58th Equity Jeff Awards Nominees (2026)

September 7, 2026 Chicago Critic

The 58th Equity Jeff Award nominations cover the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 Equity season. Nominees will be honored at a ceremony on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Harris Theater.

See the full list of 58th Equity Jeff Awards winners, our Jeff Awards guide, and the official nominees at jeffawards.org/equity-nominees.

58th Equity Jeff Award Nominees

Production – Musical – Large (The Susan and Harlan Haimes Award)
“A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
“As You Like It” – Writers Theatre
“Come From Away” – Paramount Theatre
“Dear Evan Hansen” – Paramount Theatre
“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” – Paramount Theatre
“On Your Feet!” – Drury Lane Productions
“South Pacific” – Paramount Theatre

Production – Musical – Midsize
“Octet” – Raven Theatre

Production – Play – Large
“Amadeus” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“An Enemy of the People” – TimeLine Theatre Company
“Covenant” – Goodman Theatre
“Eureka Day” – TimeLine Theatre Company (Chestnut)
“Holiday” – Goodman Theatre
“Job” – Writers Theatre
“Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” – Goodman Theatre
“Much Ado About Nothing” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” – Goodman Theatre

Production – Play – Midsize
“Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
“Come Back, Little Sheba” – American Blues Theater
“Oak” – Raven Theatre
“Pivot” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
“The Ally” – Theater Wit

Production – Revue
“Always…Patsy Cline” – American Blues Theater
“Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“Pandemonium, Please Hold” – The Second City

Ensemble – Musical or Revue
“A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
“As You Like It” – Writers Theatre
“Come From Away” – Paramount Theatre
“Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“Octet” – Raven Theatre
“Pandemonium, Please Hold” – The Second City
“Rome Sweet Rome” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Ensemble – Play
“Covenant” – Goodman Theatre
“Eureka Day” – TimeLine Theatre Company (Chestnut)
“Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” – Goodman Theatre
“The Angel Next Door” – Northlight Theatre
“The Merry Wives of Windsor” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“Things With Friends” – American Blues Theater

New Work (The Libby Adler Mages Award)
Richard Greenberg – “Holiday” – Goodman Theatre
Lauren Gunderson – “Billie Jean” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Hanna Kime – “The Targeted” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Alex Lubischer – “Pivot” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Tarell Alvin McCraney – “Windfall” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Q Brothers Collective – “Rome Sweet Rome” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Marco Antonio Rodriguez – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” – Goodman Theatre
James Sherman – “The First Lady of Television” – Northlight Theatre

Director – Play – Midsize
Mikael Burke – “Oak” – Raven Theatre
Connie Canaday Howard – “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Elyse Dolan – “Come Back, Little Sheba” – American Blues Theater
Kirsten Fitzgerald – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Hallie Gordon – “Pivot” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Jeremy Wechsler – “The Ally” – Theater Wit

Director – Play – Large (The Michael Maggio Award)
Felix Barrett – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Co-Production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Phillip Breen – “The Merry Wives of Windsor” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Selina Cadell – “Much Ado About Nothing” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
David Esbjornson – “Job” – Writers Theatre
Robert Falls – “Amadeus” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Robert Falls – “Holiday” – Goodman Theatre
Wendy Mateo – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” – Goodman Theatre
Ron OJ Parson – “An Enemy of the People” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Carey Perloff – “Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Malkia Stampley – “Covenant” – Goodman Theatre

Director – Musical – Midsize
Keira Fromm – “Octet” – Raven Theatre

Director – Musical – Large
Braden Abraham – “As You Like It” – Writers Theatre
Nick Bowling – “A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
Jessica Fisch – “Dear Evan Hansen” – Paramount Theatre
Stephen Schellhardt – “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” – Paramount Theatre
Trent Stork – “Come From Away” – Paramount Theatre

Director – Revue
Carisa Barreca – “Pandemonium, Please Hold” – The Second City
Daryl D. Brooks – “Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Harmony France – “Always…Patsy Cline” – American Blues Theater

Performer in a Principal Role – Musical
Gaby Albo – “On Your Feet!” – Drury Lane Productions
Cody Combs – “Dear Evan Hansen” – Paramount Theatre
Jackson Evans – “Little Shop of Horrors” – Marriott Theatre
Hershey Felder – “Hershey Felder’s Rachmaninoff and the Tsar” – Writers Theatre
Phoebe Gonzalez – “As You Like It” – Writers Theatre
JJ Niemann – “Catch Me If You Can” – Marriott Theatre
Allsun O’Malley – “South Pacific” – Paramount Theatre
Maya Rowe – “Little Shop of Horrors” – Marriott Theatre
Alex Syiek – “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” – Paramount Theatre

Performer in a Principal Role – Play
Will Allan – “An Enemy of the People” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Mark Bedard – “Much Ado About Nothing” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
David Darrow – “Amadeus” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Christopher Donahue – “Job” – Writers Theatre
Rae Gray – “Job” – Writers Theatre
Francis Guinan – “Ashland Avenue” – Goodman Theatre
Lenin D’Anthony Izquierdo – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” – Goodman Theatre
Chilina Kennedy – “Billie Jean” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Al’Jaleel McGhee – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” – Goodman Theatre
Jeff Perry – “The Dance of Death” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Michael Potts – “Windfall” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Cassidy Slaughter-Mason – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Gwendolyn Whiteside – “Come Back, Little Sheba” – American Blues Theater

Performer in a Supporting Role – Musical
Danielle Davis – “Rome Sweet Rome” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chad Doreck – “44 – The Musical” – Produced by Eli Bauman and Monica Saunders-Weinberg (Hana Black Productions), in association with Anthony “Brew” Brewster, Steve McKeever (Hidden Beach Recordings), Conrad Bauer, and Shanice & Kerry Gordon
Michelle Duffy – “Sister Act” – Drury Lane Productions
Veronica Garza – “A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
Nick Offerman – “Iceboy!” – Goodman Theatre
Claudia Quesada – “On Your Feet!” – Drury Lane Productions
Sarah Stiles – “Iceboy!” – Goodman Theatre

Performer in a Supporting Role – Play
Alana Arenas – “Windfall” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Audrey Francis – “Catch as Catch Can” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Performer in a Revue
Liz Chidester – “Always…Patsy Cline” – American Blues Theater

Solo Performance
Kelvin Roston, Jr. – “Twisted Melodies” – Northlight Theatre

Scenic Design – Large
Fly Davis – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Co-Production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Kevin Depinet – “Ashland Avenue” – Goodman Theatre
Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “South Pacific” – Paramount Theatre
Collette Pollard – “The Dance of Death” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Collette Pollard – “Gaslight” – Northlight Theatre
Walt Spangler – “Holiday” – Goodman Theatre

Scenic Design – Midsize
Morgan Laszlo – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Lauren M. Nichols – “Wish You Were Here” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Shayna Patel – “Come Back, Little Sheba” – American Blues Theater
Jacqueline and Richard Penrod – “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Grant Sabin – “Things With Friends” – American Blues Theater
Joe Schermoly – “The Ally” – Theater Wit

Costume Design – Midsize
Aly Greaves Amidei – “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Delena Bradley – “Eelpout!” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Kristy Leigh Hall – “Wish You Were Here” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Lily Walls – “Always…Patsy Cline” – American Blues Theater
Anna Wooden – “Top Girls” – Raven Theatre

Costume Design – Large
Raquel Adorno – “Gaslight” – Northlight Theatre
Mara Blumenfeld – “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” – Paramount Theatre
Sally Dolembo – “A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
Amanda Gladu – “Amadeus” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Alex Jaeger – “Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Yvonne L Miranda – “Big White Fog” – Court Theatre
Sully Ratke – “Catch Me If You Can” – Marriott Theatre

