2023 Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations: Theo Ubique and Kokandy’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ lead the way
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By: Doug George and Chris Jones
The nominations are in for the most recent season of theater productions by Chicago’s non-union theaters, with the list for the 49th annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards announced Tuesday by the all-volunteer Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee.
In recent years, the slate of nominations in the non-Equity wing has grown much larger in number. In 2022, a year that saw reduced numbers of productions, the majority of non-Equity shows produced in Chicago scored at least one nomination, from a committee that has morphed from picking out excellence to supporting the broader theater community.
Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre was once again a Jeffs favorite, garnering 19 nominations from five productions. Kokandy Productions received 16 nominations, followed by Blank Theatre Company with 14 and Invictus Theatre with 13. The single most celebrated production was Kokandy’s “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” with nine nominations
The nominations are across 28 categories among shows from 30 companies in the past season, which was extended due to the pandemic and ran from July 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2022. According to the announcement, Jeff Awards members attended 106 qualifying productions.
The Jeff Awards for Non-Equity Theater will be held 7:30 p.m. March 27 at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave.; tickets are available now at www.jeffawards.org
2023 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES
PRODUCTION: PLAY
“Botticelli in the Fire” - First Floor Theater
“Malapert Love” - The Artistic Home
“Ruined” - Invictus Theatre
“Solaris” - Griffin Theatre Company
“The Pavilion” - The Artistic Home
“White” - Definition Theatre
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” - Invictus Theatre
PRODUCTION: MUSICAL OR REVUE
“8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical” - Kokandy Productions
“She Loves Me” - Blank Theatre Company
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” - Kokandy Productions
“The Wild Party” - Blank Theatre Company
The cast of "Refuge" at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. (Jay Towns )
PRODUCTION: SHORT RUN
“Buried Child” - AstonRep Theatre Company
“Hertha Nova” - The Impostors Theatre Company
“Marie Antoinette & the Magical Negroes” - The Story Theatre
“Tebas Land” - Chicago Latino Theater Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art
“WILDCATS” - The Neo-Futurists
ENSEMBLE: PLAY
“Medea Material” - Trap Door Theatre
“Refuge” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“Ride or Die” - MPAACT - Ma’at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre
“The Secretaries: A Parable” - First Floor Theater
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” - Invictus Theatre
ENSEMBLE: MUSICAL OR REVUE
“8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“Godspell” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“She Loves Me” - Blank Theatre Company
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” - Kokandy Productions
“The Wild Party” - Blank Theatre Company
ENSEMBLE: SHORT RUN
“Boeing-Boeing” - Saint Sebastian Players
“Hertha Nova” - The Impostors Theatre Company
“Marie Antoinette & the Magical Negroes” - The Story Theatre
“Urinetown: The Musical” - Surging Films & Theatrics
NEW WORK
Shepsu Aakhu - “Ride or Die” - MPAACT - Ma’at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre
Siah Berlatsky - “Malapert Love” - The Artistic Home
Tina Fakhrid-Deen - “Pulled Punches” - MPAACT - Ma’at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre
Karissa Murrell Myers - “On the Greenbelt” - Strawdog Theatre Company
Ed Rutherford & Jeff Bouthiette - “Mary Rose” - Black Button Eyes Productions
NEW WORK: SHORT RUN
Rachel Borgo - “Hertha Nova” – The Impostors Theatre Company
Ida Cuttler & Nick Hart - “WILDCATS” – The Neo-Futurists
Terry Guest - “Marie Antoinette & the Magical Negroes” – The Story Theatre
DIRECTOR: PLAY
Charles Askenaizer - “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” - Invictus Theatre
Rinska Carraso-Prestinary - “Isaac’s Eye” - Redtwist Theatre
Bo Frazier - “Botticelli in the Fire” - First Floor Theater
Julian Hester - “Malapert Love” - The Artistic Home
Ebby Offord - “Ruined” - Invictus Theatre
Ericka Ratcliff - “White” - Definition Theatre
Scott Weinstein - “Solaris” - Griffin Theatre Company
DIRECTOR: MUSICAL OR REVUE
Adrian Abel Azevedo - “Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical” - Kokandy Productions
Jason A. Fleece - “The Wild Party” - Blank Theatre Company
Landree Fleming - “Once Upon a Mattress” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Danny Kapinos - “She Loves Me” - Blank Theatre Company
