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Theater News: 2017 Non-Equity Jeff Awards Celebrate Best of Chicago Theater
CHICAGO – The 44th edition of the Non-Equity Jeff Awards were given out on June 5th, 2017, at what insiders call “the theater prom.” The event honors the non-union smaller or “storefront” theater companies, and their efforts to produce quality stage work. Hosted in grand style by Alexis Roston and Lillian Castillo, the recipients of the top play was “At the Table” by the Broken Nose Theatre and top musical was “High Fidelity” by the Refuge Theatre Project.
The night was a raucous affair at Chicago’s Anthenaum Theatre, as the hosts kept the party going between recognitions. Excerpts (Plays) and songs (Musicals) were presented for each of the top ten nominated shows. A Special Award for Theatrical and Charitable Contributions was given to David Cerda, acknowledging his long career and (as the inscription on the award said) thanking him “… for ‘Dragging’ the Chicago Theatre world into your ‘Hell in a Handbag’ with humor, heart, hilarity and humanity.”
David Cerda of “Hell in a Handbag” Accepts His Special Jeff Award
Photo credit: Johnny Knight Photography for JeffAwards.org
The Jeff Awards – both non-equity and equity – 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 are committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors.
The complete list of 2017 Jeff Award recipients are as follows…
PRODUCTION… PLAY: “At the Table” - Broken Nose Theatre
PRODUCTION… MUSICAL: “High Fidelity” - Refuge Theatre Project
ENSEMBLE: “At the Table” - Broken Nose Theatre
DIRECTOR… PLAY: Spenser Davis - “At the Table” - Broken Nose Theatre
DIRECTOR… MUSICAL: Christopher Pazdernik - “High Fidelity” - Refuge Theatre Project
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE… PLAY: TIE! George Seegebrecht - “Hauptmann” - City Lit Theater Company & Gage Wallace - “Taste” - Red Theater Chicago
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE… MUSICAL: Henry McGinniss - “Bat Boy: The Musical” - Griffin Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE… PLAY: Amy Johnson - “Falling” - Interrobang Theatre Project
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE… MUSICAL: Colette Todd - “Next to Normal” - BoHo Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE… PLAY: Justin Tsatsa - “Falling” - Interrobang Theatre Project
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE… MUSICAL: Scott Danielson - “Urinetown” - BoHo Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE… PLAY: Echaka Agba - “At the Table” - Broken Nose Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE… MUSICAL: Veronica Garza - “Tonya and Nancy: The Rock Opera” - Underscore Theatre Company
SOLO PERFORMANCE: Philip Dawkins - “The Happiest Place on Earth” - Greenhouse Theater Center and Sideshow Theatre Company
ACTOR/ACTRESS IN A REVUE: Colette Todd (Angela) - “Honky Tonk Angels” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
NEW PLAY: TIE! Ike Holter - “Prowess” - Jackalope Theatre Company & Alex Lubischer - “Bobbie Clearly” - Steep Theatre Company
NEW MUSICAL: Robert Kauzlaric and George Howe - “Northanger Abbey” - Lifeline Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY: Aubrey Adams - “Urinetown” - BoHo Theatre
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY: Natasha Bogojevich - “Gentle” - TUTA Theatre Chicago
MUSIC DIRECTION: Jeremy Ramey - “The Most Happy Fella” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN: Michelle Manni - “High Fidelity” - Refuge Theatre Project
LIGHTING DESIGN: Kevin D. Gawley - “A Wrinkle in Time” - Lifeline Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN: John Nasca - “Priscilla: Queen of the Desert” - Pride Films and Plays
SOUND DESIGN: Stephen Ptacek - “How We Got On” - Haven Theatre Company
PROJECTION DESIGN: Anthony Churchill - “The Body of an American” - Stage Left Theatre
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY: Ryan Bourque - “Prowess” - Jackalope Theatre Company
SPECIAL JEFF AWARD FOR THEATRICAL AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS: David Cerda - “Hell in a Handbag Productions”
By PATRICK McDONALD |