Paramount Theatre, which has had a difficult month after the City of Aurora cut its funding of the multi-venue organization causing layoffs and cancellations, got some good news with the arrival of the Chicago theater’s long-established Joseph Jefferson Award nominations Monday morning.
Paramount scored 26 nominations in various categories, five more than both the Goodman and Court Theaters, which received 21 each. In terms of nominations for a single production, that honor went to “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” at Writers Theatre.
The production of a play with the most nominations went to Shattered Globe Theatre’s revival of “Lobby Hero” by Kenneth Lonergan.
The number of Jeff Award nominations has ballooned in recent years. There are a total of 14 Actors Equity-affiliated productions nominated in the best play categories for both large and midsized theaters (19 if the “short run” and solo performance categories are added), ranging from “Primary Trust” at Goodman Theatre to “A Case for the Existence of God” at Steep Theatre. Thirteen nominees were honored in the categories of musicals and revues, including “Falsettos” by Court Theatre (with Timeline) and “Always… Patsy Cline” at the Drury Lane Theatre. Other very strong shows with multiple nods included “Translations” at Writers Theatre and “A Raisin in the Sun” at Court.
Steppenwolf did not have a strong showing, hardly atypical when it comes to the Jeffs, and several high-profile shows such as “Betrayal” at the Goodman, “Noises Off” at Steppenwolf and “Sunny Afternoon” at Chicago Shakespeare were mostly overlooked. “Cats,” staged as a circus-style attraction at Paramount, however, scored nine nominations.
After a multi-year run at the Drury Lane, the Jeff Awards ceremony is moving back into Chicago this fall, with the annual celebration of work slated for Sept. 29 at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.
cjones5@chicagotribune.com
2025 Equity Jeff Award nominations
PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE
“The Audience” – Drury Lane Productions
“Berlin” – Court Theatre
“East Texas Hot Links” – Court Theatre
“Iraq, But Funny” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
“Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater with Arena Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse
“Prayer for the French Republic” – Northlight Theatre and Theater Wit
“Primary Trust” – Goodman Theatre
“A Raisin in the Sun” – Court Theatre
“Translations” – Writers Theatre
PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE
“Art” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
“A Case for the Existence of God” – Steep Theatre
“Ironbound” – Raven Theatre
“Lobby Hero” – Shattered Globe Theatre
“A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – LARGE
“Cats” – Paramount Theatre
“The Color Purple” – Goodman Theatre
“The Little Mermaid” – Drury Lane Productions
“Falsettos” – Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” – Marriott Theatre
“Million Dollar Quartet” – Paramount Theatre
“Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
“Titanic The Musical” – Marriott Theatre
PRODUCTION – REVUE
“Always… Patsy Cline” – Drury Lane Productions
“Best Kept Secret: Tell Everyone” – The Second City e.t.c.
“Blue Eyed Soul Sung By Brown Eyed People” – Black Ensemble Theater
“That’s What Friends Are For: Gladys, Dionne and Patti ” – Black Ensemble Theater
“This Too Shall Slap” – The Second City
ENSEMBLE – PLAY
“The Antiquities” – Goodman Theatre with Playwrights Horizon and Vineyard Theatre
“Art” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
“Berlin” – Court Theatre
“East Texas Hot Links” – Court Theatre
“Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater with Arena Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse
“Noises Off” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company with Geffen Playhouse
“Peter and the Starcatcher” – Paramount Theatre
“Prayer for the French Republic” – Northlight Theatre and Theater Wit
“A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
“Translations” – Writers Theatre
ENSEMBLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” – Paramount Theatre
“42 Balloons” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“Cats” – Paramount Theatre
“The Color Purple” – Goodman Theatre
“Falsettos” – Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” – Marriott Theatre
“Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
“This Too Shall Slap” – The Second City
“Titanic The Musical” – Marriott Theatre
“Titanique” – Porchlight Music Theatre and Broadway in Chicago
NEW WORK
