45th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards June 11th at The Athenaeum Theatre Chicago

Here at ChiIL Live Shows we'd like to congratulate all the nominees. There is so much world class theatre in Chicago the competition is steep and we had the pleasure of seeing many phenomenal productions this year. We'll be back with a recap after Monday's award night. Kudos also to one of our long time favorites, Strawdog Theatre. They've been chosen to receive a 2018 Non-Equity Special Award, and it's not even a leg lamp! They are being honored for 30 years of collaboration as an innovative and provocative Ensemble. Strawdog has been dedicated to its mission of bringing audiences “the whole wide world in a little black box,” and is known for its enduring theatrical history. As described by the Ensemble itself, “When the Earth is destroyed by plague, war and famine there will still be cockroaches, Twinkies and Strawdog Theatre Company.”  Read more details on Strawdog below.

The 45th Annual Non–Equity Jeff Awards will be hosted by Veronica Garza and held on Monday, June 11, 2018, at the Athenaeum Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with several cash bars available, and the awards will start at 7:30 p.m. Following the show, cash bars will remain open and complimentary light bites will be available. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 on June 11. To purchase tickets, visit the Athenaeum website (http://athenaeumtheatre.org) or TodayTix app. A group rate of $40 is available for parties of 10 or more by calling the Athenaeum box office. 

Festive cocktail attire is suggested, and the public is cordially invited. TodayTix is an official sponsor of the 45th Annual Non–Equity Jeff Awards. 

For more information, contact Drew Blau, Non–Equity Wing Chair, at nonequitywing@jeffawards.org. Follow live tweets from the ceremony and behind the scenes at #jeffawards. 

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 (including producers, directors, actors, playwrights, designers, professors of theatre, entertainment lawyers and agents, and theatre lovers), the Jeff Awards is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors. Opening night judges include not only the members but also Artistic & Technical theatre volunteers (the “A/T Team”), including Artistic Directors, producers, directors and artists from Chicago theatres.

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 judges over 300 theatrical productions and host two awards ceremonies. 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 will be held on Monday, October 22, 2018, at Drury Lane Oakbrook.

2018 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD 

NOMINEES AND RECIPIENTS

The nominated productions that I caught personally, and covered at ChiILLiveShows.com are in bold below. 

Production - Play
Foxfinder - Interrobang Theatre Project
Ideation - Jackalope Theatre Company
Lela & Co. - Steep Theatre Company
The invisible Hand - Steep Theatre Company
The Light - The New Colony

Production - Musical
Bonnie & Clyde - Kokandy Productions 
Marie Christine - BoHo Theatre
Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company
Sweeney Todd - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Violet - Griffin Theatre Company

Director - Play
Audrey Francis - The invisible Hand - Steep Theatre Company
Gus Menary - Ideation - Jackalope Theatre Company
Margaret Knapp - Foxfinder - Interrobang Theatre Project
Robin Witt - Lela & Co. - Steep Theatre Company
Toma Langston - The Light - The New Colony

Director - Musical
Fred Anzevino - Sweeney Todd - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Lili-Anne Brown - Marie Christine - BoHo Theatre
Scott Weinstein - Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company
Scott Weinstein - Violet - Griffin Theatre Company
Spencer Neiman - Bonnie & Clyde - Kokandy Productions

Ensemble
Ideation - Jackalope Theatre Company
Insurrection: Holding History - Stage Left Theatre
Into the Empty Sky - Trap Door Theatre
Mother of the Dark Water - Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theater
Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company
Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery - Pegasus Theatre Chicago

Performer in a Principal Role - Musical
Dani Shay - The Civility of Albert Cashier - Permoveo Productions i/a/w Pride Films and Plays 
Denzel Tsopnang - Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company
Desiree Gonzalez - Bonnie & Clyde - Kokandy Productions 
Jacquelyne Jones - Sweeney Todd - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Jason Richards - Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company
Kyrie Courter - Marie Christine - BoHo Theatre 
Laura McClain - Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company
Matthew Huston - Yank: A World War II Love Story - Pride Films and Plays
Max DeTogne - Bonnie & Clyde - Kokandy Productions
Nicole Laurenzi - Violet - Griffin Theatre Company 
Philip Torre - Sweeney Todd - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Performer in a Principal Role - Play
Alejandro Tey - The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - Red Theater Chicago
Alexandra Fisher - Foxfinder - Interrobang Theatre Project
Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel - Lela & Co. - Steep Theatre Company
Jeffery Owen Freelon Jr - The Light - The New Colony 
Joel Reitsma - The invisible Hand - Steep Theatre Company
John Mossman - How I Learned To Drive - The Artistic Home
Lucy Carapetyan - Nice Girl - Raven Theatre 
Michael B. Woods - Cyrano - BoHo Theatre
Sara Pavlak McGuire - Time Stands Still - AstonRep Theatre Company
Tiffany Oglesby - The Light - The New Colony 
Vince Kracht - The Nance - Pride Films and Plays

