Latest news with #Non-EquityJeffAwards
Chicago Tribune
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
At the Non-Equity Jeff Awards, Kokandy's ‘Into the Woods' is the big winner
The winners have been announced for the 51st annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards, with Kokandy Productions taking home five awards for 'Into the Woods.' Its production of the Sondheim musical in late 2024 won several big categories, including for best musical, ensemble, director and music direction, as well as for artistic specialization for orchestrations. Another leading winner was City Lit Theater, which won best play for 'August Wilson's Seven Guitars.' In the cast, Robert Howard was honored as best performer in a supporting role. (The Jeff Awards do not separate acting categories by gender.) City Lit also won a third award for costume design for 'Murder in the Cathedral.' Refracted Theatre also won three. In the play category, the coveted ensemble award went to TUTA Theatre for 'Attempts on Her Life.' Lead performance awards for a play went to Bide Akande for 'Rhinoceros' by Theatre Y and Jacqueline Grandt in 'The Totality of All Things' at Redtwist Theatre. For musicals, they went to Tyler Anthony Smith from 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' at Haven Theatre and Colette Todd in 'A Little Night Music' at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. Open Space Arts took home four awards in categories for short-run productions (or shows that had between 9 and 17 performances). The Theatre School at DePaul University won the 2025 Joseph Jefferson Special Award, according to an announcement from the Jeffs, honored for 'its 100-year legacy of training exceptional artists and its profound influence on the Chicago theater community.' A new Impresario Award honoring excellence in stage management went to Kyle Aschbrenner of Blank Theatre Company, and will be a part of both Equity and Non-Equity Jeffs going forward. The awards to 33 recipients across 25 categories were presented in a ceremony Monday night at the Harris Theater by the all-volunteer Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee. They recognized theater productions opening in 2024 by the Chicago area's non-union theaters. Some 138 artists in shows from 29 companies had been nominated. Winners of Non-Equity Jeff Awards for 2024 productions PRODUCTION OF A PLAY: 'August Wilson's Seven Guitars' – City Lit Theatre PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL OR REVUE: 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions ENSEMBLE OF A PLAY: 'Attempts on Her Life' – TUTA Theatre ENSEMBLE OF A MUSICAL OR REVUE: 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions NEW WORK: Brynne Frauenhoffer – 'Pro-Am' – First Floor Theater Erik Gernand – 'The Totality of All Things' – Redtwist Theatre DIRECTOR OF A PLAY: Rebecca Willingham – 'Pro-Am' – First Floor Theater DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL: Derek Van Barham – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE (PLAY): Bide Akande (Berenger) – 'Rhinoceros' – Theatre Y Jacqueline Grandt (Judith) – 'The Totality of All Things' – Redtwist Theatre PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE (MUSICAL): Tyler Anthony Smith (Hedwig) – 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' – Haven Theatre Colette Todd (Desiree Armfeldt) – 'A Little Night Music' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (PLAY): Jodi Gage (Actor 1) – 'Coronation' – Refracted Theatre Company Robert Howard (Hedley) – 'August Wilson's Seven Guitars' – City Lit Theater Company PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (MUSICAL): Alicia Berneche (Letitia Peabody Primrose) – 'On the Twentieth Century' – Blank Theatre Company Maya Rowe (Charlotte Malcolm) – 'A Little Night Music' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre PRODUCTION (SHORT RUN): 'Cock' – Open Space Arts DIRECTOR (SHORT RUN): Michael D. Graham – 'Light Switch' – Open Space Arts PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE (SHORT RUN): Philip Andrew Monnett (Henry) – 'Light Switch' – Open Space Arts PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (SHORT RUN): Sonya Robinson (W) – 