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Pictured (L to R) Tim Hopper and K. Todd Freeman in Steppenwolf’s world premiere of Bruce Norris’ “Downstate,” which won Jeffs for Best Production and for New Work. | Photo by Michael Brosilow.
The 51st Annual Equity Jeff Awards Ceremony took Monday night at Drury Lane Oakbrook, with Remy Bumppo’s “Frankenstein” taking home five awards, including Best Production – Play in the Midsize category. Court Theatre also took home five awards, including the coveted Ensemble Award for “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf” and four awards for “Photograph 51.” Steppenwolf’s production of “Downstate” received the Jeff Award for Best Production – Play in the Large category. The award for Best Production – Musical in the Large category went to “Six” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater (which is headed to Broadway), and the award for Best Production – Musical in the Midsize category went to “Caroline, or Change,” produced by Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company.
Three new works received Jeffs this year: New Work – Play went to Bruce Norris for “Downstate,” and awards for New Work – Musical went to David Cale for “We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time” at Goodman Theatre in co-production with The Public Theater, and to Michael Mahler and Jason Brett for “Miracle,” the commercial production about the 2016 Cubs that ran at the Royal George.
A special Jeff Award was presented to Teatro Vista. The full list of award winners follows.
2019 Jeff Award Recipients:
Production – Play – Large
“Downstate” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Production – Play – Midsize
“Frankenstein” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Production – Musical – Large
“Six” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Production – Musical – Midsize
“Caroline, or Change” – Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company
Production – Revue
“You Can’t Fake the Funk: A Journey through Funk Music” – Black Ensemble Theater
Ensemble – Play
“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf” – Court Theatre
Ensemble – Musical or Revue
“Six” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
New Work – Play
Bruce Norris – “Downstate” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
New Work – Musical
David Cale – “We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time” – Goodman Theatre in co-production with The Public Theater
Michael Mahler and Jason Brett – “Miracle” – William A. Marovitz and Arny Granat
Director – Play – Large
Vanessa Stalling – “Photograph 51” – Court Theatre
Director – Play – Midsize
Ian Frank – “Frankenstein” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Jonathan Wilson – “The Recommendation” – Windy City Playhouse
Director – Musical – Large
Jim Corti – “The Producers” – Paramount Theatre
Director – Musical – Midsize
Lili-Anne Brown – “Caroline, or Change” – Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company
Performer In A Principal Role – Play
Janet Ulrich Brooks (Maria Callas) – “Master Class” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Chaon Cross (Rosalind Franklin) – “Photograph 51” – Court Theatre
Performer In A Principal Role – Musical
E. Faye Butler (Rose) – “Gypsy” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Barbara E. Robertson (Anna Edson Taylor) – “Queen of the Mist” – Firebrand Theatre
Solo Performance
Joe Foust (Solo Performer) – “The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey” – American Blues Theater
Performer In A Supporting Role – Play
K. Todd Freeman (Dee) – “Downstate” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Brian Keys (Dwight Barnes) – “The Recommendation” – Windy City Playhouse
Performer In A Supporting Role – Musical
Donica Lynn (Oda Mae) – “Ghost The Musical” – Theatre at the Center
Nat Zegree (Jerry Lee Lewis) – “Million Dollar Quartet” – Marriott Theatre
Performer In A Revue
Robin DaSilva (Mahalia) – “Mahalia Jackson: Moving Thru the Light” – Black Ensemble Theater
Scenic Design – Large
Arnel Sancianco – “Photograph 51” – Court Theatre
Scenic Design – Midsize
Lauren Nigri – “The Recommendation” – Windy City Playhouse
Costume Design – Large
Rueben Echoles – “You Can’t Fake the Funk: A Journey through Funk Music” – Black Ensemble Theater
Costume Design – Midsize
Jeff Hendry – “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Sound Design – Large
Rick Sims – “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Sound Design – Midsize
Christopher Kriz – “Frankenstein” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Lighting Design – Large
William C. Kirkham – “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Lighting Design – Midsize
Mike Durst – “Frankenstein” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Choreography
Brenda Didier – “The Producers” – Paramount Theatre
Original Music
Andre Pluess and Amanda Dehnert – “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Music Direction
Roberta Duchak and Joe Beighton – “Six” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Fight Choreography
Jon Beal – “Cardboard Piano” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Puppet Design
Chicago Puppet Studio – “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Projection Design
Rasean Davonte Johnson – “Frankenstein” – Court Theatre
Artistic Specialization
Kristy Leigh Hall – Makeup Design – “Frankenstein” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Cassy Schillo and Wendy A. Huber -Properties Design– “All Childish Things” – First Folio Theatre
MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS
By Theater Company:
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company – 5
Court Theatre – 5
Lookingglass Theatre Company – 4
Black Ensemble Theater – 3
Chicago Shakespeare Theater – 3
Steppenwolf Theatre Company – 3
Windy City Playhouse – 3
Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company – 2
Paramount Theatre – 2
Porchlight Music Theatre -2
Timeline Theatre Company – 2
By Production:
Frankenstein – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company – 5
Photograph 51 – Court Theatre – 4
Downstate – Steppenwolf Theatre Company – 3
The Recommendation – Windy City Playhouse – 3
Six – Chicago Shakespeare Theater– 3
Caroline, or Change – Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company – 2
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – Lookingglass Theatre Company – 2
The Producers – Paramount Theatre – 2
The Steadfast Tin Soldier – Lookingglass Theatre Company – 2
You Can’t Fake the Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music – Black Ensemble Theater – 2