At the 41st Annual Jeff Equity Awards TimeLine Theatre’s much-extended production of “The History Boys” took top honors in the midsize theatre Play category and walked off with 5 statues, the most of any production honored at the festive ceremony held at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. “Ruined,” a searing cry against the systematic violation of women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 2000 civil war, presented by the Goodman Theatre in a co-production with Manhattan Theatre Club, in a rare tie, shared top honors for Production-Play in the large theatre category, along with Steppenwolf Theatre’s charming rendering of seasoned Irish cronies in Conor McPherson’s “The Seafarer.” “Ruined” also garnered a New Work award for playwright Lynn Nottage. Honored musicals were Court Theatre’s innovative staging of “Caroline, or Change” (large theatre), whose star E. Faye Butler also took Principal Actress – Musical honors, and “Hillary A. Williams, LLC’s “Tomorrow Morning” (midsize theatre).
The audience enjoyed live and historic video performances from The Second City which received a Tribute Award for its 50th anniversary. Jeff Chair Susan Haimes presented a Special Award to Director-Producer William Pullinsi for his 50-year career of presenting theatre. Entertainment in the ceremony included performances from 11 nominated musicals and revues, while nominated plays were represented by video features. The festivities were once again directed by Michael Weber, produced by Jeff Equity Chair Diane Hires, and hosted by actors Elizabeth Ledo and Rob Lindley.
COMPLETE LIST OF JEFF EQUITY AWARD RECIPIENTS:
PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE (Tie)
“Ruined” – Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club
“The Seafarer” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE
“The History Boys” – TimeLine Theatre Company
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – LARGE
“Caroline, or Change” – Court Theatre
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – MIDSIZE
“Tomorrow Morning” – Hillary A. Williams, LLC
PRODUCTION – REVUE
“Studs Terkel’s Not Working” – The Second City e.t.c.
ENSEMBLE
“The History Boys” – TimeLine Theatre Company
DIRECTOR – PLAY
Nick Bowling – “The History Boys” – TimeLine Theatre Company
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL
Charles Newell – “Caroline, or Change” – Court Theatre
DIRECTOR – REVUE
Matt Hovde – “Studs Terkel’s Not Working” – The Second City e.t.c.
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Max McLean – “Mark’s Gospel” – Fellowship for the Performing Arts
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY (Tie)
William L. Petersen – “Blackbird” – Victory Gardens Theater
Larry Neumann, Jr. – “A Moon for the Misbegotten” – First Folio Theatre
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Joseph Anthony Foronda – “Miss Saigon” – Drury Lane Oakbrook
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Saidah Arrika Ekulona – “Ruined” – Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
E. Faye Butler – “Caroline, or Change” – Court Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Alex Weisman – “The History Boys” – TimeLine Theatre Company
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Max Quinlan – “The Light in the Piazza” – Marriott Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Spencer Kayden – “Don’t Dress for Dinner” – The British Stage Company
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL (Tie)
Liz Baltes – “A Minister’s Wife”- Writers’ Theatre
Summer Smart – “The Light in the Piazza” – Marriott Theatre
ACTOR IN A REVUE
Mark David Kaplan – “Forbidden Broadway: Dances with the Stars” – John Freedson, Harriet Yellin, & Margaret Cotter
ACTRESS IN A REVUE
Amanda Blake Davis – “Studs Terkel’s Not Working” – The Second City e.t.c.
SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE
Lucy Osborne – “Twelfth Night” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
SCENIC DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Brian Sidney Bembridge – “The History Boys” – TimeLine Theatre Company
COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE
Mara Blumenfeld – “The Arabian Nights” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
COSTUME DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Rachel Laritz – “The Voysey Inheritance” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE
Christopher Akerlind – Rock ‘n’ Roll – Goodman Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Jesse Klug – “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” – American Theater Company
SOUND DESIGN – LARGE
Ray Nardelli and Joshua Horvath – “Miss Saigon” – Drury Lane Oakbrook
SOUND DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Lindsay Jones – “The K of D: An Urban Legend” – The Route 66 Theatre Company
CHOREOGRAPHY
David H. Bell – “The Boys from Syracuse” – Drury Lane Oakbrook
ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Dominic Kanza – “Ruined” – Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club
MUSIC DIRECTION
Doug Peck – “Caroline, or Change” – Court Theatre
NEW ADAPTATION – PLAY
Seth Bockley – “Jon” – Collaboraction
NEW WORK – PLAY
Lynn Nottage – “Ruined” – Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club
NEW ADAPTATION – MUSICAL
Josh Schmidt, Jan Tranen and Austin Pendleton – “A Minister’s Wife” – Writers’ Theatre
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Steve Tolin – “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” – Northlight Theatre
VIDEO DESIGN
Mike Tutaj – “Tomorrow Morning” – Hillary A. Williams, LLC
TRIBUTE AWARD
The Second City – 50th Anniversary
SPECIAL AWARD
William Pullinsi – Director and Producer – Outstanding Achievement – 50 Years in Theatre
*** In the Season ended July 31, 2009, the Jeff Awards Committee judged the opening nights of 141 Equity productions from 57 producing organizations. Of these, 98 productions were recommended by the opening night judges and became eligible for nominations.
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