'Caroline, or Change' takes top honors at Jeff Awards
For all the accolades Drury Lane Oak Brook and Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire earned for its productions of "Miss Saigon" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" respectively, the musical theater titans came up short Monday at the 41st annual Joseph Jefferson Awards honoring excellence in Chicago area equity theater.
Court Theatre's poignant production of Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's "Caroline, or Change" - about a needy young Jewish boy's knotty relationship with his family's African-American maid - took top honors in the musical category (large theater). The production also earned awards for director Charles Newell and music director Doug Peck. Lead actress E. Faye Butler, picking up her second Jeff in as many years, was honored for her titanic performance as Caroline.
"Doug you are an amazing music director. Charlie you know you are my second husband honey, I'm never going to let you go," said Butler who finished her speech with a plug for her Nov. 16 concert at Marriott Theatre.
"We followed our hearts," said Newell, accepting his award, "and it was one of (my) most joyous experiences directing a play."
TimeLine Theatre earned five well-deserved Jeff Awards, more than any other company, for its brilliant, Chicago-area premiere of Alan Bennett's "The History Boys," the intellectual and sexual coming-of-age tale set in a second tier British boarding school.
The "boys" - a wholly credible ensemble of young actors - were very vocal in their support of supporting actor winner and Northwestern University undergraduate Alex Weisman as well as best director winner Nick Bowling. In a gracious speech, Bowling paid tribute to one of his teachers and mentors, and expressed how lucky he felt to have worked with such an amazing cast and design team.
TimeLine's production also picked up awards for ensemble, play (midsize) and for Brian Sidney Bembridge's set.
In accepting the production award, artistic director PJ Powers described the production as quintessential Chicago theater story where "a small but scrappy company gets the rights to a big splashy play."
Noting that TimeLine won in its first season of eligibility, Powers closed his speech graciously saying, "it's an honor to be in your company."
But suburban stalwarts were not shut out entirely. Not by a long shot.
Larry Neumann, Jr.'s turn as the cranky, gin-soaked patriarch in First Folio Theatre's "A Moon for the Misbegotten" earned him a Jeff for principle actor in a play, which he shared with William L. Petersen, who won for his performance in Victory Gardens' "Blackbird."
"Who'd have thought, a statistical tie," he said referencing Petersen's win. "I never thought I'd be able to do this play, now that I'm 50 maybe I'll get a chance to do it again."
Joseph Anthony Foronda won a Jeff for lead actor in a musical in a musical for playing the wily Engineer in Drury Lane Oakbrook's "Miss Saigon." The production also earned Ray Nardelli and Joshua Horwath the Jeff Award for lighting design: large theater.
Chicago area native Max Quinlan and Summer Smart won Jeffs for their supporting performances as the young lovers in Marriott's "The Light in the Piazza."
Smart shared her award with Liz Baltes who won for supporting actress in a musical for Writer's "Theatre's "A Minister's Wife" - inspired by George Bernard Shaw's "Candida" - which also earned Josh Schmidt, Jan Tranen and Austin Pendleton the award for new musical
Choreographer David H. Bell won for his work for Drury Lane Oakbrook's "The Boys from Syracuse."
"I'm humbled and honored," said Bell, who moved from New York four years ago to work in Chicago. "It's made me so proud to be here tonight and share this with the community I love so much."
The show got off to a rousing start with a house rockin' performance of "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" from the singer-musicians who make up the Broadway bound "Million Dollar Quartet" (what a shame if this talented ensemble doesn't travel east with the show).
Lynn Nottage won the award for best new work for her 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning "Ruined," for which Saidah Arrika Ekulona received a lead actress award and Dominic Kanza an award for his original music. "Ruined" also shared the award for large theater production with Steppenwolf Theatre's "The Seafarer."
The Jeff Committee saluted Second City on its 50th anniversary and paid tribute to director and Candlelight Dinner Theatre founder William Pullinsi, who received a special award for his 50 years in theater.
