Nominations are in for the 2023-24 Equity Jeff Awards, with the Goodman Theatre scoring the most nominations, with 20. Mercury Theater Chicago, the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Chicago Shakespeare and Drury Lane Productions also had very good years.
Nominees for the annual awards for Chicago’s union-affiliated Equity theaters were announced Tuesday morning by the all-volunteer Jeff committee.
The Steppenwolf Theatre, meanwhile, saw two of its hit spring productions nominated for best production: Samuel D. Hunter’s “Little Bear Ridge Road” and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ “Purpose,” which likely is headed to Broadway next season. Mercury Theater dominated the “midsized” category of musicals with its productions of “Jersey Boys,” “Rock of Ages” and “Young Frankenstein.” And Susan V. Booth, the new Goodman artistic director, scored a nod for her production of of “The Penelopiad.”
Famous names on the list include Sufjan Stevens and Justin Peck, both nominated for “Illinoise,” Joe Mantello, nominated for directing “Little Bear Ridge Road,” Phylicia Rashad, nominated for directing “Purpose” at Steppenwolf, Jason Alexander, nominated for his work in “Judgment Day” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Hershey Felder for “Hershey Felder as Monsieur Chopin” at Writers Theatre, and Laurie Metcalf, the star of “Little Bear Ridge Road.”
The most nominated productions in the past year were “Turret” by A Red Orchid Theatre, tied with “Young Frankenstein” at Mercury, followed by “The Music Man” at Marriott Theatre.
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.
cjones5@chicagotribune.com
The ceremony to present the 56th anniversary Equity Jeff Awards will take place Sept. 30 at Drury Lane Theatre (100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace), hosted by Lillian Castillo, Kelvin Roston, Jr. and Janet Ulrich Brooks; more at www.jeffawards.org
2023 Equity Jeff Award nominees
PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (LARGE)
“Birthday Candles” – Northlight Theatre
“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” – Goodman Theatre
“The Lehman Trilogy” – Broadway in Chicago and TimeLine Theatre Company
“Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
“Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“A Streetcar Named Desire” – Paramount Theatre
“Twelfth Night” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Tyla Abercrumbie, E. Faye Butler, Sharriese Hamilton, Ora Jones, Demetra Dee, Felicia Oduh, Eric Gerard and Jaye Ladymore in “The Nacirema Society” by Pearl Cleage at the Goodman Theatre.
PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (MIDSIZE)
“Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
“Gods and Monsters” – Frame of Reference Productions
“Silent Sky” – Citadel Theatre
“Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
“A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre
PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (LARGE)
“Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
“Guys and Dolls” – Drury Lane Productions
“The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre
“The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
“Next to Normal” – Paramount Theatre
PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (MIDSIZE)
“Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
“Rock of Ages” – Mercury Theater Chicago
“She Loves Me” – Citadel Theatre
“Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
PRODUCTION OF A REVUE
“Ain’t Misbehavin’” – Drury Lane Productions
“A Taste of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s” – Black Ensemble Theater
ENSEMBLE FOR A PLAY
“English” – Goodman Theatre with the Guthrie Theatre
“The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
“The Penelopiad” – Goodman Theatre
“POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
ENSEMBLE FOR A MUSICAL OR REVUE
“Ain’t Misbehavin’” – Drury Lane Productions
“Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
“A Taste of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s” – Black Ensemble Theater
NEW WORK
Levi Holloway – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Samuel D. Hunter – “Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins – “Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Nambi E. Kelley – “Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution” – Court Theatre
Brett Neveu – “Revolution” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury – “Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Mary Zimmerman – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A PLAY (LARGE)
Susan V. Booth – “The Penelopiad” – Goodman Theatre
Nick Bowling and Vanessa Stalling – “The Lehman Trilogy” – Broadway in Chicago and TimeLine Theatre Company
Lili-Anne Brown – “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
Joe Mantello – “Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Tyrone Phillips – “Twelfth Night” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Phylicia Rashad – “Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
DIRECTOR OF A PLAY (MIDSIZE)
Mikael Burke – “Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Louis Contey – “A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Levi Holloway – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Chuck Smith – “The Reclamation of Madison Hemings” – American Blues Theater
Paul Oakley Stovall – “Gods and Monsters” – Frame of Reference Productions
Beth Wolf – “Silent Sky” – Citadel Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL (LARGE)
Jim Corti – “Next to Normal” – Paramount Theatre
Jessica Fisch – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Katie Spelman – “The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
Michael Weber – “Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Mary Zimmerman – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL (MIDSIZE)
Matthew Silar – “She Loves Me” – Citadel Theatre
