50th Annual Equity Jeff Awards

Chicago Critic

Here are 50th annual Equity Jeff award nominees and recipients.

2018 Equity Nominees & Recipients

AWARD RECIPIENTS IN BOLD

Production – Musical or Revue – Large

Ragtime (2018) – Marriott Theatre
Fun Home – Victory Gardens Theater
Five Guys Named Moe (2017) – Court Theatre
Cabaret (2018) – Paramount Theatre
Million Dollar Quartet (2017) – Paramount Theatre

Production – Play – Large

A View from the Bridge (2017) – Goodman Theatre
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (2018) – Court Theatre
All My Sons – Court Theatre – All My Sons (2018) – Court Theatre
Macbeth (2018) – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) (2018) – Goodman Theatre

Production Play – Midsize

Southern Gothic (2018) – Windy City Playhouse
Machinal (2017) – Greenhouse Theater Center
Traitor – A Red Orchid Theatre
The Cake (2018) – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Jitney (2018) – Congo Square Theatre Company

Production-Musical-Midsize

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (2018) – American Blues Theater
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical – Mercury Theater Chicago
Memphis (2018) – Porchlight Music Theatre

Ensemble – Musical or Revue

Million Dollar Quartet (2017) – Paramount TheatreBuddy – The Buddy Holly Story (2018) – American Blues TheaterHair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical – Mercury Theater ChicagoForever Plaid (2018) – Theatre at the CenterFive Guys Named Moe (2017) – Court Theatre

Ensemble – Play

Jitney (2018) – Congo Square Theatre Company
Southern Gothic (2018) – Windy City Playhouse
Machinal (2017) – Greenhouse Theater Center
The Wolves (2018) – Goodman Theatre
Traitor – A Red Orchid Theatre
The Taming of the Shrew (2017) – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) (2018) – Goodman Theatre
Support Group for Men (2018) – Goodman Theatre

New Adaptation

Robert Falls – An Enemy of the People (2018) – Goodman Theatre20,000 Leagues Under the Seas (2018) – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Jennifer Blackmer – Alias Grace – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Brett Neveu – Traitor – A Red Orchid Theatre
Barbara Gaines and Ron West – The Taming of the Shrew (2017) – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

New Work

Dan Collins and Julianne Wick Davis – Trevor The Musical – Writers Theatre
Ellen Fairey – Support Group for Men (2018) – Goodman Theatre
Boo Killebrew – Lettie (2018) – Victory Gardens Theater
Leslie Liataud, Carl Menninger, and Amy Rubenstein – Southern Gothic (2018) – Windy City Playhouse
Minita Gandhi – Muthaland – 16th Street Theater
Aline Lathrop – The Hero’s Wife (2018) – 16th Street Theater
Keith Huff – Six Corners (2018) – American Blues Theater
Novid Parsi – Through the Elevated Line (2018) – Silk Road Rising

Director – Play – Large

Ivo van Hove – A View from the Bridge (2017) – Goodman Theatre
Dexter Bullard – Mies Julie (2018) – Victory Gardens Theater
Chay Yew – Lettie (2018) – Victory Gardens Theater
Vanessa Stalling – The Wolves (2018) – Goodman Theatre
Niegel Smith – Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) (2018) – Goodman Theatre

Director – Musical – Midsize

Lili-Anne Brown – Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (2018) – American Blues Theater
Brenda Didier – Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical – Mercury Theater Chicago
Daryl Brooks – Memphis (2018) – Porchlight Music Theatre

Director – Play – Midsize

Cheryl Lynn Bruce – Jitney (2018) – Congo Square Theatre Company
David H. Bell – Southern Gothic (2018) – Windy City Playhouse
Machinal (2017) – Greenhouse Theater Center
Lauren Shouse – The Cake (2018) – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Michael Shannon – Traitor – A Red Orchid Theatre

Director – Musical or Revue – Large

Marc Bruni – Trevor The Musical – Writers Theatre
Nick Bowling – Ragtime (2018) – Marriott Theatre
Gary Griffin – Fun Home – Victory Gardens Theater
Ron OJ Parson – Five Guys Named Moe (2017) – Court Theatre
Michael Heitzman – 42nd Street (2017) – Drury Lane Productions

