Jeffs Bring Television to Theatre

BY Carrie L. Kaufman

Thanks to the Jeff Committee, Chicago theatre may find a place on TV. The committee announced earlier this week a partnership with Des Plaines based HMS Media “to create a television project that would be shown on PBS stations showcasing Chicago’s excellent theatre scene via stories based on individuals and theatres over the course of the next 12 months.”

The Jeff Committee would not comment beyond their published statement. There is no word on whether any PBS stations have signed on to the project.

The committee says the project is similar to HMS Media’s Chicago Dance Project. Shooting will begin at the Jeff Awards presentation on Oct. 29 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.

The Jeff Awards ceremonies were aired on local television in their early years, but there hasn’t been any broadcast since the mid-’80s. The Jeffs were also involved in the 1995 production of the documentary Chicago on Stage, which delved into the history of Chicago theatre.