Ngozi Anyanwu – “Leroy and Lucy” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Atra Asdou – “Iraq, But Funny” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Lisa Dillman – “No Such Thing” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Keiko Green – “Gorgeous” – Raven Theatre and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Lauren Gunderson – “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women” – Northlight Theatre
Jordan Harrison – “The Antiquities” – Goodman Theatre with Playwrights Horizon and Vineyard Theatre
Mickle Maher – “Berlin” – Court Theatre
Sadieh Rifai – “The Cave” – A Red Orchid Theatre
DIRECTOR – PLAY – LARGE
Braden Abraham – “Translations” – Writers Theatre
Charles Newell – “Berlin” – Court Theatre
Ron OJ Parson – “Hymn” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Ron OJ Parson – “East Texas Hot Links” – Court Theatre
Malkia Stampley – “Primary Trust” – Goodman Theatre
Jeremy Wechsler – “Prayer for the French Republic” – Northlight Theatre and Theater Wit
DIRECTOR – PLAY – MIDSIZE
Mikael Burke – “A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Marti Lyons – “Art” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Nate Santana – “Lobby Hero” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Steve Scott – “Native Gardens” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Georgette Verdin – “Ironbound” – Raven Theatre
Robin Witt – “A Case for the Existence of God” – Steep Theatre
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL – LARGE
Nick Bowling – “Falsettos” – Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company
Lili-Anne Brown – “The Color Purple” – Goodman Theatre
Jim Corti and Creg Sclavi – “Million Dollar Quartet” – Paramount Theatre
Connor Gallagher – “Titanic The Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Amber Mak – “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” – Marriott Theatre
Katie Spelman – “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
Trent Stork – “Cats” – Paramount Theatre
Trent Stork – “Frozen” – Paramount Theatre
Scott Weinstein – “The Little Mermaid” – Drury Lane Productions
DIRECTOR – REVUE
Carisa Barreca – “Best Kept Secret: Tell Everyone” – The Second City e.t.c.
Daryl D. Brooks – “That’s What Friends Are For: Gladys, Dionne and Patti ” – Black Ensemble Theater
Jen Ellison – “This Too Shall Slap” – The Second City
Jackie Taylor – “Blue Eyed Soul Sung By Brown Eyed People” – Black Ensemble Theater
Scott Weinstein – “Always… Patsy Cline” – Drury Lane Productions
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Atra Asdou (Actor 5) – “Iraq, But Funny” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Debo Balogun (Keith) – “A Case for the Existence of God” – Steep Theatre
Janet Ulrich Brooks (Queen Elizabeth II) – “The Audience” – Drury Lane Productions
Lucy Carapetyan (Darja) – “Ironbound” – Raven Theatre
Elliot Esquivel (Jeff) – “Lobby Hero” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Nate Faust (Ryan) – “A Case for the Existence of God” – Steep Theatre
Gregory Fenner (Booth) – “Topdog/Underdog” – The Gift Theatre
Chiké Johnson (Benny) – “Hymn” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
James Vincent Meredith (Gil) – “Hymn” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Tyler Meredith (Louisa/Jo) – “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women” – Northlight Theatre
Seoyoung Park (Jane) – “The Heart Sellers” – Northlight Theatre
Namir Smallwood (Kenneth) – “Primary Trust” – Goodman Theatre
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Devin DeSantis (Joseph) – “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” – Marriott Theatre
Samantha Gershman (Carole King) – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Drury Lane Productions
J. Harrison Ghee (The Lady Chablis) – “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” – Goodman Theatre
Danny Horn (Ray Davies) – “Sunny Afternoon” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Beth Stafford Laird (Anna) – “Frozen” – Paramount Theatre
Michelle Lauto (Jenna) – “Waitress” – Paramount Theatre
Brittney Mack (Celie) – “The Color Purple” – Goodman Theatre
Evan Tyrone Martin (Pierre) – “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
Aurora Penepacker (Natasha) – “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
Stephen Schellhardt (Marvin) – “Falsettos” – Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Jean Claudio (Salvador) – “Memorabilia” – Teatro Vista
Jessie Fisher (Narrator) – “Every Brilliant Thing” – Writers Theatre
Vanessa Severo (Frida) – “Frida … A Self Portrait” – Writers Theatre
PERFORMER IN A REVUE
Aja Alcazar (Patsy Cline) – “Always… Patsy Cline” – Drury Lane Productions
Tamara Batiest (Mature Patti) – “That’s What Friends Are For: Gladys, Dionne and Patti ” – Black Ensemble Theater
Britt Edwards (Passion) – “Blue Eyed Soul Sung By Brown Eyed People” – Black Ensemble Theater
Claudia Martinez (Performer) – “Best Kept Secret: Tell Everyone” – The Second City e.t.c.
