Press Releases

THE JOSEPH JEFFERSON AWARDS COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES NOMINATIONS FOR CHICAGO EQUITY THEATRE PRODUCTIONS TO BE RECOGNIZED AT THE 36TH ANNUAL JOSEPH JEFFERSON AWARDS

CHICAGO, September 9, 2004 - The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee announces today a total of 124 nominations in 26 categories for the 36th Annual Joseph Jefferson Awards. The gala awards presentation will be held on Monday, November 1 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, and is open to the public and industry.

The nominations for outstanding production of a play include two Writers’ Theatre productions, The Doctor’s Dilemma, and Our Town; two Victory Gardens Theater productions, Trying, and The Romance of Magno Rubio; and from Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Rose Rage. Musical productions nominated include Annie Get Your Gun at Marriott Theatre, Fiddler on the Roof at Drury Lane Oakbrook, The Light in the Piazza at The Goodman Theatre, The Sound of a Voice at Court Theatre, and two musicals at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, A Little Night Music, and Romeo and Juliet Musical: The People vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater leads this year’s roster of nominee Equity theatres with a total of twenty-four Jeff nominations for its 2003-2004 season productions. Marriott Theatre follows with fourteen, The Goodman Theatre with twelve, Victory Gardens Theater with eleven and About Face Theatre with ten nominations each.

The awards presentation will be held on Monday, November 1 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie at 9501 Skokie Boulevard. Marc Robin, veteran Chicago director and choreographer, will direct this year’s ceremony. Light supper with a cash bar will begin at 6:00 PM, and the awards ceremony will begin at 7:30 PM. Celebrants will be invited to enjoy a dessert buffet after the awards. The evening is black tie optional, and the public is invited to attend.

Advance purchase ticket prices for the awards ceremony are $55 for general admission and $40 for members of Actors’ Equity Association, United Scenic Artists and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. If purchased at the door, tickets are $65 and $50, respectively. Ticket orders may be mailed to Richard Hesler, 3035 Farner Court, Riverwoods, IL 60015. For further information call 847.945.4733 or email tickets@jeffawards.org.

During the 2003-2004 season (August 1, 2003 - July 31, 2004), the 45-member Jeff Committee judged a total of 133 Equity productions offered by 55 local producing organizations. The committee recommended a total of 88 productions presented by 47 of those producing organizations. The final roster of 124 Jeff nominations in 26 categories represents 58 productions from 25 producing organizations.

Founded in 1968, the mission of the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee is to honor excellence in theatrical productions in the Chicago theatre community. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the Citations non-Equity wing was founded by the Jeff Committee in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union Chicago theatre. The committee, composed of theatre professionals and enthusiasts, evaluates approximately 250 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies each year. The Citations Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in non-union productions, are presented in early June. The Jeff Awards for excellence in Equity theatre are celebrated in late October or early November.


MEMBERS OF THE PRESS, PLEASE NOTE: If you wish to attend the 36th Annual Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremony on November 1 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, please contact Jeffrey Marks at 312.606.0400 or by e-mail at JMMarks@aol.com to reserve your complimentary seat. Tickets will be held for you at the door. Press Packets will be provided following the ceremony with recipients. A Press Interview area will be available after the ceremony, and recipients will be brought to the area for press interviews.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL
Jeffrey Marks @ 312.606.0400
or email JMMarks@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE