They wuz robbed: Our (affectionate) rebuttal to the 2009-2010 Equity Jeff Award nominations

Jeff did pretty well this year. In looking over the list of Equity Wing nominations for the 2009–10 Joseph Jefferson Awards (which you'll find in full at the end of this post), TOC's Theater staff saw almost everything we were hoping to see from the exceptional year that ended, under the Jeff committee's rules, July 31. Almost. There are always unfortunate omissions, and for those deserving non-nominees who won't hear their names read at October 25's ceremony, we're here to give them a little love.

Take, for instance, the cast of The Brother/Sister Plays at Steppenwolf. Tarell Alvin McCraney's outstanding triptych of plays did receive four nominations, including best production, best director for Tina Landau and best ensemble. But aside from the divine Jacqueline Williams, not a single one of the members of that potentially best ensemble received an individual nomination—not the deserving Alana Arenas, who anchored In the Red and Brown Water; not spectacular supporting actor Ora Jones; not even the one we were sure was a lock, ensemble member K. Todd Freeman, who found the role of a lifetime in Ogun Size and gave it everything he had and more in an arc that ran through all three pieces.

Jones was robbed not once but twice this season. Prior to Brother/Sister, she had another prime supporting role in the Margaret Dumont slot of the Goodman's Animal Crackers revival. Her work as the straightwoman to new Marxists Joey Slotnick, Molly Brennan and Jonathan Brody was subtle and sly for the most part, but let's face it: she deserved a nomination for gamely (and elegantly) rolling down the stairs night after night.

Molly Brennan's exclusion from the nominees is a crime as well; one wonders if the Jeff committee shied away due to the preshow teapot-tempest in some corners of the internet over the idea of a Female Woman With Ovaries playing the skirt-chasing Harpo role. Fact is, she pulled it off with more grace than any dude we can think of could.

Speaking of overlooked women, as delighted as we are to see the deserving Tina Landau and Kimberly Senior nominated for direction of a play, we've gotta note that Amy Morton helmed two of the season's finest Equity revivals: Steppenwolf's American Buffalo and Northlight's Awake and Sing!—which also deserved more than its single supporting actress nom for Cindy Gold. What about lead for Keith Gallagher or, even more appropriate, a best ensemble nod? As I wrote in my review, you'd think Cliff Odets had written the play for Morton's cast.

While we're on the best-ensemble subject, TUTA Theatre Chicago's thoroughly delightful revival of Brecht's The Wedding is the only one of the seven ensemble nominees not to also get a best-production nod. Weird, right? And if all of that collapsing furniture is scenic designer Martin Andrew's work, he deserves a mention too—we're still trying to figure out how it worked.

Most of the designers we were rooting for did get mentions, even if for the wrong show (Kevin Depinet's astounding American Buffalo set got nothing, but he got a pair of nods for work at Drury Lane, including the impressive Ragtime, so we'll call it a wash). The same can't be said for Awake and Sing! set designer John Musial, nor for Brian Sidney Bembridge, whose wrestling ring for The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity we officially named our favorite set of 2009.

Chad Deity's among the most-nominated shows of the season, and we think it deserves all of them. And more: Desmin Borges blew our socks off as narrator Mace Guerra, but where would he have been without the support of Usman Ally as VP? Ally also would've injected some much-lacking color into the overwhelmingly white acting categories—which reminds us, where are Kamal Angelo Bolden and LaShawn Banks from Remy Bumppo's moving revival of Athol Fugard's The Island? And speaking of Fugard, just for the record, how on earth is Allen Gilmore nominated in the supporting category for Court's Sizwe Banzi is Dead when his role was so clearly a lead?

There are a few more missing actors we'd put up a fight for—John Mahoney in Northlight's actor's showcase A Life, Elizabeth Laidlaw as the sexy, comically untrustworthy book editor in About Face's What Once We Felt, Patrick Andrews's puckish Emcee in Drury Lane's Cabaret—but we'll leave you with this: There are seven nominees for best new work this year; not one of them was so much as co-written by a woman. And for that, it seems, we can't fully leave the blame at the Jeff committee's door. If our quick count is correct, Chicago's Equity theaters produced 18 Jeff-recommended new plays last season. Only three were by women.

The full list of 2009–2010 Equity Jeff Award nominations follows.

PRODUCTION - PLAY - LARGE

The Brother/Sister Plays - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - Victory Gardens Theater i/a/w Teatro Vista
The Illusion - Court Theatre
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Court Theatre
The Mystery of Irma Vep - Court Theatre
A Streetcar Named Desire - Writers' Theatre

PRODUCTION - PLAY - MIDSIZE

Abigail's Party - A Red Orchid Theatre
All My Sons - TimeLine Theatre Company
The Farnsworth Invention - TimeLine Theatre Company
"Master Harold"…and the Boys - TimeLine Theatre Company
Tobacco Road - American Blues Theater

PRODUCTION - MUSICAL - LARGE

Animal Crackers - Goodman Theatre
Cabaret - Drury Lane Productions
The Drowsy Chaperone - Marriott Theatre
Hairspray - Marriott Theatre
Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
Thoroughly Modern Millie - Drury Lane Productions

