It's the 2015 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Nominations! [TITLE OF SHOW] and DIRECT FROM DEATH ROW Lead the Field of 180 Nominees

Today, BroadwayWorld Chicago is proud to announce the nominees for our 6th annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, the oldest regional BroadwayWorld awards system in the United States and the one which garnered the most national nomination submissions during the submissions process last month. The BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards continue to be the only theater awards in the Chicago area that are both comprehensive in scope and voted on by everyone--fans, theater professionals, students, casual and hard-core adherents alike. We are proud of these awards, proud of our list of 180 nominees, and we hope that you are proud too (and excited!!).

Leading off the list of nominees in 36 categories are two non-Equity productions that are earning an impressive 9 nominations apiece--Brown Paper Box Co.'s Chicago storefront premiere of the musical "[title of show]," and the Raven Theatre's revival (pictured) of a little known play by Mark Stein, the still-running "Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys." The suburban Chicago premiere of the musical "American Idiot" is earning 8 nominations for the relatively new and non-Equity Up and Coming Theatre.

The two Equity productions with the most nominations are the musicals "Side Show" from Porchlight Music Theatre and the Paramount Theatre's mounting of "Les Miserables," with 7 and 6 nods, respectively. Three musicals garner 5 nominations each: the Drury Lane Theatre's local premiere of "Billy Elliot," Black Ensemble Theater's revue "Men of Soul" and the Fremont Street Theater Company's "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying." These nominations are the only ones for BET (Equity) and Fremont Street (non-Equity)--the Drury Lane (Equity) is also nominated twice more, for its production of the play "Peter and the Starcatcher."

Brown Paper Box Co.'s play "Spike Heels" also picks up 5 nominations, helping that theater lead all others with an impressive 16 listings overall. Raven Theatre's 9 (for "Direct from Death Row...) is matched by Porchlight, with 7 for "Side Show" and 2 for "Sondheim on Sondheim." And the Aurora-based Paramount Theatre continues to impress, with 11 nominations overall: 6 for "Les Miserables," 3 for "Tommy" and 1 each for "Oklahoma!" (Katie Spelman's choreography) and "Mary Poppins" (Theresa Ham's costumes).

Among other local Equity theaters, the Marriott Theatre has earned 6 nominations, 4 for "City of Angels," plus 1 for Gene Weygandt's star turn in "La Cage aux Folles" and 1 for the new musical "October Sky." Among non-Equity companies, Pride Films and Plays also earns 6 nods (including 4 for the belated Chicago premiere of "The Boy from Oz"), the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble picks up 4 noms for its Chicago premiere of the musical "Dogfight," and Glitterati Productions picks up 3 listings for the play "The Glass Protégé."

There are no clear front-runners on the list of nominees for Equity productions of plays. Court Theatre's "Gem of the Ocean" and American Theater Company's "The Royale" both pick up 3 nominations, and vie for the award for Best Revival of a Play (Resident Equity) with productions garnering 2 nominations apiece: A Red Orchid Theatre's "Accidentally Like a Martyr," Writers Theatre's "The Diary of Anne Frank" and Theater Wit's "Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play."

In the nominations for touring productions, shows at the Oriental Theatre and Cadillac Palace Theatre account for 7 and 6, respectively. "Kinky Boots," "Newsies" and the pre-Broadway tryout of "On Your Feet!" each earn 3 nods, the latter's including nominations for stars Ana Villafane and Josh Segarra, just opened last week in the production's Broadway incarnation.

55 theater companies ranging from Woodstock, Illinois to Munster, Indiana have at least one nomination, including the big-budget Equity companies Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Steppenwolf Theater Company and the decidedly low-budget, non-Equity Hell in a Handbag Productions, which join Court Theatre and American Theater Company with 4 listings each. And 86 different theater productions are nominated, including Big Noise Theatre Company's non-Equity revival of "Hair" and Lifeline Theatre's new non-Equity musical "Soon I Will Be Invincible," with 3 nominations apiece.

