Press Release

The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee Announces Citations Nominations for 2007

TimeLine and House Theatres Lead Nominees, Newcomer Bohemian Theatre Garners 9

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - Chicago, IL - The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee today announced 109 nominations in 26 categories for Chicago's non-Equity theatrical productions that opened during the 2006-07 season (April 1, 2006 - March 31, 2007). The Jeff Awards Committee judged the opening nights of 127 productions offered by 55 non-Equity producing organizations, and recommended 55 productions for further judging, that made these 55 eligible for Jeff Citations nominations.

The Jeff Awards Citations Ceremony will be held on Monday, June 11, 2007, at Park West, 322 W. Armitage, Chicago, IL. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Light supper at 6:30 p.m. Presentation at 7:30 p.m. Cash bar. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Purchase tickets on line with a credit card at www.jeffawards.org or by mail. A downloadable mail-order form is available at www.jeffawards.org. For more information, contact Glenn Hering at jeff-citations@sbcglobal.net.

True to Chicago theatre’s tradition, where money is no prerequisite to quality, nominees were drawn from such diverse venues as a YMCA classroom with folding chairs around the perimeter, a drafty warehouse, a church meeting room, and a storefront with a stage smaller than most walk-in closets. Bohemian Theatre Ensemble’s "Side Show," the company’s first Jeff-eligible production, was a major mainstage musical shoe-horned into Theatre Building Chicago’s smallest space – and was honored with 9 nominations. Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James, performing in a Rogers Park café on a stage barely bigger than a platform bed, received 7 nominations spread between two of their offerings this season.

Chicago companies also continued in their dedication to the risky business of offering new material. Four New Work nominations were shared equally by Stage Left Theatre for David Alan Moore's "In Times of War" with a storyline presaging today's debate on the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, and David Rush's "One Fine Day" and The House Theatre of Chicago with "Hatfield & McCoy" (Shawn Pfautsch) and "The Sparrow" (which had an additional run at Steppenwolf's Garage) by Chris Mathews, Jake Minton and Nathan Allen. In the New Adaptation category, Lifeline Theatre continued its strong presence with Christina Calvit's adaptation of "A Room With a View," and Frances Limoncelli's adaptation of "Gaudy Night." Also nominated for New Adaptations were William Massolia's "Letters Home, Voices of American Troops from the Battlefields of Iraq" for Griffin Theatre Company, and Terry McCabe's story of Conan Doyle's characters "Holmes and Watson" for City Lit Theater Company.

Top-nominated productions, with 10 apiece, were TimeLine Theatre Company’s "Fiorello! – their first-ever staging of a musical, and The House Theatre of Chicago’s world premiere modern-day tale of guilt and redemption with magic and "psycho-kinetic" powers thrown into the mix, "The Sparrow." Profiles Theatre's much-extended "Fat Pig," striking a chord with local audiences, netted 3 nominations.

Among individual nominees, Michael Mahler was nominated twice as Actor in a Principal Role – Musical for his work in "My Favorite Year" (Bailiwick Repertory Theatre) and "Sweet Smell of Success" (Circle Theatre); and Danielle Brothers (last year’s Recipient in the same category) was nominated twice as Actress in a Supporting Role – Musical or Revue for "Flora, the Red Menace" and "Side by Side by Sondheim" (both with Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James). Also nominated twice in the same category were Bob Knuth for Scenic Design for "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Stone Cold Dead Serious" (both at Circle Theatre); Kevin Bellie for Choreography for "Mack & Mabel" and "Meet Me in St. Louis" (also both at Circle Theatre); Michael Griggs for Sound Design for "The Sparrow" (The House Theatre of Chicago) and (with Mikhail Fiksel) "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" (The Hypocrites in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre); and Kevin O'Donnell for Original Incidental Music for "The Sparrow" (The House Theatre of Chicago) and "Once Upon a Time (or the Secret Language of Birds)" (Redmoon Theater). Peter Oyloe received two nominations in different categories for Actors Workshop Theatre's "Equus" – for Actor in a Principal Role – Play, and for Original Incidental Music, together with Shannon Bengford and Miles Polaski. Additional double nominations were earned by Nathan Allen, Shawn Pfautsch, and Miles Polaski.

In addition, the committee nominated recipients for Citations in four special categories:

• Object Design: The Object Design Team – "The Golden Truffle" – Redmoon Theater
• Projections Design: Lucas Merino – "The Sparrow" – The House Theatre of Chicago
• Fight Choreography: Matt Hawkins – "Hatfield & McCoy" – The House Theatre of Chicago
• Puppet Design: Kass Copeland – "Once Upon a Time (or the Secret Language of Birds)" – Redmoon Theater

The Jeff Awards are given annually by The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee to honor excellence in professional theatre produced in the immediate Chicago area. The committee, organized in 1968, consists of up to 45 men and women with varying backgrounds in theatre, but united by an active interest and concern. They come to the committee with an academic background in theatre, significant professional experience, a history of theatre involvement, and/or years of consistent theatre attendance in Chicago and in the other major theatre capitals of the world. The committee evaluates approximately 250 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies annually. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the committee established the Citations (non-Equity) wing in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union Chicago theatre. The next Equity awards ceremony will be held on October 29, 2007, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.

PRODUCTION – PLAY
• "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" – The Hypocrites in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
• "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
• "Equus" – Actors Workshop Theatre
• "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
• "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL OR REVUE
• "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
• "Side by Side by Sondheim" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James
• "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
• "tick, tick . . . BOOM!" - Pegasus Players

NEW WORK
• Chris Mathews, Jake Minton, and Nathan Allen – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
• David Alan Moore – "In Times of War" - Stage Left Theatre
• Shawn Pfautsch – "Hatfield & McCoy " - The House Theatre of Chicago
• David Rush – "One Fine Day" - Stage Left Theatre

NEW ADAPTATION
• Christina Calvit – "A Room With a View" - Lifeline Theatre
• Frances Limoncelli – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
• William Massolia – "Letters Home, Voices of American Troops from the Battlefields of Iraq" - Griffin Theatre Company
• Terry McCabe – "Holmes & Watson" - City Lit Theater Company

ENSEMBLE
• "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
• "Marathon '33" - Strawdog Theatre Company
• "The Permanent Way" - New Leaf Theatre
• "Side by Side by Sondheim" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James
• "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
• "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
• "The Weir" - Signal Ensemble Theatre

DIRECTOR – PLAY
• Nathan Allen – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
• Steven Fedoruk – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
• Sean Graney – "Mud" - The Hypocrites
• Joe Jahraus – "Fat Pig" - Profiles Theatre
• Dorothy Milne – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
• Steve Scott – "Boy Gets Girl" - Eclipse Theatre Company

DIRECTOR – MUSICAL OR REVUE
• Fred Anzevino - "Side by Side By Sondheim" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James
• Nick Bowling – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
• Ilesa Duncan – "tick, tick . . . BOOM!" - Pegasus Players
• Stephen M Genovese – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
• David Zak – "My Favorite Year" - Bailiwick Repertory Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
• Darrell W. Cox – "Fat Pig" - Profiles Theatre
• Peter Oyloe – "Equus" - Actors Workshop Theatre
• Brian Parry – "Equus" - Actors Workshop Theatre
• Erez Shek – "Stand-Up Tragedy" - Blindfaith Theatre
• André Teamer – "Pantomime" - Pegasus Players

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
• Jenifer Tyler – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
• Michelle Courvais – "Boy Gets Girl" - Eclipse Theatre Company
• Carolyn Defrin -- "The Sparrow" -- The House Theatre of Chicago
• Deborah Hearst – "Fat Pig" - Profiles Theatre
• TayLar – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
• Scott Gryder – "Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story" - Baliwick Repertory Theatre
• Michael Ingersoll – "tick, tick . . . BOOM!" - Pegasus Players
• Michael Mahler – "My Favorite Year" - Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
• Michael Mahler – "Sweet Smell of Success" - Circle Theatre
• Kevin Mayes --"My Favorite Year" -- Bailiwick Repertory Theatre

