Jeff nominees out for '06-'07

It wasn't a question of Marriott Theatre receiving multiple nods when the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee announced its nominees for 2006-2007 equity productions Thursday. The Lincolnshire theater long has dominated the Jeff's musical categories.

The question was how many? The answer: 19, including eight for "Into the Woods," which received nominations for musical; director Dominic Missimi; ensemble; actresses Susan Moniz, Susie McMonagle and Brandy McClendon; costume and sound.

Likewise for Steppenwolf Theatre's Broadway-bound "August: Osage County." The question was how many nominations Tracy Letts' sprawling, enthralling play would receive. The answer: eight: for play; ensemble; new work; set design; director Anna D. Shapiro and actors Deanna Dunagan, Amy Morton and Dennis Letts.

The Jeff Awards recognize excellence among Chicago-area equity theaters. Citations, honoring non-equity productions, are awarded in the spring.

Porchlight Music Theatre capped a brilliant season with seven nominations for its stellar "Ragtime!" (musical; director L. Walter Stearns; musical director Eugene Dizon; actors Jayson Brooks Charissa Armon and Aaron Graham and choreographer Brenda Didier).

Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace fared well in a year that saw the death of its founder, Tony De Santis, and his daughter, producer Diane Van Lente. The theater received eight nominations, including lead actor nods for Mary Ernster (who won for the same role in 2001) and Joseph Anthony Foronda for "The King and I."

First Folio Shakespeare Festival's Kevin McKillip received a well-deserved best actor nomination for "Richard III." Co-founder David Rice earned an adaptation nomination for "The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe," which the Oak Brook ensemble remounts next month.

Other suburban companies receiving multiple nominations include: Northlight Theatre in Skokie for its tuneful tribute to Appalachian miners, "Fire on the Mountain" (revue, ensemble, director and supporting actor/actress); Next Theatre in Evanston for its dark, challenging world premiere musical "The Adding Machine" (new work, director, principal actor, supporting actress, lighting) and Writers' Theatre in Glencoe for its deliciously entertaining production of Lillian Hellman's post-Civil War soap opera, "Another Part of the Forest" (play, director, supporting actress, costumes).

For a complete list of nominees, see www.jeffawards.org.