Performer in a Principal Role – Musical

Tiffany Topol – Once (2018) – Paramount Theatre
Jason Grimm – Murder for Two (2018) – Marriott Theatre
Eli Tokash – Trevor The Musical – Writers Theatre
Zachary Stevenson – Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (2018) – American Blues Theater
Nathaniel Stampley – Ragtime (2018) – Marriott TheatreRob Lindley – Fun Home – Victory Gardens Theater
Liam Quealy – Memphis (2018) – Porchlight Music Theatre
Kathy Voytko – Ragtime (2018) – Marriott Theatre
Dawn Bless – A New Attitude: In Tribute to Patti LaBelle (2018) – Black Ensemble Theater
Matthew Crowle – Merrily We Roll Along (2018) – Porchlight Music Theatre (Ruth Page Center for the Arts)

Performer in a Principal Role – Play

Ian Bedford – A View from the Bridge (2017) – Goodman Theatre
John Judd – All My Sons (2018) – Court Theatre
Caroline Neff – Lettie (2018) – Victory Gardens Theater
Geno Walker – To Catch a Fish (2018) – TimeLine Theatre Company (Wellington)
Heather Chrisler – Machinal (2017) – Greenhouse Theater Center
Alex Weisman – Significant Other – Theater Wit and About Face Theatre
Larry Yando – Buried Child (2018) – Writers Theatre
Janet Ulrich Brooks – The Audience – TimeLine Theatre Company (Wellington)
Tara Mallen – The Cake (2018) – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Edward Gero – The Originalist (2018) – Court Theatre

Performer in a Supporting Role – Play

Deanna Dunagan – Blind Date – Goodman Theatre
Anthony Irons – Jitney (2018) – Congo Square Theatre Company
Anthony Irons – How to Use a Knife (2018) – Shattered Globe Theatre
Andrus Nichols – A View from the Bridge (2017) – Goodman Theatre
Sydney Charles – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (2018) – Court Theatre
Matt DeCaro – Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2018) – Drury Lane Productions
Shannon Cochran – The Importance of Being Earnest (2017) – Writers Theatre
Keith Kupferer – Cal in Camo – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Jason Grimm – Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner, A Sort of Love Story – Mercury Theater Chicago
Matt DeCaro – The Audience – TimeLine Theatre Company (Wellington)

Performer in a Supporting Role – Musical

Veronica Garza – 9 to 5: The Musical (2018) – Firebrand Theatre
Matthew Crowle – South Pacific (2018) – Drury Lane Productions
Aaron Umsted – Oklahoma! (2018) – Marriott Theatre
Gavin Rohrer – Million Dollar Quartet (2017) – Paramount Theatre
Katherine Thomas – Ragtime (2018) – Marriott Theatre
Shanesia Davis – Billy Elliot – Porchlight Music Theatre (Ruth Page Center for the Arts)Hannah Starr – Fun Home – Victory Gardens Theater
Sean Fortunato – Billy Elliot – Porchlight Music Theatre (Ruth Page Center for the Arts)
Jenna Coker-Jones – Company (2018) – Venus Cabaret Theater at Mercury Theater Chicago
Hollis Resnik – Cabaret (2018) – Paramount Theatre

Performer in a Revue

Yando Lopez – Forever Plaid (2018) – Theatre at the Center
Lorenzo Rush, Jr. – Five Guys Named Moe (2017) – Court Theatre
Jasbir Singh Vazquez – Gaslight District (2018) – The Second City e.t.c.