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
• Cat Davis – "Mack & Mabel - Circle Theatre
• Vanessa Panerosa – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
• Andrea Prestinario – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
• Cliff Chamberlain – "The Sparrow" – The House Theatre of Chicago
• Peter Greenberg – "Gaudy Night" – Lifeline Theatre
• James William Joseph – "Faith Healer" – Uma Productions
• John Kahara – "The Swan" – Trap Door Theatre
• Alfred Kemp – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
• Danica Ivancevic – "Faith Healer" - Uma Productions
• Melanie Keller – "The Weir" - Signal Ensemble Theatre
• Jennifer Mathews – "Betty's Summer Vacation" - Infamous Commonwealth Theatre
• Charlette Speigner – "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - Eclipse Theatre Company
• Cora Vander Broek – "Dead End" - Griffin Theatre Company
• Ann Wakefield – "The Children's Hour" - TimeLine Theatre Company
• Lindsay Weisberg – "One Fine Day" - Stage Left Theatre

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
• Terry Hamilton – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
• Michael Kingston – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
• Eric Lindahl – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
• Jeremy Trager – "Flora, the Red Menace" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
• Danielle Brothers – "Side by Side by Sondheim" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James
• Danielle Brothers – "Flora, the Red Menace" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James
• Rebecca Finnegan – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
• Maris Hudson – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company

SCENIC DESIGN
• Kevin Hagan – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
• Bob Knuth – "Stone Cold Dead Serious" - Circle Theatre
• Bob Knuth – "Meet Me in St. Louis" - Circle Theatre
• Melania Lancy – "The Weir" - Signal Ensemble Theatre
• Timothy Mann – "Pantomime" - Pegasus Players
• Courtney O'Neill – "Mud" - The Hypocrites

LIGHTING DESIGN
• Kevin D. Gawley – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
• Sean Mallory – "Tooth of Crime, Second Dance" - Strawdog Theatre Company
• Jared Moore – "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" - The Hypocrites in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
• Keith Parham – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company

COSTUME DESIGN
• Theresa Ham – "Side Show" – Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
• Joel Klaff and John Diekmann – "The GoldenTruffle" – Redmoon Theater
• Suzanne Mann – "Meet Me in St. Louis" – Circle Theatre
• Alex Wren Meadows – "The General from America" – TimeLine Theatre Company
• Jesus Perez – "Mack & Mabel" - Circle Theatre

SOUND DESIGN
• Victoria DeIorio – "Gaudy Night" - Lifeline Theatre
• Michael Griggs – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
• Michael Griggs and Mikhail Fiksel – "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" – The Hypocrites in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
• Nick Keenan – "Book of Days" - Raven Theatre Company
• Miles Polaski – "Equus" - Actors Workshop Theatre

CHOREOGRAPHY
• Kevin Bellie – "Mack & Mabel" - Circle Theatre
• Kevin Bellie – "Meet Me in St. Louis" - Circle Theatre
• Brenda Didier and Andrew Waters – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
• Tommy Rapley – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago

ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
• Shannon Bengford, Peter Oyloe, and Miles Polaski – "Equus" - Actors Workshop Theatre
• Kevin O'Donnell – "The Sparrow" - The House Theatre of Chicago
• Kevin O'Donnell – "Once Upon a Time (or the Secret Language of Birds)" - Redmoon Theater
• Shawn Pfautsch – "Hatfield & McCoy" - The House Theatre of Chicago

MUSIC DIRECTION
• Joshua Kartes – "Side By Side by Sondheim" - Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James
• Doug Peck – "Fiorello!" - TimeLine Theatre Company
• William A. Underwood – "tick, tick . . .BOOM!" - Pegasus Players
• A. Scott Williams – "Side Show" - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble

OTHER CATEGORIES - RECIPIENTS
• Object Design: The Object Design Team – "The Golden Truffle" – Redmoon Theater
• Projections Design: Lucas Merino – "The Sparrow" – The House Theatre of Chicago
• Fight Choreography: Matt Hawkins – "Hatfield & McCoy" – The House Theatre of Chicago
• Puppet Design: Kass Copeland – "Once Upon a Time (or the Secret Language of Birds)" – Redmoon Theater

2007 Citations Nominees – Statistics

In the Season ended March 31, 2007, the Jeff Committee judged the opening nights of 127 non-Equity productions from 55 producing organizations. Of these, 55 productions were recommended by the opening night judges and became eligible for Citations nominations.

