Chicago director David Cromer won an Obie Award for his off-Broadway revival of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town earlier this year; now he has a Jeff for the show’s original Chicago production, as well. At the non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony at Park West last night, Our Town, produced by the Hypocrites theater company, received the nod for best production of a play as well as for Cromer’s direction.
But the evening’s big winner was the Theo Ubique Theatre Company, which snared top honors for its cabaret-style productions of Evita and Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night, presented in association with Michael James, owner of the No Exit Cafe, where Theo Ubique performs.
Evita was named best production of a musical, Maggie Portman was dubbed best principal actress in a musical for her portrayal of the title role, and Theo Ubique founder Fred Anzevino won best director for the show. Chicago theater newcomer Chris Damiano was honored both as best principal actor in a musical for Evita (in which he played Che) and as best supporting actor in a musical for Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night. In sum, the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee gave out 26 non-Equity awards, choosing from among 114 nominees in 24 categories. Eleven of the awards went to theaters in Rogers Park’s Glenwood Avenue Arts District. In addition, a richly deserved special award was given to Pegasus Players founder Arlene Crewdson for her contributions to Chicago theater. And recognition was also paid to the untimely recent deaths of Chicago actors Will Schutz and Steve Cinabro.
Here’s the complete list of winners:
2009 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD RECIPIENTS:
PRODUCTION – PLAY “Our Town” – The Hypocrites
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL OR REVUE “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James
ENSEMBLE “In Arabia We’d All Be Kings” – Steep Theatre Company
DIRECTOR – PLAY David Cromer – “Our Town” – The Hypocrites
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL OR REVUE Fred Anzevino – “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James NEW WORK Ken Prestininzi – “Beholder” – Trap Door Theatre
NEW ADAPTATION Katie McLean – “The Mark of Zorro” – Lifeline Theatre
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE Maggie Portman – “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY Laura Coover – “Blue Surge” – Eclipse Theatre Company
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL Chris Damiano – “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY Esteban Andres Cruz – “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” – Raven Theatre
SOLO PERFORMANCE Janet Ulrich Brooks – “Golda’s Balcony” – Pegasus Players
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE Amanda Hartley – “The Robber Bridegroom” – Griffin Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY Mary Redmon – “Enchanted April” – Circle Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE Chris Damiano – “Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James ACTOR
IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY Nathaniel Swift – “Blue Surge” – Eclipse Theatre Company
SCENIC DESIGN (Tie) Alan Donahue – “Mariette in Ecstasy” – Lifeline Theatre Bob Knuth – “Enchanted April” – Circle Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN Suzanne Mann – “Hay Fever” – Circle Theatre LIGHTING DESIGN Jared B. Moore – “Touch” – New Leaf Theatre
SOUND DESIGN (Tie) Victoria DeIorio – “The Mark of Zorro” – Lifeline Theatre Joshua Horvath – “Rose and the Rime” – The House Theatre of Chicago
CHOREOGRAPHY Brenda Didier – “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James
ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC Kevin O’Donnell – “Rose and the Rime” – The House Theatre of Chicago
MUSIC DIRECTION Ryan Brewster – “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY Geoff Coates – “The Mark of Zorro” – Lifeline Theatre
SPECIAL AWARD Arlene Crewdson