Drury Lane rebirth earns plenty of Jeff nods
The accolades just keep on coming for the rejuvenated Drury Lane Oak Brook which led all equity theaters when the 2009-2010 equity Joseph Jefferson Award nominations were announced early Tuesday.
Drury Lane's 26 nominations dwarfed the competition, including Lincolnshire's Marriott Theatre which earned 11 and Glenview's Writers Theatre which picked up 10. While its productions of "Cabaret" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie" earned a respectable seven nominations apiece, Drury Lane's stellar revival of "Ragtime" dominated. It led all productions with 11 nominations for ensemble, musical, director Rachel Rockwell, actor Quentin Earl Darrington, actresses Cory Goodrich and Valisia LeKae, designers Kevin Depinet and Jesse Klug and music director Roberta Duchak.
The number of Drury Lane's nominations, the most ever for this West suburban mainstay, surprised and delighted executive producer Kyle DeSantis, who says he feels like they've already won.
"'Ragtime' was an incredible undertaking for us. We've never worked on anything quite so large," he said.
The abbreviated 2009 Broadway run of the "Ragtime" revival worried DeSantis, who invested a lot of time and money into Drury Lane's production which was embraced by audiences and critics alike.
"It goes to show that even in this economy, people still want to go out and see good theater," DeSantis said.
"I'm glad to be nominated and whatever happens, I'll be happy," he added.
Besides Drury Lane's contributions, best musical nominees include Marriot's charming "The Drowsy Chaperone" and "Hairspray" and Goodman Theatre's "Animal Crackers."
Second to Drury Lane in number of nominations was Chicago's Court Theatre, which received 18 nominations. Three of them came in the large ensemble production category where Court's "The Illusion," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and "The Mystery of Irma Vep" will compete for best play honors with Writers' "A Streetcar Named Desire," Steppenwolf Theatre's "The Brother/Sister Plays" and the Victory Gardens/Teatro Visto premiere of Kristoffer Diaz's Pulitzer Prize finalist, "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity."
David Cromer picked up a directing nod for his Writers' Theatre revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire." The exquisitely crafted show also received nominations for production and for principal actress Natasha Lowe and supporting actress Stacy Stoltz.
Inexplicably Matt Hawkins did not receive a nomination for his turn as a sinewy, insecure Stanley. Neither did past winner Ross Lehman, who failed to secure a nod for his funny and humane Tevye in Marriott's "Fiddler on the Roof."
Also conspicuous by his absence from the best actor category is Steppenwolf's K. Todd Freeman, whose wrenching performance in "The Brother/Sister Plays" was among the season's finest. Goodman artistic associate Brian Dennehy picked up a nomination for reprising his roles in "Hughie" and "Krapp's Last Tape," which premiered last year at Ontario's Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
Oak Brook's First Folio Theatre received a total of three nominations for Angela Miller's "Jeeves in Bloom" set, Nick Sandys' supporting performance as Malvolio in "Twelfth Night" and Henry Marsh's original music for the same production.
Last year's big winner, TimeLine Theatre, promises to be a formidable contender again this year. The Chicago company earned 11 nominations, including three of the five nominations for mid-size play for "All My Sons," "The Farnsworth Invention" and "'Master Harold'- and the Boys." The category's other nominees include A Red Orchid Theatre's "Abigail's Party" and American Blues Theater's "Tobacco Road."
The 42nd annual Jeff Awards ceremony takes place Oct. 25, at Drury Lane Oak Brook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. See jeffawards.org for tickets and information.
