REVIEWS

2019 JEFF EQUITY AWARDS Winners

Here are the winners in 34 categories of The 51st Annual Equity Jeff Awards. The Jeff Equity Awards Ceremony took place at Drury Lane, Oakbrook, Monday October 21, 2019.

2019 Jeff Award Recipients:

 Production – Play – Large
“Downstate” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Production – Play – Midsize
“Frankenstein” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

Production – Musical – Large
“Six” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Production – Musical – Midsize
“Caroline, or Change” – Firebrand Theatre in partnership with
     TimeLine Theatre Company

Production – Revue
“You Can’t Fake the Funk: A Journey through Funk Music”
     – Black Ensemble Theater

Ensemble – Play
“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow
     is Enuf” – Court Theatre

Ensemble – Musical or Revue
“Six” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

New Work – Play
Bruce Norris – “Downstate” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

New Work – Musical
David Cale – “We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time”
     – Goodman Theatre in co-production with The Public Theater
Michael Mahler and Jason Brett – “Miracle” – William A. Marovitz
     and Arny Granat

Director – Play – Large
Vanessa Stalling – “Photograph 51” – Court Theatre

Director – Play – Midsize
Ian Frank – “Frankenstein” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Jonathan Wilson – “The Recommendation” – Windy City Playhouse

Director – Musical – Large
Jim Corti – “The Producers” – Paramount Theatre

Director – Musical – Midsize
Lili-Anne Brown – “Caroline, or Change” – Firebrand Theatre in partnership
     with TimeLine Theatre Company

Performer In A Principal Role – Play
Janet Ulrich Brooks (Maria Callas) – “Master Class”
     – TimeLine Theatre Company
Chaon Cross (Rosalind Franklin) – “Photograph 51” – Court Theatre

Performer In A Principal Role – Musical
E. Faye Butler (Rose) – “Gypsy” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Barbara E. Robertson (Anna Edson Taylor) – “Queen of the Mist”
     – Firebrand Theatre

Solo Performance
Joe Foust (Solo Performer) – “The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey”
     – American Blues Theater 

Performer In A Supporting Role – Play
K. Todd Freeman (Dee) – “Downstate” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Brian Keys (Dwight Barnes) – “The Recommendation”
     – Windy City Playhouse

Performer In A Supporting Role – Musical
Donica Lynn (Oda Mae) – “Ghost The Musical” – Theatre at the Center
Nat Zegree (Jerry Lee Lewis) – “Million Dollar Quartet” – Marriott Theatre

Performer In A Revue
Robin DaSilva (Mahalia) – “Mahalia Jackson: Moving Thru the Light”
     – Black Ensemble Theater

Scenic Design – Large
Arnel Sancianco – “Photograph 51” – Court Theatre

Scenic Design – Midsize
Lauren Nigri – “The Recommendation” – Windy City Playhouse

Costume Design – Large
Rueben Echoles – “You Can’t Fake the Funk: A Journey through
     Funk Music” – Black Ensemble Theater

Costume Design – Midsize
Jeff Hendry – “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder”
     – Porchlight Music Theatre

Sound Design – Large
Rick Sims – “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein”
     – Lookingglass Theatre Company

Sound Design – Midsize
Christopher Kriz – “Frankenstein” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

Lighting Design – Large
William C. Kirkham – “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein”
     – Lookingglass Theatre Company

Lighting Design – Midsize
Mike Durst – “Frankenstein” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

Choreography
Brenda Didier – “The Producers” – Paramount Theatre

Original Music
Andre Pluess and Amanda Dehnert – “The Steadfast Tin Soldier”
     – Lookingglass Theatre Company

Music Direction
Roberta Duchak and Joe Beighton – “Six” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Fight Choreography
Jon Beal – “Cardboard Piano” – TimeLine Theatre Company

Puppet Design
Chicago Puppet Studio – “The Steadfast Tin Soldier”
     – Lookingglass Theatre Company

Projection Design
Rasean Davonte Johnson – “Frankenstein” – Court Theatre

Artistic Specialization
Kristy Leigh Hall – Makeup Design 
     “Frankenstein” – Remy Bumppo Theatre CompanyCassy Schillo and Wendy A. Huber – Properties Design
     “All Childish Things” – First Folio Theatre

MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS

By Theater Company:

  • Remy Bumppo Theatre Company – 5
  • Court Theatre – 5
  • Lookingglass Theatre Company – 4
  • Black Ensemble Theater – 3
  • Chicago Shakespeare Theater – 3
  • Steppenwolf Theatre Company – 3
  • Windy City Playhouse – 3
  • Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company – 2
  • Paramount Theatre – 2
  • Porchlight Music Theatre -2
  • Timeline Theatre Company – 2

By Production:

  • Frankenstein – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company – 5
  • Photograph 51 – Court Theatre – 4
  • Downstate – Steppenwolf Theatre Company – 3
  • The Recommendation – Windy City Playhouse – 3
  • Six – Chicago Shakespeare Theater– 3
  • Caroline, or Change – Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company – 2
  • Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – Lookingglass Theatre Company – 2
  • The Producers – Paramount Theatre – 2
  • The Steadfast Tin Soldier – Lookingglass Theatre Company – 2
  • You Can’t Fake the Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater – 2