'Cock' – Open Space Arts ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION (SHORT RUN): Diane Fairchild (lighting design) – 'Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol' – Lifeline Theatre SCENIC DESIGN: Marvin Tate – 'Rhinoceros' – Theatre Y COSTUME DESIGN: Patti Roeder – 'Murder in the Cathedral' – City Lit Theater Company SOUND DESIGN: Christopher Kriz – 'The Singularity Play' – Jackalope Theatre Company L.J. Luthringer – 'The Tempest' – Idle Muse Theatre Company LIGHTING DESIGN: Garrett Bell – 'Coronation' – Refracted Theatre Company PROJECTION DESIGN: Abboye Lawrence – 'Coronation' – Refracted Theatre Company MUSIC DIRECTION: Nick Sula – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION: Ariana Miles, Evelyn Ryan and Nick Sula (orchestrations) – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Afternoon Briefing: Cultural commissioner faces bullying allegations
Good afternoon, Chicago. After canceling a quarterly meeting with some of Chicago's top cultural minds for a second time, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth is facing criticism from appointees of past administrations who say she is leaving a 'void' in the struggling arts industry. Hedspeth postponed until late February the Cultural Advisory Council's meeting just days before it was set to occur last week. The decision 'continues a pattern' of noncommunication with arts leaders left in the dark about her vision for Chicago culture, advisory council member Amina Dickerson said. Hedspeth also faces bullying allegations from several staffers, records obtained by the Tribune show. Around a quarter of the department's staff has resigned or been fired since Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Hedspeth in March. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Chicago Public Schools officials had a calm, seemingly friendly conversation with two Secret Service agents outside Hamline School hours before the district sparked a nationwide panic when it falsely proclaimed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had tried to enter the building, according to recently released security footage. Read more here. More top news stories: Trump administration sues Illinois, Cook County and Chicago over sanctuary immigration laws Judge asked to allow Highland Park parade shooting victims who testify to watch trial of alleged shooter Fidelity Brokerage Services will be allowed to use the ground floor of the former Barnes & Noble store downtown for its new location, but the Naperville City Council wants safeguards to prevent other banking institutions from doing the same in the future. Read more here. More top business stories: USW president moves to dismiss U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel lawsuit Honeywell, one of the few remaining US industrial conglomerates, will split into three companies Virginia McCaskey, principal owner of the Chicago Bears and the only daughter of team founder George Halas, died Thursday, the team announced. She was 102. Read more here. More top sports stories: Jason Dickinson injures his leg in the Chicago Blackhawks' OT loss: 'That's a guy you can't just replace' How honing his cutter could help new Chicago Cubs reliever Ryan Brasier return to dominant 2023 form Nominations have been announced for the 51st annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards, with Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre and Kokandy Productions earning the most nominations for their off-Loop musicals. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: Column: Scott Turow's Rusty Sabich returns for more courtroom drama in 'Presumed Guilty' Gene Barge, renowned sax man and producer known as 'Daddy G,' dies at 98 Over the past year, President Donald Trump's threatened 25% tariffs against Mexico and Canada have plunged manufacturing hubs all along the northern Mexican border into limbo, a state that persists despite a one-month reprieve to which Trump agreed on Monday. Read more here. More top stories from around the world: Judge temporarily blocks Trump plan offering incentives for federal workers to resign President Donald Trump blames 'obsolete' US air traffic control system for the plane and chopper collision near DC