L. Walter Stearns – “Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
L. Walter Stearns and Brenda Didier – “Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
DIRECTOR OF A REVUE
Daryl D. Brooks – “The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s” – Black Ensemble Theater
E. Faye Butler – “Ain’t Misbehavin’” – Drury Lane Productions
Deidre Goodwin – “Beehive: The 60’s Musical” – Marriott Theatre
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Scott Aiello (Eddie) – “A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Jason Alexander (Sammy Campo) – “Judgment Day” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Bryan Burke (Gunner) – “The Outgoing Tide” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Kate Fry (Ernestine Ashworth) – “Birthday Candles” – Northlight Theatre
Jon Michael Hill (Nazareth “Naz” Jasper) – “Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Anthony Irons (Stokely Carmichael) – “Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution” – Court Theatre
Travis A. Knight (Rabbit) – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Laurie Metcalf (Sarah) – “Little Bear Ridge Road” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Jon Hudson Odom (Madison Hemings) – “The Reclamation of Madison Hemings” – American Blues Theater
Michael Shannon (Green) – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Rebecca Spence (Eleanor of Aquitaine) – “The Lion in Winter” – Court Theatre
Bethany Thomas (Sister Rosetta Tharpe) – “Marie and Rosetta” – Northlight Theatre
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Kaitlyn Davis (Carole King) – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Lissa deGuzman (Ella) – “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” – Drury Lane Productions
Sean Fortunato (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein) – “Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
KJ Hippensteel (Harold Hill) – “The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
Mark David Kaplan (Tevye) – “Fiddler on the Roof” – Drury Lane Productions
Donna Louden (Diana) – “Next to Normal” – Paramount Theatre
Sophie Madorsky (Dina) – “The Band’s Visit” – Writers Theatre and TheatreSquared
Michael Metcalf (Frankie Valli) – “Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
David Moreland (Drew) – “Rock of Ages” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Meghan Murphy (Reno Sweeney) – “Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Hershey Felder (Monsieur Chopin) – “Hershey Felder as Monsieur Chopin” – Writers Theatre
David Kwong (performer) – “The Enigmatist” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
PERFORMER IN A REVUE
Leila Gorstein (performer) – “Oh, The Places You’ll Glow” – The Second City e.t.c.
Thee Ricky Harris (Head Chef Ricky) – “A Taste of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
James T. Lane (performer) – “Ain’t Misbehavin’” – Drury Lane Productions
Leah Morrow (performer) – “Beehive: The 60’s Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Lorenzo Rush, Jr. (performer) – “Ain’t Misbehavin’” – Drury Lane Productions
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Breon Arzell (Guy) – “Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Daniel Breaker (Father Michael) – “Judgment Day” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
E. Faye Butler (Grace Dubose Dunbar) – “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
Alexandra Chopson (Beth) – “In Quietness” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Mitchell J. Fain (Henry Lehman) – “The Lehman Trilogy” – Broadway in Chicago and TimeLine Theatre Company
Mildred Marie Langford (Actor 1) – “Notes from the Field” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Eileen Niccolai (Beatrice) – “A View from the Bridge” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Tim Rhoze (Bynum Walker) – “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” – Goodman Theatre
Shariba Rivers (Actor 2) – “Notes from the Field” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Paul Oakley Stovall (Malvolio) – “Twelfth Night” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Natalie West (Georgia) – “Revolution” – A Red Orchid Theatre
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Adrian Aguilar (Tommy DeVito) – “Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
McKinley Carter (Marie) – “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” – Drury Lane Productions
Lillian Castillo (Elizabeth Benning) – “Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Jackson Evans (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh) – “Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Alex Goodrich (Mayor Shinn) – “The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
Andrew MacNaughton (The Monster) – “Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Steve McDonagh (Moonface Martin) – “Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Andrew Mueller (Gerry Goffin) – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Ron E. Rains (Dad) – “Billy Elliot” – Paramount Theatre
Mary Robin Roth (Frau Blücher) – “Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Ryan Stajmiger (Igor) – “Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Erica Stephan (Cynthia Weil) – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Marriott Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN (LARGE)
Linda Buchanan – “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” – Goodman Theatre
Angela Weber Miller – “A Streetcar Named Desire” – Paramount Theatre
Lauren M. Nichols – “The Hot Wing King” – Writers Theatre
Todd Rosenthal – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre
Todd Rosenthal – “Purpose” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Arnel Sancianco – “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years” – Goodman Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN (MIDSIZE)
