Celebrating its 51st anniversary awarding recognition for Non-Equity theater, the Joseph Jefferson Awards announces its nominations for theater excellence among Non-Equity theater during the 2024 season. This year’s Non-Equity awards spotlight 138 theater artists across 23 categories of excellence in theater production among shows from 29 companies. During the most recent season, which ran from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, Jeff Awards members attended 106 Non-Equity productions. From these, 51 productions became Jeff Recommended and, therefore, eligible for award nominations.
Theaters well known for their musicals garnered the most total nominations. Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre led the awards with 22 nominations for three productions, including “The Secret Garden” (10), “A Little Night Music” (8) and “Sondheim Tribute Revue” (4). Kokandy Productions received 14 nominations with “Into the Woods” in a tie for the largest number for a single production (10). Multiple productions at both Invictus Theatre Company and City Lit Theater Company earned their institutions 12 and 11 nominations respectively.
Among New Work, eight world premiere plays and a musical are in award consideration. In addition, the new award category to recognize Short Run Productions (9 to 17 performances) has nominees for Production, Direction, Principal Performer, Supporting Performer and Artistic Specialization.
2024 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES
PRODUCTION – PLAY
“Attempts on Her Life” – TUTA Theatre
“August Wilson’s Seven Guitars” – City Lit Theatre
“Coronation” – Refracted Theatre
“Native Son” – Lifeline Theatre
“Pro–Am” – First Floor Theater
“Topdog/Underdog” – Invictus Theatre Company
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL OR REVUE
“A Little Night Music” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“Into the Woods” – Kokandy Productions
“On the Twentieth Century” – Blank Theatre Company
“Sondheim Tribute Revue” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“The Secret Garden” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
ENSEMBLE – PLAY
“Attempts on Her Life” – TUTA Theatre
“August Wilson’s Seven Guitars” – City Lit Theatre
“Dogs” – Red Theater
“Pro–Am” – First Floor Theater
“The Singularity Play” – Jackalope Theatre Company
ENSEMBLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
“A Little Night Music” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“Alice by Heart” – Kokandy Productions
“Into the Woods” – Kokandy Productions
“Sondheim Tribute Revue” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
“The Secret Garden” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
NEW WORK
Brynne Frauenhoffer – “Pro–Am” – First Floor Theater
Erik Gernand – “The Totality of All Things” – Redtwist Theatre
George Howe and William Massolia – “The House Without a Christmas Tree” – Griffin Theatre Company
Hanna Kime – “Dogs” – Red Theater
Mark Pracht – “The House of Ideas” – City Lit Theatre
Jay Stull – “The Singularity Play” – Jackalope Theatre Company
Loy A. Webb – “Judy’s Life’s Work” – Definition Theatre
Laura Winters – “Coronation” – Refracted Theatre
DIRECTOR – PLAY
Aaron Reese Boseman – “Topdog/Underdog” – Invictus Theatre Company
Manny Buckley – “August Wilson’s Seven Guitars” – City Lit Theatre
Aileen Wen McGroddy – “Attempts on Her Life” – TUTA Theatre
Max Truax – “Mother Courage and Her Children” – Trap Door Theatre
Georgette Verdin – “The Singularity Play” – Jackalope Theatre Company
Rebecca Willingham – “Pro–Am” – First Floor Theater
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL
Fred Anzevino – “Sondheim Tribute Revue” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Danny Kapinos – “On the Twentieth Century” – Blank Theatre Company
Christopher Pazdernik – “The Secret Garden” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
L. Walter Stearns – “A Little Night Music” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Derek Van Barham – “Into the Woods” – Kokandy Productions