Sound Design – Large
Eric Backus – “Twisted Melodies” – Northlight Theatre
Dee Etti-Williams – “Covenant” – Goodman Theatre
Gareth Fry – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Co-Production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre Company
André Pluess – “Two Sisters and a Piano” – Writers Theatre
Jane Shaw – “Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre

Sound Design – Midsize
Eric Backus – “Do Something Pretty” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Thomas Dixon – “Come Back, Little Sheba” – American Blues Theater
Ethan Korvne – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Ethan Korvne – “Oak” – Raven Theatre
Christopher Kriz and Hannah Kwak – “Octet” – Raven Theatre

Lighting Design – Large
Lee Fiskness – “The Dance of Death” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Greg Hofmann – “South Pacific” – Paramount Theatre
Gina Patterson – “Covenant” – Goodman Theatre
Anna Watson – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Co-Production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Hannah Wien – “White Rooster” – Lookingglass Theatre Company

Lighting Design – Midsize
Garrett Bell – “Birthday Candles” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Ben Carne – “Top Girls” – Raven Theatre
Maximo Grano De Oro – “Octet” – Raven Theatre
Eric Watkins – “Oak” – Raven Theatre
Levi J. Wilkins – “Things With Friends” – American Blues Theater

Choreography
Deidre Goodwin – “Catch Me If You Can” – Marriott Theatre
Deidre Goodwin – “Heartbreak Hotel” – Marriott Theatre
Tanji Harper – “Rome Sweet Rome” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Tiffany Krause and Annie Jo Fischer – “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” – Paramount Theatre
Luis Salgado – “On Your Feet!” – Drury Lane Productions

Music Direction
Kory Danielson – “Come From Away” – Paramount Theatre
Kory Danielson – “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” – Paramount Theatre
Michael Mahler – “Always…Patsy Cline” – American Blues Theater
Michael Mahler – “As You Like It” – Writers Theatre
Ryan T. Nelson – “A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
Robert Reddrick – “Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Nick Sula – “Octet” – Raven Theatre

Original Music in a Play
Lindsay Jones – “The Merry Wives of Windsor” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Ethan Korvne – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Christopher Kriz – “Eelpout!” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Christopher Kriz – “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Rick Sims – “The Dance of Death” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Eliza Thompson – “Much Ado About Nothing” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Projection Design
Stefania Bulbarella – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” – Goodman Theatre
Anthony Churchill – “Catch Me If You Can” – Marriott Theatre
Anthony Churchill – “Dear Evan Hansen” – Paramount Theatre
Rasean Davonté Johnson – “Mr. Wolf” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Mike Tutaj – “South Pacific” – Paramount Theatre

Artistic Specialization
Chris Fisher – Illusion Design – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Co-Production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Caitlin McLeod – Puppet Design – “White Rooster” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Jesse Mooney-Bullock – Puppet Design – “Little Shop of Horrors” – Marriott Theatre
Steph Paul – Movement Director – “Billie Jean” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Cassy Schillo – Properties Design – “Father of the Bride” – Drury Lane Productions
Tom Watson – Hair, Wig and Makeup Design – “Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre

Short Run Production – Production
“The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group (at Steppenwolf Theatre Company)

Short Run Production – New Work
Kurt McGinnis Brown – “The Official Biography” – Her Story Theater
Brendan Hunt – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group (at Steppenwolf Theatre Company)

Short Run Production – Performer
Aaron Costa Ganis – “Ava: The Secret Conversations” – Karl Sydow, Producer
Gary Houston – “The Official Biography” – Her Story Theater
Brendan Hunt – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group (at Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
Elizabeth McGovern – “Ava: The Secret Conversations” – Karl Sydow, Producer

Short Run Production – Design
Nick Solyom – Lighting Design – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group (at Steppenwolf Theatre Company)

Impresario Award – Excellence in Stage Management
Nikki Blue – Goodman Theatre

Source: jeffawards.org/equity-nominees.