The Jeff Awards announced 106 nominations in 23 categories for Non-Equity Jeff Awards, which honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract, for productions that opened between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2011. The Jeff Awards judged the opening nights of 146 productions offered by 62 non-Equity producing organizations and recommended 62 shows for further judging, making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations in all categories. A record 32 theatre companies received nominations.
The Hypocrites, with a bold season of 3 completely different types of productions in 3 rental locations, earned 14 nods, the most of any theatre company. "Cabaret," a story set amid the rise of Nazism in 1930's Germany, received 7; "The Pirates of Penzance," with a Caribbean take on the Gilbert and Sullivan standard, had 4; and "No Exit," Sartre's dramatic exploration of hell, had 3.
The Glenwood Avenue Arts District in Chicago's far north Rogers Park neighborhood continued its recent streak of garnering a large percentage of nominations. Among producing organizations, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in Association with Michael James received 12 and Lifeline Theatre received 9. Top-nominated productions for Theo Ubique included "Cats," with 8, staged on a platform in a storefront and 2 each for their 2 long-running revues, "Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein" and "Sweet and Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen." Lifeline's new adaptation of "Neverwhere," based on the acclaimed BBC TV series "London Below," earned 7 nominations.
Redtwist Theatre, reflecting a season of critically acclaimed and extended shows, received 7 total nominations, including Production-Play nods for "Lobby Hero," about the clash between honesty and loyalty; for "Man From Nebraska," Tracy Lett's play about a mid-life crisis of faith; and for Albee's "A Delicate Balance." The hit "Boojum! Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll," based on Carroll's epic poem "The Hunting of the Snark," by Chicago DCA Theater, Caffeine Theatre, and Chicago Opera Vanguard had 6 nominations. Griffin Theatre received a total of 6, including 3 for its hit production of the classic "Stage Door" and 2 for the musical "Company." Reflecting an ever-widening base of talented artists now working in Chicago, no individual received more than 2 nominations.
The 38th Anniversary Non-Equity Jeff Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday, June 6, 2011, at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage, Chicago, IL. Doors open for a cash bar at 6:00 p.m., with a light buffet at 6:30 p.m., and the presentation ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door. A group rate of $35 is available for parties of 10 or more. Festive cocktail attire is suggested, and the public is cordially invited. Tickets may be purchased on-line with a credit card at www.jeffawards.org or by mail.
The Jeff Awards has been honoring outstanding theatre artists annually since it was established in 1968. With 50 members representing a wide variety of backgrounds in theatre, the Jeff Awards is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors. 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. The Jeff Awards evaluates over 250 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies annually. 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. The next Equity Awards Ceremony, honoring productions presented under union contracts, will be held on Monday, November 7, 2011, at the Drury Lane Oakbrook in Oakbrook Terrace.
2011 Non-Equity Jeff Award Nominees
PRODUCTION - PLAY
"A Delicate Balance" - Redtwist Theatre
"Lobby Hero" - Redtwist Theatre
"Stage Door" - Griffin Theatre Company
"The Love of the Nightingale" - Red Tape Theatre
"Man From Nebraska" - Redtwist Theatre
"The Master and Margarita" - Strawdog Theatre Company
PRODUCTION - MUSICAL
"Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
"Boojum! Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll" - Chicago DCA Theater, Caffeine Theatre, and Chicago Opera Vanguard
"Cabaret" - The Hypocrites
"Cats" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James
"The Pirates of Penzance" - The Hypocrites
DIRECTOR - PLAY
Louis Contey - "The Master and Margarita" - Strawdog Theatre Company
Zeljko Djukic - "Baal" - TUTA Theatre Chicago
Keira Fromm - "Lobby Hero" - Redtwist Theatre
Jimmy McDermott - "The Three Faces of Doctor Crippen" - The Strange Tree Group
James Palmer - "The Love of the Nightingale" - Red Tape Theatre
Robin Witt - "Stage Door" - Griffin Theatre Company
DIRECTOR - MUSICAL
Brenda Didier - "Cats" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James
Sean Graney - "The Pirates of Penzance" - The Hypocrites
Matt Hawkins - "Cabaret" - The Hypocrites
Jimmy McDermott - "Boojum! Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll" - Chicago DCA Theater, Caffeine Theatre, and Chicago Opera Vanguard
P. Marston Sullivan - "Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
ENSEMBLE
"Boojum! Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll" Chicago DCA Theater, Caffeine Theatre, and Chicago Opera Vanguard
"Cats" Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James Ubique
"Shakespeare's King Phycus" The Strange Tree Group i/a/ w The Lord Chamberlain's Men
"Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein" Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James
"The Master and Margarita" Strawdog Theatre Company
"The Pirates of Penzance" The Hypocrites
"The Three Faces of Doctor Crippen" The Strange Tree Group
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY
Luke Hamilton (Sherlock Holmes) - "Sherlock Holmes, The Final Adventure" Idle Muse Theatre Company
Andrew Jessop (Jeff) - "Lobby Hero" - Redtwist Theatre
Chuck Spencer (Ken Carpenter) - "Man from Nebraska" - Redtwist Theatre
D'wayne Taylor (Mr. Zero) - "Brutal Imagination" - Caffeine Theatre
Ian Westerfer (Baal) - "Baal" - TUTA Theatre Chicago
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL
Alex Balestrieri (Dodgson / New Baker) - "Boojum! Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll" - Chicago DCA Theater, Caffeine Theatre, and Chicago Opera Vanguard
Andrew Mueller (Huckleberry Finn) - "Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
Benjamin Sprunger (Robert) - "Company" - Griffin Theatre Company
Jeremy Trager (Lewis Carroll) "Boojum! Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll" Chicago DCA Theater, Caffeine Theatre, and Chicago Opera Vanguard
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY
Brenda Barrie (Eva/Brenda) - "Memory" BackStage Theatre Company
Mechelle Moe (Terry Randall) - "Stage Door" - Griffin Theatre Company
Caroline Neff (Charlotte) - "A Brief History of Helen of Troy" Steep Theatre Company
Caroline Neff (Rachel) - "Port" - Griffin Theatre Company
Joy Thorbjornsen- Coates (Fonsia Dorsey) - "The Gin Game" - Lincoln Square Theatre
Nicole Wiesner (Marie) - "The First Ladies" - Trap Door Theatre
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL
Jessie Fisher (The Emcee) - "Cabaret" - The Hypocrites
Jennifer T. Grubb (Jacky Samson) - "Oh, Boy!" - City Lit Theater Company
Anita Hoffman (Miss Mona Stangley) - "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" -
Circle Theatre
Lindsay Leopold (Sally Bowles) - "Cabaret" - The Hypocrites
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY
Brian Parry (John) - "Shining City" - Redtwist Theatre
Vance Smith (Lenny) - "The Homecoming" Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company
Jon Steinhagen (Big Daddy) - "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" - Raven Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL
Courtney Crouse (Tom Sawyer) - "Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
Noah Sullivan (Sheriff Earl Dodd) - "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" - Circle Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTNG ROLE - PLAY
Nora Fiffer (Maggie) - "After the Fall" - Eclipse Theatre Company
Lorraine Freund (Mother Superior) - "Agnes of God" - Hubris Productions
Darci Nalepa (Steph) - "reasons to be pretty" - Profiles Theatre
Sarah Pavlak (Agnes) - "Agnes of God" - Hubris Productions
Amanda Powell (Rosemary) - "Brainpeople" - UrbanTheater Company
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL OR REVUE
Kate Harris (Fräulein Schneider) - "Cabaret" - The Hypocrites
Patti Roeder (Penelope Budd) - "Oh, Boy!" - City Lit Theater Company
Bethany Thomas - "Sweet and Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James
Dana Tretta (Marta) - "Company" - Griffin Theatre Company
NEW WORK
Emily Schwartz - "The Three Faces of Doctor Crippen" - The Strange Tree Group
Robert Tenges - "People We Know" - the side project
Tom Willmorth - "Shakespeare's King Phycus" - The Strange Tree Group i/a/w The
Lord Chamberlain's Men
NEW ADAPTATION
Christina Calvit - "Wuthering Heights" - Lifeline Theatre
Robert Kauzlaric - "Neverwhere" - Lifeline Theatre
Carla Stillwell - "Tad in 5th City" - MPAACT
CHOREOGRAPHY
Kevin Bellie - "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"- Circle Theatre
