Theater News

2017 Non-Equity Jeff Awards Recipients Announced

Lillian Castillo and Alexis J. Roston were emcees for this year’s award show.

Lillian Castillo cohosted the recent non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony.
Lillian Castillo cohosted the 2017 Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony.
(© Allison Stock)

The 44th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards were presented in a ceremony on June 5 at Athenaeum Theatre. The event recognizes excellence in non-union Chicago theater.

Broken Nose Theatre's production of Michael Perlman's drama At the Table took home the most honors. The show received Jeff Awards for Production-Play, Ensemble, Director-Play (Spenser Davis), and Actress in a Supporting Role-Play (Echaka Agba). Top honors in the musical category went to Refuge Theatre Project for its production of High Fidelity, based on the movie starring John Cusack about a record store owner and his loves and friends. High Fidelity received awards for Production-Musical, Director-Musical (Christopher Pazdernik), and Scenic Design (Michelle Manni).

Alexis J. Roston and Lillian Castillo were emcees for this year’s award show. Brenda Didier directed Monday's ceremony, with musical direction provided by Jimmy Morehead. John D. Glover, Non-Equity Wing Chair of the Jeff Awards, produced the event.

The evening featured production numbers and excerpts from the season's nominated musicals and plays. Brief memorial tributes were also paid to Martha Lavey, former artistic director of the Steppenwolf Theatre, and to Samuel G. Roberson Jr., the artistic director of Congo Square Theatre, both of whom passed away this year.

For a full list of 2017 Non-Equity Jeff Award winners, click here.