Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations fine reminder of 2015-16 season

It’s time to celebrate Chicago’s dazzling storefront theater world with the Jeff Awards Committee’s announcement of its nominations for the 2015-2016 Non-Equity season.

The category for best production of a play could not be more competitive, with “Byhalia, Mississippi,” Evan Lindner’s look at a young couple described as “proud poor white trash” (co-produced by The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company), garnering a total of six nominations, and Griffin Theatre Company earning a total of eight nominations for two different productions — five for Samuel D.Hunter’s “Pocatello,” the tale of a lost soul in Idaho, and three for “London Wall,” a look at life in a vintage 1930s British law office. Raven Theatre received four nominations for “Direct from Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys” (a brilliant satire based on a famous civil rights case), and Steep Theatre Company’s “Posh” (a look at cruel, privileged Oxford University students) earned three nominations. Jonathan Berry earned nominations for his direction of both “Pocatello” and “Posh.”

In the category of best musical, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, earned a total of 15 nominations, including six for “Rent” and four for its revue, “A Marvin Hamlisch Songbook.” Kokandy Productions’ two musicals — “Heathers: The Musical” and “Loving Repeating” (about Gertrude Stein) — earned five for each show, while Bailiwick Chicago received six nominations for its sexually-charged “Murder Ballad.”

The coveted ensemble nominations went to “Direct from Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys”;“The Drowning Girls” (at the now-defunct Signal Ensemble Theatre); “The Hairy Ape” at Oracle Theatre (the admission-free company); “Incident at Vichy,” Arthur Miller’s Holocaust era play (at Redtwist Theatre); and both “Posh” and “Rent.”

The Awards ceremony (open to the public) will be held on June 6 at Park West, 322 W. Armitage, with a cash bar at 6 p.m., light buffet at 6:30 p.m., and the ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets ($40 in advance and $45 at the door) can be purchased online with a credit card at http://www.jeffawards.org, or by mail with the downloadable mail-order form, also found at http://www.jeffawards.org.

Following is the complete list of 2016 non-Equity Jeff Award nominees:

PRODUCTION, PLAY:

“Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company

“Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys” – Raven Theatre

“London Wall” – Griffin Theatre Company

“Pocatello” – Griffin Theatre Company

“Posh” – Steep Theatre Company

PRODUCTION, MUSICAL OR REVUE:

“Heathers: The Musical” – Kokandy Productions

“Loving Repeating” – Kokandy Productions

“A Marvin Hamlisch Songbook” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

“Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago

“Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

ENSEMBLE:

“Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys” – Raven Theatre

“The Drowning Girls” – Signal Ensemble Theatre

“The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre

“Incident at Vichy” – Redtwist Theatre

“Posh” – Steep Theatre Company

“Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

DIRECTOR, PLAY:

Jonathan Berry – “Pocatello” – Griffin Theatre Company

Jonathan Berry – “Posh” – Steep Theatre Company

Monty Cole – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre

Michael Menendian – “Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys” – Raven Theatre

Tyrone Phillips – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company

Robin Witt – “London Wall” – Griffin Theatre Company

DIRECTOR, MUSICAL OR REVUE:

Fred Anzevino – “Blood Brothers” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

James Beaudry – “Heathers: The Musical” – Kokandy Productions

James Beaudry – “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago

Courtney Crouse – “A Marvin Hamlisch Songbook” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Allison Hendrix – “Loving Repeating” – Kokandy Productions

Scott Weinstein – “Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE, PLAY:

Travis Delgado (the Foundling Father) – “The America Play” – Oracle Theatre

Michael McKeogh (Eddie) – “Pocatello” – Griffin Theatre Company

Julian Parker (Yank) – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre

Brian Parry (George) – “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – Redtwist Theatre

Mike Tepeli (Raleigh) – “Last Train to Nibroc” – Haven Theatre

Stephen Walker (Teach) – “American Buffalo” – Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE, MUSICAL:

Matt Frye (Hunter) – “[title of show]” – The Brown Paper Box Co.

Quinton Guyton (Mama) – “Lawd the CVS is Burning…A Gospel Musical Stage Play” – MPAACT

Christopher Logan (Peter Allen) – “The Boy From Oz” – Pride Films and Plays

Tommy Novak (Max Bialystock) – “The Producers” – NightBlue Performing Arts Company

Patrick Rooney (Roger) – “Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE, PLAY:

Amanda Drinkall (May) – “Last Train to Nibroc” – Haven Theatre

Jacqueline Grandt (Margie) – “Good People” – Redtwist Theatre

Jacqueline Grandt (Martha) – “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – Redtwist Theatre

Liz Sharpe (Laurel) – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company

Eliza Stoughton (Lila Green) – “A Loss of Roses” – Raven Theatre

Jenifer Tyler (Miss Buncle) – “Miss Buncle’s Book” – Lifeline Theatre

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE, MUSICAL:

Kyrie Anderson (Mrs. Johnstone) – “Blood Brothers” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Amanda Giles (Young Gertrude) – “Loving Repeating” – Kokandy Productions

Emily Goldberg (Rose) – “Dogfight” – BoHo Theatre

Courtney Mack (Veronica) – “Heathers: The Musical” – Kokandy Productions

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, PLAY:

Stephen Cefalu, Jr. (Nick) – “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – Redtwist Theatre

Dennis Grimes (Sam) – “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” – Eclipse Theatre Company