Derek Van Barham and Brittney Brown – “Alice by Heart” – Kokandy Productions
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Bide Akande (Berenger) – “Rhinoceros” – Theatre Y
Mikha’el Amin (Lincoln) – “Topdog/Underdog” – Invictus Theatre Company
DeMorris Burrows (Booth) – “Topdog/Underdog” – Invictus Theatre Company
Holly Cerney (Mother Courage) – “Mother Courage and Her Children” – Trap Door Theatre
Peter Ferneding (Ned Weeks) – “The Normal Heart” – Redtwist Theatre
Jacqueline Grandt (Judith) – “The Totality of All Things” – Redtwist Theatre
Tamarus Harvell (Bigger) – “Native Son” – Lifeline Theatre
Claudia Quesada (Alba Guerrero) – “An Educated Guess”– Definition Theatre
Ana Santos (Electra Casados) – “Adverses” – Aguijón Theater Company
Katherine Schwartz (Agnes Eggling) – “A Bright Room Called Day” – Blank Theatre Company
James Sparling (Thomas Becket) – “Murder in the Cathedral” – City Lit Theater Company
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Patrick Byrnes (Frederik Egerman) – “A Little Night Music” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Caitlyn Cerza (Alice) – “Alice by Heart” – Kokandy Productions
Joryhebel Ginorio (Mary Lennox) – “The Secret Garden” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Madison Kauffman (Cinderella) – “Into the Woods” – Kokandy Productions
Will Koski (Lord Archibald Craven) – “The Secret Garden” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Julia Limoncelli (Addie Mill) – “The House Without a Christmas Tree” – Griffin Theatre Company
Tyler Anthony Smith (Hedwig) – “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” – Haven Theatre
Colette Todd (Desiree Armfeldt) – “A Little Night Music” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Karylin Veres (Lily Garland) – “On the Twentieth Century” – Blank Theatre Company
Kevin Webb (Baker) – “Into the Woods” – Kokandy Productions
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Cereyna Jade Bougouneau (Charli) – “Judy’s Life’s Work” – Definition Theatre
Grant Carriker (Gregor Bazwald) – “A Bright Room Called Day” – Blank Theatre Company
Kason Chesky (Micah) – “The Totality of All Things” – Redtwist Theatre
Callahan Romen Crnich (Hal) – “Proof” – BlueBird Arts
Justice Ford (Lotte/Carmen) – “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” – The Artistic Home
Jodi Gage (Actor 1) – “Coronation” – Refracted Theatre Company
Robert Howard (Hedley) – “August Wilson’s Seven Guitars” – City Lit Theater Company
Zachary Linnert (Felix Turner) – “The Normal Heart” – Redtwist Theatre
Stephanie Shum (Two) – “Dogs” – Red Theater
Jarvell Williams (Canewell) – “August Wilson’s Seven Guitars” – City Lit Theater Company
Michael B. Woods (Macduff) – “The Tragedy of Macbeth” – Invictus Theatre Company
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Lexi Alioto (Susan) – “[Title of Show]” – PrideArts
Alicia Berneche (Letitia Peabody Primrose) – “On the Twentieth Century” – Blank Theatre Company
August Forman (Narrator/Mysterious Man) – “Into the Woods” – Kokandy Productions
Shea Hopkins (Cinderella’s Prince, Wolf) – “Into the Woods” – Kokandy Productions
Dakota Hughes (Martha Sowerby) – “The Secret Garden” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Brennan Martinez (Lily Craven) – “The Secret Garden” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Shannon McEldowney (Heidi) – “[Title of Show]” – PrideArts
Maya Rowe (Charlotte Malcolm) – “A Little Night Music” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Anne Sheridan Smith (Beverly) – “The Mad Ones” – Blank Theatre Company
Kevin Webb (Carl–Magnus Malcolm) – “A Little Night Music” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
PRODUCTION – SHORT RUN
“Cock” – Open Space Arts
“The Drowsy Chaperone” – Surging Films and Theatrics
“The Language Archive” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
“Light Switch” – Open Space Arts
“Pilot Island and Her Keepers” – The Impostors Theatre Co.