Bob Knuth – “Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Caitlin McLeod – “Lavender Men” – About Face Theatre
Lauren M. Nichols – “Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Grant Sabin – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Jessica Kuehnau Wardell – “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
COSTUME DESIGN (LARGE)
Raquel Adorno – “The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
Gregg Barnes – “Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” – iTheatrics and Broadway & Beyond Theatricals
Theresa Ham – “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” – Drury Lane Productions
Ana Kuzmanic – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre
Ryan Park – “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” – Paramount Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN (MIDSIZE)
Sarah Albrecht – “¡Bernarda!” – Teatro Vista
Aly Greaves Amidei – “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Rachel Boylan – “Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Gregory Graham – “Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Bob Kuhn – “Rock of Ages” – Mercury Theater Chicago
SOUND DESIGN (LARGE)
Pornchanok Kanchanabanca – “Richard III” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Jeffrey Levin – “Eurydice” – Writers Theatre
Jeffrey Levin – “Selling Kabul” – Northlight Theatre
André Pluess – “The Lehman Trilogy” – Broadway in Chicago and TimeLine Theatre Company
André Pluess – “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” – Court Theatre
SOUND DESIGN (MIDSIZE)
Forrest Gregor – “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice” – The Gift Theatre
Christopher Kriz – “The Outgoing Tide” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Jeffrey Levin – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
André Pluess – “Gods and Monsters” – Frame of Reference Productions
Rick Sims – “The Reclamation of Madison Hemings” – American Blues Theater
LIGHTING DESIGN (LARGE)
Brandon Stirling Baker – “Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Reza Behjat – “Sanctuary City” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Lee Fiskness – “Ain’t Misbehavin’” – Drury Lane Productions
Jason Lynch – “Lucha Teotl” – Goodman Theatre with Chicago Latino Theater Alliance and National Museum of Mexican Art
Cat Wilson – “A Streetcar Named Desire” – Paramount Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN (MIDSIZE)
Conchita Avitia – “The Brightest Thing in the World” – About Face Theatre
Mike Durst – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
G. “Max” Maxin IV – “Young Frankenstein” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Gabrielle Strong – “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice” – The Gift Theatre
Levi Wilkins – “Gods and Monsters” – Frame of Reference Productions
CHOREOGRAPHY
William Carlos Angulo – “In the Heights” – Marriott Theatre
Christopher Chase Carter – “The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s” – Black Ensemble Theater
Dan Knechtges – “Guys and Dolls” – Drury Lane Productions
Tammy Mader – “Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Justin Peck- “Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Katie Spelman – “The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
Satya Chavez – “¡Bernarda!” – Teatro Vista
Samuel Davis – “The Penelopiad” – Goodman Theatre
Christopher Kriz – “The Outgoing Tide” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Jeffrey Levin – “Turret” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Jon Trenchard – “Richard III” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
MUSIC DIRECTION
Amanda Dehnert – “The Matchbox Magic Flute” – Goodman Theatre
Eugene Dizon and Linda Madonia – “Jersey Boys” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Nathan Koci – “Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
William Foster McDaniel – “Ain’t Misbehavin’” – Drury Lane Productions
Ryan T. Nelson – “The Music Man” – Marriott Theatre
Nick Sula – “Anything Goes” – Porchlight Music Theatre
PROJECTION DESIGN
Anthony Churchill – “Black Sunday” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Anthony Churchill – “The Lehman Trilogy” – Broadway in Chicago and TimeLine Theatre Company
Paul Deziel – “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” – Paramount Theatre
Mike Tutaj – “Fiddler on the Roof” – Drury Lane Productions
Mike Tutaj – “Gods and Monsters” – Frame of Reference Productions
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Timo Andres – music arrangements and orchestrations – “Illinoise” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Miguel A. Armstrong – wig design – “Beehive: The 60’s Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Puppeteer Ensemble – puppeteering – “Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” – iTheatrics and Broadway & Beyond Theatricals
Luis “Aski” Palomino – wrestling coordination – “Lucha Teotl” – Goodman Theatre with Chicago Latino Theater Alliance and National Museum of Mexican Art
Puppeteer Ensemble – puppeteering – “Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” – iTheatrics and Broadway & Beyond Theatricals
Keith Ryan – wig design – “A Taste of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
SHORT RUN – PRODUCTION
“How I Learned What I Learned” – Congo Square Theatre Company and Goodman Theatre
“It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago” – American Blues Theater
“Welcome to Matteson!” – Congo Square Theatre Company
SHORT RUN – PERFORMER
Brandon Dahlquist (George Bailey) – “It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago” – American Blues Theater
Anthony Irons (performer) – “Welcome to Matteson!” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Harry Lennix (August Wilson) – “How I Learned What I Learned” – Congo Square Theatre Company and Goodman Theatre
Alexis J. Roston (performer) – “Welcome to Matteson!” – Congo Square Theatre Company
