Small Theatres, New Work Get Highlighted at Jeffs

BY Carrie L. Kaufman

Randy Steinmeyer, accepting his award for his performance in A Steady Rain thanked his costar and award presenter Peter DeFaria. Photo, Johnny Knight.

It’s a new era for Chicago’s Equity Jeff Awards, and smaller theatre companies are feeling the reward. Chicago Dramatists and Bailiwick Repertory both benefited from new categories separating mid-size theatres from large theatres like Chicago Shakes or Marriott. All four of those theatres won coveted best production awards, along with Northlight.

But the separation isn’t across the board. Only the production and design categories have different awards for midsize and large theatres. Which makes the rest of the awards this year even more intriguing.

Chicago Dramatists ended up with four awards total. Keith Huff took home the new work Jeff for A Steady Rain, which also won the midsize production award and a principal actor award for Randy Steinmeyer. Both the new work and actor awards were in competition with the bigger theatres. Huff’s play was competing against Chicago Shakespeare’s Funk It Up About Nothin’ and Steppenwolf’s Tracy Lett’s play Superior Donuts.

Bailiwick got just one Jeff, but it was for production of a midsize musical for The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

By far the biggest winner of the night was Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, which took home five Jeffs—the ensemble award for Funk It Up… and the large production play, new adaptation and costume design for The Comedy of Errors (Ron West and Ana Kuzmanic, respectively).

Marriott Theatre took home four Jeffs, all for Les Miserables. Along with their production musical award, the show also took awards for director of a musical (Dominic Missimi), principal actor in a musical (John Cudia) and supporting actor in a musical (Richard Todd Adams).

And rounding out the last of the five best production categories, Northlight took the production of a revue, director of a revue (Rob Ruggiero) and actress in a revue (E. Faye Butler) categories for Ella.

E. Faye Butler accepts her award for best performance in a revue for Northlight's Ella. Photo, Johnny Knight.

There was one tie at this year’s awards. In the director of a musical category, Missimi shared his award with Jim Corti, who won for his direction of Sweet Charity at Drury Lane Oakbrook. Sweet Charity took home three total Jeffs.

Other multiple award winners include Lookingglass (two in association with the Museum of Contemporary Art and one alone), Goodman, Court (in association with the Longwharf Theatre), and Shattered Globe.

Apple Tree founder Eileen Boevers was given a special Jeff for outstanding achievement.

And the winners are:

Production - Play - Large

The Comedy of Errors, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Production - Play - Midsize

A Steady Rain, Chicago Dramatists

Production - Musical - Large

Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre

Production - Musical - Midsize

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre

Production - Revue

Ella, Northlight Theatre

Ensemble

Funk It Up About Nothin’, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

The cast of Funk It Up About Nothin' accepts the award for best ensemble performance. Photo, Johnny Knight.

Director - Play

Barbara Gaines, The Comedy of Errors, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Director - Musical (2)

Jim Corti, Sweet Charity, Drury Lane Oakbrook

Dominic Missimi, Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre

Director - Revue

Rob Ruggiero, Ella, Northlight Theatre

New Work

Keith Huff, A Steady Rain, Chicago Dramatists

New Adaptation

Ron West, The Comedy of Errors, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Solo Performance

Nilaja Sun, No Child..., Lookingglass Theatre Company

Actor in a Principal Role - Play

Randy Steinmeyer, A Steady Rain, Chicago Dramatists

Actor in a Principal Role - Musical

John Cudia, Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre

Actress in a Principal Role - Play

Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful, Goodman

Actress in a Principal Role - Musical

Summer Naomi Smart, Sweet Charity, Drury Lane Oakbrook

Actor in a Supporting Role - Play

Mark Ulrich, Juno and the Paycock, The Artistic Home

Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical

Richard Todd Adams, Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre

Actress in a Supporting Role - Play

Hallie Foote, The Trip to Bountiful, Goodman Theatre

Actress in a Supporting Role - Musical

Jessie Mueller, Carousel, Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre

Actor in a Revue

James Rank, The American Dream Songbook, Next Theatre Company

Actress in a Revue

E. Faye Butler, Ella, Northlight Theatre

Scenic Design - Large

E. David Cosier, The Trip to Bountiful, Goodman Theatre

Scenic Design - Midsize

Kevin Depinet, Cadillac, Chicago Dramatists

Costume Design - Large

Ana Kuzmanic, The Comedy of Errors, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Costume Design - Midsize

Bill Morey, Nine, Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago

Lighting Design - Large

J. R. Lederle, The Turn of the Screw, Writers’ Theatre

Lighting Design - Midsize

Mike Durst, Requiem for a Heavyweight, Shattered Globe Theatre

Sound Design - Large

Barry G. Funderburg, Carter’s Way, Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Sound Design - Midsize

Jack Arky, Because They Have No Words, Piven Theatre

Choreography

Mitzi Hamilton, Sweet Charity, Drury Lane Oakbrook

Original Incidental Music

David Pavkovic, Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day, Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art

Musical Direction

Doug Peck, Carousel, Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre

Fight Choreography

Nick Sandys, Requiem for a Heavyweight, Shattered Globe Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Videography (Artistic Specialization)

John Musial, Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day, Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art

Special Award

Eileen Boevers, Outstanding Achievement, Founder, Apple Tree Theatre

Multiple Award Recipients
Chicago Shakespeare Theater - 5
Chicago Dramatists - 4
Marriott Theatre - 4
Drury Lane Oakbrook - 3
Goodman Theatre - 3
Northlight Theatre - 3
Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre - 2
Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art - 2
Shattered Globe Theatre - 2

Productions:

Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre - 4
The Comedy of Errors, Chicago Shakespeare Theater - 4
A Steady Rain, Chicago Dramatists - 3
Ella, Northlight Theatre - 3
Sweet Charity, Drury Lane Oakbrook - 3
The Trip to Bountiful, Goodman Theatre - 3
Carousel, Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre - 2
Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day, Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art - 2
Requiem for a Heavyweight, Shattered Globe Theatre - 2