Chicago Tribune
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations: Theo's ‘Secret Garden' and Kokandy Productions lead the way
Nominations have been announced for the 51st annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards, with Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre and Kokandy Productions earning the most nominations for their off-Loop musicals. The Evanston company also known simply as Theo received 22 nominations for three productions, including 'The Secret Garden' (with 10), 'A Little Night Music' (with 8) and 'Sondheim Tribute Revue' (with 4 nominations across the awards' 23 categories.) Chicago's Kokandy Productions received 14 nominations, with most going to its holiday production of Sondheim's 'Into the Woods,' which was staged in the basement of the Chopin Theatre (10 nominations). According to the announcement Thursday by the all-volunteer Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee, Invictus Theatre Company and City Lit Theater Company also earned 12 and 11 nominations, respectively, for multiple productions in the past year. The Non-Equity Jeff Awards are for the most recent season of theater productions by the Chicago area's non-union theaters. Eligible productions for the 51st annual awards opened between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024, and the nominations cast a wide net, recognizing some 138 artists in shows from 29 companies. The ceremony for the 51st Anniversary Jeff Awards for Non-Equity Theater will be 7 p.m. March 24 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. at Millennium Park; tickets are $73.60, on sale Feb. 17 at NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES PRODUCTION OF A PLAY 'Attempts on Her Life' – TUTA Theatre 'August Wilson's Seven Guitars' – City Lit Theatre 'Coronation' – Refracted Theatre 'Native Son' – Lifeline Theatre 'Pro-Am' – First Floor Theater 'Topdog/Underdog' – Invictus Theatre Company PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL OR REVUE 'A Little Night Music' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions 'On the Twentieth Century' – Blank Theatre Company 'Sondheim Tribute Revue' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre 'The Secret Garden' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre ENSEMBLE OF A PLAY 'Attempts on Her Life' – TUTA Theatre 'August Wilson's Seven Guitars' – City Lit Theatre 'Dogs' – Red Theater 'Pro-Am' – First Floor Theater 'The Singularity Play' – Jackalope Theatre Company ENSEMBLE OF A MUSICAL OR REVUE 'A Little Night Music' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre 'Alice by Heart' – Kokandy Productions 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions 'Sondheim Tribute Revue' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre 'The Secret Garden' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre NEW WORK Brynne Frauenhoffer – 'Pro-Am' – First Floor Theater Erik Gernand – 'The Totality of All Things' – Redtwist Theatre George Howe and William Massolia – 'The House Without a Christmas Tree' – Griffin Theatre Company Hanna Kime – 'Dogs' – Red Theater Mark Pracht – 'The House of Ideas' – City Lit Theatre Jay Stull – 'The Singularity Play' – Jackalope Theatre Company Loy A. Webb – 'Judy's Life's Work' – Definition Theatre Laura Winters – 'Coronation' – Refracted Theatre DIRECTOR OF A PLAY Aaron Reese Boseman – 'Topdog/Underdog' – Invictus Theatre Company Manny Buckley – 'August Wilson's Seven Guitars' – City Lit Theatre Aileen Wen McGroddy – 'Attempts on Her Life' – TUTA Theatre Max Truax – 'Mother Courage and Her Children' – Trap Door Theatre Georgette Verdin – 'The Singularity Play' – Jackalope Theatre Company Rebecca Willingham – 'Pro-Am' – First Floor Theater DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL Fred Anzevino – 'Sondheim Tribute Revue' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Danny Kapinos – 'On the Twentieth Century' – Blank Theatre Company Christopher Pazdernik – 'The Secret Garden' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre L. Walter Stearns – 'A Little Night Music' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Derek Van Barham – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions Derek Van Barham and Brittney Brown – 'Alice by Heart' – Kokandy Productions PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE (PLAY) Bide Akande (Berenger) – 'Rhinoceros' – Theatre Y Mikha'el Amin (Lincoln) – 'Topdog/Underdog' – Invictus Theatre Company DeMorris Burrows (Booth) – 'Topdog/Underdog' – Invictus Theatre Company Holly Cerney (Mother Courage) – 'Mother Courage and Her Children' – Trap Door Theatre Peter Ferneding (Ned Weeks) – 'The Normal Heart' – Redtwist Theatre Jacqueline Grandt (Judith) – 'The Totality of All Things' – Redtwist Theatre Tamarus Harvell (Bigger) – 'Native Son' – Lifeline Theatre Claudia Quesada (Alba Guerrero) – 'An Educated Guess'– Definition Theatre Ana Santos (Electra Casados) – 'Adverses' – Aguijón Theater Company Katherine Schwartz (Agnes Eggling) – 'A Bright Room Called Day' – Blank Theatre Company James Sparling (Thomas Becket) – 'Murder in the Cathedral' – City Lit Theater Company PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE (MUSICAL) Patrick Byrnes (Frederik Egerman) – 'A Little Night Music' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Caitlyn Cerza (Alice) – 'Alice by Heart' – Kokandy Productions Joryhebel Ginorio (Mary Lennox) – 'The Secret Garden' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Madison Kauffman (Cinderella) – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions Will Koski (Lord Archibald Craven) – 'The Secret Garden' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Julia Limoncelli (Addie Mill) – 'The House Without a Christmas Tree' – Griffin Theatre Company Tyler Anthony Smith (Hedwig) – 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' – Haven Theatre Colette Todd (Desiree Armfeldt) – 'A Little Night Music' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Karylin Veres (Lily Garland) – 'On the Twentieth Century' – Blank Theatre Company Kevin Webb (Baker) – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (PLAY) Cereyna Jade Bougouneau (Charli) – 'Judy's Life's Work' – Definition Theatre Grant Carriker (Gregor Bazwald) – 'A Bright Room Called Day' – Blank Theatre Company Kason Chesky (Micah) – 'The Totality of All Things' – Redtwist Theatre Callahan Romen Crnich (Hal) – 'Proof' – BlueBird Arts Justice Ford (Lotte/Carmen) – 'By the Way, Meet Vera Stark' – The Artistic Home Jodi Gage (Actor 1) – 'Coronation' – Refracted Theatre Company Robert Howard (Hedley) – 'August Wilson's Seven Guitars' – City Lit Theater Company Zachary Linnert (Felix Turner) – 'The Normal Heart' – Redtwist Theatre Stephanie Shum (Two) – 'Dogs' – Red Theater Jarvell Williams (Canewell) – 'August Wilson's Seven Guitars' – City Lit Theater Company Michael B. Woods (Macduff) – 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' – Invictus Theatre Company PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (MUSICAL) Lexi Alioto (Susan) – '[Title of Show]' – PrideArts Alicia Berneche (Letitia Peabody Primrose) – 'On the Twentieth Century' – Blank Theatre Company August Forman (Narrator/Mysterious Man) – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions Shea Hopkins (Cinderella's Prince, Wolf) – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions Dakota Hughes (Martha Sowerby) – 'The Secret Garden' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Brennan Martinez (Lily Craven) – 'The Secret Garden' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Shannon McEldowney (Heidi) – '[Title of Show]' – PrideArts Maya Rowe (Charlotte Malcolm) – 'A Little Night Music' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Anne Sheridan Smith (Beverly) – 'The Mad Ones' – Blank Theatre Company Kevin Webb (Carl–Magnus Malcolm) – 'A Little Night Music' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre PRODUCTION (SHORT RUN) 'Cock' – Open Space Arts 'The Drowsy Chaperone' – Surging Films and Theatrics 'The Language Archive' – Edge of the Wood Theatre 'Light Switch' – Open Space Arts 'Pilot Island and Her Keepers' – The Impostors Theatre Co. 