Members of the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee
Click on a name to read the member's profile:

has had his award-winning plays staged in several cities.  He has received three grants from the Illinois Arts Council for Recognition in Playwriting and one from the Pilgrim Foundation. Recent productions include ADRIFT, ENDS, an African-American Theatre Festival Award Winner (Univ. of Louisville) at New Jersey Repertory Company; ONTO INFINITY at Waukegan's Bowen Park Theatre Company; and BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON at Chicago Playwrights' Center. Dramatic Publishing has published two of his plays. He has served as Secretary of the Chicago Alliance for Playwrights and the Illinois Theatre Association. Alex retired in 2003 from Hoffman Estates High School,where he taught mathematics, coached track, and directed the fall play. He occasionally conducts writing workshops for young authors.

Theatre director, educator and scholar,  Dr. Bloch holds a  Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of Denver, as well as a Masters degree in Mass Communication.  A  native Chicagoan, Bloch performed with several local theatre groups including the Center Stage and Second City, while pursuing a B.S. in  Speech at Northwestern University. .  In Denver, CO,  she founded the Comedy Connection, an improvisation-based comedy troupe. while pursuing graduate studies at the University of Denver..  Dr. Bloch has taught courses in Communication, Theatre and Speech at several colleges and universities including the University of Denver, Bowling Green State University, Lewis University, and St. Andrews Presbyterian College and has directed, and adapted more than 30 theatre productions, in Chicago and on university and college campuses.

is a graduate of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with a degree in Theater.  Upon graduation, he was offered the position of Artistic Director at Omaha Center Stage where he worked for nine years. While there, his production of “Ain’t Misbehavin’ “ won first prize in the Toyama International Theater Festival, held in Toyama City, Japan, winning top honors from 66 other countries’ best performance entries. Davis was also named Best Director at this prestigious International Theater Festival.  As playwright, his first play “Son of a Distant Moon” has received performances and very-loud accolades in New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC. During his two years in DC, he spent one as the Arts Reviewer for a Washington, DC weekly newspaper. Davis recently moved to Chicago where he continues writing, directing and loving Chicago local theater.

 returns to The Jeff Committee.

has a Masters degree in Theater from New York University and a BA in Choreography from Columbia College. She studied abroad with the Greenwich Theatre in England and recently was the Artistic Director and founder of Oswego Playhouse in the Fox Valley.  Currently, she is a guest director at Steele Beam Theatre.  Previously, while Artistic Director at Theatre Charlotte in North Carolina she taught theatre and directed at University of NC.  Previous directing positions include University of St Francis in Joliet, Triton College, Theatre of Western Springs, and as owner and director of Dainamite Studios,inc she brought theatre and dance to River Forest.  Having traveled around the world and seen theatre globally...Chicago is an amazing theatre city!

a native of Dayton, Ohio, has been an actor and director in Indiana and Ohio regional theaters for many years.  He served as the Director of the Purdue University Theater Company from 1988 to 1993, and in 1989, he had the honor of directing the grand opening of the Theater at the Center in Munster, Indiana.  In addition to the university setting, John has directed for several community theaters across Chicagoland and northwest Indiana.  A long time resident of Chicago, John is an avid fan and patron of Chicago theater.

served as President of Western Illinois University from 2002 until his retirement in 2011.  Dr. Goldfarb also spent 25 years at Illinois State University where he served as Provost and Academic Vice President, Dean of Fine Arts, Chair of Theatre, Managing Director of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and Professor of Theatre.  Dr. Goldfarb has coauthored two leading textbooks, with Edwin Wilson retired theatre critic of the Wall Street Journal, and coedited Theatrical Performance During the Holocaust.  He has published many articles and reviews and has received alumni awards from Hunter College, where he received his master's degree, and from the City University of New York Graduate Center, where he received his Ph.D.  Dr. Goldfarb has also served on the Illinois Arts Council.

began her theatrical career as a child performer, and, over the years has worked as a singing comedienne, actress, teacher, director, booking agent, producer, and host of a television discussion/interview series. She is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Speech. For the ten year span between 1986 and 1996, she was the producing artistic director of the nationally acclaimed performing troupe, "Acting Up!", while on staff at Oakton Community College. She then returned to the artistic director position of the troupe, now known as "Still Acting Up!" from 2000 to 2004. Other directing credits include work for Stage Two, Attic Playhouse and the Northlight Theatre Open Door Ensemble.  In 2009, Joyce co-founded Spotlighters at the Mette, which she directs and hosts.  Produced by the Wilmette Theatre, Spotlighters presents musical revues featuring intergenerational casts of performers between the ages of 9-17 and over 55. 

A past chair of the Jeff Committee, Susan has been involved in Chicago theater for about 40 years, has directed over 30 productions, and has produced more than that, mostly on the North Shore. She was a board member of Steppenwolf Theatre Company in its beginning years. Formerly a drama teacher, Susan is the past president and co-founder of Highland Park Players. Her husband, Dr. Harlan Haimes, shares her love for Chicago theater and attends every production with her. Susan and Harlan's company, Brittany Production, Inc., has produced Equity theater in Chicago.

was born and raised in Chicago, attending St. Patrick’s High School and the University of Illinois with a degree in history.  He is an attorney specializing in civil and criminal litigation and he received his J.D. from Harvard Law School.  He and his wife have traveled all over the world.  Bob has been or is involved with many not for profit organizations, including NICASA, Lambs Farm, National Association for Down Syndrome, Center for Independent Futures and the Ted Fund. He also serves the University of Illinois as a member of the Illinois Foundation, the Chancellor’s Circle, the Friends of History Board and the Alumni Awards Committee. Actively involved in theatre, Bob has attended and supported various Chicago theatres over many years, and looks forward to serving with the prestigious group of Jeff Committee members.