Derek Van Barham - “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” - Kokandy Productions
DIRECTOR: SHORT RUN
Sean Michael Barrett - “Boeing-Boeing” - Saint Sebastian Players
Terry Guest - “Marie Antoinette & the Magical Negroes” - The Story Theatre
Halena Kays - “WILDCATS” - The Neo-Futurists
Juan Parodi - “Tebas Land” - Chicago Latino Theater Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art
Stefan Roseen - “Hertha Nova” - The Impostors Theatre Company
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE: PLAY
Kim Boler (Anna) - “After the Blast” - Broken Nose Theatre
Kierra Bunch (Vanessa/St. Diana/Balkonae) - “White” - Definition Theatre
John Drea (Marc Chagall) - “Chagall in School” - Grippo Stage Company
Jacqueline Grandt (Ruth Steiner) - “Collected Stories” - Redtwist Theatre
Alex Benito Rodriguez (Sandro Botticelli) - “Botticelli in the Fire” - First Floor Theater
Ana Santos-Sánchez (Ana Morgana) - “La gran tirana (descarga dramática)” - Aguijón Theater Company
James Turano (George) - “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” - Invictus Theatre
Andrea Uppling (Martha) - “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” - Invictus Theatre
Rosario Vargas (The Painter) - “Cintas de Seda” - Aguijón Theater Company
Melanie Victoria (Isis) - “Pulled Punches” - MPAACT - Ma’at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre
Tekeisha Yelton-Hunter (Mama Nadi) - “Ruined” - Invictus Theatre
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE: MUSICAL OR REVUE
Maddison Denault (Kathryn Merteuil) - “Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical” - Kokandy Productions
Sonia Goldberg (Princess Winnifred) - “Once Upon a Mattress” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Caitlin Jackson (Mrs. Lovett) - “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” - Kokandy Productions
Joe Lewis (Will) - “Girlfriend” - PrideArts
Nikki Lynette (Nikki Lynette) - “Get Out Alive” - Haven Chicago
Brandy Miller (Amalia Balash) - “She Loves Me” - Blank Theatre Company
David Moreland (Sebastian Valmont) - “Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical” - Kokandy Productions
Anne Sheridan Smith (Miss Mona) - “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Peter Stielstra (Mike) - “Girlfriend” - PrideArts
Stephanie Stockstill (Mary Rose) - “Mary Rose” - Black Button Eyes Productions
Karylin Veres (Queenie) - “The Wild Party” - Blank Theatre Company
Kevin Webb (Sweeney Todd) - “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” - Kokandy Productions
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE: SHORT RUN
Ida Cuttler (Ida Cuttler) - “WILDCATS” - The Neo-Futurists
Jim Morley (Dodge) - “Buried Child” - AstonRep Theatre Company
Tommy Rivera-Vega (Martín) - “Tebas Land” - Chicago Latino Theater Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art
Esteban Schemberg (S) - “Tebas Land” - Chicago Latino Theater Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art
Keaton Stewart (Eve) - “Hertha Nova” - The Impostors Theatre Company
Joshua Paul Wright (Robert) - “Boeing-Boeing” - Saint Sebastian Players
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: PLAY
JoAnn Birt (Mary Anne) - “When We Were Young and Unafraid” - AstonRep Theatre Company
Carley Cornelius (Jane) - “White” - Definition Theatre
Emilie Rose Danno (Esperanza) - “Malapert Love” - The Artistic Home
John Drea (Ray) - “Solaris” - Griffin Theatre Company
Courtney Gardner (Salima) - “Ruined” - Invictus Theatre
Stanley King (Christian) - “Ruined” - Invictus Theatre
Arielle Leverett (Arthur/Sam) - “After the Blast” - Broken Nose Theatre
Rachel Livingston (Honey) - “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” - Invictus Theatre
marssie Mencotti (Clara) - “Hay Fever” - City Lit Theater Company
Frank Nall (Phischbreath) - “Malapert Love” - The Artistic Home
Jackie Seijo (Actor/Dying Man Named Sam) - “Isaac’s Eye” - Redtwist Theatre
Todd Wojcik (Narrator) - “The Pavilion” - The Artistic Home
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: MUSICAL OR REVUE
Bryce Ancil (Arpad Laszlo) - “She Loves Me” - Blank Theatre Company
LJ Bullen (Kate) - “The Wild Party” - Blank Theatre Company
August Forman (Prince Dauntless) - “Once Upon a Mattress” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Andrew Fortman (King Sextimus) - “Once Upon a Mattress” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Rachel Guth (Ilona Ritter) - “She Loves Me” - Blank Theatre Company
Mia Nevarez (Lead Vocalist) - “8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Anabella Oddo (Cecile Caldwell) - “Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical” - Kokandy Productions
Patrick O’Keefe (Tobias Ragg) - “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” - Kokandy Productions
Anne Sheridan Smith (Queen Aggravain) - “Once Upon a Mattress” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Kevin Webb (Chaplain) - “Mary Rose” - Black Button Eyes Productions
