American Blues Theater and Goodman Theatre Lead 50th Annual Jeff Awards The Jeff Awards celebrated its 50th anniversary on Monday, October 22, 2018 during a spirited and nostalgic ceremony at Drury Lane Oakbrook. American Blues Theater's Buddy -- The Buddy Holly Story received the most awards including: Production - Musical - Midsize, Director Lili-Anne Brown, Principal Performer in a Musical Zachary Stevenson, Music Director Michael Mahler, and Ensemble - Musical or Revue. Goodman Theatre's A View from the Bridge received awards for Production - Play - Large, and Director Ian van Hove. Goodman was also honored with statues for Ensemble - Play for The Wolves and for Ellen Fairey's New Work Support Group for Men. Special awards were presented to four award-winning Chicago theatres that laid their foundations in drama, comedy, and musical theatre more than half a century ago and have endured to this day. The recipients are Goodman Theatre (1925), Drury Lane Productions (1949), Court Theatre (1955), and The Second City (1959). Collectively, they have received more than 1,400 nominations and over 350 awards, dating back to the first ceremony. The evening was hosted by the Founder and Artistic Director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater Barbara Gaines and the Founder and CEO of the Black Ensemble Theater Jackie Taylor. The ceremony was directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's artistic director Michael Weber and produced by Merril Prager. Highlights of the evening included live performances from nominated musicals and revues, video clips from past Jeff Awards, and a welcome from Guy Barile, one of the founders of the Jeff Awards. The Jeff Awards has been honoring outstanding theatre artists annually since it was established in 1968. With up to 55 members representing a wide variety of backgrounds in theatre (including producers, directors, actors, playwrights, designers, professors of theatre, entertainment lawyers and agents, and theatre lovers), the Jeff Awards is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors. Opening night judges include not only Jeff members but also the team of artistic and technical theatre volunteers (the "A/T Team") which is comprised of artistic directors, producers, directors from major Chicago theatres, actors, and designers. 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. Each year, the Jeff Awards judges 300 theatrical productions and host two awards ceremonies. 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. 2018 Equity Technical Jeff Award Recipients: Choreography
Jared Grimes -- 42nd Street -- Drury Lane Productions Original Music in a Play:
Shawn Pfautsch and Matt Kahler -- Hatfield & McCoy -- The House Theatre of Chicago Music Direction:
Michael Mahler -- Buddy -- The Buddy Holly Story -- American Blues Theater Scenic Design -- Large:
Todd Rosenthal -- 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas -- Lookingglass Theatre Company Scenic Design -- Midsize
Scott Davis -- Southern Gothic -- Windy City Playhouse Lighting Design -- Large
Thom Weaver -- Macbeth -- Chicago Shakespeare Theater Lighting Design -- Midsize Nick Belley -- Hair -- Mercury Theater Chicago Costume Design -- Large Susan E. Mickey -- The Taming of the Shrew -- Chicago Shakespeare Theater Costume Design -- Midsize
Paul Kim -- The Explorers Club -- Citadel Theatre Sound Design -- Large André Pluess -- Macbeth -- Chicago Shakespeare Theater Sound Design -- Midsize Christopher Kriz -- Mary's Wedding -- First Folio Theatre Projection Design Joseph A. Burke -- Elf the Musical -- Paramount Theatre Artistic Specialization
Eleanor Kahn -- Properties Design -- Southern Gothic -- Windy City Playhouse In its 50th Equity season, August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018, the Jeff Awards judged the opening nights of 141 productions from 51 producing organizations. Of these, 111 productions were "Jeff Recommended" which made them eligible for award nominations. The Jeff Awards website lists all current nominees and statistics, along with other Jeff Awards information. 
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