49th Annual Jeff Awards

Paramount Theatre and Court Theatre Take Top Honors

at the 49th Annual Jeff Awards

The Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace hosted a star-studded evening November 6, 2017. The mega event was the 49th Annual Equity Jeff Awards. It celebrated a splendid season of incredible productions, by both large and midsize theatres. In addition to Jeff Awards going to productions, the actors, directors, playwrights and technical artists who made them all happen, a Special Achievement Award was presented to Steve Scott, honoring his career achievements that have inspired artistic collaboration, educational outreach and demonstrated dramatic creativity for more than 37 years.

The capacity audience enjoyed live performances from nominated musicals and video performances from nominated plays. The Equity Awards ceremony was directed by Michael Weber, with music direction by Linda Madonia and stage management by Colleen Tovar. Jack Phillips served as producer for the evening. Actors Mierka Girten and Anish Jethmalani emceed the event. Prior to the ceremony those in attendance enjoyed a variety of delicious appetizers and beverages from two cash bars; following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a lavish Drury Lane buffet and dancing.

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, the Jeff Awards Committee is dedicated 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. Each year, the Jeff Awards Committee evaluates over 250 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the Jeff Awards Non-Equity Wing was established in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre. The next Non-Equity awards ceremony will be held at the Athenaeum Theatre on June 11, 2018.

With Jim Corti and the Paramount Theatre in Aurora earning the majority of the honors, their production of “Sweeney Todd” took home the most awards. Paramount was followed by the Court Theatre and Drury Lane. The winners of last night’s Equity Jeff Awards were, as follows:

 

2017 Equity Jeff Award Recipients

PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE

“Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Court Theatre

PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE

“Born Yesterday” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – LARGE

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” – Paramount Theatre

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – MIDSIZE

“The Scottsboro Boys” – Porchlight Music Theatre

PRODUCTION – REVUE

“Smokey Joe’s Café” – Drury Lane Productions

DIRECTOR – PLAY

Ron OJ Parson – “Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Court Theatre

DIRECTOR – MUSICAL

Jim Corti – “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber

of Fleet Street” – Paramount Theatre

ENSEMBLE

“East Texas Hot Links” – Writers Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY

Alex Weisman – “Hand to God” – Victory Gardens Theater

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL

Paul-Jordan Jansen – “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber

of Fleet Street” – Paramount Theatre

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY

Angela Ingersoll – “End of the Rainbow” – Porchlight Music Theatre

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL

Kathy Voytko – “The Bridges of Madison County” – The Marriott Theatre

ACTOR IN A REVUE

Austin Cook – “Marry Me a Little” – Porchlight Music Theatre

ACTRESS IN A REVUE

Michelle Lauto – “Spamilton” – The Royal George Theatre Cabaret

SOLO PERFORMANCE

Linda Reiter – “Rose” – The Greenhouse Theater Center

in association with Forum Productions

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY

Marton Csokas – “Uncle Vanya” – Goodman Theatre

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL

Jonathan Butler-Duplessis – “Parade” – Writers Theatre

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY

Kymberly Mellen – “The Columnist” – American Blues Theater

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL

E. Faye Butler – “Chicago The Musical” – Drury Lane Productions

NEW PLAY

Michael Cristofer – “Man in the Ring” – Court Theatre

Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon – “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley”

• Northlight Theatre

Antoinette Nwandu – “Pass Over” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

CHOREOGRAPHY

Matthew Crowle – “Crazy for You” – Drury Lane Productions

ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY

Orbert Davis – “Paradise Blue” – TimeLine Theatre Company

MUSIC DIRECTION

Tom Vendafreddo – “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

• Paramount Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE

Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” – Paramount Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN – MIDSIZE

Joe Schermoly – “Naperville” – Theater Wit

LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE

Nick Belley and Jesse Klug – “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber

of Fleet Street” – Paramount Theatre

LIGHTING DESIGN – MIDSIZE

Cat Davis – “The River Bride” – Halcyon Theatre

COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE

Theresa Ham – “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” – Paramount Theatre

COSTUME DESIGN – MIDSIZE

Kristy Leigh Hall – “Pygmalion” – Remy Bumppo Theatre

SOUND DESIGN – LARGE

André Pluess – “Man in the Ring” – Court Theatre

SOUND DESIGN – MIDSIZE

Grover Hollway – “The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz”

• The House Theatre of Chicago

PROJECTION DESIGN

Mike Tutaj – “Objects in the Mirror” – Goodman Theatre

PUPPET DESIGN

Jesse Mooney-Bullock – “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” – Paramount Theatre

2016-2017 EQUITY STATISTICS

In its 49th Equity season, August 1, 2016 through July 31, 2017, the Jeff Awards judged the opening nights of 159 productions from 62 producing organizations.  Of these, 123 productions were “Jeff Recommended”, which made them eligible for award nominations.

MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS

THEATRES

Paramount Theatre

8

Court Theatre

4

Drury Lane Productions

3

Goodman Theatre

2

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

2

Writers Theatre

2

 

 

PRODUCTIONS

 

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

5

“Disney’s The Little Mermaid”

3

“Blues for an Alabama Sky”

2

“Man in the Ring”