The ever-scrupulous Jeff Awards Committee was confronted with a highly unusual situation Friday — the very morning after they had announced the list of Non-Equity Jeff nominations in which The Hypocrites received the largest number of nominations — a total of 15.
Here is the statement from the Committee, followed by a statement by Sean Graney, the recently returned artistic director of The Hypocrites. It is followed by the full “revised” list of nominations. This means that the company’s several lauded shows, including the epic “All Our Tragic,” its Greek tragedy marathon, will not be eligible for Non-Equity Awards. Instead, they will be moved to the Equity Awards competition.
STATEMENT FROM THE JEFF AWARDS COMMITTEE:
NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINATIONS RESCINDED FOR THE HYPOCRITES
Early Friday, April 24, 2015, the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee learned that the Hypocrites, a Chicago-based theater company, has been operating under an Equity CAT-N contract for the duration of the 2014-2015 Non-Equity season. Nonetheless, requests for judging its productions were made to the Non-Equity Wing without the committee having knowledge of the company’s Equity status. The Jeff Committee was aware that two of the productions had Equity performers (as indicated in the program); however, the committee has now confirmed that these were not guest contracts. As such, the company’s productions are not eligible for consideration in the Non-Equity Wing, and all related Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations have been rescinded. The productions in question will be shifted to the Equity Wing for awards consideration during its current season, which commenced on August 1, 2014 and will end on July 30, 2015.
STATEMENT FROM SEAN GRANEY, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE HYPOCRITES:
“As I only returned as Artistic Director in November, I recently found out that we have been operating as an Equity company under a CAT N agreement for our entire 2014/15 season. I had wrongfully assumed that all of our Equity contracts for the season were Guest Artist contracts and that we were still a non-Equity company. I regret that we did not inform the Jeff Committee of this transition so we were considered as a non-equity company. As soon as we were nominated I realized The Hypocrites made this terrible mistake and I wanted to rectify it as quickly as possible in order to have transparency and decency. Therefore I contacted the Jeff Committee and informed them of our error. I am glad of the Jeff Committee’s decision and only wish that we were more communicative when we made the decision to become Equity. I apologize to all of wonderful artists who worked so hard for us and deserve their nominations but will no longer be considered a candidate. That is what breaks my heart the most about the course of events.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Here is the revised listing of nominees for the 2014-2015 Non-Equity Jeff Awards:
PRODUCTION – PLAY
| “Exit Strategy” – Jackalope Theatre Company |
| “The Jungle” – Oracle Productions |
| “Men Should Weep” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| “Monstrous Regiment” – Lifeline Theatre |
| “Ruined” – Eclipse Theatre Company |
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL
| “Assassins” – Kokandy Productions |
| “The Full Monty” – Kokandy Productions |
| “Jesus Christ Superstar” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| “Titanic” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| “The Wild Party” – Bailiwick Chicago |
PRODUCTION – REVUE
| “Always… Patsy Cline” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| “A Kurt Weill Cabaret” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
ENSEMBLE
| “Assassins” – Kokandy Productions |
| “Balm in Gilead” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| “Exit Strategy” – Jackalope Theatre Company |
| “The Jungle” – Oracle Productions |
| “Titanic” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| “The Wild Party” – Bailiwick Chicago |
DIRECTOR – PLAY
| Jonathan Berry – “Balm in Gilead” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| Matt Foss – “The Jungle” – Oracle Productions |
| Gus Menary – “Exit Strategy” – Jackalope Theatre Company |
| Steve Scott – “Intimate Apparel” – Eclipse Theatre Company |
| Robin Witt – “Men Should Weep” – Griffin Theatre Company |
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL OR REVUE
| Fred Anzevino – “Always… Patsy Cline” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Brenda Didier – “The Wild Party” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Linda Fortunato – “Parade” – BoHo Theatre |
| Rachel Edwards Harvith – “Assassins” – Kokandy Productions |
| Scott Weinstein – “Titanic” – Griffin Theatre Company |
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
| Kevin Cox (Valere) – “La Bête” – Trap Door Theatre |
| Aaron Kirby (Jack) – “Geezers” – Redtwist Theatre |
| Aaron Kirby (Ken) – “Red” – Redtwist Theatre |
| Michael Manocchio (Seth) – “Mike and Seth” – the side project |
| Steve O’Connell (Jack) – “Dead Accounts” – Step Up Productions |
| André Teamer (Christian) – “Ruined” – Eclipse Theatre Company |
| Joseph Wiens (Jimmy Porter) – “Look Back in Anger” – Redtwist Theatre |
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
| Sam Button-Harrison (Aaron) – “The Book of Merman” – Pride Films and Plays |
| Jim DeSelm (Leo Frank) – “Parade” – BoHo Theatre |
| Maxwell J. DeTogne (Jesus) – “Jesus Christ Superstar” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Matthew Keffer (Burrs) – “The Wild Party” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Garrett Lutz (Jerry Lukowski) – “The Full Monty” – Kokandy Productions |
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
| Stephanie Chavara (Laura Starr) – “Charles Ives Take Me Home” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| Ashleigh Lathrop (Darlene) – “Balm in Gilead” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| Lori Myers (Maggie Morrison) – “Men Should Weep” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| Kelly Owens (Esther Mills) – “Intimate Apparel” – Eclipse Theatre Company |
| TayLar (Mama Nadi) – “Ruined” – Eclipse Theatre Company |
| Kendra Thulin (Woman) – “The Vandal” – Steep Theatre Company |
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
| Sarah Bockel (Lucille Frank) – “Parade” – BoHo Theatre |
| Christina Hall (Patsy Cline) – “Always… Patsy Cline” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Callie Johnson (Carrie White) – “Carrie” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Courtney Jones (Kate Cunningham) – “The Next Thing” – Signal Ensemble Theatre |
| Danni Smith (Queenie) – “The Wild Party” – Bailiwick Chicago |
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
| Will Casey (Nightingale) – “Vieux Carré” – Raven Theatre |
| Shane Kenyon (Terry) – “If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet” – Steep Theatre Company |
| Matthew Klingler (Chris Keller) – “All My Sons” – Raven Theatre |
| Jack Miggins (Boy) – “The Vandal” – Steep Theatre Company |
| Nate Whelden (Con) – “Stupid F**king Bird” – Sideshow Theatre Company |
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
| Justin Adair (Fred Barrett/Ensemble) – “Titanic” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| Scott Danielson (Dave Bukatinsky) – “The Full Monty” – Kokandy Productions |
| Nick Graffagna (Warren) – “Ordinary Days” – BoHo Theatre |
| Donterrio Johnson (Judas) – “Jesus Christ Superstar” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Eric Lindahl (Booth) – “Assassins” – Kokandy Productions |
| Jason Richards (Byck) – “Assassins” – Kokandy Productions |
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
| Cyd Blakewell (Ann) – “Balm in Gilead” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| JoAnn Montemurro (Mrs. Wire) – “Vieux Carré” – Raven Theatre |
| Annie Prichard (Stephanie) – “Another Bone” – Redtwist Theatre |
| Jen Short (Ann Deever) – “All My Sons” – Raven Theatre |
| Ginneh Thomas (Emilie) – “The Submission” – Pride Films and Plays |
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
| Caron Buinis (Jeanette A. Burmeister) – “The Full Monty” – Kokandy Productions |
| Katherine L. Condit (Margaret White) – “Carrie” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Hannah Dawe (Deb) – “Ordinary Days” – BoHo Theatre |
| Courtney Jones (Claire) – “Ordinary Days” – BoHo Theatre |
| Danni Smith (Louise) – “Always… Patsy Cline” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Danni Smith (Mary Magdalene) – “Jesus Christ Superstar” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
NEW WORK
| Erik Gernand – “A Place in the Woods” – The Fine Print Theatre Company |
| Ike Holter – “Exit Strategy” – Jackalope Theatre Company |
| Ronan Marra and Jon Steinhagen – “The Next Thing” – Signal Ensemble Theatre |
| Joe Zarrow – “Principal Principle” – Stage Left Theatre and Theatre Seven of Chicago |
NEW ADAPTATION
| Matt Foss – “The Jungle” – Oracle Productions |
| Chris Hainsworth – “Monstrous Regiment” – Lifeline Theatre |
CHOREOGRAPHY
| Brenda Didier – “Jesus Christ Superstar” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Brenda Didier – “The Wild Party” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Steve Love – “Caged Dames” – Hell in a Handbag Productions |
| Daniel Spagnuolo – “The Full Monty” – Kokandy Productions |
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
| James Sugg – “Stupid F**king Bird” – Sideshow Theatre Company |
| John Szymanski – “One Came Home” – Lifeline Theatre |
| Nicholas Tonozzi – “Circle-Machine” – Oracle Productions |
| Nicholas Tonozzi and Sam Allyn – “The Jungle” – Oracle Productions |
MUSIC DIRECTION
| Aaron Benham – “Always… Patsy Cline” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Aaron Benham – “The Wild Party” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Elizabeth Doran – “Titanic” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| Jeremy Ramey – “Jesus Christ Superstar” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Jeremy Ramey – “A Kurt Weill Cabaret” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
SCENIC DESIGN
| Zachary Gipson – “Caged Dames” – Hell in a Handbag Productions |
| Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “Dividing the Estate” – Raven Theatre |
| Courtney O’Neill – “Men Should Weep” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| Dan Stratton – “Balm in Gilead” – Griffin Theatre Company |
| Ray Toler – “Vieux Carré” – Raven Theatre |
LIGHTING DESIGN
| Brian Hoehne – “The Wild Party” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Sean Mallary – “The Arsonists” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| Maya Michele Fein – “A Kurt Weill Cabaret” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Laura Wiley – “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” – Idle Muse Theatre Company |
COSTUME DESIGN
| Theresa Ham – “The Wild Party” – Bailiwick Chicago |
| Rachel Lambert – “Intimate Apparel” – Eclipse Theatre Company |
| Rachel Sypniewski – “La Bête” – Trap Door Theatre |
| Rachel Sypniewski – “Titanic” – Griffin Theatre Company |
SOUND DESIGN
| Karli Blalock – “Red” – Redtwist Theatre |
| Sarah Espinoza – “The Arsonists” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| Heath Hays – “The Sweeter Option” – Strawdog Theatre Company |
| Danny Rockett – “Cookie Play” – Trap Door Theatre |
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
| Aaron Benham – Musical Arrangements – “A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre |
| Anthony Churchill – Projections Design – “Ordinary Days” – BoHo Theatre |
Top Multiple Nominations by Production:
| The Wild Party | 9 |
| Jesus Christ Superstar | 6 |
| Titanic | 6 |
| Always… Patsy Cline | 5 |
| Assassins | 5 |
| Balm in Gilead | 5 |
| The Full Monty | 5 |
| The Jungle | 5 |
