Theo Ubique Leads 2012 Non-Equity Jeff Award Nominations; Full List Announced!

Nominations for the 2012 Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson awards (better known simply as "the Jeffs") were announced today.  The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under an Actor's Equity union contract.  Winners will be announced on June 4.

 Rogers Park-based Theo Ubique leads the pack with 14 nominations. Eight of the nominations are for their current hit production, "The Light In the Piazza" (extended through June 23).  The other six nominations were for a production of  "Pump Boys and  Dinettes" earlier this season.

The 2012 nominations also recognized the strong seasons at Griffin Theatre Company, the newly revived Bailiwick Chicago, and the Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company. 

 Griffin Theatre scored 11 nominations for two teen-based works: six for “Punk Rock,” a British play about contemporary issues of high school studens; and five for “Spring Awakening,” a local production of the Tony-award winning musical about teenage repression in 19th century Germany. 

 Bailiwick Chicago scored 10 nominations, including five for “Passing Strange,” a rock musical about an African American’s artistic self-discovery, and five for “Violet,” a musical about a disfigured woman on a journey of healing. 

 Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. scored eight nominations:  four for their production of “Superior Donuts,” the Tracy Letts play about an Uptown donut shop; and four for  the soon-to-be-a-major-motion-picture ”Red Light Winter, about a love triangle. 

The Hypocrites’ adaptation of the “Sophocles: Seven Sicknesses” cycle garnered six nominations, tying with Griffin’s “Punk Rock” for most nominations of a non-musical.

A complete list of the 2012 Non-Equity Jeff Awards Nominees

Production — Play
"Opus" — Redtwist Theatre
"Punk Rock" — Griffin Theatre Company
"Red Light Winter" — Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.
"Sophocles: Seven Sicknesses" — The Hypocrites
"Superior Donuts" — Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.
"The Word Progress on My Mother's Lips Doesn't Ring True" — Trap Door Theatre
 
Production — Musical
"The Light in the Piazza" — Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
"Passing Strange" — Bailiwick Chicago
"Pump Boys and Dinettes" — Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
"Spring Awakening" — Griffin Theatre Company
"Violet" — Bailiwick Chicago
 
Director — Play
Jonathan Berry — "Punk Rock" — Griffin Theatre Company
Seth Bockley — "The Ugly One" — Sideshow Theatre Company
Jason W. Gerace — "Opus" — Redtwist Theatre
Sean Graney — "Sophocles: Seven Sicknesses" — The Hypocrites
Halena Kays — "Six Characters in Search of an Author" — The Hypocrites
Blake Montgomery — "Moby-Dick" — The Building Stage
 
Director — Musical
Fred Anzevino — "Pump Boys and Dinettes" — Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Fred Anzevino and Brenda Didier — "The Light in the Piazza" — Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Jonathan Berry — "Spring Awakening" — Griffin Theatre Company
Lili-Anne Brown — "Passing Strange" — Bailiwick Chicago
Elizabeth Margolius — "Violet" — Bailiwick Chicago
 
Ensemble
"Moby-Dick" — The Building Stage
"Opus" — Redtwist Theatre
"Pump Boys and Dinettes" — Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
"Punk Rock" — Griffin Theatre Company
"Shakespeare's R&J" — Idle Muse Theatre Company
"Sophocles: Seven Sicknesses" — The Hypocrites
 
Principal Actor — Play
Dan Behrendt (Matt) — "Red Light Winter" — Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.
Joey deBettencourt (William Carlisle) — "Punk Rock" — Griffin Theatre Company
BrIan Grey (Ned Lawrence) — "The Oxford Roof Climber's Rebellion" — Caffeine Theatre
Peter Oyloe (Kjell) — "Elling" — Redtwist Theatre
Brian Plocharczyk (Stephen) — "Farragut North" — Stage Left
Andrew Burden Swanson (Gerry) — "The Last Duck" — Jackalope Theatre Company
Preston Tate, Jr. (Franco Wicks) — "Superior Donuts" — Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.
 
Principal Actor — Musical
Jayson "JC" Brooks (Narrator) — "Passing Strange" — Bailiwick Chicago
Courtney Crouse (Jim) — "Pump Boys and Dinettes" — Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Steven Perkins (Youth) — "Passing Strange" — Bailiwick Chicago
Creg Sclavi (Bobby Strong) — "Urinetown the Musical" — Circle Theatre
Chuck Sisson (Aimable Castagnet) — "The Baker's Wife" — Circle Theatre
 
Principal Actress — Play
Jacqueline Grandt (Agnes) — "Bug" — Redtwist Theatre
Katherine Keberlein (Jan) — "Fifty Words" — Profiles Theatre
Melanie Keller (Sonya/Sarah) — "East of Berlin & The Russian Play" — Signal Ensemble Theatre
Eileen Niccolai (Lady) — "Orpheus Descending" — Shattered Globe Theatre
Stacy Stolz (Anne) — "Assisted Living" — Profiles Theatre
 
Principal Actress — Musical
Harmony France (Violet) — "Violet" — Bailiwick Chicago
Kelli Harrington (Margaret Johnson) — "The Light in the Piazza" — Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Rachel Klippel (Clara Johnson) — "The Light in the Piazza" — Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Misha Davenport is a Chicago-based freelance writer, blogger, critic and singer. He studied playwriting at Michigan State University under the late Arthur Athanason. He has been covering theater in the Windy City for more than a decade at the Chicago Sun-Times and currently as a contributor to BroadwayWorld.com. He sits on the board of the not-for-profit arts group Chicago Gay Men's Chorus and resides in Rogers Park, just steps away from the emerging theater district located there. He is a fierce advocate and lover of live theater from shows in 50-seat storefronts to big Broadway blockbusters.

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