With the Goodman Theatre leading the way with 24 nominations from six different productions, the Joseph Jefferson Awards committee announced a huge slate of 2026 Equity Jeff Award nominees on Wednesday.
The number of nominations has proliferated in recent years. Indeed, the all-volunteer committee this year nominated almost everything it judged, in one category or another. Between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, its members reportedly attended 85 Equity productions. From these, 72 productions became “Jeff Recommended,” and thus eligible for award nominations.
Across the “large” and “midsized” categories, 15 plays were nominated for best production. Other hefty lists included the nominations for best new work (eight nominations) and best director of a play (16, including two nods for former Goodman artistic director Robert Falls). Fourteen actors were nominated for best performance in a principal role in a play (the category is gender-neutral). Overall, well over 50 actors will be able to say they were Jeff nominated for their work in the last year.
The productions of “Birds of North America” at A Red Orchid Theatre and “White Christmas” at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora led with the most nominations for a single production (with seven each), followed by a five-way tie among “Always … Patsy Cline” (American Blues Theater), “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” (Goodman), “Leopoldstadt” (Writers Theatre), “A Little Night Music” (Marriott Theatre), and “Octet” (Raven Theatre) with six nominations each.
Along with Falls, individuals with two or more nominations this year include the actor Timothy Edward Kane, the scenic designer Collette Pollard, the projections designer Anthony Churchill, the sound designer Ethan Korvne, the choreographer Deidre Goodwin, the musical directors Kory Danielson and Michael Mahler and the composer Christopher Kriz.
Court Theatre’s critically acclaimed staging of “Big White Fog,” one of the Tribune’s best shows of 2025, was overlooked beyond a single nomination for costume design. And, bizarrely, the Goodman’s “Iceboy! The Musical,” likely headed to Broadway, did not get a best musical nomination, nor did its lively comedic star Megan Mullally. But the Goodman hardly was short of nominations elsewhere.
The 58th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity Theater will be presented in a ceremony on Sept. 14 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. at Millennium Park; tickets go on sale July 24, more information at www.jeffawards.org.
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic
2026 Equity Jeff Award nominees
PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (LARGE)
“Amadeus” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” – Goodman Theatre
“Covenant” – Goodman Theatre
“An Enemy of the People” – TimeLine Theatre Company
“Eureka Day” – TimeLine Theatre Company
“Holiday” – Goodman Theatre
“Job” – Writers Theatre
“Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” – Goodman Theatre
“Much Ado About Nothing”
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– Chicago Shakespeare TheaterPRODUCTION OF A PLAY (MIDSIZE)
“The Ally” – Theater Wit
“Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
“Come Back, Little Sheba” – American Blues Theater
“Oak” – Raven Theatre
“Pivot” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (LARGE)
“As You Like It” – Writers Theatre
“Come From Away” – Paramount Theatre
“Dear Evan Hansen” – Paramount Theatre
“White Christmas” – Paramount Theatre
“A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
“On Your Feet!” – Drury Lane Productions
“South Pacific” – Paramount Theatre
PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (MIDSIZE)
“Octet” – Raven Theatre
PRODUCTION OF A REVUE
“Always … Patsy Cline” – American Blues Theater
“Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“Pandemonium, Please Hold” – The Second City
ENSEMBLE FOR A PLAY
“The Angel Next Door” – Northlight Theatre
“Covenant” – Goodman Theatre
“Eureka Day” – TimeLine Theatre Company
“Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” – Goodman Theatre
“The Merry Wives of Windsor” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“Things With Friends” – American Blues Theater
ENSEMBLE FOR A MUSICAL OR REVUE
“As You Like It” – Writers Theatre
“Come From Away” – Paramount Theatre
“A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
“Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“Octet” – Raven Theatre
