Following up on its regional Tony Award, Chicago Shakespeare led Chi’s Joseph Jefferson Awards on Monday night, taking home five trophies.
Chicago Shakespeare won four awards for its production of “The Comedy of Errors,” which added a second storyline to the Bard’s comedy by imagining a WWII film troupe making a movie of the play. Show won for play, adaptation (Ron West), director (Barbara Gaines) and costumes (Ana Kuzmanic).
The theater also took home the ensemble award for its premiere production of “ad-rap-tation” “Funk It Up About Nothin’,” which has already moved on to success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
This year marks the first time the Jeff Awards have separated overall production and design noms into two categories, large and midsize, based on the annual budgets of the theaters and not the size of the venue.
Chicago Dramatists led the midsize theaters with four awards overall, including three Jeffs for its premiere of Keith Huff’s “A Steady Rain.” The two-person police drama won for play, new work (Huff) and lead actor (Randy Steinmeyer). Show had a commercial transfer and remains a candidate for a New York production.
The Goodman Theater took home three awards for its staging of Horton Foote’s “The Trip to Bountiful,” with Lois Smith winning lead actress kudos for her perf as an aging woman seeking one last visit to her hometown. Playwright’s daughter Hallie Foote took home the nod for actress in a supporting role, and E. David Cosier won for scenic design.
Other performance awards include E. Faye Butler for her portrayal of Ella Fitzgerald in “Ella” at Northlight Theater, Nilaja Sun for her solo performance in “No Child …” at Lookingglass, Summer Naomi Smart for the lead role in “Sweet Charity” at Drury Lane Oakbrook and John Cudia and Richard Todd Adams for their roles in the Marriott Theater’s “Les Miserables,” a show that also won the honor for tuner at a large theater.
And the winners are:
PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE
“The Comedy of Errors,” Chicago Shakespeare Theater
PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE
“A Steady Rain,” Chicago Dramatists
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – LARGE
“Les Misérables,” Marriott Theatre
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – MIDSIZE
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
PRODUCTION – REVUE
“Ella,” Northlight Theatre
ENSEMBLE
“Funk It Up About Nothin’,” Chicago Shakespeare Theater
DIRECTOR – PLAY
Barbara Gaines, “The Comedy of Errors,” Chicago Shakespeare Theater
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL (tie)
Jim Corti, “Sweet Charity,” Drury Lane Oakbrook
Dominic Missimi, “Les Misérables,” Marriott Theatre
DIRECTOR – REVUE
Rob Ruggiero, “Ella,” Northlight Theatre
NEW WORK
Keith Huff, “A Steady Rain,” Chicago Dramatists
NEW ADAPTATION
Ron West, “The Comedy of Errors,” Chicago Shakespeare Theater
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Nilaja Sun, “No Child.,” Lookingglass Theatre Company
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Randy Steinmeyer, “A Steady Rain,” Chicago Dramatists
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
John Cudia, “Les Misérables,” Marriott Theatre
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Lois Smith, “The Trip to Bountiful ,” Goodman Theatre
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Summer Naomi Smart, “Sweet Charity,” Drury Lane Oakbrook
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Mark Ulrich, “Juno and the Paycock,” The Artistic Home
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Richard Todd Adams, “Les Misérables,” Marriott Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Hallie Foote, “The Trip to Bountiful ,” Goodman Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Jessie Mueller, “Carousel,” Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
ACTOR IN A REVUE
James Rank, “The American Dream Songbook,” Next Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A REVUE
E. Faye Butler, “Ella,” Northlight Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE
E. David Cosier, “The Trip to Bountiful ,” Goodman Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Kevin Depinet, “Cadillac,” Chicago Dramatists
COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE
Ana Kuzmanic, “The Comedy of Errors,” Chicago Shakespeare Theater
COSTUME DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Bill Morey, “Nine,” Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE
J. R. Lederle, “The Turn of the Screw,” Writers’ Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Mike Durst, “Requiem for a Heavyweight,” Shattered Globe Theatre
SOUND DESIGN – LARGE
Barry G. Funderburg, “Carter’s Way,” Steppenwolf Theatre Company
SOUND DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Jack Arky, “Because They Have No Words,” Piven Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
Mitzi Hamilton, “Sweet Charity,” Drury Lane Oakbrook
ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
David Pavkovic, “Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day,” Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Doug Peck, “Carousel,” Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY
Nick Sandys, “Requiem for a Heavyweight,” Shattered Globe Theatre
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VIDEOGRAPHY (ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION)
John Musial, “Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day,” Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art
SPECIAL AWARD
Eileen Boevers, Outstanding Achievement, Founder, Apple Tree Theatre
