Live From Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace!

The 48th Annual AEA Jeff Awards

Monday evening, October 17, 2016, the Joseph Jefferson Awards once again honored the outstanding theatre artists in Chicago for the previous year. It was a star-studded event, with cocktails and appetizers at 6:00, the ceremony, production numbers and award presentations from 7:00-9:45 and a sumptuous late night buffet that followed. Recipients, participants and the press attended, all dressed to the nines and bubbling over with joy and pride for Chicago’s finest.

The 55+ members of the Jeff Awards committee, presently under the direction of Chairman David Liesse, has been celebrating the vitality of area theatre by honoring excellence in Chicago since 1968. The organization proudly proclaims that “the Awards fosters 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 members evaluate over 250 productions annually, also honoring the best in non-Equity theatre in a separate celebration held earlier in the year.

Last night’s festivities were hosted by talented emcees and AEA actors Janet Ulrich Brooks and James Earl Jones II. Nicole Lambert, Demi Zaino and Jos N. Banks presented the beautiful Jeff statuettes to the recipients, between the live and recorded highlights presented from the past year’s best musical productions.

A special award honored Writers Theatre Artistic Director, Michael Halberstam, who received this accolade with his usual articulate dignity and tasteful good humor. In addition, this year, the Jeff Award for “Production—Musical—Large” was renamed the Dr. Harlan Haimes Award, in memory of the late avid supporter of Chicago theatre. His wife Susan and two daughters presented this award for the first time to the winning theatre.

The AEA Jeff Awards went to the following Chicago theatre artists:

PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE

“The Tempest” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE

“United Flight 232” – The House Theatre of Chicago

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – LARGE

“West Side Story” – Paramount Theatre

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – MIDSIZE

“Dreamgirls” – Porchlight Music Theatre

DIRECTOR – PLAY

Aaron Posner and Teller – “The Tempest” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

DIRECTOR – MUSICAL

Rachel Rockwell – “Ride the Cyclone” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

ENSEMBLE

“United Flight 232” – The House Theatre of Chicago

ACTOR IN A PRINICPAL ROLE – PLAY

Dexter Zollicoffer – “Charm” – Northlight Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL

Nathaniel Stampley – “Man of La Mancha” – Marriott Theatre

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY

Mary Beth Fisher – “Domesticated” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL

Donica Lynn – “Dreamgirls” – Porchlight Music Theatre

ACTOR OR ACTRESS IN A REVUE

Shari Addison – “Dynamite Divas” – Black Ensemble Theater

SOLO PERFORMANCE

Brian Quijada – “Where Did We Sit on the Bus?” – Teatro Vista in association with the

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Victory Gardens Theater

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY

Mike Nussbaum – “The Price” – TimeLine Theatre Company

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL

Eric Lewis – “Dreamgirls” –  Porchlight Music Theatre

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY

Jacqueline Williams – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Victory Gardens Theater

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL

Mary Antonini – “West Side Story” – Paramount Theatre

NEW WORK

Philip Dawkins – “Charm” – Northlight Theatre

John Reeger, Julie Shannon and Michael Mahler – “The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes”

– Mercury Theater Chicago

NEW ADAPTATION

Robert Falls and Seth Bockley – “2666” – Goodman Theatre

CHOREOGRAPHY

William Carlos Angulo – “West Side Story” – Paramount Theatre

ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY

Diego Colon and Christopher Kriz – “The Grapes of Wrath” – The Gift Theatre

MUSIC DIRECTION

Ryan T. Nelson – “Man of La Mancha” – Marriott Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE

Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “Deathtrap” – Drury Lane Productions

SCENIC DESIGN – MIDSIZE

Sarah E. Ross – “The Rainmaker” – American Blues Theater

LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE

Thom Weaver – “The Tempest” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

LIGHTING DESIGN – MIDSIZE

Mike Durst – “Adding Machine: A Musical” – The Hypocrites

COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE

Catherine Zuber – “War Paint” – Goodman Theatre

COSTUME DESIGN – MIDSIZE

Bill Morey – “Dreamgirls” – Porchlight Music Theatre

SOUND DESIGN – LARGE

André Pluess – “Treasure Island” – Lookingglass Theatre Company and

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

SOUND DESIGN – MIDSIZE

Brian Quijada – “Where Did We Sit on the Bus?” – Teatro Vista in association with the

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Victory Gardens Theater

PROJECTIONS / VIDEO DESIGN

Shawn Sagady – “2666” – Goodman Theatre

ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION

Johnny Thompson – Magic Design – “The Tempest” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

2015-2016 EQUITY STATISTICS

In its 48^th Equity season, August 1, 2015 through July 31, 2016, the Jeff Awards Committee judged the opening nights of 158 productions from 58 producing organizations.  Of these, 112 productions were “Jeff Recommended”, which made them eligible for award nominations.

MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS

THEATRES

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

5

Porchlight Music Theatre

4

Goodman Theatre

3

Paramount Theatre

3

The House Theatre of Chicago

2

Marriott Theatre

2

Northlight Theatre

2

Teatro Vista in association with the

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and

Special Events and Victory Gardens Theater

2

PRODUCTIONS

“Dreamgirls”

4

“The Tempest”

4

“West Side Story”

3

“2666”

2

“Charm”

2

“Man of La Mancha”

2

“United Flight 232”

2

“Where Did We Sit on the Bus?”

2

INDIVIDUALS

Brian Quijada

2

And with the 48th annual Jeff Awards now part of Chicago’s theatrical history, we’re off to another brand new, exciting season of artistry and entertainment in and around the Windy City. A big congratulations to all the nominees and recipients of last night’s awards, a special thanks to both the Jeff Committee and Drury Lane Oakbrook as well as to all the wonderful people involved.

Long Live Theatre!

Chicago Theatre and Concert Reviews would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners. Your tireless work and creativity make Chicago Theatre second to none.