Solo Performance

Janet Ulrich Brooks – The Lady with All the Answers (2018) – Theatre at the Center
Stacy Keach – Pamplona (2018) – Goodman Theatre
Kate Fry – The Belle of Amherst (2017) – Court Theatre
Minita Gandhi – Muthaland – 16th Street Theater
James Leaming – This Wonderful Life – American Blues Theater

Scenic Design – Large

Todd Rosenthal – The Doppelganger (2018) – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Todd Rosenthal – 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas (2018) – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Scott Davis – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (2018) – Court Theatre
Kevin Depinet – The Taming of the Shrew (2017) – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Courtney O’Neill – Plantation! (2018) – Lookingglass Theatre Company

Scenic Design – Midsize

Jeff Bauer – How to Use a Knife (2018) – Shattered Globe Theatre
Scott Davis – Southern Gothic (2018) – Windy City Playhouse
Angela Weber Miller – Mary’s Wedding (2018) – First Folio Theatre
Jose Manuel Diaz-Soto – The Explorer’s Club (2018) – Citadel Theatre Company
Arnel Sancianco – The Cake (2018) – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

Costume Design – Midsize

Emily McConnell – Hatfield & McCoy – The House Theatre of Chicago
Mieka van der Ploeg – The Skin of Our Teeth (2017) – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Robert Kuhn – Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical – Mercury Theater Chicago
Bill Morey – Memphis (2018) – Porchlight Music Theatre
Bill Morey – Merrily We Roll Along (2018) – Porchlight Music Theatre (Ruth Page Center for the Arts)
Paul Kim – The Explorer’s Club (2018) – Citadel Theatre Company

Costume Design – Large

Alison Siple – In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play – TimeLine Theatre Company (Belmont)
Mara Blumenfeld – The Importance of Being Earnest (2017) – Writers TheatreTheresa Ham – Ragtime (2018) – Marriott Theatre
Linda Cho – Schiller’s Mary Stuart (2018) – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Susan E. Mickey – The Taming of the Shrew (2017) – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Sound Design – Midsize

Stephen Ptacek – The Skin of Our Teeth (2017) – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Jeffrey Levin – Welcome to Jesus – American Theater Company
Christopher Kriz – The Heavens Are Hung in Black – Shattered Globe Theatre
Christopher Kriz – The 39 Steps (2017) – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Christopher Kriz – Mary’s Wedding (2018) – First Folio Theatre
Jeffrey Levin – Machinal (2017) – Greenhouse Theater Center

Sound Design – Large

Robert E. Gilmartin – Murder for Two (2018) – Marriott Theatre
Rick Sims – 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas (2018) – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Andre Pluess – Macbeth (2018) – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Andre Pluess – Hard Times (2017) – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Ray Nardelli – Skeleton Crew – Northlight Theatre

Lighting Design – Large

Jesse Klug – Million Dollar Quartet (2017) – Paramount Theatre
Christine Binder – 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas (2018) – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Thom Weaver – Macbeth (2018) – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Brian Sidney Bembridge – Hard Times (2017) – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Yael Lubetzky – Cabaret (2018) – Paramount Theatre

Lighting Design – Midsize

Lee Keenan – Hatfield & McCoy – The House Theatre of Chicago
Rachel Levy – Welcome to Jesus – American Theater Company
Nick Belley – Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical – Mercury Theater Chicago
Denise Karczewski – Billy Elliot – Porchlight Music Theatre (Ruth Page Center for the Arts)Cat Wilson – The Wolf at the End of the Block (2018) – 16th Street Theater
Eric Watkins – Machinal (2017) – Greenhouse Theater Center
Cat Davis – De Troya (2018) – Halcyon Theatre

Choreography

Alex Sanchez – Newsies – Marriott Theatre
Alex Sanchez – Oklahoma! (2018) – Marriott Theatre
Josh Prince – Trevor The Musical – Writers Theatre
Christopher Carter – Memphis (2018) – Porchlight Music Theatre
Jared Grimes – 42nd Street (2017) – Drury Lane Productions

Music Direction

Tom Vendafreddo – Once (2018) – Paramount Theatre
Michael Mahler – Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (2018) – American Blues Theater
Doug Peck – Fun Home – Victory Gardens Theater
Abdul Hamid Royal – Five Guys Named Moe (2017) – Court Theatre
Jermaine Hill – Memphis (2018) – Porchlight Music Theatre

Original Music in a Play

Shawn Pfautsch and Matt Kahler – Hatfield & McCoy – The House Theatre of Chicago
Christopher Kriz – Mary’s Wedding (2018) – First Folio TheatreJustin Ellington – Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) (2018) – Goodman Theatre
Andre Pluess – Hard Times (2017) – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Andre Pluess – Macbeth (2018) – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Artistic Specialization

