Many local theater fans were shocked to learn of the death of Chicago actor Guy Adkins on Wednesday, May 12. Though Adkins was blogging about his struggle with colon cancer on his website at www.guyadkins.com, most theatergoers probably didn't know the 41-year-old actor was ill until reporter Chris Jones reported his death on the Chicago Tribune's website.
Adkins is survived by his longtime partner and fellow actor Sean Allan Krill, his parents and three sisters. Though funeral services are to be private, a memorial is being planned.
What Adkins leaves behind is a trove of ephemeral theatrical memories. A native of Michigan, Adkins found steady work around Chicago since his arrival in the early 1990s, proving his adeptness in major and minor parts in both intimate plays and grand musicals time and time again.
Adkins notably appeared in the world-premiere musicals The Visit and The Return of Martin Guerre ( both for the Goodman Theatre ) , and was a 10-time Jeff Award nominee ( winning twice for supporting roles in the Goodman Theatre's Floyd Collins in 1999 and Writers' Theatre's Misalliance in 2002 ) .
For Court Theatre, Adkins made critical waves in 2002 for his Hamlet ( bearing all onstage ) and as the young gay poet A.E. Houseman in Tom Stoppard's The Invention of Love.
In recent years, Adkins made a splash in Marriott Theatre musicals, including major roles in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in 2005 and The Producers in 2007. Adkins also co-starred alongside film star Molly Ringwald and reality TV star Paige Davis of Trading Spaces in the recent national tour of Sweet Charity. According to Adkins' website, he is set to appear in the forthcoming independent film The David Dance, which is in post production.
It's sad to think of the many roles that Adkins had yet to play before his life was cut short. But the breadth of Adkins' artistic career and contributions to Chicago theater is one that won't be long forgotten by his friends, colleagues and theater fans alike.
Nominations, nominations
Awards season is in full swing locally ( and New York, too ) .
The Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations were announced recently, and the Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park carries the biggest boasting rights. Three of its resident companies scored the most nominations.
Lifeline Theatre scored 13 nominations, while both Bohemian Theatre Ensemble and Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre both scored 11 nominations apiece. The latter two companies also had the most-nominated shows, with 8 nods for both Bohemian Theatre's The Glorious Ones and Theo Ubique's Chess.
For a full list of nominated shows and information on the awards banquet on June 7 at Park West, visit www.jeffawards.org
Over in New York, the Tony Awards didn't completely forget Chicago-born shows with its 2009-10 nominations, though some heavy hitters are missing.
Former Chicago playwright Keith Huff scored a box office bonanza when his acclaimed Chicago Dramatists play A Steady Rain attracted film stars Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman for a limited Broadway run. Oddly the show was shut out of awards contention.
And Tracy Letts' Superior Donuts, which transferred virtually intact from Steppenwolf, was largely forgotten except for Jon Michael Hill's well-deserved nomination in the featured actor category.
The Addams Family, which tried out in Chicago and features many local producers, was largely snubbed after a rash of negative reviews ( still, the show is a box office hit so far ) . It scored only two nominations for Andrew Lippa's score and Kevin Chamberlin's turn as Uncle Fester.
Reaping a Best Musical nomination was Million Dollar Quartet, which is still playing locally with a Chicago company at the Apollo Theatre. The rock and roll musical also scored nominations for its script by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux and for Levi Kreis' performance as Jerry Lee Lewis.
Former Chicago playwright John Logan received a Best Play nomination for Red, which is about the later life of suicidal artist Mark Rothko. Red premiered in London earlier this season.
In a bit of Tony Award controversy, designer Santo Loquasto's costumes for the recent revival of Ragtime were stripped of a nomination since they were deemed too similar to his Tony-nominated designs for the original production in 1998 ( Many of those Tony Award-nominated costumes can be seen in Drury Lane Oak Brook's Ragtime ) .
Visit www.TonyAwards.com for a full list of nominations and for more information on the June 13 telecast.
Chicago off-Broadway
The Tony Awards only honor Broadway excellence, which is a shame because two acclaimed Chicago plays are debuting off-Broadway this week.
Profiles Theatre's Graceland was a long-running hit, and now Ellen Fairey's drama ( set in and around Graceland Cemetery ) is running at the Duke on 42nd Street via LCT3, a developmental initiative of Lincoln Center Theater. It runs until May 29.
Also making a big noise is Kristoffer Diaz's pro-wrestling drama ( and Pulitzer finalist ) The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity for Second Stage Theatre. The play, which had its debut at Victory Gardens Theater, runs until June 20.
Please send theater-related news and other tidbits to scottishplayscott@yahoo.com and Andrew@windycitymediagroup.com .