Performer in Supporting Role - Play
Andrew Neftali Perez - Water & Power - UrbanTheater Company
Bryce Gangel - 1980 (Or Why I'm Voting for John Anderson) - Jackalope Theatre Company
Chris Chmelik - Lela & Co. - Steep Theatre Company
Gregory Fenner - Megastasis - Eclipse Theatre Company
Kathleen Ruhl - I Saw My Neighbor on the Train and I Didn't Even Smile - Redtwist Theatre 
Kelli Harrington - Perfect Arrangement - Pride Films and Plays
Owais Ahmed - The invisible Hand - Steep Theatre Company
Renee Lockett - Surely Goodness and Mercy - Redtwist Theatre
RjW Mays - Kingdom - Broken Nose Theatre
Stella Martin - Nice Girl - Raven Theatre

Performer in a Supporting Role - Musical
Billy Rude - The Civility of Albert Cashier - Permoveo Productions i/a/w Pride Films and Plays 
Emily Goldberg - The Spitfire Grill - Refuge Theatre Project
Gina Francesca - Lysistrata Jones - Refuge Theatre Project
John Marshall Jr. - Yank: A World War II Love Story - Pride Films and Plays
Katherine Thomas - Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company
Missy Wise - Bonnie & Clyde - Kokandy Productions 
Molly LeCaptain - Yank: A World War II Love Story - Pride Films and Plays
Nicole Michelle Haskins - The Spitfire Grill - Refuge Theatre Project
Stephen Allen - Violet - Griffin Theatre Company 
Veronica Garza - A New Brain - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

New Musical
David Cerda - Lady X - The Musical - Hell in a Handbag Productions
Jay Paul Deratany, Joe Stevens, Keaton Wooden - The Civility of Albert Cashier - Permoveo Productions i/a/w Pride Films and Plays
Preston Max Allen - Carrie 2: The Rage (An Unauthorized Musical Parody) - Underscore Theatre Company

New Play
Douglas Post - Forty-Two Stories - City Lit Theater Company
Lloyd Suh - Franklinland - Jackalope Theatre Company
Loy A. Webb - The Light - The New Colony
Michael Allen Harris - Kingdom - Broken Nose Theatre 
Patricia Cotter - 1980 (Or Why I'm Voting for John Anderson) - Jackalope Theatre Company
Shepsu Aakhu - Never the Milk and Honey - Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theater

Choreography
Breon Arzell - Marie Christine - BoHo Theatre 
Jenna Schoppe - Yank: A World War II Love Story - Pride Films and Plays
Kevin Bellie and Kara Schoenhofer - Bullets Over Broadway The Musical - NightBlue Performing Arts
Shanna VanDerwerker - Lysistrata Jones - Refuge Theatre Project
William Carlos Angulo - Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company

Fight Choreography
David Blixt - Her Majesty's Will - Lifeline Theatre 
Jon Beal - Cyrano - BoHo Theatre
Kyle Encinas - The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - Red Theater Chicago

Music Direction
Jeremy Ramey - Sweeney Todd - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Jermaine Hill and Ellen Morris - Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company
John Cockerill - Bonnie & Clyde - Kokandy Productions 
Jon Schneidman - The Spitfire Grill - Refuge Theatre Project
Robert Ollis - Yank: A World War II Love Story - Pride Films and Plays

Original Music in a Play
Jeffrey Levin - Her Majesty's Will - Lifeline Theatre 
Jesse Case - Foxfinder - Interrobang Theatre Project
Mike Mazzocca - Into the Empty Sky - Trap Door Theatre
Nicholas Tonozzi - Round Heads and Pointed Heads - Red Tape Theatre
Red Clay and Desta Sound - Never the Milk and Honey - Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theater