Properties Design – Eleanor Kahn – Southern Gothic (2018) – Windy City Playhouse
Fight Choreography – Matt Hawkins – Macbeth (2018) – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Movement/Musical Staging – Christopher Carter – Five Guys Named Moe (2017) – Court Theatre
Movement Direction – Elizabeth Margolius – Machinal (2017) – Greenhouse Theater Center

Projection Design

Mark “Trace” Umstattd – De Troya (2018) – Halcyon Theatre
Joseph A. Burke – Women Laughing Alone with Salad (2018) – Theater Wit
Joseph A. Burke – Elf The Musical – Paramount Theatre
Stephan Mazurek – Lettie (2018) – Victory Gardens Theater
Anthony Churchill – Merrily We Roll Along (2018) – Porchlight Music Theatre (Ruth Page Center for the Arts)

Special Jeff Awards

The Jeff Awards celebrated its 50th anniversary by presenting four Special Awards to theatres thriving after more than 50 years:

Goodman Theatre

Founded in 1925: America’s “Best Regional Theatre”” (Time magazine), Goodman Theatre is a premier not-for-profit organization distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics (celebrated revivals include Falls’ productions of Death of a Salesman and The Iceman Cometh). Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, over 160 Jeff Awards and many more accolades. In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle” and its annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, which celebrates its 41st anniversary this season, has created a new generation of theatergoers. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production partner with local off-Loop theaters and national and international companies by providing financial support or physical space for a variety of artistic endeavors.

Drury Lane Theatre,

Founded in 1949: Under the leadership of President Kyle DeSantis and Artistic Director William Osetek, Drury Lane Theatre is a major force in the Chicagoland theatre scene, presenting world-class productions in collaboration with some of the nation’s leading actors, artists, writers, and directors. Drury Lane has had locations in Evergreen Park (which operated for 45 years, closing in 2003), Water Tower in Chicago, and its current operation in Oak Brook for the past 30 years. Collectively at its locations, Drury Lane has staged more than 2,000 productions and has been nominated for more than 350 Joseph Jefferson Awards. Drury Lane is committed to breathing new life into beloved classics and introducing audiences to exciting new works. Drury Lane in Oakbrook alone has employed more than 7,500 actors and 10,000 musicians, designers, and technicians to entertain upwards of nine million audience members. Originally founded by Anthony DeSantis, Drury Lane Theatre remains a family-run organization known for producing breathtaking Broadway classics, top-rated musicals, bold new works, hilarious comedies, and unforgettable concert events.

Court Theatre

Founded in 1955: Court Theatre was founded in 1955 as an amateur outdoor summer theatre at the University of Chicago. Nicholas Rudall, a Professor of Classics at the University, established the theatre as a professional company in 1975. As Founding Artistic Director, Rudall first conceived Court’s mission of translating and adapting classic texts for contemporary audiences. Today, Court Theatre is the professional theatre of the University of Chicago, dedicated to innovation, inquiry, intellectual engagement, and community service. Court now serves 50,000 patrons and 4,000 high school students each season through its main stage productions and its community partner and education initiatives. Charles Newell, the Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, has led Court since 1994; Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre joined the theatre in 2018. In 2013, Court established the Center for Classic Theatre at the University of Chicago, dedicating the theatre to an expanded mission: curating large-scale, interdisciplinary theatrical experiences that fully access and utilize the extraordinary intellectual resources that surround the theatre. Dynamic collaborations with University of Chicago faculty and with community partners on Chicago’s South Side enable Court to re-examine classic texts in ways that pose enduring and provocative questions about the human experience. Court Theatre aims to make a lasting contribution to American classic theatre by commissioning new works—including new translations and adaptations—and by continuing to explore, expand, and re-define the canon of classic texts.

Second City

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 is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards and honors. Opening night judges include not only Jeff members but also the team of Artistic and Technical theatre volunteers (the “A/T Team”) which is comprised of artistic directors, producers, directors from major Chicago theatres, actors and designers. 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 judges 300 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.