Four individuals are being honored with multiple nominations. Sound designer Christopher Kriz picks up 3 nominations and scenic designer Jack Magaw has 2 nominations. Rachel Rockwell is nominated for both direction and choreography for "Billy Elliot," and David Geinosky is nominated for his direction and scenic design of Big Deal Production's "The Wizard of Oz."

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN VOTING!!

Voting will be open through New Year's Eve, December 31, 2015. Get your friends and family in on the fun!

And please join us on Sunday night, January 10, 2016 for the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards celebration, as all winners will be revealed and certificates presented to the winners in attendance. The Celebration will be held at The Call nightclub, a 21 and over venue in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood (1547 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue), beginning at 7:00 pm. Awards will be presented periodically until 10:00 pm, interspersed with showtune videos from VJ Michael Hogan. This event is a great time for cast reunions, networking and a good time celebrating the best in the year's Chicago theater--celebrating with like-minded theater professionals and fans. We always have a great time. More details will be announced soon. Come one, come all, to The Call!

Here is a list of all the nominees for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards:

Best Actor in a Musical or Revue (Resident Equity)

Nicholas Dantes - Billy Elliot - Drury Lane Theatre

Devin DeSantis - Tommy - Paramount Theatre

Kevin Pollack - Men of Soul - Black Ensemble Theater

Rod Thomas - Les Miserables - Paramount Theatre

Gene Weygandt - La Cage aux Folles - Marriott Theatre

Best Actor in a Musical or Revue (Resident Non­Equity)

Roy J. Brown - American Idiot - Up and Coming Theatre

Matt Frye - [title of show] - Brown Paper Box Co.

Dan Gold - The Book of Merman - Pride Films and Plays

Chris Logan -The Boy from Oz -Pride Films and Plays

Jake Stempel - The Drowsy Chaperone - Metropolis Performing Arts Centre

Best Actor in a Play (Resident Equity)

Caleb Donahoe - Peter and the Starcatcher - Drury Lane Theatre

Jerod Haynes - The Royale - American Theater Company

Curtis Edward Jackson - How the World Began - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

Alex Weisman - Bent - The Other Theatre Company

Larry Yando - The Tempest - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Best Actor in a Play (Resident Non­Equity)

Breon Arzell - Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys - Raven Theatre

Charles Askenaizer - Spike Heels - Brown Paper Box Co.

Lane Flores - Our Bad Magnet - Mary-Arrchie Theatre

Steve Love - Miracle! - Hell in a Handbag Productions

Andrew Malone - Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys - Raven Theatre

Best Actor in a Touring Production

Steven Booth - Kinky Boots - Cadillac Palace Theatre

Dan DeLuca - Newsies - Oriental Theatre

Kyle Taylor Parker - Kinky Boots - Cadillac Palace Theatre

John Rapson - A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder - Bank of America Theatre

Josh Segarra - On Your Feet! - Oriental Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical or Revue (Resident Equity)

Callie Johnson - All Shook Up - Theatre at the Center

Susie McMonagle - Billy Elliot - Drury Lane Theatre

Meghan Murphy - City of Angels - Marriott Theatre

Britt-Marie Sivertsen - Side Show - Porchlight Music Theatre

Danni Smith - City of Angels - Marriott Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical or Revue (Resident Non­Equity)

Neala Barron - [title of show] - Brown Paper Box Co.

Leah Davis - American Idiot - Up and Coming Theatre

Emily Goldberg - Dogfight - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble

Allison Kasbee - How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying - Fremont Street Theater Company

Anna Schutz - [title of show] - Brown Paper Box Co.

Best Actress in a Play (Resident Equity)

Alana Arenas - Marie Antoinette - Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Kate Buddeke - Airline Highway - Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Kate Fry - Outside Mullingar - Northlight Theatre

Nambi E. Kelley - Two Trains Running - Goodman Theatre

Emma Rosenthal - Peter and the Starcatcher -Drury Lane Theatre

Best Actress in a Play (Resident Non­Equity)

Anna Dauzvardis - Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys - Raven Theatre

Michelle McKenzie-Voigt - The Glass Protégé - Glitterati Productions

Whitney Morse - Spike Heels - Brown Paper Box Co.

