In the first award announcement for Chicago theater in 2024, the Joseph Jefferson Awards on Tuesday announced nominations for its upcoming awards for Chicago’s non-union theater community.
At the top of the list, Kokandy Productions received 17 nominations from two productions. Theo Ubique Theatre gathered 16 nominations, followed by Invictus Theatre Company and Refracted Theatre Company, both with 10. The most nominated single production was Refracted’s “Tambo & Bones.” The nominations were split between 24 categories and spread across a wide spectrum of 32 non-union theater companies. The most recent eligible season ran from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2023.
This will be the all-volunteer Jeff committee’s 50th anniversary in recognizing Chicago’s Non-Equity theater. The ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 25 at Park West, Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave.; tickets and more information at www.jeffawards.org.
2024 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES
PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
“Cat’s Cradle” – Lifeline Theatre
“The Crucible” – Invictus Theatre Company
“Dying For It” – The Artistic Home
“Indoor Cats” – Red Theater
“Right Now” – Facility Theatre
“Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
“We Are Proud to Present a Presentation” – Theatre Y
PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
“American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions
“Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions
“The Threepenny Opera” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“tick, tick … BOOM!” – BoHo Theatre
ENSEMBLE OF A PLAY
“Cat’s Cradle” – Lifeline Theatre
“The Crucible” – Invictus Theatre Company
“Jane: Abortion and the Underground” – Idle Muse Theatre Company
“Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation” – Prop Thtr (with Perceptions Theatre)
“The Pragmatists” – Trap Door Theatre
“Right Now” – Facility Theatre
“We Are Proud to Present a Presentation” – Theatre Y
ENSEMBLE OF A MUSICAL
“American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions
“Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“Promises, Promises” – Blank Theatre Company
“The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions
NEW WORK
India Nicole Burton – “Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation” – Prop Thtr (with Perceptions Theatre)
Tina Fakhrid-Deen – “Dandelions” – MPAACT
Mora V. Harris – “Indoor Cats” – Red Theater
John Hildreth – “Cat’s Cradle” – Lifeline Theatre
Evan M. Jackson – “The Last Queen of Camelot” – Idle Muse Theatre Company
Shannon O’Neill – “The Kelly Girls” – The Factory Theater
Ed Rutherford and George Howe – “Murder, ReWrote” – Hell in a Handbag Productions
Micah Ariel Watson – “Alaiyo” – Definition Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Charles Askenaizer – “The Crucible” – Invictus Theatre Company
Mikael Burke – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
Heather Currie – “Cat’s Cradle” – Lifeline Theatre
Dado – “Right Now” – Facility Theatre
Wyatt Kent – “Indoor Cats” – Red Theater
Tyrone Phillips – “Fairview” – Definition Theatre
Kezia Waters – “We Are Proud to Present a Presentation” – Theatre Y
DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Fred Anzevino – “The Threepenny Opera” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Derek Van Barham – “American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions
Daryl D. Brooks – “Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Bo Frazier – “tick, tick … BOOM!” – BoHo Theatre
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Brittney Brown (Regan Kelly) – “The Kelly Girls” – The Factory Theater
Laura Coover (The Woman) – “Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle” – Griffin Theatre Company
Ny’ajai Ellison (Camae) – “The Mountaintop” – Invictus Theatre Company
Julian Hester (Scratch) – “Witch” – The Artistic Home
Patrick Newson Jr. (Bones) – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
Felicia Oduh (Ariel) – “Alaiyo” – Definition Theatre
Aila Ayilam Peck (Layla) – “Hate_” – First Floor Theater
Soleil Pérez (Agnes) – “Agnes of God” – Redtwist Theatre
Mark Pracht (John Proctor) – “The Crucible” – Invictus Theatre Company
William Anthony Sebastian Rose II (Tambo) – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Neala Barron (John Wilkes Booth) – “Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Frankie Leo Bennett (SpongeBob SquarePants) – “The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions
Britain Gebhardt (Bessica Feltcher) – “Murder, ReWrote” – Hell in a Handbag Productions
Carl Herzog (Macheath) – “The Threepenny Opera” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Brandy Miller (Fran Kubelik) – “Promises, Promises” – Blank Theatre Company
Patrick O’Keefe (Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald) – “Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Kyle Patrick (Patrick Bateman) – “American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions
Alec Phan (Jonathan) – “tick, tick … BOOM!” – BoHo Theatre
Rory Schrobilgen (Chuck Baxter) – “Promises, Promises” – Blank Theatre Company
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Kristin Collins (Elizabeth Sawyer) – “Witch” – The Artistic Home
Shawna Franks (Juliette) – “Right Now” – Facility Theatre
Jada Jackson (Keisha) – “Fairview” – Definition Theatre
Patrick Newson Jr. (Kofi) – “Alaiyo” – Definition Theatre
Kathy Scambiaterra (Serafima) – “Dying For It” – The Artistic Home
Maria Stephens (Alice) – “Right Now” – Facility Theatre
James Turano (Deputy Governor Danforth) – “The Crucible” – Invictus Theatre Company