is a Senior Consultant in Change Enablement for Avanade, Inc., an IT consultancy specializing in Microsoft products. Her previous career was in marketing and communications for technology, transportation, entertainment and other organizations. She previously was general manager for Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre and served on the board and was benefit chair for Chicago Dramatists. As an avocation, she has studied playwriting, music, dance and acting and has been on-stage and back-stage in community theatre productions, gridiron shows and sang with choirs as an alto. She holds master and bachelor degrees in journalism and communications with a minor in speech broadcasting. For fun, she likes doing voice over work (www.marthavoice.com).

is a bookwriter and lyricist, whose most recent musical, 40 is the New 15 (with composer Cindy O'Connor), had a critically-acclaimed run at the NoHo Arts Center in Los Angeles, receiving Best New Musical award from Stagescene LA in 2010.  The developmental production of 40 is the New 15 received a 2010 GLAAD Media Award Nomination for Outstanding Los Angeles Theatre, and was chosen by Stephen Schwartz for the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop.Now and Then a Hero (with composer Jake Anthony) was part of the Missoula Colony Festival; and his musical drama, All That He Was (with composer Cindy O'Connor), at the Tisch School of the Arts (NYU), earned Larry the Kennedy Center National Playwright's Award and the ACTF Musical Theater Award.  His historical-fiction musical, The Last Princess (with music by Allen Hong) was also featured in the Disney/ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop.  Larry is Assistant Artistic Director and lyric lab instructor for Midwest New Musicals.

is a psychotherapist in private practice in Evanston.  Over many decades she has been mining the psychological gold that good theater in Chicago offers.  Her book And Baby Makes Three explores the emotional transition to parenthood.  Her poetry has appeared in various literary journals, two chapbooks published by Finishing Line Press, and paired with her husband Arnold’s photography in two coffee-table-type books:  No Secret Where Elephants Walk and Where the Sacred Dwells, Namaste—check out the website www.DualArtsPress.com

was born and grew up in Japan, where he had occasional contact with both traditional Japanese and western arts.  He came to the United States at the age of 18 to pursue a university education, where exposure to a wide array of films, theater, music and the visual arts started to give a shape to his general curiosity about art.  Throughout his long career as a student, this interest continued. Many evenings were spent going to theater and musical performances, and much time was spent in museums. In addition, he took numerous university courses in theater, art history, film and music.  Upon completion of his doctorate twelve years ago, he settled in Chicago, where the passion for art has turned into a means for exploring humanity.  He spends most of his spare time in theaters, and by day he works as the director of the testing program at Northeastern University.  

is a director and teaching artist who received her BFA in Acting from Syracuse University. Upon graduation she moved to Chicago to work with Steppenwolf Theatre Co as Asst. Coordinator for their summer acting intensive.   Since being in the city, Jacque has directed numerous shows with companies including TYA at Apple Tree Theatre, Noble Fool Performing Arts Academy, VPT, Emergency Theatre Co and Three Cat Education. She has worked in theatre education as a teaching artist with American Theatre Company, Apple Tree Theatre, Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy, Emerald City Theatre Co and After School Matters. Jacque also is Executive Director of Three Cat Education, where she writes and directs original scripts for youth productions and summer camps (housed at the Skokie Theatre) as well as teaching and directing at their Lincoln Park location (The Menomonee Club). She also is a founding collective member of Ag47, an arts mentorship program serving pre-teen and teenage girls in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood.

is a performer and is celebrating over 35 years in the business.  He was a member of IATSE, is currently a member of SAG/AFTRA, and is an Equity Member Candidate.  Born in Philadelphia, Shawn grew up in Florida and feels fortunate to have been a part of the Youth Arts Training Program, a Jimmy Carter initiative.  He later attended Florida School of the Arts.  He is a fan of Chicago theatre since relocating here in the mid-90s.

A full-time daily entertainment newspaper columnist for The Times of Northwest Indiana and Illinois, Philip began covering theater in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois for The South Bend Tribune in 1992, before joining The Times in 1995.  He is the author of three published books chronicling stories, interviews, recipes and memories from his personal and professional experiences. Released in May 2010, his third book, "Further From the Farm" (Pediment Press) continues the chronicle of his journalism journey and features favorite celebrated stories from his interviews, including Mary Tyler Moore, Lily Tomlin, Julia Child, Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Dolly Parton, Betty White, Karl Malden, Phil Donahue and Bea Arthur.  He also is an adjunct instructor in  communication at both Valparaiso University and Purdue University North Central.  When not at his desk in the newsroom, lecturing in a classroom or in a theater seat, Philip divides his time between his family's farm in Northwest Indiana and his home in Chicago.

is a passionate theatergoer and a playwright affiliated with the Chicago Dramatists, Her background in theater also includes improvisation and acting. By day, Lisa provides due diligence research for investment groups and writes on healthcare policy and finance, a field she’s covered as a reporter and editor for many years. She received her B.S. in journalism from Northwestern University.  

studied dramatic literature while earning her B.A. in English at the University of Michigan and later studied theater criticism at Northwestern University. Her professional life has been as writer/editor/columnist focusing on arts subjects. She also has served as a juror/judge/curator for numerous art exhibits, and she has led panels as a moderator on various arts issues. Founding publisher of Chicago Gallery News (1982), Natalie also held a position concurrently as executive director of the Chicago Art Dealers Association (1987-2007).

was a former Jeff Committee chairman.  He was a retired business executive and consultant in public relations and corporate art; he served as theater critic for the Lerner newspapers; acted and directed in Chicago-area theaters; and was a founding member of the board of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Other activities included the Association of Corporate Art Curators and the Public Art Committee of the City of Highland Park.  A long-time valued member of The Jeff Committee, Paul died in December, 2011.