Bri Sudia (Louise Seger) – “Always… Patsy Cline” – Drury Lane Productions
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Kierra Bunch (Ruth Younger) – “A Raisin in the Sun” – Court Theatre
John Drea (Laurie) – “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women” – Northlight Theatre
Rae Gray (Elodie Benhamou) – “Prayer for the French Republic” – Northlight Theatre and Theater Wit
Erik Hellman (Lt. Yolland) – “Translations” – Writers Theatre
Casey Hoekstra (Owen) – “Translations” – Writers Theatre
Martasia Jones (Beneatha Younger) – “A Raisin in the Sun” – Court Theatre
Laura Leonardo Ownby (Louise Peaks) – “The Outsider” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Nick Sandys (Black Stache) – “Peter and the Starcatcher” – Paramount Theatre
Adam Schulmerich (Bill) – “Lobby Hero” – Shattered Globe Theatre
AnJi White (Charlesetta Simpkins) – “East Texas Hot Links” – Court Theatre
Fred Zimmerman (Sam/Clay/Le Pousselet Bartender) – “Primary Trust” – Goodman Theatre
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Sarah Bockel (Trina) – “Falsettos” – Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company
Joseph Anthony Byrd (Anatole) – “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
Jackson Evans (Mendel) – “Falsettos” – Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company
Nicole Michelle Haskins (Sofia) – “The Color Purple” – Goodman Theatre
Heidi Kettenring (John Dickinson) – “1776” – Marriott Theatre
Alexandra Palkovic (Cynthia Weil) – “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – Drury Lane Productions
Lorenzo Rush, Jr. (Pharaoh) – “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” – Marriott Theatre
Sawyer Smith (Ursula) – “The Little Mermaid” – Drury Lane Productions
Elizabeth Stenholt (Olive Ostrovsky) – “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” – Paramount Theatre
Aerie Williams (Shug Avery) – “The Color Purple” – Goodman Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE
Andrew Boyce – “Translations” – Writers Theatre
Andrew Boyce – “You Will Get Sick” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “Frozen” – Paramount Theatre
Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “Million Dollar Quartet” – Paramount Theatre
Jack Magaw – “East Texas Hot Links” – Court Theatre
Courtney O’Neill – “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
Christopher Oram – “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” – Goodman Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN – MIDSIZE
José Manuel Díaz-Soto – “Lobby Hero” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Lauren M. Nichols – “Memorabilia” – Teatro Vista
Shayna Patel – “Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues” – American Blues Theater
Grant Sabin and Marcus Klein – “The Last Wide Open” – American Blues Theater
Mara Ishihara Zinky – “Native Gardens” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE
Raquel Adorno – “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
Mara Blumenfeld – “Frozen” – Paramount Theatre
Sally Dolembo – “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” – Marriott Theatre
Theresa Ham – “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” – Marriott Theatre
Izumi Inaba – “Cats” – Paramount Theatre
Ryan Park and Zhang Yu – “The Little Mermaid” – Drury Lane Productions
Sully Ratke – “Titanic The Musical” – Marriott Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Sally Dolembo – “A Lie of the Mind” – Raven Theatre
Uriel Gomez – “Lobby Hero” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Kristy Leigh Hall – “Art” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Kotryna Hilko – “A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Lily Walls – “Misery” – American Blues Theater
SOUND DESIGN – LARGE
Eric Backus – “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
Eric Backus – “Peter and the Starcatcher” – Paramount Theatre
Michael Daly – “Titanic The Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Emily Hayman – “Henry V” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Willow James – “You Will Get Sick” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Mikaal Sulaiman – “Bust” – Goodman Theatre with Alliance Theatre, Sonia Friedman Productions, Khaliah Neal and Thomas Swayne