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: SHORT RUN
Valerie Gerlock (Gretchen) - “Boeing-Boeing” - Saint Sebastian Players
Samm Hilger (Guide/Professor Simpkins/Head Waiter/Objector) - “Hertha Nova” - The Impostors Theatre Company
Dakota Hughes (Hunchback) - “Frankenstreisand” - Hell in a Handbag Productions
Nolan Robinson (Reuben) - “St. Sebastian” - Refracted Theatre Company
Korinne Yonan (Little Sally) - “Urinetown: The Musical” - Surging Films & Theatrics
SOLO PERFORMANCE: SHORT RUN
Flaco Navaja (Flaco Navaja) - “Evolution of a Sonero” - UrbanTheater Company
SCENIC DESIGN
Jeremiah Barr - “When We Were Young and Unafraid” - AstonRep Theatre Company
Jonathan Berg-Einhorn - “Isaac’s Eye” - Redtwist Theatre
Kevin Rolfs - “Ruined” - Invictus Theatre
Kevin Rolfs - “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” - Invictus Theatre
Joe Schermoly - “Solaris” - Griffin Theatre Company
COSTUME DESIGN
Uriel Gómez - “Once Upon a Mattress” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Jessie Gowens - “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” - Idle Muse Theatre Company
Beth Laske-Miller & Bill Morey - “A Fine Feathered Murder” - Hell in a Handbag Productions
Cindy Moon - “She Loves Me” - Blank Theatre Company
Hilary Rubio - “Botticelli in the Fire” - First Floor Theater
Rachel Sypniewski - “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” - Kokandy Productions
SOUND DESIGN
Eric Backus - “Solaris” - Griffin Theatre Company
Danny Rockett - “Medea Material” - Trap Door Theatre
Willow James - “Botticelli in the Fire” - First Floor Theater
L.J. Luthringer - “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” - Idle Muse Theatre Company
Petter Wahlbäck - “The Pavilion” – The Artistic Home
LIGHTING DESIGN
Benjamin Carne - “Botticelli in the Fire” - First Floor Theater
G. “Max” Maxin IV - “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” - Kokandy Productions
Brandon Wardell - “Solaris” - Griffin Theatre Company
Hannah Wein - “Medea Material” – Trap Door Theatre
Levi J. Wilkins - “The Pavilion” - The Artistic Home
Marcela Muñoz & Augusto Yanacopulos - “Cintas de Seda” - Aguijón Theater Company
CHOREOGRAPHY
Keeley B. Morris & Jacinda Ratcliffe - “Get Out Alive” - Haven Chicago
Laura Savage - “Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical” - Kokandy Productions
Lauryn Schmelzer - “The Wild Party” - Blank Theatre Company
Jenna Schoppe - “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Jenna Schoppe - “Godspell” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
Eric Backus - “Solaris” - Griffin Theatre Company
Satya Jnani Chávez & Andrew Rosendorf - “Refuge” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Jonathan Guillen - “Medea Material” - Trap Door Theatre
L.J. Luthringer - “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” - Idle Muse Theatre Company
Danny Rockett - “The Martyrdom of Peter Ohey” - Trap Door Theatre
MUSIC DIRECTION
Satya Jnani Chávez - “Refuge” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Isabella Isherwood - “Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical” - Kokandy Productions
Aaron Kaplan - “The Wild Party” - Blank Theatre Company
Jeremy Ramey - “8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Jeremy Ramey - “Godspell” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Nick Sula - “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” - Kokandy Productions
PROJECTION DESIGN
Yeaji Kim - “Solaris” - Griffin Theatre Company
Abboyé Lawrence - “Pulled Punches” - MPAACT - Ma’at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre
G. “Max” Maxin IV - “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” - Black Button Eyes Productions
Chris Owens - “Get Out Alive” - Haven Chicago
Erin Pleake - “Chagall in School” - Grippo Stage Company
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
The Ensemble (Movement) - “Medea Material” - Trap Door Theatre
Jabberwocky Marionettes (Puppet Design) - “After the Blast” - Broken Nose Theatre
Jabberwocky Marionettes (Puppet Design) - “A Fine Feathered Murder” - Hell in a Handbag Productions
Royen Kent (Wig Design) - “The Secretaries: A Parable” - First Floor Theater
Adolfo Romero (Puppet Design) - “Refuge” - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Augusto Yanacopulos (Properties Design) - “La gran tirana (descarga dramática)” - Aguijón Theater Company
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION: SHORT RUN
Daphne Agosin (Lighting Design) - “Tebas Land” - Chicago Latino Theater Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art
Dominick Vincent Alesia (Original Music in a Play) - “Hertha Nova” - The Impostors Theatre Company
Tim Huggenberger (Choreography) - “Urinetown: The Musical” - Surging Films & Theatrics
Darwin Noguera (Music Direction) - “Evolution of a Sonero” - UrbanTheater Company
Emil Zbella (Set Design) - “Boeing-Boeing” - Saint Sebastian Players
