Jeff Awards

[QueenAnne82]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:09pm

Wow.... Wicked got SNUBBED!!! It was nominated in like five categories (including both Ana and Kate for best actress in a musical), and didn't win a blessed thing. Guess Chicago likes to stick with it's "true" regional productions. Would've like to seen them win something!

Link to the winners:
http://www.jeffawards.org/index.php?action=current_equity

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:10pm

Snubbed, or other things were better?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:10pm

Eesh.

[QueenAnne82]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:16pm

Lost to Sweeny Todd and Beauty? I'd say they were snubbed.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:17pm

I haven't seen those productions...but I wouldn't say that WICKED is more deserving of anything than a production of SWEENEY TODD...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:24pm

My parents saw that SWEENEY. They hated it. And they love the show (adored the revival and cant stop talking about it). But they said that this particular SWEENEY was awful. The production was lackluster and blah. They said WICKED's Chicago production was incredible.

After all, isnt the category Best Production?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:30pm

Yes the category is Best Production of a Musical but it was Beauty and the Beast that won that category, not Sweeney.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:33pm

If it is a case that Chicago only wants to award it's own, how do you explain Jefferson Mays' win?

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:34pm

Yay! I'm so glad that Red Light Winter won New Work! Adam Rapp did an amazing job of both writing and directing that play. I wish I would have seen it a third time.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:35pm

I know im just responding to munks post.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 4:35pm

Double Updated On: 11/8/05 at 04:35 PM

[uncamark]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 5:19pm

Jefferson Mays didn't win. He was just nominated.

I should point out that a workshop of "I Am My Own Wife" played in Chicago at the Museum of Contemporary Art under the auspices of About Face Theatre before its Broadway run.

The scuttlebutt I heard was that the vote was divided between "Wicked" and "Sweeney Todd" and that "B&B" was able to sneak up from behind and take the prize.

And it should be pointed out that the inclusion of "Wicked" was controversial to begin with, since there were those who argued that it never was a Chicago-produced show. (For that matter, Mays' nomination was controversial for the same reason--there was the feeling that there was little proof that the Goodman actually "produced" "Wife.")

"Sweeney" was not a slick production, but it was very effective. And Rebecca Finnegan was the best Mrs. Lovett I'd ever seen. Bar none. I think most people had thought, though, that she'd be content with the revue award for "Closer Than Ever" and that Ana Gasteyer would win musical. In an attempt to streamline the format, categories were grouped and announced back-to-back (although everyone got to speak)--Rebecca was already on stage collecting her revue award and when she was announced as musical winner, the look on her face as she turned around was priceless.

And it's interesting to note that no one from "Wicked" was at the post-awards party at the Mity Nice Grill next to the Drury Lane. *No one.* Not even Rondi or any of the other Chicagoans (although the only "Wicked" people I saw were her, Kate Reinders, who looked great, and Ana).

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 5:34pm

Everything I have read lists Mays as the winner. Maybe I am wrong. And even though I AM MY OWN WIFE did a workshop in Chicago (the input of About Face is questionable except for providing the space) I don't think anyone really thinks of that version as a Chicago production.

[uncamark]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 5:40pm

You're right--he was the only person there who didn't show up and was acknowledged from the podium.

And yes, this one is arguable. For a few years, the Jeffs did have separate awards for "non-resident" or touring shows, which was usually greeted by the crowd with disdain (except for the one year that they brought in Julie Harris in to pick up her award for that tour of "Gin Game"--gosh, when they saw her get up and head for the stage, their opinions sure changed!).

Generally, though, the Jeff committee today has much better theater sense than some of the past Jeff committees, which were dominated by socialites and lightweights, and they have a much better sense of things. It doesn't mean that things like the "Wife" and "Wicked" eligibility don't happen (and from a commercial standpoint Jeffs don't sell tickets when the emphasis is on resident NFPs with subscription seasons), but most people don't consider them a total joke.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 5:48pm

I think you are right. They seems to be taken more seriously by people outside of Chicago. Yes, it might look good on a resume, but they really aren't too important when it comes to getting people to your shows or getting cast. And who can blame them for the Julie Harris love?

[Jon]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 6:14pm

I'll never forget 1994, when the award for Best Actress in a Touring or Non-Resident Production was a TIE between Karen Ziemba in CRAZY FOR YOU and Lynn Redgrave in SHAKESPEARE FOR MY FATHER.

Talk about apples and oranges!

Posted: 11/9/05 at 11:36pm

is it just ME or shouldn't Stephanie and her Glinda have been nominated instead of Ana and her Glinda?? they opened the show there..it seems that Ana and Kate(is Kate in the CHicago one? i get the GLinda's confused) replaced Stephanie and her Glinda...it doesn't seem fair that Stephanie didn't get nominated...she was the first person to play the role in Chicago...????????????????????

[jam_man]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 11:47pm

I would just like to congratulate Michael Lindner, who went to my high school (go E-Ville Tigers - two wins away from the state football championship game in Illinois). When our drama teacher said he'd be playing Sweeney in Chicago I REALLY wanted to see it - now I know that he was great.

That makes him (at least) the Second EHS Alum to win the Jeff Award, the other being Emmy-winner Laurie Metcalf (Roseanne).

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 11:56pm

Just my two cents: I saw the Marriott production of Beauty and the Beast and I was extremely underwhelmed. It was definitely not their best production and personally, did not deserve to win.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 12:11am

The touring/non-resident category was eliminated because most tours could no longer meet the eligibility requirement for length of run. The Wicked tour was just that. Wicked Chicago was incorporated as a Chicago-based production, therefore making it eligible.

[uncamark]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:51pm

And thus the whole controversy as to why "Wicked" was nominated in the first place (not to mention Jefferson Mays in "Wife").

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 7:02pm

I'm sure that that's the reason why "Wicked" didn't win any awards--there would have been a lot of anger here in the Chicago theater community if it had.

[uncamark]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 5:51pm

I wouldn't doubt it.

I would buy the rumor that the vote was divided for Production between "Wicked" and "Sweeney" (allowing "B&B" to sneak in and get the award), but before "Wicked" was announced and considered Jeff-eligible, Rebecca Finnegan was considered a lock for Actress-Musical (and deservedly so). I was convinced that Ana had the award--I wonder if Kate took away some votes? As for the other two nominees, Paula Scrofano's been around Chicago a long time and has a lot of Jeffs--it was "share the wealth" time. And Johanna MacKenzie Miller's a talented young lady, but Belle's not exactly a character to win awards with.

And in the Supporting Actress category, Renee Matthews had the lock, as anyone who was at the Drury Lane Monday night when she launched into "Jeanette's Showbiz Number." Mantello could've received Director, but it's hard to make a case for a director when he most likely was minimally involved with the rehearsal process for this production (I'm sure I'll be told wrong.) I wanted to see him up there only to watch him tear apart Hedy Weiss. :)