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