Presenters neglecting to announce tie-winners made for some awkward moments, but spunky Elizabeth Ledo and Rob Lindley made for competent emcees. Butler's emotional performance from "Caroline;" the sassy "Sing for Your Supper" trio from Drury Lane's "Boys from Syracuse;" an amusing sketch from Second City and a bouncy number from Porchlight Music Theatre's "Once on this Island."
Winners of the 41st annual Jeff Awards
Production - Play: large (Tie)
"Ruined" - Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club
"The Seafarer" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Production - Play: mid-size
"The History Boys" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Production - Musical: large
"Caroline, or Change" - Court Theatre
Production - Musical: mid-size
"Tomorrow Morning" - Hillary A. Williams, LLC
Production - Revue
"Studs Terkel's Not Working" - The Second City e.t.c.
Ensemble
"The History Boys" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Director - Play
Nick Bowling - "The History Boys" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Director - Musical
Charles Newell - "Caroline, or Change" - Court Theatre
Director - Revue
Matt Hovde - "Studs Terkel's Not Working" - The Second City e.t.c.
Solo Performance
Max McLean - "Mark's Gospel" - Fellowship for the Performing Arts
Actor in a Principal Role - Play (Tie)
William L. Petersen - "Blackbird" - Victory Gardens Theater
Larry Neumann, Jr. - "A Moon for the Misbegotten" - First Folio Theatre
Actor in a Principal Role - Musical
Joseph Anthony Foronda - "Miss Saigon" - Drury Lane Oakbrook
Actress in a Principal Role - Play
Saidah Arrika Ekulona - "Ruined" - Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club
Actress in a Principal Role - Musical
E. Faye Butler - "Caroline, or Change" - Court Theatre
Actor in a Supporting Role - Play
Alex Weisman - "The History Boys" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical
Max Quinlan - "The Light in the Piazza" - Marriott Theatre
Actress in a Supporting Role - Play
Spencer Kayden - "Don't Dress for Dinner" - The British Stage Company
Actress in a Supporting Role - Musical (Tie)
Liz Baltes - "A Minister's Wife"- Writers' Theatre
Summer Smart - "The Light in the Piazza" - Marriott Theatre
Actor in a Revue
Mark David Kaplan - "Forbidden Broadway: Dances with the Stars" - John Freedson, Harriet Yellin, & Margaret Cotter
Actress in a Revue
Amanda Blake Davis - "Studs Terkel's Not Working" - The Second City e.t.c.
Scenic Design - large
Lucy Osborne - "Twelfth Night" - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Scenic Design - mid-size
Brian Sidney Bembridge - "The History Boys" - TimeLine Theatre Company
Costume Design - large
Mara Blumenfeld - "The Arabian Nights" - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Costume Design - mid-size
Rachel Laritz - "The Voysey Inheritance" - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Lighting Design - large
Christopher Akerlind - Rock 'n' Roll - Goodman Theatre
Lighting Design - mid-size
Jesse Klug - "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" - American Theater Company
Sound Design - large
Ray Nardelli and Joshua Horvath - "Miss Saigon" - Drury Lane Oakbrook
Sound Design - mid-size
Lindsay Jones - "The K of D: An Urban Legend" - The Route 66 Theatre Company
Choreography
David H. Bell - "The Boys from Syracuse" - Drury Lane Oakbrook
Original Incidental Music
Dominic Kanza - "Ruined" - Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club
Music Direction
Doug Peck - "Caroline, or Change" - Court Theatre
New Adaptation - Play
Seth Bockley - "Jon" - Collaboraction
New Work - Play
Lynn Nottage - "Ruined" - Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club
New Adaptation - Musical
Josh Schmidt, Jan Tranen and Austin Pendleton - "A Minister's Wife" - Writers' Theatre
Special Effects
Steve Tolin - "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" - Northlight Theatre
Video Design
Mike Tutaj - "Tomorrow Morning" - Hillary A. Williams, LLC
Tribute Award
The Second City - 50th Anniversary
Special Award
William Pullinsi - Director and Producer -Outstanding Achievement-50 years in Theatre
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=330218">Complete list of Jeff Award winners<span class="date"> [10/20/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>