Goodman Theatre

For Immediate Release

Thursday, August 27, 2009 - Chicago, IL. The Jeff Awards today announced 179 nominations in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2008, and July 31, 2009. The Jeff Awards sent judges to the opening nights of 141 productions offered by 57 producing organizations. From these openings, 98 Equity productions were "Jeff Recommended," which made them eligible for award nominations.

The 41st Annual Jeff Awards ceremony, honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area, will be held on Monday, October 19, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Boulevard. A pre-show Appetizer Buffet will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the Awards Ceremony, directed by Michael Weber, will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Second City, celebrating 50 years as a producer, will play a featured role at the Jeff Awards ceremony. Advance purchase tickets, which include the ceremony and the pre-show buffet, are $75 ($55 for members of Actors' Equity Association, United Scenic Artists, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and The Dramatists Guild of America). The evening is black tie optional and the public is cordially invited to attend. To purchase tickets, visit the Jeff Awards website at www.jeffawards.org. For more information, contact Equity Chair Diane Hires at equitywing@jeffawards.org.

Goodman Theatre led the list of theatres with 17 nominations (6 of them for a co-production with Manhattan Theatre Club), including the New Work "Ruined," which garnered six nominations including Production and New Work for Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage. Drury Lane Oakbrook, reflecting their heightened commitment to production values, followed with 16 nominations for five musicals, including six for "Miss Saigon" and four for "The Boys from Syracuse." "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and the first post-Broadway production of "The Light in the Piazza" led the list of 15 Marriott Theatre nominations with five and four respectively. Chicago Shakespeare Theater garnered 13 nominations with 6 nods going to "Twelfth Night." TimeLine Theater Company, which became an Equity house in 2008, led the list of midsize theatres with 12 nominations. Their first post-Broadway smash hit production of "The History Boys" rated 5 nominations.

"Caroline, or Change" from Court Theatre and "A Minister's Wife" from Writers' Theatre joined Goodman's "Ruined," Drury Lane Oakbrook's "Miss Saigon," and Chicago Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" in most nominations for a single production.

The coveted nominations for Outstanding Ensemble went to "The Arabian Nights" of Lookingglass Theatre; "The Terrible Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward II… of Chicago Shakespeare Theater; "Forbidden Broadway: Dances with the Stars" from John Freedson, Harriet Yellin and Margaret Cotter; "The History Boys" of TimeLine Theatre Company; "Million Dollar Quartet" from Dee Gee Theatricals, John Cossette Productions and Northern Lights, Inc.; "Scenes from the Big Picture" from Seanachai Theatre Company; "The Seafarer" from Steppenwolf Theatre Company; and "Studs Terkel's Not Working" from The Second City e.t.c. The Jeff Awards is pleased to announce that Actors' Equity Association will continue its support of the Equity Jeff Awards by sponsoring the Outstanding Ensemble Award.

Among individual multiple nominees Mary Ernster was nominated as Principal Actress - Musical in both Marriott's "The Light in the Piazza" and Apple Tree Theatre's "Wings." Versatile triple threat Sean Fortunato was nominated for roles in "Curtains" (Drury Lane Oakbrook) and "The Producers" (Theatre at the Center). Tanya Saracho received two nods for New Work with "Kita y Fernanda" at 16th Street Theater and "Our Lady of the Underpass" at Teatro Vista…Theatre With a View. David H. Bell topped the individual nominees with four nominations: for New Adaptation of a Musical with "The Boys from Syracuse" and "The Bowery Boys" and both Director - Musical and Choreographer for "The Boys from Syracuse."

The Jeff Awards has been honoring outstanding theatre artists annually since it was established in 1968. With up to 50 members representing a wide variety of backgrounds in theatre, the Jeff Awards is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors. The Jeff Awards fosters the artistic growth of area theatres and theatre artists and promotes educational opportunities, audience appreciation, and civic pride in the achievements of the theatre community. The Jeff Awards evaluates over 250 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies annually. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the Jeff Awards established the Non-Equity Wing in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre. The next Non-Equity awards ceremony will be held on June 7, 2010 at the Park West.

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