2008–2009 Non-Equity Jeff Awards wrapup

Host Jon Steinhagen welcomed us all to “Daley’s Corners” last night, kicking off the 36th annual Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards. It was part of a cute riff on Our Town, the show that’s kind of defined the Off-Loop year, from its opening last April to its remount in September to its current Off-Broadway reincarnation, with some of its Chicago cast, including director David Cromer, intact.

The Hypocrites show was named outstanding production, and Cromer outstanding director; Cromer, who’s on a break from playing the Stage Manager in New York to direct The Farnsworth Invention for Houston’s Alley Theatre (the Aaron Sorkin play opens there tomorrow), told me after the ceremony that he was sure everybody was sick of hearing about Our Town by now.

But the crowd at the Park West didn’t seem to mind hearing about it again, perhaps viewing the success of Our Town as a validation of our town. The Non-Eq Jeffs (named, as we're always delighted to remind you, after the guy at right)  are after all an occasion for much-deserved mutual back-patting—for every self-deprecating joke (and there are plenty) there’s another preaching-to-the-choir pronouncement that “Chicago is the best theater city in the world!” (Seriously, I lost count of how many times this sentiment was expressed.)

Speech after speech offered testament to the can-do mentality of the storefront scene and its day-jobbing artists and bare-bones budgets, as when Circle Theatre’s Bob Knuth, accepting for scenic design of Enchanted April, joked “I’d like to thank the director—oh, that was me. I’d like to thank the lighting designer—oh, that was me, too.”

Katie McLean, winner for outstanding adaptation for her script of Lifeline’s The Mark of Zorro, thanked her boyfriend, actor Chris Hainsworth, “for his unconditional love and daily reminders that I’m an artist, and not just an administrative assistant.”

Theo Ubique took home seven awards, the most of any company, for its cabaret stagings of Evita and Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night. Actor Chris Damiano won for both: accepting for supporting actor in a musical, he thanked director Fred Anzevino for taking a chance on a guy new to town, then later was named outstanding lead actor for Evita.

Geoff Coates, accepting the award in the “Artistic Specialization” category for his Zorro fight choreography, noted the strangeness of that catchall category putting him in competition with mask, puppet, and animation designers (f’real, Jeff committee, that’s like pitting apples against oranges, pineapples, couscous and pinto beans), and promised to slice his plaque into five pieces to share with his fellow nominees.

The evening had its emotional moments, naturally. Choreographer Brenda Didier, who last year remembered losing her brother to brain cancer, revealed in accepting a repeat award for Evita that she’s currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Didier’s spirits remained as preternaturally high as always, though, as she said, “I cannot wait to walk into my oncologist’s tomorrow and show him this!”

Esteban Andres Cruz, accepting outstanding actor in a play for Jesus Hopped the A-Train, got more than a little teary in thanking his mom, costar Bradford Stevens and his friend Will Schutz. All it took to recover was a little profanity—acknowledging  his fellow nominees, he blurted “Don Bender and James Elly—you guys are real motherfuckers!” (In case it’s unclear, it was meant affectionately.)

Cromer, accepting his directing award, turned his speech into a simple, classy statement about the community: Intoning “This is Our Town” (or perhaps it was a lowercase "our town"), he read an alphabetical list of every actor, designer, stage manager and technician that contributed to the show in both of its Chopin runs. It was a long-ass roster, and a nice reminder that, despite Cromer’s being the only individual recognized by the Jeff committee with a nomination, theater is a collaborative art. Cromer went on to thank the Jeff committee for its commitment to the theater, and even made a point of thanking the theater press. (Aw, shucks.) If I can indulge in a little self-congratulating too, the feel-good award ceremony does make our town look pretty damn nice.

The full list of winners follows:

PRODUCTION – PLAY
“Our Town” - The Hypocrites

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL OR RE VUE
“Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James

ENSEMBLE
“In Arabia We'd All Be Kings” – Steep Theatre Company

DIRECTOR – PLAY
David Cromer – “Our Town” – The Hypocrites

DIRECTOR – MUSICAL OR REVUE
Fred Anzevino – “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James

NEW WORK
Ken Prestininzi – “Beholder” – Trap Door Theatre

NEW ADAPTATION
Katie McLean – “The Mark of Zorro” – Lifeline Theatre

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
Maggie Portman – “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Laura Coover – “Blue Surge” – Eclipse Theatre Company

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Chris Damiano – “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Esteban Andres Cruz – “Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train” – Raven Theatre

SOLO PERFORMANCE
Janet Ulrich Brooks – “Golda's Balcony” – Pegasus Players

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
Amanda Hartley – “The Robber Bridegroom” – Griffin Theatre Company

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Mary Redmon – “Enchanted April” – Circle Theatre

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
Chris Damiano – “Jacques Brel's Lonesome Losers of the Night” – Theo Ubique Theatre
Company i/a/w Michael James

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY
Nathaniel Swift – “Blue Surge” – Eclipse Theatre Company

SCENIC DESIGN (Tie)
Alan Donahue – “Mariette in Ecstasy” – Lifeline Theatre
Bob Knuth – “Enchanted April” – Circle Theatre

COSTUME DESIGN
Suzanne Mann – “Hay Fever” – Circle Theatre

LIGHTING DESIGN
Jared B. Moore – “Touch” – New Leaf Theatre

SOUND DESIGN (Tie)
Victoria DeIorio – “The Mark of Zorro” – Lifeline Theatre
Joshua Horvath – “Rose and the Rime” – The House Theatre of Chicago

CHOREOGRAPHY
Brenda Didier – “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James

ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Kevin O'Donnell – “Rose and the Rime” – The House Theatre of Chicago

MUSIC DIRECTION
Ryan Brewster – “Evita” – Theo Ubique Theatre Company i/a/w Michael James

FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY
Geoff Coates – “The Mark of Zorro” – Lifeline Theatre

SPECIAL AWARD
Arlene Crewdson