“Pandemonium, Please Hold” – The Second City
“Rome Sweet Rome” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
NEW WORK
Richard Greenberg – “Holiday” at Goodman Theatre
Lauren Gunderson – “Billie Jean” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Hanna Kime – “The Targeted” at A Red Orchid Theatre
Alex Lubischer – “Pivot” at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Tarell Alvin McCraney – “Windfall” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Q Brothers Collective – “Rome Sweet Rome” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Marco Antonio Rodriguez – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” at Goodman Theatre
James Sherman – “The First Lady of Television” at Northlight Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A PLAY (LARGE)
Felix Barrett – “Paranormal Activity” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Phillip Breen – “The Merry Wives of Windsor” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Selina Cadell – “Much Ado About Nothing” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
David Esbjornson – “Job” at Writers Theatre
Robert Falls – “Amadeus” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Robert Falls – “Holiday” at Goodman Theatre
Wendy Mateo – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” at Goodman Theatre
Ron OJ Parson – “An Enemy of the People” at TimeLine Theatre
Carey Perloff – “Leopoldstadt” at Writers Theatre
Malkia Stampley – “Covenant” at Goodman Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A PLAY (MIDSIZE)
Mikael Burke – “Oak” at Raven Theatre
Connie Canaday Howard – “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Elyse Dolan – “Come Back, Little Sheba” at American Blues Theater
Kirsten Fitzgerald – “Birds of North America” at A Red Orchid Theatre
Hallie Gordon – “Pivot” at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Jeremy Wechsler – “The Ally” at Theater Wit
DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL (LARGE)
Braden Abraham – “As You Like It” at Writers Theatre
Nick Bowling – “A Little Night Music” at Marriott Theatre
Jessica Fisch – “Dear Evan Hansen” at Paramount Theatre
Stephen Schellhardt – “White Christmas” at Paramount Theatre
Trent Stork – “Come From Away” at Paramount Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL (MIDSIZE)
Keira Fromm – “Octet” at Raven Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A REVUE
Carisa Barreca – “Pandemonium, Please Hold” at The Second City
Daryl D. Brooks – “Men of Soul” at Black Ensemble Theater
Harmony France – “Always … Patsy Cline” at American Blues Theater
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PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Will Allan (Dr. Thomas Stockmann) – “An Enemy of the People” at TimeLine Theatre
Mark Bedard (Benedick) – “Much Ado About Nothing” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
David Darrow (Mozart) – “Amadeus” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Christopher Donahue (Loyd) – “Job” at Writers Theatre
Rae Gray (Jane) – “Job” at Writers Theatre
Francis Guinan (Pete) – “Ashland Avenue” at Goodman Theatre
Lenin D’Anthony Izquierdo (Oscar Wao) – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” at Goodman Theatre
John Judd (John) – “Birds of North America” at A Red Orchid Theatre
Chilina Kennedy (Billie Jean) – “Billie Jean” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Al’Jaleel McGhee (Levee) – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” at Goodman Theatre
Jeff Perry (Captain) – “The Dance of Death” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Michael Potts (Henri “Mr. Mano” Tamaño) – “Windfall” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Cassidy Slaughter-Mason (Caitlyn) – “Birds of North America” at A Red Orchid Theatre
Gwendolyn Whiteside (Lola Delaney) – “Come Back, Little Sheba” at American Blues Theater
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Gaby Albo (Gloria) – “On Your Feet!” at Drury Lane Productions
Cody Combs (Evan Hansen) – “Dear Evan Hansen” at Paramount Theatre
Jackson Evans (Seymour) – “Little Shop of Horrors” at Marriott Theatre
Hershey Felder (Rachmaninoff) – “Rachmaninoff and the Tsar” at Writers Theatre
Phoebe Gonzalez (Rosalind) – “As You Like It” at Writers Theatre
JJ Niemann (Frank Abagnale Jr.) – “Catch Me If You Can” at Marriott Theatre
Allsun O’Malley (Nellie Forbush) – “South Pacific” at Paramount Theatre
Maya Rowe (Audrey) – “Little Shop of Horrors” at Marriott Theatre