• Total Citations Nominations for 2006-2007 Season – 109
• Total Categories – 26
• Total Producing Entities Receiving Nominations – 25

MULTIPLE NOMINEES – PRODUCING ORGANIZATIONS:
• The House Theatre of Chicago – 13
• TimeLine Theatre Company - 12
• Bohemian Theatre Ensemble – 9
• Circle Theatre – 8
• Lifeline Theatre – 9
• Bailiwick Repertory Theatre – 7 (3 in association with The Hypocrites)
• Eclipse Theatre Company – 7
• Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James - 7
• Pegasus Players - 6
• Actors Workshop Theatre – 5
• The Hypocrites – 5 (3 in association with Bailiwick Repertory Theatre)
• Redmoon Theater - 4
• Profiles Theatre – 3
• Signal Ensemble Theatre – 3
• Stage Left Theatre - 3
• Griffin Theatre Company – 2
• Strawdog Theatre Company – 2
• Uma Productions – 2

MULTIPLE NOMINEES - PRODUCTIONS:
• "Fiorello!" – 10
• "The Sparrow" - 10
• "Side Show" - 9
• "Gaudy Night" - 7
• "Blues for an Alabama Sky" - 5
• "Equus" – 5
• "Side by Side by Sondheim" – 5
• "tick, tick . . . BOOM!" - 4
• "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika" – 3
• "Fat Pig" – 3
• "Hatfield & McCoy" – 3
• "Mack & Mabel" – 3
• "Meet Me in St. Louis" – 3
• "My Favorite Year" – 3
• "The Weir" - 3
• "Boy Gets Girl" – 2
• "Faith Healer" – 2
• "Flora, the Red Menace" – 2
• "The Golden Truffle" - 2
• "Mud" – 2
• "Once Upon a Time (or the Secret Language of Birds)" – 2
• "One Fine Day" – 2
• "Pantomime" – 2

MULTIPLE NOMINEES - INDIVIDUALS:
• Nathan Allen - 2
• Kevin Bellie – 2
• Danielle Brothers – 2
• Michael Griggs – 2
• Bob Knuth – 2
• Michael Mahler – 2
• Kevin O’Donnell - 2
• Peter Oyloe – 2
• Shawn Pfautsch – 2
• Miles Polaski - 2

Contact: Jeffrey Marks, Media Chair at 312.606.0400 or media@jeffawards.org or Glenn Z. Hering, Citations Chair at citations@jeffawards.org

SPECIAL NOTICE TO NEWS MEDIA

Your complimentary ticket to the 34th Annual Jeff Citations Ceremony will be held at the News Media table at Park West only if you make a reservation in advance. If you have not reserved a seat, please contact Jeffrey Marks at 312.606.0400 or jmmarks@aol.com.

Names of award recipients will be released immediately following the presentation ceremony June 11. Copies of the news release with all award recipients will be available at the News Media table after the presentation ceremony ends. It also will be e-mailed to our regular distribution list (as a Word .doc attachment and in text format both as an attachment and in the body of the e-mail) by the morning of June 12. Special requests to fax a copy may be made to Jeff Marks at jmmarks@aol.com. Photos from the event will be available on our website.

A Media Curtain is available for your own photos. We will also have an interview area available to you, and will assist in bringing interviewees to that area. If you need a quote or interview with any Jeff Awards committee member, please call or e-mail Jeffrey Marks at 312-606-0400 or jmmarks@aol.com.

The Jeff Awards Committee website, www.jeffawards.org, lists all the current Citations nominees and statistics, along with previous recipients and nominees and other Jeff Awards information and news.