Katrina D. Richard - Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys - Raven Theatre

Jillian Kate Weingart -Spike Heels - Brown Paper Box Co.

Best Actress in a Touring Production

Dani de Waal - Once - Cadillac Palace Theatre

Priscilla Lopez - Pippin - Cadillac Palace Theatre

Christine Sherrill - First Wives Club - Oriental Theatre

Stephanie Styles - Newsies - Oriental Theatre

Ana Villafane - On Your Feet! - Oriental Theatre

Best Choreography (Resident Equity)

Brenda Didier - The Addams Family - Mercury Theater Chicago

Danny Herman - All Shook Up - Theatre at the Center

Katie Spelman - Oklahoma! - Paramount Theatre

Rachel Rockwell - Billy Elliot - Drury Lane Theatre

Andrew Waters - Side Show - Porchlight Music Theatre

Best Choreography (Resident Non­Equity)

Jennifer Cupani - The Drowsy Chaperone - Metropolis Performing Arts Centre

Dina DiCostanzo - How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying - Fremont Street Theater Company

Stephen Schellhardt - Dogfight - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble

Carly Vadnais - American Idiot - Up and Coming Theatre

Carrie Weiss - Hair - Big Noise Theatre Company

Best Costume Design (Resident Equity)

Mara Blumenfeld and Mieka Vander Ploeg - Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play - Theater Wit

Theresa Ham -Mary Poppins - Paramount Theatre

Susan E. Mickey - Sense and Sensibility - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Bill Morey - Side Show - Porchlight Music Theatre

Alison Siple - All Our Tragic - The Hypocrites

Best Costume Design (Resident Non­Equity)

Patty Halajian - How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying - Fremont Street Theater Company

David Lundholm - Hair - Big Noise Theatre Company

John Nasca - The Boy from Oz - Pride Films and Plays

Rachel Sypniewski - Tiger at the Gates - Promethean Theatre Ensemble

Sarah Jo White - Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys - Raven Theatre

Best Direction of a Musical or Revue (Resident Equity)

Nick Bowling - City of Angels - Marriott Theatre

Daryl D. Brooks - Men of Soul - Black Ensemble Theater

Jim Corti - Les Miserables - Paramount Theatre

Rachel Rockwell - Billy Elliot - Drury Lane Theatre

Michael Weber - Side Show - Porchlight Music Theatre

Best Direction of a Musical or Revue (Resident Non-Equity)

Madeline Franklin - How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying - Fremont Street Theater Company

David Geinosky - The Wizard of Oz - Big Deal Productions

Barry R. Norton - Oliver! - Woodstock Musical Theatre Company

M. William Panek - [title of show] - Brown Paper Box Co.

Jim Shedd - American Idiot - Up and Coming Theatre

Best Direction of a Play (Resident Equity)

Nathan Allen - The Hammer Trinity - The House Theatre of Chicago

David H. Bell - Pericles - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Jaime Castaneda - The Royale - American Theater Company

Shade Murray - Accidentally Like a Martyr - A Red Orchid Theatre

PJ Paparelli - The Project(s) - American Theater Company

Best Direction of a Play (Resident Non-Equity)

Jason Gerace - Last Train to Nibroc - Haven Theatre Company

Michael Menendian - Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys - Raven Theatre

Brian Pastor - The Winter's Tale - Promethean Theatre Ensemble

Stephanie Rohr - Spike Heels - Brown Paper Box Co.

Derek Van Barham - Miracle! - Hell in a Handbag Productions

Best Ensemble (Resident)

American Idiot - Up and Coming Theatre

Bent - The Other Theatre Company

Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys - Raven Theatre

Hair - Big Noise Theatre Company

[title of show] - Brown Paper Box Co.