Alex Syiek (Bob Wallace) – “White Christmas” at Paramount Theatre
Jaitee Thomas (Jackie Wilson) – “The Jackie Wilson Story” at Black Ensemble Theater
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Kelvin Roston Jr. (Donny Hathaway) – “Twisted Melodies” at Northlight Theatre
PERFORMER IN A REVUE
Liz Chidester (Patsy Cline) – “Always … Patsy Cline” at American Blues Theater
Molly Hernández (Louise Seger) – “Always … Patsy Cline” at American Blues Theater
Cat McDonnell (Performer) – “Pandemonium, Please Hold” at The Second City
Eddie Mujica (Performer) – “Pandemonium, Please Hold” at The Second City
Maxel McLoud Schingen (Prince, James Ingram, El DeBarge) – “Men of Soul” at Black Ensemble Theater
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Alana Arenas (First Lady/Miss Second/The Last One) – “Windfall” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Audrey Francis (Lon Lavecchia/Daniela Lavecchia) – “Catch As Catch Can” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Erin Noel Grennan (Olga) – “The Angel Next Door” at Northlight Theatre
Kelvin Grullon (Yunior) – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” at Goodman Theatre
Timothy Edward Kane (Sergeant Rough) – “Gaslight” at Northlight Theatre
Timothy Edward Kane (Master Ford) – “The Merry Wives of Windsor” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Keith Kupferer (George) – “Pivot” at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Stephanie Shum (Mia) – “The Targeted” at A Red Orchid Theatre
David Stobbe (Levi, Priest, Waiter) – “Pivot” at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Wesley Taylor (Ned Seton) – “Holiday” at Goodman Theatre
Rebekah Ward (Suzanne) – “Eureka Day” at TimeLine Theatre
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Danielle Davis (Casca/Ensemble) – “Rome Sweet Rome” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chad Doreck (Joe Biden) – “44: The Musical” by Eli Bauman and Monica Saunders-Weinberg in association with Anthony Brewster, Steve McKeever, Conrad Bauer and Shanice and Kerry Gordon
Michelle Duffy (Mother Superior) – “Sister Act” at Drury Lane Productions
Lawrence Flowers (Eddie Souther) – “Sister Act” at Drury Lane Productions
Veronica Garza (Countess Charlotte Malcolm) at “A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
Grey Henson (Iceboy) – “Iceboy! The Musical” at Goodman Theatre
Nick Offerman (Eugene O’Neill) – “Iceboy! The Musical” at Goodman Theatre
Claudia Quesada (Gloria Fajardo) – “On Your Feet!” – Drury Lane Productions
Abby C. Smith (Martha Watson) – “White Christmas” – Paramount Theatre
Sarah Stiles (Lambert) – “Iceboy! The Musical” at Goodman Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN (LARGE)
Fly Davis – “Paranormal Activity” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Kevin Depinet – “Ashland Avenue” at Goodman Theatre
Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “South Pacific” at Paramount Theatre
Collette Pollard – “The Dance of Death” at Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Collette Pollard – “Gaslight” at Northlight Theatre
Walt Spangler – “Holiday” at Goodman Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN (MIDSIZE)
Morgan Laszlo – “Birds of North America” at A Red Orchid Theatre
Lauren M. Nichols – “Wish You Were Here” at Remy Bumppo Theatre
Shayna Patel – “Come Back, Little Sheba” at American Blues Theater
Jacqueline and Richard Penrod – “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Grant Sabin – “Things With Friends” at American Blues Theater
Joe Schermoly – “The Ally” at Theater Wit
COSTUME DESIGN (LARGE)
Raquel Adorno – “Gaslight” at Northlight Theatre
Mara Blumenfeld – “White Christmas” at Paramount Theatre
Sally Dolembo – “A Little Night Music” at Marriott Theatre
Amanda Gladu – “Amadeus” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Alex Jaeger – “Leopoldstadt” at Writers Theatre
Yvonne L. Miranda – “Big White Fog” at Court Theatre
Sully Ratke – “Catch Me If You Can” at Marriott Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN (MIDSIZE)
Aly Greaves Amidei – “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Delena Bradley – “Eelpout!” at Shattered Globe Theatre
Kristy Leigh Hall – “Wish You Were Here” at Remy Bumppo Theatre
Lily Walls – “Always … Patsy Cline” at American Blues Theater
Anna Wooden – “Top Girls” at Raven Theatre
SOUND DESIGN (LARGE)
Eric Backus – “Twisted Melodies” at Northlight Theatre
Dee Etti-Williams – “Covenant” at Goodman Theatre
