Nominations Close at Midnight Friday: The BWW Chicago Awards Are Underway! Vote from early November until New Year's Eve, and Celebrate at The Call on January 7, 2015

Nominations for the 5th Annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards opened on October 6th, and will close at midnight on Halloween, October 31st. One of the oldest and largest regional awards in the entire international BroadwayWorld system, the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards are Chicagoland's only comprehensive, fan-voted theater awards, covering plays and musicals, Equity and non-Equity, resident and touring productions.

There are 36 categories for these 2014 awards, the same as for the 2013 awards. Eligibility is for productions which opened between November 1, 2013 and October 31, 2014.

Click HERE to Make Your Nominations!!!

BroadwayWorld Chicago staff will certify the five nominees in each category, with the nominees to be announced on November 4th. Online voting will then open, and run through midnight on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2014.

And the date of the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards Celebration is set! Join us on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, at The Call nightclub in Andersonville for a fun and casual post-holiday party where the names of the winners will be revealed! Chicago Regional Editor Paul W. Thompson and The Call's hostess Ashley Morgan will again be on hand to announce and hand out the certificates, in between showtune videos from VJ Mike Hogan.

The Call is located at 1547 W. Bryn Mawr, between Ashland and Clark at the north end of the Andersonville strip. It's free, it's fun and it's a great way to connect with old castmates, new audience members and all who love Chicago theater. Mark your calendars now!

Among the winners of last year's BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards were Ben Platt (Best Actor in a Touring Production) for "The Book of Mormon" at the Bank of America Theatre, "Old Jews Telling Jokes" (Best Revue [Resident]) at the Royal George Theatre, Ron OJ Parson (Best Director of a Play [Resident Equity]) for "A Raisin in the Sun" at TimeLine Theatre Company, Michael Shannon (Best Actor in a Play [Resident Equity]) for "Simpatico" at A Red Orchid Theatre, Brenda Didier (Best Choreography [Resident Equity]) for "The Color Purple" at Mercury Theatre Chicago, Idina Menzel (Best Special Theatrical Event) for her concert at RiverEdge Park, and Christopher Kriz (Best Sound Design [Resident Equity]) for "Mahal" at Bailiwick Chicago, to name just a few.

Among the winners of our very first BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards in 2010 were "Chess" (Best Revival of a Musical [Resident Non-Equity]) at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Brian Dennehy (Best Actor in a Play [Resident Equity]) for "Hughie/Krapp's Last Tape" at the Goodman Theatre, "The Philadelphia Story" (Best Revival of a Play [Resident Non-Equity]) at Circle Theatre, "Billy Elliot" (Best Touring Production) at the Oriental Theatre, and Kevin Depinet (Best Scenic Design [Resident Equity]) for "Ragtime" at the Drury Lane Theatre.

What artists and productions will win this time? Who and what will be nominated? You can have your say in the matter by nominating your favorites before October 31, and checking back with us in November and December to vote for one of the five outstanding nominees in each category. And join us on January 7th at The Call, when the winners will be revealed!

Here are the categories for the 5th Annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards:

Best Actor in a Musical or Revue (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Actor in a Musical or Revue (Resident Equity)

Best Actor in a Play (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Actor in a Play (Resident Equity)

Best Actor in a Touring Production

Best Actress in a Musical or Revue (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Actress in a Musical or Revue (Resident Equity)

Best Actress in a Play (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Actress in a Play (Resident Equity)

Best Actress in a Touring Production

Best Costume Design (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Costume Design (Resident Equity)

Best Choreography (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Choreography (Resident Equity)

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

Best Direction of a Musical or Revue (Resident Equity)

Best Direction of a Play (Resident Non-Equity)

Best Direction of a Play (Resident Equity)

Best Ensemble (Resident)

Best Lighting Design (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Lighting Design (Resident Equity)

Best Musical Direction (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Musical Direction (Resident Equity)

Best New Work/New Adaptation (Resident)

Best Revival of a Musical (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Revival of a Musical (Resident Equity)

Best Revival of a Play (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Revival of a Play (Resident Equity)

Best Revue (Resident)

Best Scenic Design (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Scenic Design (Resident Equity)

Best Sound Design (Resident Non­Equity)

Best Sound Design (Resident Equity)

Best Special Theatrical Event

Best Theater Production for Young Audiences

Best Touring Production