Connor Wang – “Leroy and Lucy” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
SOUND DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Angela Joy Baldasare – “Six Men Dressed Like Joseph Stalin” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Satya Chávez – “Memorabilia” – Teatro Vista
Joe Court – “Misery” – American Blues Theater
Michael Huey – “Cygnus” – The Gift Theatre
Michael Huey – “Topdog/Underdog” – The Gift Theatre
Christopher Kriz – “A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE
Rory Beaton – “The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Lee Fiskness – “The Da Vinci Code” – Drury Lane Productions
Greg Hofmann – “Cats” – Paramount Theatre
Greg Hofmann – “Frozen” – Paramount Theatre
Yael Lubetzky – “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
Ryan O’Gara – “The Little Mermaid” – Drury Lane Productions
LIGHTING DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Ellie Fey – “Lobby Hero” – Shattered Globe Theatre
G. “Max” Maxin IV – “Topdog/Underdog” – The Gift Theatre
Eric Watkins – “Ironbound” – Raven Theatre
Eric Watkins – “A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Levi J. Wilkins – “Six Men Dressed Like Joseph Stalin” – A Red Orchid Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
Kasey Alfonso – “Cats” – Paramount Theatre
Breon Arzell – “The Color Purple” – Goodman Theatre
Linda Fortunato – “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” – Marriott Theatre
Amber Mak – “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” – Marriott Theatre
Alexzandra Sarmiento – “42 Balloons” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
Christopher Kriz – “A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen – “Betrayal” – Goodman Theatre
Kevin O’Donnell – “Circus Quixote” – Lookingglass Theatre Company with The Actors Gymnasium
Brandon Reed and Mike Przygoda – “Primary Trust” – Goodman Theatre
Richard Woodbury – “Inherit the Wind” – Goodman Theatre
MUSIC DIRECTION
Kory Danielson – “Cats” – Paramount Theatre
Kory Danielson – “Frozen” – Paramount Theatre
Matt Deitchman – “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
Jermaine Hill – “The Color Purple” – Goodman Theatre
Mason Moss – “Sunny Afternoon” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Ryan T. Nelson – “Titanic The Musical” – Marriott Theatre
Otto Vogel – “Falsettos” – Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company
PROJECTION DESIGN
Anthony Churchill and Mike Tutaj – “The Da Vinci Code” – Drury Lane Productions
Michael Salvatore Commendatore – “Iraq, But Funny” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Paul Deziel – “Frozen” – Paramount Theatre
Andrzej Goulding – “42 Balloons” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
George Reeve – “The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Jason Robert Brown – original score – “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” – Goodman Theatre
Chicago Puppet Studio, designers Caitlin McLeod and Zachary Sun – puppet design – “The Little Mermaid” – Drury Lane Productions
Katie Cordts – wig, hair, and makeup design – “Cats” – Paramount Theatre
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi – circus choreography – “Cats” – Paramount Theatre
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi – circus and movement choreographer – “Circus Quixote” – Lookingglass Theatre Company with The Actors Gymnasium
Jesse Mooney-Bullock – puppet design – “Frozen” – Paramount Theatre
Grace Needlman – puppet design – “Circus Quixote” – Lookingglass Theatre Company with The Actors Gymnasium
Charlie Tymms – puppet design – “The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
SHORT RUN – DIRECTION
Charles Newell – “An Iliad” – Court Theatre
SHORT RUN – PERFORMER
Terry Guest (Nsaku) – “The Comedians” – Raven Theatre
Timothy Edward Kane (The Poet) – “An Iliad” – Court Theatre
Bill Larkin (Chauncy) – “The Comedians” – Raven Theatre
The 57th anniversary Equity Jeff Awards will be presented in a ceremony Sept. 29 at the Harris Theater; more information at www.jeffawards.org.
