Remy Bumppo, Court Theatre top the 2019 Equity Jeff Award recipients

Nick Sandys (left) and Greg Matthew Anderson in Remy Bumppo’s production of “Frankenstein.” | Joe Mazza / Brave Lux — Nick Sandys (left) and Greg Matthew Anderson in Remy Bumppo’s production of “Frankenstein.” The play was honored with five Jeff Awards Monday night.

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” received the Jeff Award for Best Production - Play in the Large category. — 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.

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.

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,” written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss and directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armita — 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.

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 — 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.”

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

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.

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Remy Bumppo, Court Theatre top the 2019 Equity Jeff Award recipients

At a gala ceremony at Drury Lane Oakbrook, Joseph Jefferson awards were handed out in 34 categories celebrating Chicago’s Equity theater community.

Here is the list of the 2019 Jeff Award recipients: