Raven Theatre Founders Michael Menendian and JoAnn Montemurro to Receive Special Award at Jeff Awards Ceremony

May 19, 2008 - Chicago, IL. Michael Menendian, Producing Artistic Director, and JoAnn Montemurro, Co-Artistic Director, of the 25-year-old Raven Theatre will receive a Special Award at the 35th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards Ceremony on June 9, 2008, honoring their contributions to Chicago theatre

Michael Menendian and JoAnn Montemurro founded Raven Theatre in 1983 with a mission to establish itself as an important voice in regional theatre focusing on American classics, as well as new and lesser-known projects that illuminate the "American Experience" while occasionally exploring world classics. This mission is realized by uniting an ensemble of Chicago-based theatre artists from diverse disciplines working closely together to maintain a high standard of artistic excellence with programming easily accessible to patrons of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. Vigorously fresh revivals of masterpieces by great playwrights, such as Arthur Miller, Tennessee Michael Menendian & JoAnn Montemurro Williams and David Mamet, introduce new audiences to established classics, while original and lesser-known works give voice to the next generation of playwrights. Since its founding, Raven Theatre has been honored by the Jeff Awards Committee with 30 nominations and 17 awards.

JoAnn Montemurro, a past Jeff recipient of an award as a Principal Actress in a Play, is a graduate of the Goodman School of Drama. Michael Menendian, originally from Boston, moved to Chicago in 1979. Before founding Raven Theatre he worked and studied theatre at several Chicago institutions, including Victory Gardens Theater and The Second City.

The 35th Anniversary Non-Equity Jeff Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday, June 9, 2008, at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage, Chicago, IL. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Light buffet at 6:30 p.m. Presentation at 7:30 p.m. Cash bar. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 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, Non-Equity Wing Chair, at nonequitywing@jeffawards.org.

The Jeff Awards Committee previously announced 113 nominations for Non-Equity Jeff Awards in 23 categories for productions that opened during the 2007-08 season (April 1, 2007 - March 31, 2008). The Committee judged the opening nights of 143 productions offered by 61 non-Equity producing organizations, and recommended 66 of them for further judging, which made these 66 eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations.

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, united by an active interest and concern for the advancement of Chicago theatre. Jeff members 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 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 Non-Equity Wing in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union Chicago theatre. The Equity awards ceremony will be held on Monday, October 20, 2008, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.

SPECIAL NOTICE TO NEWS MEDIA:

Your complimentary ticket to the 35th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards 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 media@jeffawards.org.

Names of award recipients will be released immediately following the presentation ceremony June 9. 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 10. Special requests to fax a copy may be made to Jeff Marks at media@jeffawards.org. Photos from the event will be available on our Jeff Awards website: www.jeffawards.org.

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 media@jeffawards.org.

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

Contact:
Jeffrey Marks, Media Chair, 312.606.0400, media@jeffawards.org
or Glenn Hering–Non-Equity Chair, nonequitywing@jeffawards.org