Recipients of the 45th Annual Non–Equity Jeff Awards Announced

The Jeff Awards announced recipients of the 45th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards on Monday, June 11, at the Athenaeum Theatre.

Top honors were awarded to Steep Theatre Company's Lela & Co. and Griffin Theatre Company's Ragtime. Other productions receiving multiple awards included Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Interrobang Theatre Project's Foxfinder. Strawdog Theatre Company received a Special Award for "30 years of collaboration as an innovative and provocative Ensemble."

Between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018, there were 136 eligible Non-Equity productions considered for Jeff Recommendation. Of those, 63 productions (or 46%) were recommended, including 15 world premieres. There were 45 productions that received at least one nomination, which represents the work of 32 theatre companies.

The Jeff Awards has been honoring outstanding theatre artists annually since it was established in 1968. With up to 55 members representing a wide variety of backgrounds in theatre (including producers, directors, actors, playwrights, designers, professors of theatre, entertainment lawyers and agents, and theatre lovers), the Jeff Awards is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors. Opening night judges include not only the members but also Artistic & Technical theatre volunteers (the "A/T Team"), including Artistic Directors, producers, directors and artists from Chicago theatres. The Jeff Awards fosters the artistic growth of area theatres and theatre artists and promotes educational opportunities, audience appreciation, and civic pride in the achievements of the theatre community. Each year, the Jeff Awards judges over 300 theatrical productions and host two awards ceremonies. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the Jeff Awards established the Non-Equity Wing in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre. The next Equity Awards will be held on Monday, October 22, 2018, at Drury Lane Oakbrook.

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2018 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD RECIPIENTS

ENSEMBLE
"Ragtime" - Griffin Theatre Company

PRODUCTION - MUSICAL
"Ragtime" - Griffin Theatre Company

PRODUCTION - PLAY
"Lela & Co." - Steep Theatre Company

DIRECTOR - MUSICAL
Scott Weinstein - "Ragtime" - Griffin Theatre Company

DIRECTOR - PLAY
Robin Witt - "Lela & Co." - Steep Theatre Company

PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL
Jacquelyne Jones (Mrs. Lovett) - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Philip Torre (Sweeney Todd) - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY
Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel (Lela) - " Lela & Co." - Steep Theatre Company
Michael B. Woods (Cyrano) - "Cyrano" - BoHo Theatre

PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL
Katherine Thomas (Sarah) - "Ragtime" - Griffin Theatre Company
Missy Wise (Blanche) - "Bonnie & Clyde" - Kokandy Productions

PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY
Owais Ahmed (Bashir) - "The Invisible Hand" - Steep Theatre Company
Stella Martin (Sherry) - "Nice Girl" - Raven Theatre Company

NEW MUSICAL
Jay Paul Deratany, Joe Stevens, and Keaton Wooden - "The CiviliTy of Albert Cashier" - Permoveo Productions i/a/w Pride Films and Plays

NEW PLAY
Loy A. Webb - "The Light" - The New Colony

MUSIC DIRECTION
Jeremy Ramey - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

CHOREOGRAPHY
Jenna Schoppe - "Yank! A World War II Love Story" - Pride Films and Plays

FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY
Kyle Encinas - "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" - Red Theater Chicago

ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
Jesse Case - "Foxfinder" - Interrobang Theatre Project

SOUND DESIGN
Justin Glombicki - "In the Soundless Awe" - Saltbox Theatre Collective

COSTUME DESIGN
Beth Laske-Miller - "Shockheaded Peter" - Black Button Eyes Productions

LIGHTING DESIGN
James Kolditz - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN
Eric Luchen - "Foxfinder" - Interrobang Theatre Project

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MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS

BY THEATRE

4 - Griffin Theatre Company
4 - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
4 - Steep Theatre Company
2 - Pride Films and Plays (1 with Permoveo Productions) 2 - Interrobang Theatre Project

BY PRODUCTION
4 - Ragtime - Griffin Theatre Company
4 - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
3 - Lela & Co. - Steep Theatre Company
2 - Foxfinder - Interrobang Theatre Project SPECIAL NOTICE TO NEWS MEDIA

The Jeff Awards website, www.jeffawards.org, lists all current nominees and statistics, along with other Jeff Awards information and news.

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