Best Lighting Design (Resident Equity)

Greg Freeman - Side Show -Porchlight Music Theatre

Maggie Fullilove-Nugent - Endgame - The Hypocrites

Greg Hofmann - Tommy - Paramount Theatre

Lee Keenan - The Hammer Trinity, Part 3 - The House Theatre of Chicago

Jesse Klug - Les Miserables - Paramount Theatre

Best Lighting Design (Resident Non­Equity)

Diane D. Fairchild - Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys - Raven Theatre

Dan Gallagher - Matawan - The Ruckus

Rick Keeley - American Idiot - Up and Coming Theatre

Eric C. Vigo - [title of show] - Brown Paper Box Co.

Cat Wilson - The Boy from Oz - Pride Films and Plays

Best Musical Direction (Resident Equity)

Aaron Benham - Side Show - Porchlight Music Theatre

Austin Cook - Sondheim on Sondheim - Porchlight Music Theatre

Doug Peck - The Secret Garden - Court Theatre

Robert Reddrick - Men of Soul -Black Ensemble Theater

Tom Vendafreddo - Les Miserables - Paramount Theatre

Best Musical Direction (Resident Non­Equity)

T.J. Anderson - [title of show] - Brown Paper Box Co.

Kelly Fitzgerald - American Idiot - Up and Coming Theatre

Kenneth McMullen - How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying - Fremont Street Theater Company

Ellen K. Morris - Dogfight - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble

Jeremy Ramey - Bette, Live at the Continental Baths - Hell in a Handbag Productions

Best New Work/New Adaptation (Resident)

Daughters of Ire - The Other Theatre Company

Down the Moonlit Path -Nothing without a Company

October Sky - Marriott Theatre

Shining Lives - Northlight Theatre

Soon I Will Be Invincible - Lifeline Theatre

Best Revival of a Musical (Resident Equity)

Billy Elliot - Drury Lane Theatre

City of Angels - Marriott Theatre

Les Miserables - Paramount Theatre

Side Show - Porchlight Music Theatre

Tommy - Paramount Theatre

Best Revival of a Musical (Resident Non­Equity)

American Idiot - Up and Coming Theatre

The Boy from Oz - Pride Films and Plays

Dogfight - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble

Next to Normal - Elgin Summer Theatre

[title of show] -Brown Paper Box Co.

Best Revival of a Play (Resident Equity)

Accidentally Like a Martyr - A Red Orchid Theatre

The Diary of Anne Frank - Writers Theatre

Gem of the Ocean - Court Theatre

Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play - Theater Wit

The Royale - American Theater Company

Best Revival of a Play (Resident Non­Equity)

Balm in Gilead -Griffin Theatre

Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys - Raven Theatre

Other Desert Cities - Citadel Theatre Company

Spike Heels - Brown Paper Box Co.

A Streetcar Named Desire - Williams Street Repertory

Best Revue (Resident)

Always... Patsy Cline - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Bette, Live at the Continental Baths - Hell in a Handbag Productions

Men of Soul - Black Ensemble Theater

Ring of Fire - Mercury Theater Chicago and Theatre at the Center

Sondheim on Sondheim - Porchlight Music Theatre

Best Scenic Design (Resident Equity)

Kevin Depinet and Jeffrey D. Kmiec - Les Miserables - Paramount Theatre

Jack Magaw - The Diary of Anne Frank - Writers Theatre

Jack Magaw - Gem of the Ocean - Court Theatre

Scott Pask - Airline Highway - Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Sarah Ross - The Rose Tattoo - Shattered Globe Theatre

Best Scenic Design (Resident Non­Equity)

Alan Donahue - Soon I Will Be Invincible - Lifeline Theatre

David Geinosky - The Wizard of Oz - Big Deal Productions

Sara Heymann - [title of show] - Brown Paper Box Co.

Jimmy Jagos - Triassic Parq - Circle Theatre

Tianyu Qiu - The Glass Protégé - Glitterati Productions

Best Sound Design (Resident Equity)

Victoria Deiorio - The White Road - Irish Theatre of Chicago

Lindsay Jones - Marie Antoinette -Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Christopher Kriz - Gem of the Ocean - Court Theatre

Christopher Kriz - Look, We Are Breathing - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

Aaron Quick - Men of Soul - Black Ensemble Theater

Best Sound Design (Resident Non­Equity)

Joe Court - Our Bad Magnet - Mary-Arrchie Theatre

Robert Hornbostel - The Glass Protégé -Glitterati Productions

Christopher Kriz - Soon I Will Be Invincible - Lifeline Theatre

Kallie Noelle Rolison - Angry Fags - Pride Films and Plays

Lindsay Wolf - Beehive - Williams Street Repertory

Best Special Theatrical Event

Bechdel Fest 3: Find Your Voice - Broken Nose Theatre

BPB Yearbook - Brown Paper Box Co.

Lip Sync or Swim - Broken Nose Theatre

So Beautiful - Sarah Siddons Society

Spring Forward, Fail Back - Brown Paper Box Co.

Best Theater Production for Young Audiences

Fancy Nancy - Emerald City Theatre

Goodnight Moon - Highland Park Players

The Little Mermaid - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Romeo and Juliet - Teatro Vista

Shrek - Music on Stage

Best Touring Production

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder - Bank of America Theatre

Kinky Boots - Cadillac Palace Theatre

Newsies - Oriental Theatre

On Your Feet! - Oriental Theatre

Pippin - Cadillac Palace Theatre

Number of theaters nominated: 55

Theaters with multiple nominations:

Brown Paper Box Co.-16

Paramount Theatre-11

Porchlight Music Theatre-9

Raven Theatre-9

Up and Coming Theatre-8

Drury Lane Theatre-7

Oriental Theatre-7

Cadillac Palace Theatre-6

Marriott Theatre-6

Pride Films and Plays-6

Black Ensemble Theater-5

Fremont Street Theater Company-5

American Theater Company-4

Bohemian Theatre Ensemble-4

Chicago Shakespeare Theater-4

Court Theatre-4

Hell in a Handbag Productions-4

Steppenwolf Theatre Company-4

Big Noise Theatre Company-3

Glitterati Productions-3

Lifeline Theatre-3

The Other Theatre Company-3

Theatre at the Center-3

Bank of America Theatre-2

Big Deal Productions-2

Broken Nose Theatre-2

The House Theatre of Chicago-2

The Hypocrites-2

Mary-Arrchie Theatre-2

Mercury Theater Chicago-2

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre-2

Northlight Theatre-2

Promethean Theatre Ensemble-2

A Red Orchid Theatre-2

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble-2

Theater Wit-2

Williams Street Repertory-2

Writers Theatre-2

Number of productions nominated: 86

Productions with multiple nominations:

Direct from Death Row the Scottsboro Boys-9

[title of show]-9

American Idiot-8

Side Show-7

Les Miserables-6

Billy Elliot-5

How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying-5

Men of Soul-5

Spike Heels-5

The Boy from Oz-4

City of Angels-4

Dogfight-4

Gem of the Ocean-3

The Glass Protégé-3

Hair-3

Kinky Boots-3

Newsies-3

On Your Feet!-3

The Royale-3

Soon I Will Be Invincible-3

Tommy-3

Accidentally Like a Martyr-2

All Shook Up-2

Airline Highway-2

Bent-2

Bette, Live at the Continental Baths-2

The Diary of Anne Frank-2

The Drowsy Chaperone-2

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder-2

The Hammer Trinity-2

Marie Antoinette-2

Miracle!-2

Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play-2

Our Bad Magnet-2

Peter and the Starcatcher-2

Pippin-2

Sondheim on Sondheim-2

The Wizard of Oz-2

Number of individuals nominated: 128

Individuals with multiple nominations:

Christopher Kriz-3

David Geinosky-2

Jack Magaw-2

Rachel Rockwell-2