2019 Equity Jeff Award Winners

2019 Equity Jeff Award Winners

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

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