The Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, a recent transplant to Evanston and a longtime favorite of the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee, shared top honors at the 2019 Non-Equity Jeffs with The Artistic Home and Raven Theatre, two other long-standing Chicago companies. The annual awards honoring non-union Chicago theaters were to be held Monday at the Atheneum Theatre on Chicago’s North Side.
The most honored shows of the year include Theo Ubique’s “The Bridges of Madison County” (for best musical, director of a musical for Fred Anzevino, co-performer in a musical for Kelli Harrington, music direction for Jeremy Ramey); The Artistic Home’s “Requiem for a Heavyweight” (best play, director of a play for John Mossman, co-performer in a play for Mark Pracht, sound design for Petter Wahlback), and Raven’s “Yen” (co-supporting performer for Tiffany Bedwell and best violence and intimacy direction for Sam Hubbard). Raven’s “Crumbs From the Table of Joy” also found favor with the all-volunteer committee.
The coveted best ensemble award was won by the relatively youthful Broken Nose Theatre for its production of “Plainclothes.” Other shows that did well include Kokandy Production’s “Grand Hotel,” Sideshow Theatre Company’s “Tilikum” and Jackalope Theatre Company’s “Dutch Masters.”
The Jeffs no longer divides its acting categories by gender. This year, two women (Harrington and Missy Wise for BoHo Theatre’s “Bright Star”) won for principal roles in a musical while two men (Pracht and Patrick Agada for “Dutch Masters” at Jackalope Theatre) were the victors for principal roles in a play.
A special Jeff was given to the Trap Door Theatre for its quarter-century of challenging work in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. The committee said that 144 productions were judged this year with 33 Chicago theater companies receiving at least one Jeff nomination. The Jeffs have made awards to Chicago’s non-Equity theater scene since 1973.
NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD WINNERS:
ENSEMBLE: “Plainclothes” by Broken Nose Theatre
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL: “The Bridges of Madison County” by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
PRODUCTION – PLAY: “Requiem for a Heavyweight” by Artistic Home
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL: Fred Anzevino for “The Bridges of Madison County” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
DIRECTOR – PLAY: John Mossman for “Requiem for a Heavyweight” – Artistic Home
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL: Kelli Harrington (as Francesca) – “The Bridges of Madison County” by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre; and Missy Wise (as Alice Murphy) – “Bright Star” by BoHo Theatre
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY: Patrick Agada (as Eric) – “Dutch Masters” by Jackalope Theatre Company; and Mark Pracht (as Harlan “Mountain” McClintock) – “Requiem for a Heavyweight” by Artistic Home
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL: Michelle Jasso (as Elizaveta Grushinskaya); and Jonathan Schwart (as Otto Kringlein) – “Grand Hotel” by Kokandy Productions
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY: Tiffany Bedwell (as Maggie) – “Yen” by Raven Theatre; Brianna Buckley (as Lily Anne Green) – “Crumbs from the Table of Joy” by Raven Theatre; and August N. Forman (as Gina) – “Girl in the Red Corner” by Broken Nose Theatre
SOLO PERFORMANCE: Sam Krey (as Ryan Smithson) – “Ghosts of War” by Griffin Theatre Company
NEW MUSICAL: Alex Higgin-Houser and David Kornfeld for “Haymarket” – Underscore Theatre Company
NEW PLAY: Kristiana Rae Colon for “Tilikum” – Sideshow Theatre Company; and Philip Dawkins for “The Gentleman Caller” – Raven Theatre
MUSIC DIRECTION: Jeremy Ramey – “The Bridges of Madison County” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY: Breon Arzell – “The Total Bent” – Haven Theatre Company in association with About Face Theatre
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY: John Tovar – “Girl in the Red Corner” – Broken Nose Theatre
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY: Coco Elysses – “Tilikum” – Sideshow Theatre Company
PROJECTION DESIGN: Paul Deziel – “Tilikum” – Sideshow Theatre Company
SOUND DESIGN: Petter Wahlback – “Requiem for a Heavyweight” – Artistic Home
COSTUME DESIGN: John Nasca – “Grand Hotel” – Kokandy Productions
LIGHTING DESIGN: Erik S. Barry – “The Displaced” – Haven Theatre Company
SCENIC DESIGN: Ryan Emens – “Dutch Masters” – Jackalope Theatre Company
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION: Sam Hubbard (for violence and intimacy direction) – “Yen” – Raven Theatre
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.