“The Smuggler” – Jackalope Theatre Company
DIRECTOR – SHORT RUN
Michael D. Graham – “Light Switch” – Open Space Arts
Stacey Lind – “The Language Archive” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
Billy Surges – “The Drowsy Chaperone” – Surging Films and Theatrics
Iraida Tapias – “The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon” – Water People Theatre
Wren Wesner – “Cock” – Open Space Arts
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – SHORT RUN
Rebeca Alemán (Paulina) – “The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon” – Water People Theatre
Seth E. Harman (Man in Chair) – “The Drowsy Chaperone” – Surging Films and Theatrics
Philip Andrew Monnett (Henry) – “Light Switch” – Open Space Arts
Mafer Roussell (Helen of Troy) – “Juicio a Una Zorra” – Repertorio Latino Theater Company
Andrew Burden Swanson (Tim Finnegan) – “The Smuggler” – Jackalope Theatre Company
Phil Timberlake (Jacob Marley) – “Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol” – Lifeline Theatre
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – SHORT RUN
Jeff Broitman (Resten) – “The Language Archive” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
Yahdina U–Deen (Grandma Betty) – “Beneath the Willow Tree” – Pulse Theatre Company
Sonya Robinson (W) – “Cock” – Open Space Arts
Ellen Shaw (Emma) – “The Language Archive” – Edge of the Wood Theatre
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION – SHORT RUN
Dominick Alesia (Original Music) – “Pilot Island and Her Keepers” – The Imposters Theatre Co.
Diane Fairchild (Lighting Design) – “Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol” – Lifeline Theatre
Madeline Felauer (Costume Design) – “The Golden Girls Meet the Skooby Don't Gang: The Mystery of the Haunted Bush” – Hell in a Handbag Productions
Tim Huggenberger (Choreography) – “The Drowsy Chaperone” – Surging Films and Theatrics
Stefan Roseen (Sound Design) – “Pilot Island and Her Keepers” – The Imposters Theatre Co.
SCENIC DESIGN
Rose Johnson – “Bottle Fly” – Redtwist Theatre
Manuel Ortiz – “The Tragedy of Macbeth” – Invictus Theatre Company
Samantha Anna Rausch – “Proof”– BlueBird Arts
Kevin Rolfs – “Network” – Invictus Theatre Company
Kevin Rolfs – “Topdog/Underdog” – Invictus Theatre Company
Marvin Tate – “Rhinoceros” – Theatre Y
COSTUME DESIGN
Gregory Graham – “Coronation” – Refracted Theatre Company
Rachel Lambert – “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” – The Artistic Home
Lucy Elkin – “The Secret Garden” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Rachel S. Parent – “August Wilson's Seven Guitars” – City Lit Theater Company
Patti Roeder – “Murder in the Cathedral” – City Lit Theater Company
SOUND DESIGN
Ethan Korvne – “Coronation” – Refracted Theatre Company
Christopher Kriz – “The Singularity Play” – Jackalope Theatre Company
L.J. Luthringer – “The Tempest” – Idle Muse Theatre Company
Kimberly A. Sutton – “Rhinoceros” – Theatre Y
Petter Wahlbäck – “The Tragedy of Macbeth” – Invictus Theatre Company
LIGHTING DESIGN
Garrett Bell – “Coronation” – Refracted Theatre Company
Keith Parham – “Attempts on Her Life” – TUTA Theatre
G “Max” Maxin IV – “Into the Woods” – Kokandy Productions
Hannah Wien – “The Tragedy of Macbeth” – Invictus Theatre Company
Levi J. Wilkins – “The Secret Garden” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
PROJECTION DESIGN
DJ Douglass – “Network” – Invictus Theatre Company
Abboye Lawrence – “Coronation” – Refracted Theatre Company
G. “Max” Maxin IV – “The House of Ideas” – City Lit Theater Company
MUSIC DIRECTION
Carolyn Brady – “Sondheim Tribute Review” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Carolyn Brady – “The Secret Garden” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Eugene Dizon – “A Little Night Music” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Heidi Joosten – “Alice by Heart” – Kokandy Productions
