58th Equity Jeff Awards Winners (2026)
The 58th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity theaters were announced Monday, September 14, 2026 at the Harris Theater. The program was directed by Ray Frewen and music directed by Michael Mahler and co-hosted by Michelle Duffy and James Earl Jones II. 72 productions became Jeff of the 85 opening nites judged from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. There were 209 nominees in 37 categories and 41 award recipients from 30 producing entities recommended.
Writers Theater and Raven Theater were the big winners of the nite, each taking home five awards. Writers gave five to Leopoldstadt; Raven split five between Octet and Oak. A Red Orchid Theatre’s Birds of North America, Raven’s Octet and Tiwary Entertainment Group’s short-run The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt each won four awards.
For background on how the Jeffs work, see our Jeff Awards guide. Official nominees and winners: jeffawards.org.
58th Equity Jeff Award Recipients
Production – Play (Large)
“Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Production – Play (Midsize)
“Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Production – Musical (Large) – The Susan and Harlan Haimes Award
“A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
Production – Musical (Midsize)
“Octet” – Raven Theatre
Production – Revue
“Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Director – Play (Large) – The Michael Maggio Award
Carey Perloff – “Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Director – Play (Midsize)
Kirsten Fitzgerald – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Director – Musical (Large)
Trent Stork – “Come From Away” – Paramount Theatre
Director – Musical (Midsize)
Keira Fromm – “Octet” – Raven Theatre
Director – Revue
Daryl D. Brooks – “Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Ensemble – Play
“Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Ensemble – Musical
“Octet” – Raven Theatre
Performer in a Principal Role – Play
Al’Jaleel McGhee – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” – Goodman Theatre
Gwendolyn Whiteside – “Come Back, Little Sheba” – American Blues Theater
Performer in a Principal Role – Musical
Cody Combs – “Dear Evan Hansen” – Paramount Theatre
Allsun O’Malley – “South Pacific” – Paramount Theatre
Performer in a Revue
Maxel McLoud Schingen – “Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Solo Performance
Kelvin Roston, Jr. – “Twisted Melodies” – Northlight Theatre
Performer in a Supporting Role – Play
Audrey Francis – “Catch As Catch Can” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Wesley Taylor – “Holiday” – Goodman Theatre
Performer in a Supporting Role – Musical
Veronica Garza – “A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
Claudia Quesada – “On Your Feet!” – Drury Lane Productions
New Work – The Libby Adler Mages Award
Marco Antonio Rodriguez – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” – Goodman Theatre
James Sherman – “The First Lady of Television” – Northlight Theatre
Choreography
Luis Salgado – “On Your Feet!” – Drury Lane Productions
Original Music in a Play
Ethan Korvne – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Music Direction
Nick Sula – “Octet” – Raven Theatre
Scenic Design (Large)
Walt Spangler – “Holiday” – Goodman Theatre
Scenic Design (Midsize)
Grant Sabin – “Things With Friends” – American Blues Theater
Lighting Design (Large)
Anna Watson – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater (co-production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Lighting Design (Midsize)
Eric Watkins – “Oak” – Raven Theatre
Costume Design (Large)
Alex Jaeger – “Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Costume Design (Midsize)
Aly Greaves Amidei – “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Sound Design (Large)
Gareth Fry – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater (co-production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Sound Design (Midsize)
Ethan Korvne – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Projection Design
Anthony Churchill – “Dear Evan Hansen” – Paramount Theatre
Artistic Specialization
Chris Fisher – Illusion Design – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater (co-production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre Company)
Tom Watson – Hair, Wig and Makeup Design – “Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Short Run Production
“The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group
Short Run Production – Performer
Brendan Hunt – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group
Short Run Production – New Work
Brendan Hunt – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group
Short Run Production – Design
Nick Solyom – Lighting Design – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group
Special Award
Black Ensemble Theater
Impresario Award (Excellence in Stage Management)
Caitlin I. Quinn – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Multiple Award Recipients
By theater:
Raven Theatre – 5
Writers Theatre – 5
Goodman Theatre – 4
Paramount Theatre – 4
A Red Orchid Theatre – 4
Tiwary Entertainment Group – 4
Black Ensemble Theater – 3
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (co-production) – 3
American Blues Theater – 2
Drury Lane Productions – 2
Marriott Theatre – 2
Northlight Theatre – 2
By production:
“Leopoldstadt” – 5
“Birds of North America” – 4
“Octet” – 4
“The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – 4
“Men of Soul” – 3
“Paranormal Activity” – 3
“Dear Evan Hansen” – 2
“Holiday” – 2
“A Little Night Music” – 2
“On Your Feet!” – 2