PRODUCTION - REVUE

The Absolute Best Friggin' Time of Your Life - The Second City e.t.c.
Low Down Dirty Blues - Northlight Theatre
Oh Coward! - Writers' Theatre

ENSEMBLE

Abigail's Party - A Red Orchid Theatre
Animal Crackers - Goodman Theatre
The Brother/Sister Plays - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
The Farnsworth Invention - TimeLine Theatre Company
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Court Theatre
Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
The Wedding - TUTA Theatre Chicago

NEW WORK - PLAY

Kristoffer Diaz - The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - Victory Gardens Theater i/a/w Teatro Vista
Michael Golamco - Year Zero - Victory Gardens Theater
Andrew Hinderaker - Suicide, Incorporated - The Gift Theatre
Jim Lynch - The Tallest Man - The Artistic Home
Bruce Norris - A Parallelogram - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
David Schwimmer and Andy Bellin - Trust - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Craig Wright - Mistakes Were Made - A Red Orchid Theatre

DIRECTOR - PLAY

Nick Bowling - The Farnsworth Invention - TimeLine Theatre Company
David Cromer - A Streetcar Named Desire - Writers' Theatre
Sean Graney - The Mystery of Irma Vep - Court Theatre
Tina Landau - The Brother/Sister Plays - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Shade Murray - Abigail's Party - A Red Orchid Theatre
Charles Newell - The Illusion - Court Theatre
Kimberly Senior - All My Sons - TimeLine Theatre Company
Edward Torres - The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - Victory Gardens Theater i/a/w Teatro Vista

DIRECTOR - MUSICAL or REVUE

Jim Corti - Cabaret - Drury Lane Productions
Jim Corti - Oh Coward! - Writers' Theatre
William Osetek - Thoroughly Modern Millie - Drury Lane Productions
Marc Robin - The Drowsy Chaperone - Marriott Theatre
Marc Robin - Hairspray - Marriott Theatre
Rachel Rockwell - Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
Henry Wishcamper - Animal Crackers - Goodman Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY

Desmin Borges - The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - Victory Gardens Theater i/a/w Teatro Vista
Brian Dennehy - Hughie/Krapp's Last Tape - Goodman Theatre
Rob Fagin - The Farnsworth Invention - TimeLine Theatre Company
Erik Hellman - The Mystery of Irma Vep - Court Theatre
Tracy Letts - American Buffalo - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Nick Sandys - Les Liaisons Dangereuses - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Michael Shannon - Mistakes Were Made - A Red Orchid Theatre
Chris Sullivan - The Mystery of Irma Vep - Court Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL

Quentin Earl Darrington - Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
James Harms - The Drowsy Chaperone - Marriott Theatre
Max Quinlan - Jesus Christ Superstar - Theatre at the Center
Alan Schmuckler - Sugar - Drury Lane Productions
Joey Slotnick - Animal Crackers - Goodman Theatre

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY

Tracy Michelle Arnold - Private Lives - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Cassandra Bissell - Mary's Wedding - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Janet Ulrich Brooks - All My Sons - TimeLine Theatre Company
Kirsten Fitzgerald - Abigail's Party - A Red Orchid Theatre
Natasha Lowe - A Streetcar Named Desire - Writers' Theatre
Lia Mortensen - The Hiding Place - Provision Theater
Allison Torem - Trust - Lookingglass Theatre Company

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL

Holly Ann Butler - Thoroughly Modern Millie - Drury Lane Productions
Cory Goodrich - Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
Heidi Kettenring - I Do! I Do! - Theatre at the Center
Marissa Perry - Hairspray - Marriott Theatre

SOLO PERFORMANCE

Mary Beth Fisher - The Year of Magical Thinking - Court Theatre
Dael Orlandersmith - Stoop Stories - Goodman Theatre

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY

Allen Gilmore - Sizwe Banzi is Dead - Court Theatre
Francis Guinan - A Guide for the Perplexed - Victory Gardens Theater
Tom Irwin - A Parallelogram - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Timothy Edward Kane - The Illusion - Court Theatre
Nick Sandys - Twelfth Night - First Folio Theatre
Lindsay Smiling - Blue Door - Victory Gardens Theater
Michael Patrick Thornton - Suicide, Incorporated - The Gift Theatre

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL

Mark David Kaplan - Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
Peter Kevoian - The Christmas Schooner - Theatre at the Center
David Lively - Cabaret - Drury Lane Productions
Adam Pelty - The Drowsy Chaperone - Marriott Theatre

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY

Janet Ulrich Brooks - When She Danced - TimeLine Theatre Company
Cindy Gold - Awake and Sing! - Northlight Theatre
Rebecca Spence - Les Liaisons Dangereuses - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Stacy Stoltz - A Streetcar Named Desire - Writers Theatre
Wandachristine - The Old Settler - Writers Theatre
Natalie West - Abigail's Party - A Red Orchid Theatre
Jacqueline Williams - The Brother/Sister Plays - Steppenwolf Theatre Company