Michaela Voit (Abigail Williams) – “The Crucible” – Invictus Theatre Company
Sarah Wisterman (Panda) – “Indoor Cats” – Red Theater
Korinne Yonan (Maleficunt) – “Sleeping with Beauty” – PrideArts
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Megan Elk (Mrs. Peachum) – “The Threepenny Opera” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Parker Guidry (Sheldon J. Plankton) – “The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions
Luke Halpern (Susan) – “tick, tick … BOOM!” – BoHo Theatre
Jon Parker Jackson (Samuel Byck) – “Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Chamaya Moody (Polly Peachum) – “The Threepenny Opera” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Caleigh Pan-Kita (Evelyn Williams) – “American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions
Quinn Rigg (Squidward Q. Tentacles) – “The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions
Amanda Rodriguez (Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme) – “Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Nathe Rowbotham (Lucy Brown) – “The Threepenny Opera” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
PRODUCTION OF A SHORT RUN
“It’s Only a Play” – Saint Sebastian Players
“The Minutes” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
“Once on This Island” – PULSE Theatre Company
“That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven” – Visión Latino Theatre Company
ENSEMBLE OF A SHORT RUN
“It’s Only a Play” – Saint Sebastian Players
“The Minutes” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
“Once on This Island” – PULSE Theatre Company
“That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven” – Visión Latino Theatre Company
DIRECTOR OF A SHORT RUN
Xavier M. Custodio – “That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven” – Visión Latino Theatre Company
Melanie McNulty – “Cry It Out” – Theatre Above the Law
Janet Rourke – “The Minutes” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
Iraida Tapias – “North & Sur” – Water People Theater
PERFORMER – SHORT RUN
Manuel Duarte (Emcee) – “Lotería: Dichos, Proverbios, Albures” – Teatro Tariakuri
Jack Hradecky (Mr. Peel) – “The Minutes” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
Casey Huls (Frank Abagnale Jr.) – “Catch Me If You Can” – Surging Films and Theatrics
Gwen La Roka (Gwen La Roka) – “Mi Casa Es Tu Casa!” – UrbanTheater Company
Daniella Rukin (Lina) – “Cry It Out” – Theatre Above the Law
Carter Sherman (Amelia Carter) – “Miranda: A War-Torn Fable” – The Impostors Theatre Company
Billy Surges (Carl Hanratty) – “Catch Me If You Can” – Surging Films and Theatrics
Kris Tori (Alfonsina Storni) – “North & Sur” – Water People Theater
Allyson Womack (Jessie) – “Cry It Out” – Theatre Above the Law
SCENIC DESIGN
Kirk Anderson – “Right Now” – Facility Theatre
Kevin Hogan – “Dying For It” – The Artistic Home
Rose Johnson – “Agnes of God” – Redtwist Theatre
Sydney Lynne – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
Kevin Rolfs – “The Crucible” – Invictus Theatre Company
COSTUME DESIGN
Jakob Abderhalden – “The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions
Natasha Vuchurovich Dukich – “Right Now” – Facility Theatre
Jessie Gowens – “The Crucible” – Invictus Theatre Company
Kotryna Hilko – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
Beth Laske-Miller and Rachel Sypniewski – “I Promised Myself to Live Faster” – Hell in a Handbag Productions
Cindy Moon – “The Threepenny Opera” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Rachel Sypniewski – “Princess Ivona” – Trap Door Theatre
SOUND DESIGN
Hannah Foerschler – “The Kelly Girls” – The Factory Theater
Ethan Korvne – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
Santiago Quintana – “Right Now” – Facility Theatre
Danny Rockett – “The Pragmatists” – Trap Door Theatre
Stefanie Senior – “Cat’s Cradle” – Lifeline Theatre
Sebby Woldt – “Indoor Cats” – Red Theater
LIGHTING DESIGN
Mark Bracken Jr. – “Dying For It” – The Artistic Home
Ellie Fey – “Witch” – The Artistic Home
Maggie Fullilove-Nugent – “The Threepenny Opera” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
G. “Max” Maxin IV – “American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions
Eric Watkins – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
PROJECTION DESIGN
DJ Douglass – “The Mountaintop” – Invictus Theatre Company
Alex Gendal – “Alaiyo” – Definition Theatre
Eme Ospina-López – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
CHOREOGRAPHY
Breon Arzell – “American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions
Lauryn Schmelzer – “Promises, Promises” – Blank Theatre Company
Jenna Schoppe – “The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions
MUSIC DIRECTION
Harper Caruso – “tick, tick … BOOM!” – BoHo Theatre
Heidi Joosten – “American Psycho” – Kokandy Productions
Heidi Joosten – “Assassins” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Aaron Kaplan – “Promises, Promises” – Blank Theatre Company
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
Natasha Bogojevic – “The Pragmatists” – Trap Door Theatre
Przemysław Bosak – “Princess Ivona” – Trap Door Theatre
Ethan Korvne – “Tambo & Bones” – Refracted Theatre Company
Petter Wahlbäck – “Dying For It” – The Artistic Home
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Henry Bender (properties design) – “Wise Guys: The First Christmas Story” – The Factory Theater
David Blixt (fight choreography) – “Witch” – The Artistic Home
Lolly Extract/Jabberwocky Marionettes (puppet design) – “I Promised Myself to Live Faster” – Hell in a Handbag Productions
Ele Matelan (Foley design) – “The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions
Patrick McGuire (properties design) – “The SpongeBob Musical” – Kokandy Productions