Remy Bumppo Theatre Company and Court Theatre were big winners Monday night at the 51st annual Equity Jeff Awards.
At a gala ceremony at Drury Lane Oakbrook, awards were handed out in 34 categories celebrating Chicago’s Equity theater community.
Leading the pack with five awards apiece were Remy Bumppo Theatre Company and Court Theatre. Remy Bumppo’s “Frankenstein” received all five of its honors for “Frankenstein” including best production, play (Midsize), director (Ian Frank), sound design (Christopher Kriz), lighting design (Mike Durst) and artistic specialization (Kristy Leigh Hall, makeup). “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf” at Court Theatre took home top honors for best ensemble, while its production of “Photograph 51” received four honors including a best director nod for Vanessa Stalling.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of “Downstate” received the Jeff Award for best production — play (Large category). Chicago Shakespeare’s “Six” received the award for best production — musical (Large category), while the award in the Midsize category went to “Caroline, or Change” co-produced by Firebrand Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company.
Michael Butler and Jason Brett’s “Miracle,” set against the Cubs’ World Series run in 2016, was one of two recipients for best new work — musical, an honor also bestowed on David Cale for “We’re Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time,” a Goodman Theatre/Public Theater co-production.
In addition, Teatro Vista was honored with a special Jeff Award for its work over the past three decades to theatrically depict the human experience from its unique Latinx perspective.
The Jeff Awards ceremony has been honoring outstanding theater artists annually since it was established in 1968.
Here is the list of the 2019 Jeff Award recipients:
Production — Play – Large
“Downstate” — Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Production — Play - Midsize
“Frankenstein” — Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Production — Musical - Large
“Six” — Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of “Downstate,” starring Francis Guinan (from left), K. Todd Freeman and Tim Hopper, received the Jeff Award for Best Production - Play in the Large category.
Michael Brosilow
Production — Musical - Midsize
“Caroline, or Change” — Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company
Production — Revue
“You Can’t Fake the Funk: A Journey through Funk Music” — Black Ensemble Theater
Performer in a Principal Role — Play
Janet Ulrich Brooks (Maria Callas), “Master Class” — TimeLine Theatre Company
Chaon Cross (Rosalind Franklin), “Photograph 51” — Court Theatre
Performer in a Principal Role — Musical
E. Faye Butler (Rose), “Gypsy” — Porchlight Music Theatre
Barbara E. Robertson (Anna Edson Taylor), “Queen of the Mist” — Firebrand Theatre
Solo Performance
Joe Foust (Solo Performer), “The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey” — American Blues Theater
Performer in a Supporting Role - Play
K. Todd Freeman (Dee), “Downstate”— Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Brian Keys (Dwight Barnes), “The Recommendation” — Windy City Playhouse
José Antonio García portrays Herbie and E. Faye Butler stars as Rose in Porchlight Music Theatre’s production of “Gypsy” at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts.
Michael Courier Photo
Performer in a Supporting Role - Musical
Donica Lynn (Oda Mae), “Ghost The Musical”— Theatre at the Center
Nat Zegree (Jerry Lee Lewis), “Million Dollar Quartet” — Marriott Theatre
Performer in a Revue
Robin DaSilva (Mahalia), “Mahalia Jackson: Moving Thru the Light” — Black Ensemble Theater
Director — Play - Large
Vanessa Stalling, “Photograph 51” — Court Theatre
Director — Play - Midsize
Ian Frank, “Frankenstein” — Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Jonathan Wilson, “The Recommendation” — Windy City Playhouse
Robin DaSilva stars as the title character in “Mahalia Jackson: Moving Thru the Light” at Black Ensemble Theater. | Michael Courier Photo
Director — Musical — Large
Jim Corti, “The Producers” — Paramount Theatre
Director — Musical — Midsize
Lili-Anne Brown, “Caroline, or Change” — Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company
Ensemble — Play
“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf” — Court Theatre
Ensemble — Musical or Revue
“Six” — Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Anna of Cleves (Brittney Mack, at center) performs “Get Down” in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s North American Premiere production of “Six,” which won the Jeff Award for best Ensemble - Musical or Revue.
Liz Lauren Photo
New Work — Play
Bruce Norris, “Downstate” — Steppenwolf Theatre Company
New Work — Musical
David Cale, “We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time” — Goodman Theatre in co-production with The Public Theater
Michael Mahler and Jason Brett, “Miracle” — William A. Marovitz and Arny Granat
Pops (Gene Weygandt) spends many a day at the ballpark with granddaughter Dani (Amaris Sanchez, who alternates with Elise Wolf in the role) in “Miracle.”
Michael Brosilow
Scenic Design — Large
Arnel Sancianco, “Photograph 51”— Court Theatre
Scenic Design — Midsize
Lauren Nigri, “The Recommendation” — Windy City Playhouse
Costume Design — Large
Rueben Echoles, “You Can’t Fake the Funk: A Journey through Funk Music” — Black Ensemble Theater
Costume Design — Midsize
Jeff Hendry, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” — Porchlight Music Theatre
Sound Design — Large
Rick Sims, “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” — Lookingglass Theatre Company
Sound Design — Midsize
Christopher Kriz, “Frankenstein” — Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Lighting Design — Large
William C. Kirkham, “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” — Lookingglass Theatre Company
Lighting Design — Midsize
Mike Durst, “Frankenstein” — Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Choreography
Brenda Didier, “The Producers” — Paramount Theatre
Original Music
Andre Pluess and Amanda Dehnert, “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” — Lookingglass Theatre Company
Andre Pluess and Amanda Dehnert received a Jeff Award for their original music for “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” at Lookingglass Theatre Company.
Liz Lauren
Music Direction
Roberta Duchak and Joe Beighton, “Six” — Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Fight Choreography
Jon Beal, “Cardboard Piano” — TimeLine Theatre Company
Puppet Design
Chicago Puppet Studio, “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” — Lookingglass Theatre Company
Projection Design
Rasean Davonte Johnson, “Frankenstein” — Court Theatre
Artistic Specialization
Kristy Leigh Hall, Makeup Design - “Frankenstein” — Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Cassy Schillo and Wendy A. Huber, Properties Design — “All Childish Things” — First Folio Theatre
Jim Corti won a Jeff Award for best director - musical - large, for his production of “The Producers,” starring Blake Hammond as Max Bialystock (center) at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.
Liz Lauren