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL

Rebecca Finnegan - Cabaret - Drury Lane Productions
Heidi Kettenring - Hairspray - Marriott Theatre
Valisia LeKae - Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
Barbara Robertson - Yeast Nation (the triumph of life) - American Theater Company
Paula Scrofano - Thoroughly Modern Millie - Drury Lane Productions

ACTOR IN A REVUE

Mississippi Charles Bevel - Low Down Dirty Blues - Northlight Theatre
Rob Lindley - Oh Coward! - Writers Theatre
Gregory Porter - Low Down Dirty Blues - Northlight Theatre
Sam Richardson - Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies - The Second City

ACTRESS IN A REVUE

Christina Anthony - The Absolute Best Friggin Time of Your Life - The Second City e.t.c.
Felicia P. Fields - Low Down Dirty Blues - Northlight Theatre
Kate Fry - Oh Coward! - Writers Theatre
Sandra Reaves-Phillips - Low Down Dirty Blues - Northlight Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN - LARGE

Jeffrey Bauer - A Guide for the Perplexed - Victory Gardens Theater
John Culbert - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Court Theatre
Kevin Depinet - Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
Kevin Depinet - Thoroughly Modern Millie - Drury Lane Productions
Collette Pollard - The Illusion - Court Theatre
Todd Rosenthal - A Parallelogram - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Walt Spangler - A True History of the Johnstown Flood - Goodman Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN - MIDSIZE

Aimee Hanyzewski - Of Mice and Men - Oak Park Festival Theatre
James Leaming - Tobacco Road - American Blues Theater
Timothy Mann - "Master Harold"…and the Boys - TimeLine Theatre Company
Angela Miller - Jeeves in Bloom - First Folio Theatre
Inseung Park - The Hiding Place - Provision Theatre

COSTUME DESIGN - LARGE

Jacqueline Firkins - The Illusion- Court Theatre
Nancy Missimi - The Drowsy Chaperone - Marriott Theatre
Tatjana Radisic - Cabaret - Drury Lane Productions
Alison Siple - The Mystery of Irma Vep - Court Theatre

COSTUME DESIGN - MIDSIZE

William J. Morey - Into the Woods - Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
Sarah E. Ross & Kristin DeiTos - Tobacco Road - American Blues Theater
Emily Waecker - Les Liaisons Dangereuses - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

SOUND DESIGN - LARGE

Mikhail Fiksel - The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - Victory Gardens Theater i/a/w Teatro Vista
Joshua Horvath and Nick Keenan - The Illusion- Court Theatre
Joshua Horvath and Ray Nardelli - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom- Court Theatre
Ray Nardelli - Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale - Lookingglass Theatre Company and Silverguy Entertainment

SOUND DESIGN - MIDSIZE

Victoria Delorio - Mary's Wedding - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Mikhail Fiksel - War With the Newts - Next Theatre Company
Nick Keenan - End Days - Next Theatre Company
Miles Polaski - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest- The Gift Theatre

LIGHTING DESIGN - LARGE

Brian Sidney Bembridge - Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale - Lookingglass Theatre Company and Silverguy Entertainment
John Culbert - The Illusion- Court Theatre
Jesse Klug - Cabaret - Drury Lane Productions
Jesse Klug - Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
Jesse Klug - Thoroughly Modern Millie - Drury Lane Productions

LIGHTING DESIGN - MIDSIZE

Lee Fiskness - End Days - Next Theatre Company
Jesse Klug - Yeast Nation (the triumph of life) - American Theater Company
Keith Parham - The Farnsworth Invention - TimeLine Theatre Company
Jaymi Lee Smith - Mary's Wedding - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

CHOREOGRAPHY

John Carrafa - Animal Crackers - Goodman Theatre
Tammy Mader - Thoroughly Modern Millie - Drury Lane Productions
Marc Robin - The Drowsy Chaperone - Marriott Theatre
Marc Robin - Hairspray - Marriott Theatre

ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC

Alaric Jans - The Hiding Place - Provision Theater

Lindsay Jones - Richard III - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Henry Marsh - Twelfth Night - First Folio Theatre
Ray Nardelli and Joshua Horvath - The Long Red Road - Goodman Theatre
Ray Nardelli, Andre Pluess and Josh Horvath - Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale - Lookingglass Theatre Company and Silverguy Entertainment
Jesse Terrill - The Wedding - TUTA Theatre Chicago

MUSIC DIRECTION

Roberta Duchak - Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
Doug Peck - Animal Crackers - Goodman Theatre
Doug Peck - Cabaret - Drury Lane Productions
Doug Peck - Oh Coward! - Writers Theatre
Robert Reddrick - Nothing But the Blues - Black Ensemble Theater

ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION

Bridges Media - Multimedia Design - Trust - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Sage Marie Carter - Projections Design - Ragtime - Drury Lane Productions
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi - Circus Choreography and Movement Direction - Icarus - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Nick Sandys - Fight Choreography - Les Liaisons Dangereuses - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
David Woolley - Fight Choreography - The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - Victory Gardens Theater i/a/w Teatro Vista