Brenda Didier - "Cats" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James
Marissa Mortiz - "Cabaret" - The Hypocrites
Myah Shein - "The Love of the Nightingale" - Red Tape Theatre
ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Mikhail Fiksel - "Neverwhere" - Lifeline Theatre
Chris Gingrich, Henry Riggs, Thea Lux, and Tara Sissom - "That Sordid Little Story" - The New Colony
Josh Schmidt - "Baal" - TUTA Theatre Chicago
MUSIC DIRECTION
Steve Carson - "Sweet and Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen" - Theo Ubique Cabaret
Theatre i/a/w Michael James
Austin Cook - "Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James
Nicholas Davio - "Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
Ethan Deppe - "Cats" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James
Andrea Velis Simon & Myron Silberstein - "Boojum! Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll" - Chicago DCA Theater, Caffeine Theatre, and Chicago Opera Vanguard
SCENIC DESIGN
William Anderson - "Dead Letter Office" - Dog & Pony Theatre Company i/a/w Chicago DCA Theater
Tom Burch - "No Exit" - The Hypocrites
Alan Donahue - "Neverwhere" - Lifeline Theatre
Bob Knuth - "The Philadelphia Story" - Circle Theatre
Ray Toler - "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" - Raven Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN
Kevin D. Gawley - "Neverwhere" - Lifeline Theatre
Jared Moore - "No Exit" - The Hypocrites
Jared Moore - "The Pirates of Penzance" -The Hypocrites
Keith Parham - "Baal" - TUTA Theatre Chicago
Eric Van Tassell - "The Ghost Sonata" - Oracle Productions
COSTUME DESIGN
Matt Guthier - "Cats" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James
Branimira Ivanova - "Wuthering Heights" - Lifeline Theatre
Elizabeth Powell Wislar - "Neverwhere" - Lifeline Theatre
Alison Siple - "Cabaret" - The Hypocrites
SOUND DESIGN
Katherine M. Chavez - "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" - Raven Theatre
Mikhail Fiksel - "Neverwhere" - Lifeline Theatre
Kevin O'Donnell - "No Exit" - The Hypocrites
Miles Polaski - "The Love of the Nightingale" - Red Tape Theatre
Stephen Ptacek - "Dead Letter Office" - Dog & Pony Theatre Company i/a/w Chicago DCA Theater
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Glen Aduikas, Rick Buesing, Mike Fletcher, Salvador Garcia, Stuart Hecht, David
Hyman,Terry Jackson, Don Kerste, Bruce Phillips, Al Schilling, Lisi Stoessel,
Eddy Wright - Robot Design & Engineering - "Heddatron" - Sideshow Theatre Company
Aly Renee Amidei - Hair & Makeup Design - "The Master and Margarita" - Strawdog
Theatre Company
Michael Buoninconto - Wig Design - "Cats" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w
Michael James
Izumi Inaba - Makeup Design - "Cats" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James
Kimberly G. Morris - Puppet Design - "Neverwhere" - Lifeline Theatre
Brett Schneider - Magic Design - "The Master and Margarita" - Strawdog Theatre
Company
Claire Yearman - Fight Choreography - "The Love of the Nightingale" - Red Tape
Theatre
MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS
BY THEATRE COMPANY
The Hypocrites - 14
Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre i/a/w Michael James - 12
Lifeline Theatre - 9
Caffeine Theatre - 7 (6 i/a/w Chicago DCA Theater and Chicago Opera Vanguard)
Redtwist Theatre - 7
Griffin Theatre Company - 6
Bohemian Theatre Ensemble - 5
Red Tape Theatre - 5
The Strange Tree Group - 5 (2 i/a/w The Lord Chamberlain's Men)
Strawdog Theatre Company- 5
Circle Theatre - 4
TUTA Theatre Chicago - 4
Raven Theatre - 3
City Lit Theater Company - 2
Dog & Pony Theatre Company i/a/w Chicago DCA Theater - 2
Hubris Productions 2
BY PRODUCTION
"Cats" - 8
"Cabaret" - 7
"Neverwhere" - 7
"Boojum! Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll" - 6
"Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - 5
"The Love of the Nightingale" - 5
"The Master and Margarita" - 5
"Baal" - 4
"The Pirates of Penzance" - 4
"The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" - 3
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" - 3
"Lobby Hero" - 3
"No Exit" - 3
"Stage Door" - 3
"The Three Faces of Doctor Crippen" - 3
"Agnes of God" - 2
"Company" - 2
"Dead Letter Office" - 2
"Man from Nebraska" - 2
"Oh, Boy!" - 2
"Shakespeare's King Phycus" - 2
"Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein" - 2
"Sweet and Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen" - 2
"Wuthering Heights" - 2
BY INDIVIDUAL
Brenda Didier - 2
Mikhail Fiksel - 2
Jimmy McDermott - 2
Jared Moore - 2
Caroline Neff - 2