The 51st Annual Jeff Awards Ceremony took place on October 21, 2019, during a spirited evening at Drury Lane Oakbrook. "Frankenstein," produced by Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, took home five awards, including Best Production - Play in the Midsize category. Court Theatre also took home five awards, including the coveted Ensemble Award for "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf" and four awards for "Photograph 51." Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of "Downstate" received the Jeff Award for Best Production - Play in the Large category. The award for Best Production - Musical in the Large category went to "Six" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and the award for Best Production - Musical in the Midsize category went to "Caroline, or Change," produced by Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company.
Three new works received Jeff Awards this year. The award for New Work - Play was presented to Bruce Norris for "Downstate" at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and two awards for New Work - Musical were bestowed on David Cale for "We're Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time" at Goodman Theatre in co-production with The Public Theater, and to Michael Mahler and Jason Brett for "Miracle," produced by William A. Marovitz and Arny Granat. In the acting categories, awards for Performer in Principal Role - Play went to Janet Ulrich Brooks (Maria Callas) for "Master Class" at TimeLine Theatre Company, and to Chaon Cross (Rosalind Franklin) for "Photograph 51" at Court Theatre. E. Faye Butler (Rose) in "Gypsy" at Porchlight Music Theatre, and Barbara E. Robertson (Anna Edson Taylor) in "Queen of the Mist" at Firebrand Theatre received awards for Performer in a Principal Role - Musical. The Solo Performance award went to Joe Foust for "The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey" at American Blues Theater. The award for Performer in a Revue went to Robin DaSilva (Mahalia) in "Mahalia Jackson: Moving Thru the Light" at Black Ensemble Theater.Production - play - large: "Downstate," Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Production - play - midsize: "Frankenstein," Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Production - musical - large: "Six," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Production - musical - midsize: "Caroline, or Change," Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company
Production - revue: "You Can't Fake the Funk: A Journey Through Funk Music," Black Ensemble Theater
Ensemble - play: "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow is Enuf," Court Theatre
Ensemble - musical or revue: "Six," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
New work - play: Bruce Norris, "Downstate," Steppenwolf Theatre Company
New work - musical: David Cale, "We're Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time," Goodman Theatre in co-production with The Public Theater; "Miracle," Michael Mahler, Jason Brett, William A. Marovitz and Arny Granat
Director - play - large: Vanessa Stalling, "Photograph 51," Court Theatre
Director - play - midsize: Ian Frank, "Frankenstein," Remy Bumppo Theatre Company; Jonathan Wilson, "The Recommendation," Windy City Playhouse
Director - musical - large: Jim Corti, "The Producers," Paramount Theatre
Director - musical - midsize: Lili-Anne Brown, "Caroline, or Change," Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company
Performer in a principal role - play: Janet Ulrich Brooks, "Master Class," TimeLine Theatre Company; Chaon Cross, "Photograph 51," Court Theatre
Performer in a principal role - musical: E. Faye Butler, "Gypsy," Porchlight Music Theatre; Barbara E. Robertson, "Queen of the Mist," Firebrand Theatre
Solo performance: Joe Foust, "The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey," American Blues Theater
Performer in a supporting role - play: K. Todd Freeman, "Downstate," Steppenwolf Theatre Company; Brian Keys, "The Recommendation," Windy City Playhouse
Performer in a supporting role - musical: Donica Lynn, "Ghost The Musical," Theatre at the Center; Nat Zegree, "Million Dollar Quartet," Marriott Theatre
Performer in a revue: Robin DaSilva, "Mahalia Jackson: Moving Thru the Light," Black Ensemble Theater
Scenic design - large: Arnel Sancianco, "Photograph 51," Court Theatre
Scenic design - midsize: Lauren Nigri, "The Recommendation," Windy City Playhouse
Costume design - large: Rueben Echoles, "You Can't Fake the Funk," Black Ensemble Theater
Costume design - midsize: Jeff Hendry, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder," Porchlight Music Theatre
Sound design - large: Rick Sims, "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein," Lookingglass Theatre Company
Sound design - midsize: Christopher Kriz, "Frankenstein," Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Lighting design - large: William C. Kirkham, "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein," Lookingglass Theatre Company
Lighting design - midsize: Mike Durst, "Frankenstein," Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Choreography: Brenda Didier, "The Producers," Paramount Theatre
Original music: Andre Pluess and Amanda Dehnert, "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," Lookingglass Theatre Company
Music direction: Roberta Duchak and Joe Beighton, "Six," Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Fight choreography: Jon Beal, "Cardboard Piano," TimeLine Theatre Company
Puppet design: Chicago Puppet Studio, "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," Lookingglass Theatre Company
Projection design: Rasean Davonte Johnson, "Frankenstein," Court Theatre
Artistic specialization: Kristy Leigh Hall, makeup design, "Frankenstein," Remy Bumppo Theatre Company; Cassy Schillo and Wendy A. Huber, properties design, "All Childish Things," First Folio Theatre
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