The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee will pay a special tribute to the career and legacy of Russ Tutterow at the 2015 Non-Equity Awards Ceremony on June 8, 2015 at Park West. The Jeff Awards had planned the Special Award honor for Tutterow, Emeritus Artistic Director of Chicago Dramatists, before he became ill and passed away on May 4 of this year. Meghan Beals, Interim Artistic Director of Chicago Dramatists, will accept the award on his behalf. Russ nurtured local playwrights and developed a collaborative theatre incubator at Chicago Dramatists, where plays were given time and a place to grow. Throughout the three decades during which Russ served as the Artistic Director, he contributed significantly to the cultural life of the City and, through his work with playwrights, enhanced Chicago's reputation as a great American theatre center. His direction of the world premiere of A Steady Rain written by Keith Huff, subsequently moved to a successful run on Broadway, but his legacy will live on most vividly in Chicago.
Russ Tutterow directed hundreds of new play readings and mentored the careers of hundreds of playwrights at
Chicago Dramatists, many of whom were introduced to audiences at the Saturday afternoon script-in-hand readings of new works. Audiences were invited to use their imagination to envision full-blown productions and afterward to share reactions to the play experience. Russ exhibited a natural ability as a matchmaker of artistic teams. New playwrights benefitted from his talent to match a play with the right director, actors, and technical artists who could bring the new work to life before a willing audience.
After graduating with a B.A. in theatre from Ball State University and an M.A. in theatre from
Northwestern University, Russ went on to direct, manage and teach at Chicago Dramatista and also to direct at such notabale Chicago theatres as
Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens, The Royal George, Mercury Theater, Briar Street, Prop, Zebra Crossing, Igloo Theatre, and Cullen, Henaghan & Platt Productions. He also spent time at Cafe LaMamma Hollywood, served on the 2005 First Look Council at
Steppenwolf Theatre, and held positions as Adjunct Associate Professor of Theatre at the University of Wisconsin and Director of Theatre at Lake Forest College.
In 2005, Russ received the League of Chicago Theatres' Artistic Leadership Award for his "outstanding achievement in developing new plays and his longtime contribution to Chicago theatre". Other honors included the 2007 Achievement in Theatre Awards from the Illinois Theatre Association and the 2010 Spirit Award from Actors' Equity Association for his commitment to non-traditional casting and diversity. To honor his 25th year as
Chicago Dramatists Artistic Director and his contributions to cultural life, the City of Chicago proclaimed May Street (adjacent to
Chicago Dramatists) as "
Russ Tutterow Way".
The Jeff Awards Committee will salute Russ' career achievements and celebrate his spirit and legacy, which will prosper in his colleagues and friends.
The 42nd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, June 8, 2015, at Park West, 322 W. Armitage, Chicago. Doors open for a cash bar at 6 p.m., with a light buffet at 6:30 p.m., and the presentation ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. A group rate of $35 is available for parties of 10 or more. Festive cocktail attire is suggested, and the public is cordially invited. Tickets are purchased online with a credit card at
www.jeffawards.org or by mail with the downloadable mail-order form, also found at
www.jeffawards.org. For more information, contact
John D. Glover, Non-Equity Wing Chair, at
nonequitywing@jeffawards.org. Follow live twitter feeds from the ceremony and behind the scenes at #josephjefferson.