'The Smuggler' – Jackalope Theatre Company DIRECTOR (SHORT RUN) Michael D. Graham – 'Light Switch' – Open Space Arts Stacey Lind – 'The Language Archive' – Edge of the Wood Theatre Billy Surges – 'The Drowsy Chaperone' – Surging Films and Theatrics Iraida Tapias – 'The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon' – Water People Theatre Wren Wesner – 'Cock' – Open Space Arts PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE (SHORT RUN) Rebeca Alemán (Paulina) – 'The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon' – Water People Theatre Seth E. Harman (Man in Chair) – 'The Drowsy Chaperone' – Surging Films and Theatrics Philip Andrew Monnett (Henry) – 'Light Switch' – Open Space Arts Mafer Roussell (Helen of Troy) – 'Juicio a Una Zorra' – Repertorio Latino Theater Company Andrew Burden Swanson (Tim Finnegan) – 'The Smuggler' – Jackalope Theatre Company Phil Timberlake (Jacob Marley) – 'Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol' – Lifeline Theatre PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (SHORT RUN) Jeff Broitman (Resten) – 'The Language Archive' – Edge of the Wood Theatre Yahdina U–Deen (Grandma Betty) – 'Beneath the Willow Tree' – Pulse Theatre Company Sonya Robinson (W) – 'Cock' – Open Space Arts Ellen Shaw (Emma) – 'The Language Archive' – Edge of the Wood Theatre ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION (SHORT RUN) Dominick Alesia (original music) – 'Pilot Island and Her Keepers' – The Imposters Theatre Co. Diane Fairchild (lighting design) – 'Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol' – Lifeline Theatre Madeline Felauer (costume design) – 'The Golden Girls Meet the Skooby Don't Gang: The Mystery of the Haunted Bush' – Hell in a Handbag Productions Tim Huggenberger (choreography) – 'The Drowsy Chaperone' – Surging Films and Theatrics Stefan Roseen (sound design) – 'Pilot Island and Her Keepers' – The Imposters Theatre Co. SCENIC DESIGN Rose Johnson – 'Bottle Fly' – Redtwist Theatre Manuel Ortiz – 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' – Invictus Theatre Company Samantha Anna Rausch – 'Proof'– BlueBird Arts Kevin Rolfs – 'Network' – Invictus Theatre Company Kevin Rolfs – 'Topdog/Underdog' – Invictus Theatre Company Marvin Tate – 'Rhinoceros' – Theatre Y COSTUME DESIGN Gregory Graham – 'Coronation' – Refracted Theatre Company Rachel Lambert – 'By the Way, Meet Vera Stark' – The Artistic Home Lucy Elkin – 'The Secret Garden' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Rachel S. Parent – 'August Wilson's Seven Guitars' – City Lit Theater Company Patti Roeder – 'Murder in the Cathedral' – City Lit Theater Company SOUND DESIGN Ethan Korvne – 'Coronation' – Refracted Theatre Company Christopher Kriz – 'The Singularity Play' – Jackalope Theatre Company L.J. Luthringer – 'The Tempest' – Idle Muse Theatre Company Kimberly A. Sutton – 'Rhinoceros' – Theatre Y Petter Wahlbäck – 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' – Invictus Theatre Company LIGHTING DESIGN Garrett Bell – 'Coronation' – Refracted Theatre Company Keith Parham – 'Attempts on Her Life' – TUTA Theatre G 'Max' Maxin IV – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions Hannah Wien – 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' – Invictus Theatre Company Levi J. Wilkins – 'The Secret Garden' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre PROJECTION DESIGN DJ Douglass – 'Network' – Invictus Theatre Company Abboye Lawrence – 'Coronation' – Refracted Theatre Company G. 'Max' Maxin IV – 'The House of Ideas' – City Lit Theater Company MUSIC DIRECTION Carolyn Brady – 'Sondheim Tribute Review' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Carolyn Brady – 'The Secret Garden' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Eugene Dizon – 'A Little Night Music' – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Heidi Joosten – 'Alice by Heart' – Kokandy Productions Aaron Kaplan – 'On the Twentieth Century' – Blank Theatre Company Nick Sula – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION Violent Delights (Amber Wuttke & Jay Donley) (fight choreography) – 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' – Invictus Theatre Company Jillian Leff (fight choreography) – 'Die Hard 4 Your Luv' – Factory Theater Ariana Miles, Evelyn Ryan and Nick Sula (orchestrations) – 'Into the Woods' – Kokandy Productions Philip Seward (original music) – 'Murder in the Cathedral' – City Lit Theater Company