Scenic Design
Eric Luchen - Foxfinder - Interrobang Theatre Project
Jeffrey D. Kmiec - American Hero - First Floor Theater
Joe Schermoly - Lela & Co. - Steep Theatre Company
John Wilson - The Light - The New Colony 
Ray Toler - Choir Boy - Raven Theatre

Lighting Design
Brandon Wardell - Lela & Co. - Steep Theatre Company
G. "Max" Maxin IV - Cyrano - BoHo Theatre
Heather Gilbert - Marie Christine - BoHo Theatre 
James Kolditz - Sweeney Todd - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
John Kelly - Foxfinder - Interrobang Theatre Project

Costume Design
Beth Laske-Miller - Shockheaded Peter - Black Button Eyes Productions 
Bill Morey - Sweeney Todd - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
John Nasca - The Nance - Pride Films and Plays
Rachel Sypniewski - Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company
Zachery Wagner - The School for Lies - The Artistic Home

Sound Design
Jesse Case - Foxfinder - Interrobang Theatre Project
Justin Glombicki - In the Soundless Awe - Saltbox Theatre Collective
Michael J. Patrick - Bonnie & Clyde - Kokandy Productions 
Morgan Lake - Pillars of the Community - Strawdog Theatre Company
Thomas Dixon - The invisible Hand - Steep Theatre Company

Strawdog Theatre Company to Receive 2018 Non-Equity Special Award 

Top row, left to right: Paul Fagen, Shannon Hoag, Nicole Bloomsmith, Anderson Lawfer, Becca Levy, Terry Bell, Scott Danielson, Sarah Goeden, Sam Hubbard, Second row, left to right: Mike Dailey, Kamille Dawkins, *Aly Greaves Amidei, Michaela Petro, John Henry Roberts, John Ferrick, Jamie Vann, Heath Hays, Hank Boland, Bottom row, left to right: Carmine Grisolia, Claire Chrzan, Elly Green, Gage Wallace, *Daniella Pereira, John Kelly, Kat McDonnell, *Justine C. Turner, Michael Reyes Not pictured: Kyle Hammon, Janice O'Neill (Photos by Jon Cole Media unless noted with *) 

The Jeff Awards announced today that Strawdog Theatre, Known for its massive ensemble (over 140 members throughout its 30 years), Strawdog has constantly worked to feature exciting new works, reimagined classics and modern favorites that speak to our American lives. Strawdog presented their first production, Five of Us, in 1988 while working out of the Shakespeare Street Theater. The Ensemble went on to produce many other memorable and award-winning productions, including Burn This (1996), Hurlyburly (1999), Detective Story (2004), Marathon '33 (2007), Red Noses (2010), Great Expectations (2014) and Barbecue (as a LookOut Visiting Company at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre) (2017). The final production of Strawdog’s current 2018 season is Damascus, a world premiere by local playwright, Bennett Fisher, and directed by Raven Theatre’s Artistic Director, Cody Estle, which runs through June 23, 2018. Strawdog has explored theatre in many exciting and challenging ways, including 31 world premieres, 8 fully produced radio plays, 7 Shakespeare plays, and 3 Chekhov classics. Strawdog’s longtime venue was located atop a steep staircase at 3829 N Broadway where, in addition to the Mainstage, they created an additional 50-seat theatre known as Hugen Hall (after the late Ashley Hugen, a beloved Strawdog friend). Hugen Hall served as a home for new work and adaptations, as well as Chicago Theatre's Community Center where late night audiences enjoyed original programming including BYO, The Hit Factory, Theatre Wars!, The Game Show Show and Stuff, The Direct Off!, Nikki and the City and J&M Comedy Hour. 

After Strawdog’s home of 26 years was demolished for redevelopment in 2016, the Ensemble spent a year at The Factory Theater in Rogers Park, mounted a production at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre and eventually found a new home at 1802 W Berenice (previously occupied by Signal Ensemble Theatre and most recently Oracle Productions). 

Strawdog has been nominated for 61 Jeff Awards and received 24 Awards that span every category across the ballot, which is testimony to Strawdog’s excellent and comprehensive theatrical vision.