At the 51st Anniversary Joseph Jefferson Awards for Non-Equity Theater, more than 100 recognized artists and new emerging faces and voices will be honored in a program under the artistic direction of Adrian Abel Azevedo with music direction under Dr. Michael McBride, returning for the third year to artistically guide the popular awards show. Co-hosts of the night are Frankie Leo Bennett and NK Gutiérrez. They are joined by Tommy Novak as announcer. Patrick Newson Jr. and William Anthony Sebastian Rose II, who shared honors as last year’s Non-Equity Jeff Awards recipients for their principal roles in the Refracted Theatre production of Tambo and Bones, will welcome nominees on the red carpet preceding the program. Brittany Chhutani, Jeff Awards Non-Equity Wing Chair, and Johnny Buranosky, former Jeff Awards Non-Equity Wing Chair, are producers of the awards show.
The 2024 Non-Equity Jeff Awards nominees include 138 theater artists across 23 categories of excellence in theater production among shows from 29 companies. Four companies received more than 11 nominations each including Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre (22 from three productions), Kokandy Productions (14 from two productions), Invictus Theatre Company (12) City Lit Theater Company (11). “Into the Woods” (Kokandy Productions) and “A Secret Garden” (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre) tied for the largest number of nominations for a single production (10). Among New Work, eight world premiere plays and musicals are in award consideration.
The ceremony will be held Monday, March 24th 7:00pm (CDT) at the Harris Theater at 205 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601. The show will be preceded by a red carpet walk featuring award nominees and theater community members beginning at 5:30pm.
Adrian Abel Azevedo
As ceremony director, Adrian is thrilled to return for the 51st Anniversary Non-Equity Jeff Awards. His work as a director, producer, concert curator and teaching artist is well known to the Chicagoland area, including a Jeff Awards nomination for diresting Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical (Kokandy Productions). He has collaborated with companies including Goodman Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Steep Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Kokandy Productions, Teatro Vista and Music Theatre Works. His partnerships with other national arts organizations that include Latiné Musical Theatre Lab (NYC), AMAS Music Theatre Company (NYC), and Rose Center Theatre (OC). Adrian is an Artistic Associate with Kokandy Productions and an alumnus of Columbia College Chicago.
Michael McBride
Dr. Michael McBride is a Jeff Award-winning music director, internationally-performed composer, performer and educator. He is the composer/lyricist for The Boys and the Nuns, which recently had a workshop produced by Cal State Fullerton in collaboration with the Latiné Music Theatre Lab. As a Music Director/Supervisor he has worked theaters such as BoHo, The Goodman, Drury Lane, Music Theatre Works, Theo Ubique, Porchlight Music Theatre, PrideArts, Loyola University Chicago, Timber Lake Playhouse, Engeman Theater (NY), as well as The Cabaret Project in Chicago, St. Louis,and Lake Geneva. He is the music director at A Church 4 Me MCC in Chicago and has served on faculty of Northwestern University, Loyola University Chicago, and North Park University.
Frankie Leo Bennett
A critically acclaimed, award-winning Chicago theater personality, Frankie is most recognized for his Jeff Award-nominated (Performer in a Principal Role - Musical) performance as SpongeBob SquarePants in Kokandy Productions' 13-time nominated production of The SpongeBob Musical. His mutli-hyphenate career has found him working onstage as an actor and behind the table as director, producer, casting director and company manager with notable Chicago theater companies including Porchlight Music Theatre (BroadwayWorld Chicago Award), Kokandy Productions, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Hell in a Handbag Productions and Northwestern University's The Waa-Mu Show, among many others. He is also a playwright/composer - Resident Services: A Crossed-Up Animal Musical and The Adventures of Ash (co-lyricist/composer).
NK Gutiérrez
From HBO Latino to the Oprah Winfrey Show, classically trained dancer, vocalist, actor and filmmaker NK has dabbled in nearly every facet of the entertainment world. Currently she is featured in recurring roles on SHOWTIME’s The Chi and Chicago Fire (NBC).
NK also uses her experience, psychology and certification backgrounds as an Intimacy Coordinator on film & TV sets as well as teaching mindful employee care practices in the corporate and nonprofit space.
Her filmmaking debut came with the short film, The Last New Year, in which she wrote, produced and starred and received accolades from Latina Magazine. In addition NK has her first feature length script, Las Palabras, in development and is finishing her first feature length documentary, How Do You Grind. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Midwest Film Festival, Head Film Curator for the XL Fest, Operations Director for Sundance Institute x Chicago, Board Member of the Film Festival Alliance and leads the Film Club at Soho House Chicago.
Tommy Novak
Tommy is a non-binary, Chicago-based performer, director, teaching artist.
They are a Jeff Awards nominee for their performance in The Producers and winner of a Broadway World Regional Award for Best professional production (Romeo and Juliet).
They have worked as an actor for theater companies across the globe, including The Lyric Opera Chicago, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Marriott Theatre, The Mercury Theatre Chicago, Skylight Music Theatre, Metropolis, Orlando Rep, Shawnee Summer Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago, First Stage Milwaukee, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Kwan Kwan Theater Jinan, iMusical Shanghai, and The Nanjing University Conservatory.
They also specialize in working with Trans and Non-Binary Artists helping people through their transition vocally.
Patrick Newson Jr.
A Chicago born and Jeff Award-winning actor, Patrick has appeared on stages across Chicago in productions of Tambo & Bones (Refracted Theater); Alaiyo (Definition Theater); Bust (Goodman Theater); East Texas Hot Links (Court Theater); The October Storm (Raven Theater); The Singularity Play (Jackalope Theater); and Second City e.t.c 48th revue (Second City) among others. His TV/Film credits include: Liz Here Now; The Chicago Code (FOX); Chicago Fire/Chicago Med (NBC); Shining Girls (Apple TV+); The Chi (SHOWTIME); South Side (HBO MAX) and more
William Anthony Sebastian Rose II
An award-winning Chicago based actor, William’s most recent credits include The Love Object world premier at Story Theater; Oak (The Urbanite Theater); his Jeff Award performance in Tambo & Bones (Refracted Theater); the Jeff Award-winning Fences (American Blues Theater, where is an Artistic Affiliate); A Christmas Carol (Farmers Alley Theater); The Whistleblower (Theater Wit); A Mile in the Dark (Rivendell Theater); and The Tragedy of King Christophe (House Theater) for which he received the Black Theater Alliance Award for Best Leading Actor).
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Tickets are $73.60 (includes ticket + required fees) for general admission. To purchase tickets visit www.jeffawards.org. A group rate of $58.65 (includes ticket + required fees) is avaiable for parties of 10 or more by contacting the Harris Theater box office directly at 312-334-7777. Single tickets can also be purchased at the Harris Theater box office now and through the evening of the awards show.
Everyone is invited to celebrate theater excellence and the evening includes an after-party at the theater (light refreshments and a cash bar).
For information can also be found on the Jeff Awards social media including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.