Aaron Kaplan – “On the Twentieth Century” – Blank Theatre Company
Nick Sula – “Into the Woods” – Kokandy Productions
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Violent Delights (Amber Wuttke & Jay Donley) (Fight Choreography) – “The Tragedy of Macbeth” – Invictus Theatre Company
Jillian Leff (Fight Choreography) – “Die Hard 4 Your Luv” – Factory Theater
Ariana Miles, Evelyn Ryan and Nick Sula (Orchestrations) – “Into the Woods” – Kokandy Productions
Philip Seward (Original Music) – “Murder in the Cathedral” – City Lit Theater Company
MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS
By Company
Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre - 22
Kokandy Productions - 14
Invictus Theatre Company = 12
City Lit Theater Company - 11
Blank Theatre Company - 8
Refracted Theatre - 7
Jackalope Theatre Company - 6
Open Space Arts - 6
Redtwist Theatre - 6
Edge of the Wood Theatre - 4
First Floor Theater - 4
Lifeline Theatre - 4
Surging Films & Theatrics - 4
TUTA Theatre - 4
Definition Theatre - 3
Red Theater - 3
The Imposters Theatre Company - 3
Theatre Y - 3
The Artistic Home - 2
BlueBird Arts - 2
Griffin Theatre Company - 2
PrideArts - 2
Trap Door Theatre - 2
Water People Theater - 2
By Production
“Into the Woods” - 10
“The Secret Garden” - 10
“A Little Night Music”- 8
“Coronation” - 7
“August Wilson’s Seven Guitars” - 6
“Alice by Heart”- 5
“On the Twentieth Century” - 5
“Topdog/Underdog" - 5
“The Tragedy of Macbeth” - 5
“The Drowsy Chaperone” - 4
“The Language Archive” - 4
“Pro–Am” - 4
“The Singularity Play” - 4
“Sondheim Tribute Revue” - 4
“The House Without a Christmas Tree” - 4
“Cock” - 3
“Dogs” - 3
“Light Switch” - 3
“Murder in the Cathedral” - 3
“Pilot Island and Her Keepers” - 3
“Rhinoceros” - 3
“The Totality of All Things” - 3
“A Bright Room Called Day” - 2
“By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” - 2
“The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon” - 2
“Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol” - 2
“Judy’s Life’s Work” - 2
“Mother Courage and Her Children” - 2
“Network” - 2
“Proof” - 2
“The Smuggler” - 2
“[Title of Show]” - 2
By Individual
Carolyn Brady - 2
G “Max” Maxin IV - 2
Kevin Rolfs - 2
Nick Sula - 2 (1 w/Ariana Miles & Evelyn Ryan)
Derek Van Barham - 2 (1 w/Brittney Brown)
Kevin Webb - 2
ABOUT THE JEFF AWARDS
The Jeff Awards is one of the most active and engaged theater awards organizations in the country evaluating hundreds of theatrical productions annually and holding two awards ceremonies highlighting work over the past Equity and Non-Equity seasons. Through our recommendations, awards, and honors we help foster the growth of companies, encourage artists, bring new appreciation for diverse storytelling, and cultivate civic pride in the achievements of the Chicago theater community. Originally chartered in 1968 to recognize Equity productions, the Jeff Awards Non-Equity Wing was established in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre. For more information, visit www.jeffawards.org.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON NOMINATIONS AND THE AWARDS PROGRAM
The Jeff Awards website lists all current nominees, previous recipients and nominations, and other Jeff Awards information and news. Visit www.jeffawards.org.
The 51st Anniversary Jeff Awards for Non-Equity Theater will be held Monday, March 24, 2025, at the Harris Theater in Chicago, IL. Doors will open at 5:30pm with a cash bar available, and the awards will begin at 7:00pm.
Tickets will become available February 17, 2025 at www.jeffawards.org. General Admission tickets are $73.60 (includes ticket + required fees). A group rate of $58.65 (includes ticket + required fees) is available for parties of 10 or more by contacting the Harris Theater box office at 312-334-777. Festive cocktail attire is suggested, and the public is cordially invited. An after-party will be held at the theater with light food and a cash bar.