Steve Love (Helen) – “Miracle!” – Hell in a Handbag Productions

JP Pierson (Mendy) – “The Lisbon Traviata” – Eclipse Theatre Company

Michael Woods (Trigorin) – “The Seagull” – Eclectic Full Contact Theatre

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, MUSICAL OR REVUE:

Justin Adair (Performer) – “Fugitive Songs” – BoHo Theatre

Carl Herzog (Ensemble) – “My Way” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Christopher Logan (Tom) – “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago

Aubrey McGrath (Angel) – “Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Jordan Phelps (Narrator) – “Blood Brothers” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, PLAY:

Marzena Bukowska (Babushka/Baba Yaga/Yaroslava) – “The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls” – Trap Door Theatre

Simina Contras (Masha) – “The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls” – Trap Door Theatre

Ann James (Janet) – “Rolling” – Jackalope Theatre Company

Becca Savoy (Becky) – “Pocatello” – Griffin Theatre Company

Cecelia Wingate (Celeste) – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, MUSICAL OR REVUE:

Cara Chumbley (Ulla) – “The Producers” – NightBlue Performing Arts Company

Emily Goldberg (Alice B. Toklas) – “Loving Repeating” – Kokandy Productions

Stephanie Hansen (Featured Singer) – “A Marvin Hamlisch Songbook” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Amanda Horvath (Sara) – “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago

Michelle Lauto (Liza Minnelli) – “The Boy From Oz” – Pride Films and Plays

SOLO PERFORMANCE:

Anna Dauzvardis (April, et al.) – “Liberty City” – eta Creative Arts Foundation

Charlie Irving (Daisy Fay) – “The Summer of Daisy Fay” – New American Folk Theatre i/a/w Redtwist Theatre

Nelson Rodriguez (Man on the Verge) – “Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown” – Pride Films and Plays

NEW WORK:

Peter Gwinn and Jody Shelton – “The Story of a Story (The Untold Story)” – Underscore Theatre Company

Hansol Jung – “No More Sad Things” – Sideshow Theatre Company

Evan Linder – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company

Cody Lucas – “Truth in Context” – The Agency Theater Collective

Carla Stillwell – “Lawd the CVS is Burning…A Gospel Musical Stage Play” – MPAACT

Isaiah Werner – “Scissortail” – Adapt Theatre Productions i/a/w Redtwist Theatre

Calamity West – “Rolling” – Jackalope Theatre Company

NEW ADAPTATION:

Zachary Baker-Salmon – “This House Believes the American Dream is at the Expense of the American Negro” – Oracle Theatre

Christina Calvit – “Miss Buncle’s Book” – Lifeline Theatre

Elizabeth Lovelady – “D.O.A.” – Strawdog Theatre Company

Aaron Todd Douglas – “Upstate” – MPAACT

CHOREOGRAPHY:

Kim Green and Jenna Schoppe – “The Producers” – NightBlue Performing Arts Company

Christopher Logan – “A Marvin Hamlisch Songbook” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Stephen Schellhardt – “Dogfight” – BoHo Theatre

Sawyer Smith – “Heathers: The Musical” – Kokandy Productions

Cameron Turner – “The Boy From Oz” – Pride Films and Plays

ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY:

Leif Olsen – “Beast on the Moon” – Raven Theatre

Danny Rockett – “How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients” – Trap Door Theatre

Andrew Rovner – “The December Man” – Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.

MUSIC DIRECTION:

Kory Danielson – “Heathers: The Musical” – Kokandy Productions

Kory Danielson – “Loving Repeating” – Kokandy Productions

Nicholas Davio – “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago

Jeremy Ramey – “My Way” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Jeremy Ramey – “Rent” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN:

William Boles – “Barefoot in the Park” – Step Up Productions

Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “A Loss of Roses” – Raven Theatre

Kevin Hagan – “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” – Eclipse Theatre Company

Mike Mroch – “After Miss Julie” – Strawdog Theatre Company

Joe Schermoly – “Pocatello” – Griffin Theatre Company

John Wilson – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company

LIGHTING DESIGN:

Michael C. Smith – “The Drowning Girls” – Signal Ensemble Theatre

Charles Cooper – “Murder Ballad” – Bailiwick Chicago

Diane D. Fairchild – “No More Sad Things” – Sideshow Theatre Company

John Kelly – “D.O.A.” – Strawdog Theatre Company

Eric Watkins – “Porcelain” – Prologue Theatre Company

COSTUME DESIGN:

Raquel Adorno – “D.O.A.” – Strawdog Theatre Company

John Nasca – “The Boy From Oz” – Pride Films and Plays

John Nasca – “Design for Living” – Pride Films and Plays

Kate Setzer Kamphausen – “Miracle!” – Hell in a Handbag Productions

Rachel M. Sypniewski – “London Wall” – Griffin Theatre Company

SOUND DESIGN:

Joe Court – “Last Train to Nibroc” – Haven Theatre

Cooper Forsman – “A Perfect Ganesh” – Eclipse Theatre Company

Jeffrey Levin – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre

Jeffrey Levin – “The Long Christmas Ride Home” – Strawdog Theatre Company

Danny Rockett – “The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls” – Trap Door Theatre

ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION:

Breon Arzell – Step Master – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre

R&D Choreography – Violence Design – “D.O.A.” – Strawdog Theatre Company

Stephanie Diaz – Puppet Design – “The Long Christmas Ride Home” – Strawdog Theatre Company

David Knezz – Mask Design – “Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys” – Raven Theatre