2009 Orgie Theatre Awards announced

The anonymous gang of merry pranksters that doles out the Orgie Theatre Awards (what you might call the Independent Spirits to the Joseph Jefferson commitee's Oscars) announced its fifth annual slate of admirably arbitrary honorees just after midnight Sunday morning—a timing so inconvenient to traditional media that one might assume the inconvenience to be intentional. The Orgie folks (the name is a derivative of original, though we're sure more salacious, attention-grabbing connotations didn't go unnoticed) actually invited broader participation (er, insert your own implied joke here) this year by asking for nominations from an unknown number of Chicago theater influencers. I'll admit I was one of them, but I failed to submit my suggestions by the deadline. (Hey, I've already got a lot of deadlines imposed by the people who pay my salary, okay?)

Even without my input, the Orgie committee somehow managed to decide whom to bestow their accolades upon (which include a crisp $100 bill). And for the first time, the Orgies are hosting a reception. If you're interested in trying to figure out who these people are, stop by The Spot (4437 N Broadway) this Thursday, March 11, from 9pm–midnight (the first 20 people to say "Orgie" at the door get a free beer). After the jump, the Orgie winners:

Richard Cotovsky (Direction) How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found Mary-Arrchie

Jeff Dorchen (Playwriting) Strauss at Midnight Theatre Oobleck

Mike Driscoll & Simone Jubyna (Production) ¡Tsarovia! Citizens Relief

Sara Gorsky (Acting) Breed With Me The Mammals

Ed Jones (Acting) Poseidon! An Upside-down Musical Hell in a Handbag Productions

Keith Kupferer (Acting) The Unseen A Red Orchid

Diana Slickman (Unsung Theatre Hero – Performing, Writing, Organizing) Various Theatres

Robbie Q. Telfer & Shanney J. Maney (Creation/Curators) The Encyclopedia Show

Special Acknowledgements (no kash, just kudos):

Goodman Theatre’s A Global Exploration: Eugene O’Neill in the 21st Century for hosting exciting work from theatres around the world, as well as the local Neo-Futurists’ bold rendition of Strange Interlude

The Magpies Project’s Happy Family Series for providing a stage for some of Chicago’s most quirky and provocative talent