2009-1010 Equity Jeff Award nominations: PRODUCTION - PLAY - LARGE "The Brother/Sister Plays" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company"The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" - Victory Gardens Theater in association with Teatro Vista-Theatre With a View"The Illusion" - Court Theatre"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" - Court Theatre"The Mystery of Irma Vep" - Court Theatre"A Streetcar Named Desire" - Writers' TheatrePRODUCTION - PLAY - MID-SIZE"Abigail's Party" - A Red Orchid Theatre"All My Sons" - TimeLine Theatre Company"The Farnsworth Invention" - TimeLine Theatre Company"'Master Harold'-And The Boys" - TimeLine Theatre Company"Tobacco Road" - American Blues TheaterPRODUCTION - MUSICAL - LARGE"Animal Crackers" - Goodman Theatre"Cabaret" - Drury Lane Productions "The Drowsy Chaperone" - Marriott Theatre"Hairspray" - Marriott Theatre"Ragtime" - Drury Lane Productions"Thoroughly Modern Millie" - Drury Lane ProductionsPRODUCTION - REVUE"The Absolute Best Friggin' Time of Your Life" - The Second City e.t.c."Low Down Dirty Blues" - Northlight Theatre"Oh Coward!" - Writers' TheatreENSEMBLE"Abigail's Party" - A Red Orchid Theatre"Animal Crackers" - Goodman Theatre"The Brother/Sister Plays" - Steppenwolf Theatre Company"The Farnsworth Invention" - TimeLine Theatre Company"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" - Court Theatre"Ragtime" - Drury Lane Productions"The Wedding" - TUTA Theatre ChicagoNEW WORK - PLAYKristoffer Diaz - "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" - Victory Gardens Theater in association with Teatro Vista-Theatre With a ViewMichael Golamco - "Year Zero" - Victory Gardens Theater Andrew Hinderaker - "Suicide, Incorporated" - The Gift TheatreJim Lynch - "The Tallest Man" - The Artistic HomeBruce Norris - "A Parallelogram" - Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyDavid Schwimmer and Andy Bellin - "Trust" - Lookingglass Theatre CompanyCraig Wright - "Mistakes Were Made" - A Red Orchid TheatreDIRECTOR - PLAYNick Bowling - "The Farnsworth Invention" - TimeLine Theatre CompanyDavid Cromer - "A Streetcar Named Desire" - Writers' TheatreSean Graney - "The Mystery of Irma Vep" - Court TheatreTina Landau - "The Brother/Sister Plays" - Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyShade Murray - "Abigail's Party" - A Red Orchid TheatreCharles Newell - "The Illusion" - Court TheatreKimberly Senior - "All My Sons" - TimeLine Theatre Company Edward Torres - "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" - Victory Gardens Theater in association with Teatro Vista-Theatre With a ViewDIRECTOR - MUSICAL or REVUEJim Corti - "Cabaret" - Drury Lane ProductionsJim Corti - "Oh Coward!" - Writers' TheatreWilliam Osetek - "Thoroughly Modern Millie" - Drury Lane ProductionsMarc Robin - "The Drowsy Chaperone" - Marriott TheatreMarc Robin - "Hairspray" - Marriott TheatreRachel Rockwell - "Ragtime" - Drury Lane ProductionsHenry Wishcamper - "Animal Crackers" - Goodman TheatreACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAYDesmin Borges - "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" - Victory Gardens Theater in association with Teatro Vista-Theatre With a ViewBrian Dennehy - "Hughie/Krapp's Last Tape" - Goodman TheatreRob Fagin - "The Farnsworth Invention" - TimeLine Theatre CompanyErik Hellman - "The Mystery of Irma Vep" - Court TheatreTracy Letts - "American Buffalo" - Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyNick Sandys - "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" - Remy Bumppo Theatre CompanyMichael Shannon - "Mistakes Were Made" - A Red Orchid TheatreChris Sullivan - "The Mystery of Irma Vep" - Court TheatreACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICALQuentin Earl Darrington - "Ragtime" - Drury Lane ProductionsJames Harms - "The Drowsy Chaperone" - Marriott TheatreMax Quinlan - "Jesus Christ Superstar" - Theatre at the CenterAlan Schmuckler - "Sugar" - Drury Lane ProductionsJoey Slotnick - "Animal Crackers" - Goodman TheatreACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAYTracy Michelle Arnold - "Private Lives" - Chicago Shakespeare TheaterCassandra Bissell - "Mary's Wedding" - Rivendell Theatre EnsembleJanet Ulrich Brooks - "All My Sons" - TimeLine Theatre CompanyKirsten Fitzgerald - "Abigail's Party" - A Red Orchid TheatreNatasha Lowe - "A Streetcar Named Desire" - Writers' TheatreLia Mortensen - "The Hiding Place" - Provision TheaterAllison Torem - "Trust" - Lookingglass Theatre CompanyACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICALHolly Ann Butler - "Thoroughly Modern Millie" - Drury Lane ProductionsCory Goodrich - "Ragtime" - Drury Lane ProductionsHeidi Kettenring - "I Do! I Do!" - Theatre at the CenterMarissa Perry - "Hairspray" - Marriott TheatreSOLO PERFORMANCEMary Beth Fisher - "The Year of Magical Thinking" - Court TheatreDael Orlandersmith - "Stoop Stories" - Goodman TheatreACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAYAllen Gilmore - "Sizwe Banzi is Dead" - Court TheatreFrancis Guinan - "A Guide for the Perplexed" - Victory Gardens TheaterTom Irwin - "A Parallelogram" - Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyTimothy Edward Kane - "The Illusion" - Court TheatreNick Sandys - "Twelfth Night" - First Folio TheatreLindsay Smiling - "Blue Door" - Victory Gardens TheaterMichael Patrick Thornton - "Suicide, Incorporated" - The Gift TheatreACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICALMark David Kaplan - "Ragtime" - Drury Lane ProductionsPeter Kevoian - "The Christmas Schooner" - Theatre at the CenterDavid Lively - "Cabaret" - Drury Lane ProductionsAdam Pelty - "The Drowsy Chaperone" - Marriott TheatreACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAYJanet Ulrich Brooks - "When She Danced" - TimeLine Theatre CompanyCindy Gold - "Awake and Sing!" - Northlight TheatreRebecca Spence - "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" - Remy Bumppo Theatre CompanyStacy Stoltz - "A Streetcar Named Desire" - Writers' TheatreWandachristine - "The Old Settler" - Writers' TheatreNatalie West - "Abigail's Party" - A Red Orchid TheatreJacqueline Williams - "The Brother/Sister Plays" - Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICALRebecca Finnegan - "Cabaret" - Drury Lane ProductionsHeidi Kettenring - "Hairspray" - Marriott TheatreValisia LeKae - "Ragtime" - Drury Lane ProductionsBarbara Robertson - "Yeast Nation (the triumph of life)" - American Theater CompanyPaula Scrofano - "Thoroughly Modern Millie" - Drury Lane ProductionsACTOR IN A REVUEMississippi Charles Bevel - "Low Down Dirty Blues" - Northlight TheatreRob Lindley - "Oh Coward!" - Writers' TheatreGregory Porter - "Low Down Dirty Blues" - Northlight TheatreSam Richardson - "Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies" - The Second CityACTRESS IN A REVUEChristina Anthony - "The Absolute Best Friggin' Time of Your Life" - The Second City e.t.c.Felicia P. Fields - "Low Down Dirty Blues" - Northlight TheatreKate Fry - "Oh Coward!" - Writers' TheatreSandra Reaves-Phillips - "Low Down Dirty Blues" - Northlight TheatreSCENIC DESIGN - LARGEJeffrey Bauer - "A Guide for the Perplexed" - Victory Gardens TheaterJohn Culbert - "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" - Court TheatreKevin Depinet - "Ragtime" - Drury Lane ProductionsKevin Depinet - "Thoroughly Modern Millie" - Drury Lane ProductionsCollette Pollard - "The Illusion" - Court TheatreTodd Rosenthal - "A Parallelogram" - Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyWalt Spangler - "A True History of the Johnstown Flood" - Goodman TheatreSCENIC DESIGN - MIDSIZEAimee Hanyzewski - "Of Mice and Men" - Oak Park Festival TheatreJames Leaming - "Tobacco Road" - American Blues TheaterTimothy Mann - "'Master Harold'-And The Boys" - TimeLine Theatre CompanyAngela Miller - "Jeeves in Bloom" - First Folio TheatreInseung Park - "The Hiding Place" - Provision TheatreCOSTUME DESIGN - LARGEJacqueline Firkins - "The Illusion"- Court TheatreNancy Missimi - "The Drowsy Chaperone" - Marriott TheatreTatjana Radisic - "Cabaret" - Drury Lane ProductionsAlison Siple - "The Mystery of Irma Vep" - Court TheatreCOSTUME DESIGN - MIDSIZEWilliam J. Morey - "Into the Woods" - Porchlight Music Theatre ChicagoSarah E. Ross Kristin DeiTos - "Tobacco Road" - American Blues TheaterEmily Waecker - "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" - Remy Bumppo Theatre CompanySOUND DESIGN - LARGE Mikhail Fiksel - "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" - Victory Gardens Theater in association with Teatro Vista-Theatre With a ViewJoshua Horvath and Nick Keenan - "The Illusion"- Court TheatreJoshua Horvath and Ray Nardelli - "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"- Court TheatreRay Nardelli - "Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale" - Lookingglass Theatre Company and Silverguy EntertainmentSOUND DESIGN - MIDSIZEVictoria Delorio - "Mary's Wedding" - Rivendell Theatre EnsembleMikhail Fiksel - "War With the Newts" - Next Theatre CompanyNick Keenan - "End Days" - Next Theatre CompanyMiles Polaski - "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"- The Gift TheatreLIGHTING DESIGN - LARGEBrian Sidney Bembridge - "Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale" - Lookingglass Theatre Company and Silverguy EntertainmentJohn Culbert - "The Illusion"- Court TheatreJesse Klug - "Cabaret" - Drury Lane ProductionsJesse Klug - "Ragtime" - Drury Lane ProductionsJesse Klug - "Thoroughly Modern Millie" - Drury Lane ProductionsLIGHTING DESIGN - MIDSIZE Lee Fiskness - "End Days" - Next Theatre CompanyJesse Klug - "Yeast Nation (the triumph of life)" - American Theater CompanyKeith Parham - "The Farnsworth Invention" - TimeLine Theatre CompanyJaymi Lee Smith - "Mary's Wedding" - Rivendell Theatre EnsembleCHOREOGRAPHYJohn Carrafa - "Animal Crackers" - Goodman TheatreTammy Mader - "Thoroughly Modern Millie" - Drury Lane ProductionsMarc Robin - "The Drowsy Chaperone" - Marriott TheatreMarc Robin - "Hairspray" - Marriott TheatreORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSICAlaric Jans - "The Hiding Place" - Provision TheaterLindsay Jones - "Richard III" - Chicago Shakespeare TheaterHenry Marsh - "Twelfth Night" - First Folio TheatreRay Nardelli and Joshua Horvath - "The Long Red Road" - Goodman TheatreRay Nardelli, Andre Pluess and Josh Horvath - "Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale" - Lookingglass Theatre Company and Silverguy EntertainmentJesse Terrill - "The Wedding" - TUTA Theatre ChicagoMUSIC DIRECTIONRoberta Duchak - "Ragtime" - Drury Lane ProductionsDoug Peck - "Animal Crackers" - Goodman TheatreDoug Peck - "Cabaret" - Drury Lane ProductionsDoug Peck - "Oh Coward!" - Writers' TheatreRobert Reddrick - "Nothing But the Blues" - Black Ensemble TheaterARTISTIC SPECIALIZATIONBridges Media - Multimedia Design - "Trust" - Lookingglass Theatre CompanySage Marie Carter - Projections Design - "Ragtime" - Drury Lane ProductionsSylvia Hernandez-DiStasi - Circus Choreography and Movement Direction - "Icarus" - Lookingglass Theatre CompanyNick Sandys - Fight Choreography - "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" - Remy Bumppo Theatre CompanyDavid Woolley - Fight Choreography - "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" - Victory Gardens Theater in association with Teatro Vista-Theatre With a ViewFalse499331Marriott Theatre's high-steppin' production of "The Drowsy Chaperone" received nods for production, director Marc Robin (who also picked up a nomination for choreography) and actors James Harm and Adam Pelty. 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