist's Songbook" - Underscore Theatre Company
Kevin D. Gawley - "A Wrinkle in Time" - Lifeline Theatre
G. "Max" Maxin IV - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre
Alexander Ridgers - "Winterset" - Griffin Theatre Company
Brandon Wardell - "Bat Boy The Musical" - Griffin Theatre Company
COSTUME DESIGN
Aly Renee Amidei - "Northanger Abbey" - Lifeline Theatre
John Nasca - "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" - Pride Films and Plays
Rachel M. Sypniewski - "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" - Trap Door Theatre
Virginia Varland - "The Wiz" - Kokandy Productions
Elizabeth Wislar - "Urinetown" - BoHo Theatre
SOUND DESIGN
Eric Backus - "A Wrinkle in Time" - Lifeline Theatre
Thomas Dixon - "peerless" - First Floor Theater
Thomas Dixon - "Wastwater" - Steep Theatre Company
Stephen Ptacek - "How We Got On" - Haven Theatre Company
Stephen Ptacek - "In To America" - Griffin Theatre Company
Matthew Reich - "The Promise of a Rose Garden" - Babes With Blades
PROJECTION DESIGN
Brock Alter - "In To America" - Griffin Theatre Company
Anthony Churchill - "The Body of an American" - Stage Left Theatre
Michael Stanfill - "Prowess" - Jackalope Theatre Company
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY
Ryan Bourque - "Prowess" - Jackalope Theatre Company
Matt Hawkins - "Cymbeline" - Strawdog Theatre Company
MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS
BY THEATRE
11 - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
10 - Lifeline Theatre
9 - BoHo Theatre
8 - Griffin Theatre Company
8 - Kokandy Productions
8 - Refuge Theatre Project
7 - Interrobang Theatre Project
7 - Pride Films and Plays
5 - Broken Nose Theatre
5 - Eclipse Theatre Company
5 - Strawdog Theatre Company
4 - Jackalope Theatre Company
4 - Underscore Theatre Company
3 - Haven Theatre Company
3 - Raven Theatre Company
3 - Steep Theatre Company
3 - Trap Door Theatre
2 - Greenhouse Theater Center i/a/w Sideshow Theatre Company
2 - Promethean Theatre Ensemble
2 - Red Theater Chicago
2 - Redtwist Theatre
2 - Sideshow Theatre Company
2 - Stage Left Theatre
2 - TUTA Theatre Chicago
BY PRODUCTION
8 - Urinetown - BoHo Theatre
8 - The Wiz - Kokandy Productions
8 - High Fidelity - Refuge Theatre Project
7 - The Most Happy Fella - Theo Ubique Cabaret �Theatre
6 - Priscilla: Queen of the Desert - Pride Films and Plays
5 - Bat Boy The Musical - Griffin Theatre Company
5 - Northanger Abbey - Lifeline Theatre
4 - At the Table - Broken Nose Theatre
4 - The North Pool - Interrobang Theatre Project
4 - Prowess - Jackalope Theatre Company
3 - How We Got On - Haven Theatre Company
3 - Miss Holmes - Lifeline Theatre
3 - Cymbeline - Strawdog Theatre Company
3 - The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui - Trap Door Theatre
2 - The Little Flower of East Orange - Eclipse Theatre Company
2 - Our Lady of 121st Street - Eclipse Theatre Company
2 - The Happiest Place on Earth - Greenhouse Theater Center i/a/w Sideshow Theatre Company
2 - In To America - Griffin Theatre Company
2 - Falling - Interrobang Theatre Project
2 - A Wrinkle in Time - Lifeline Theatre
2 - The Lion in Winter - Promethean Theatre Ensemble
2 - The Assembled Parties - Raven Theatre Company
2 - Taste - Red Theater Chicago
2 - truth and reconciliation - Sideshow Theatre Company
2 - The Body of an American - Stage Left Theatre
2 - Wastwater - Steep Theatre Company
2 - An Anthony Newley-Leslie Bricusse Songbook - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
2 - Honky Tonk Angels - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
2 - Gentle - TUTA Theatre Chicago
2 - Haymarket: The Anarchist's Songbook - Underscore Theatre Company
2 - Tonya and Nancy: The Rock Opera - Underscore Theatre Company
BY ARTIST
2 - Philip Dawkins
2 - Thomas Dixon
2 - Andrew Hansen
2 - Robert Kauzlaric
2 - Henry McGinniss
2 - Christopher Pazdernik
2 - Stephen Ptacek
2 - Colette Todd
SPECIAL NOTICE TO NEWS MEDIA
Your complimentary ticket to the 44th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony will be held at the News Media Table at the Athenaeum only if you make a reservation in advance with Jeffrey Marks at 312.606.0400 or media@jeffawards.org .
Names of award recipients will be released immediately following the presentation ceremony on June 5, by email and on our website. Photos from the event will be available on our website.
A Media Curtain is available for your own photos. We will also have an interview area available to you, and will assist in bringing interviewees to that area. If you need a quote or interview with any Jeff Awards committee member, please call or e-mail Jeffrey Marks at 312-606-0400 or media@jeffawards.org .
The Jeff Awards Committee website, www.jeffawards.org, lists all the current Non-Equity nominees and statistics, along with previous recipients and nominees and other Jeff Awards information and news.