Gareth Fry – “Paranormal Activity” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
André Pluess – “Two Sisters and a Piano” at Writers Theatre
Jane Shaw – “Leopoldstadt” at Writers Theatre
SOUND DESIGN (MIDSIZE)
Eric Backus – “Do Something Pretty” at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Thomas Dixon – “Come Back, Little Sheba” at American Blues Theater
Ethan Korvne – “Birds of North America” at A Red Orchid Theatre
Ethan Korvne – “Oak” at Raven Theatre
Christopher Kriz and Hannah Kwak – “Octet” at Raven Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN (LARGE)
Lee Fiskness – “The Dance of Death” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Greg Hofmann – “South Pacific” at Paramount Theatre
Gina Patterson – “Covenant” at Goodman Theatre
Anna Watson – “Paranormal Activity” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Hannah Wien – “White Rooster” at Lookingglass Theatre Company
LIGHTING DESIGN (MIDSIZE)
Garrett Bell – “Birthday Candles” at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Ben Carne – “Top Girls” at Raven Theatre
Maximo Grano De Oro – “Octet” at Raven Theatre
Eric Watkins – “Oak” at Raven Theatre
Levi J. Wilkins – “Things With Friends” at American Blues Theater
CHOREOGRAPHY
Deidre Goodwin – “Catch Me If You Can” at Marriott Theatre
Deidre Goodwin – “Heartbreak Hotel” at Marriott Theatre
Tanji Harper – “Rome Sweet Rome” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Tiffany Krause and Annie Jo Fischer – “White Christmas” at Paramount Theatre
Luis Salgado – “On Your Feet!” at Drury Lane Productions
MUSIC DIRECTION
Kory Danielson – “Come From Away” at Paramount Theatre
Kory Danielson – “White Christmas” at Paramount Theatre
Michael Mahler – “Always . ..Patsy Cline” at American Blues Theater
Michael Mahler – “As You Like It” at Writers Theatre
Ryan T. Nelson – “A Little Night Music” at Marriott Theatre
Robert Reddrick – “Men of Soul” at Black Ensemble Theater
Nick Sula – “Octet” at Raven Theatre
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
Lindsay Jones – “The Merry Wives of Windsor” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Ethan Korvne – “Birds of North America” at A Red Orchid Theatre
Christopher Kriz – “Eelpout!” at Shattered Globe Theatre
Christopher Kriz – “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Joshua Schmidt – “Dial M for Murder” at Drury Lane Productions
Rick Sims – “The Dance of Death” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Eliza Thompson – “Much Ado About Nothing” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
PROJECTION DESIGN
Stefania Bulbarella – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” at Goodman Theatre
Anthony Churchill – “Catch Me If You Can” at Marriott Theatre
Anthony Churchill – “Dear Evan Hansen” at Paramount Theatre
Rasean Davonté Johnson – “Mr. Wolf” at Steppenwolf Theatre
Mike Tutaj – “South Pacific” at Paramount Theatre
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Chris Fisher – illusion design – “Paranormal Activity” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Caitlin McLeod – puppet design – “White Rooster” at Lookingglass Theatre Company
Jesse Mooney-Bullock – puppet design – “Little Shop of Horrors” at Marriott Theatre
Steph Paul – movement director – “Billie Jean” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Cassie Schillo – properties design – “Father of the Bride” at Drury Lane Productions
Tom Watson – hair, wig and makeup design – “Leopoldstadt” at Writers Theatre
SHORT RUN – PRODUCTION
“The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” by Tiwary Entertainment Group
SHORT RUN – PERFORMER
Aaron Costa Ganis (Peter Evans) – “Ava: The Secret Conversations” – Karl Sydow
Gary Houston (Henry Percival) – “The Official Biography” – Her Story Theater
Brendan Hunt (Himself) – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt – Tiwary Entertainment
Group
Elizabeth McGovern (Ava Gardner) – “Ava: The Secret Conversations” – Karl Sydow
SHORT RUN – NEW WORK
Kurt McGinnis Brown – “The Official Biography” – Her Story Theater
Brendan Hunt – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group
SHORT RUN – DESIGN
Nick Solyom – Lighting Design – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary
Entertainment Group
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IMPRESARIO AWARD FOR STAGE MANAGEMENT
Nikki Blue – Goodman Theatre
Jinni Pike – Paramount Theatre
Caitlin I. Quinn – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble