Buffalo Theatre wins first Jeff award; Marriott’s ‘Beautiful,’ Drury Lane’s ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’’ pick up multiple awards

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, which rebounded after a two-year hiatus during which it fought for its artistic survival, received its first Joseph Jefferson Award Monday at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace.

Designer Aly Greaves Amidei received the midsize theater award for her costumes for the Jane Austen-inspired period dramedy “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” during the 56th Jeff Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in Chicago-area equity theater.

Accepting on Amidei’s behalf, BTE artistic director emerita Connie Canady Howard praised Amidei’s work.

“Her design was beautiful. If you didn’t see it, you missed it,” she said, adding theatergoers will have another opportunity to see Amidei’s work later this season.

A longtime McAninch Arts Center resident, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble had been a suburban mainstay for 26 years, but it was uncertain whether the company would see 27 after the College of DuPage pulled its financial support in 2014.

Devoted BTE fans rallied around the company, which returned to The MAC in 2016 and subsequently delivered outstanding revivals of “The Outgoing Tide,” “Clybourne Park,” “The Cake,” “Time Stands Still” and “Good People” among others.

Suburban titans Drury Lane Theatre and Marriott Theatre each received four awards — more than any other single production — for revivals of “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” respectively.

Marriott’s “Beautiful” was named best large musical. Kaitlyn Davis and Andrew Mueller received Jeffs for principal and supporting performance respectively and Jessica Fisch earned the award for large musical direction.

“Thanks to Jess for believing in me,” said Davis, who called the production “the most gratifying experience of my entire life.”

“Every person involved in the show elevated it every day with their talent and dedication,” she said, adding, “I had big shoes to fill in this role in this city. I’m honored.”

Davis was referring to Chicago theater veterans Jessie and Abby Mueller. Jessie Mueller originated the role of Carole King on Broadway and won a Tony Award for her performance. Abby Mueller played the role on the national tour.

Calling the award “extraordinarily validating,” Mueller, Jessie and Abby’s younger brother, thanked Fisch and his sisters.

“I feel I got a good handle on the show from them,” he joked.

“There are some shows that live under blessed stars. ‘Beautiful’ was one of those shows,” said director Fisch, who praised music director Ryan T. Nelson, choreographer Christopher Windom and the “incredible powerhouse cast.”

“Here’s to Chicago theater made in Chicago for Chicago,” she said.

Drury Lane’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” received awards for best revue, ensemble, director E. Faye Butler and performer Lorenzo Rush Jr.

Accepting the award for musical ensemble, associate artistic director Matthew Carney praised the cast who stood behind him.

“When we set out to cast this show, we hoped and dreamed of finding triple threats to bring Fats Waller’s music to life,” Carney said, gesturing to the cast. “We hit the jackpot.”

For her work on Paramount Theatre’s “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Cat Wilson received the large theater lighting design award. Hershey Felder received the solo performance award for channeling Frederic Chopin in Writers Theatre’s “Hershey Felder as Monsieur Chopin.”

Steppenwolf Theatre Company received a total of six awards, three for its world premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s “Little Bear Ridge Road,” which was recognized for Hunter’s script, principal performer (Laurie Metcalf) and director Joe Mantello. Mantello shared the award for large play direction with Phylicia Rashad, who helmed Steppenwolf’s premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ domestic drama “Purpose,” which is Broadway-bound. Inspired by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his son, Jesse Jackson Jr., “Purpose” was also named best new work and best large drama.

Goodman Theatre also received six awards, including one for ensemble in a play for “The Penelopiad,” which also earned composer Samuel Davis an award for original music.

Butler picked up her second Jeff Award of the evening for her supporting performance in Goodman’s “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years.”

Designer Arnel Sancianco received the large set award for “The Nacirema Society,” which he shared with designer Todd Rosenthal, who received his award for Goodman’s “The Matchbox Magic Flute,” which also earned Ana Kuzmanic the award for large production costumes.

Harry Lennix, who is currently co-starring in Goodman Theatre’s revival of “Inherit the Wind,” received a Jeff for his performance as playwright August Wilson in Wilson’s autobiographical “How I Learned What I Learned,” a short-run production by Congo Square Theatre in association with Goodman Theatre.

L. Walter Stearns and Brenda Didier were named best directors of a midsize musical for Mercury Theater Chicago’s first homegrown production of “Jersey Boys,” which also earned awards for best midsize musical and for supporting actor Adrian Aguilar.

Shattered Globe Theatre ensemble member Louis Contey was named best director of a midsize play for SGT’s revival of Arthur Miller’s “A View From the Bridge.” Scott Aiello earned the principal performer in a play award for his performance as longshoreman Eddie Carbone in SGT’s “View,” which shared the award for midsize play with A Red Orchid’s “Turret.”

Aiello remarked that he moved from Chicago to New York City 15 years ago because he believed he needed more training.

“I moved back two years ago and I’m so moved Chicago theater did this to me,” he said embracing himself to reflect the community’s embrace of him. “Chicago theater, I’m home. Thanks for welcoming me.”

For their impact on Chicago-area theater, the Jeff Committee honored arts leaders Charles Newell and Roche Schulfer, whose influence “extended beyond Chicago to the national stage and included regional Tony Awards for their respective theaters.”

Newell, who stepped down this year after 30 years as Court Theatre’s artistic director, has directed more than 60 productions and now serves as senior artistic consultant.

An emotional Newell accepted the award saying “it is an honor for me to continue to give back to the community that has blessed me and my family.”

“No one person makes the art we do,” he said. “It only works if it’s a community that comes together.”

Schulfer began his Goodman Theatre career in the box office and took over as executive director in 1980. He retired this year after 44 years, during which he produced more than 400 plays.

“I’ve worked with thousands of theater artists,” Schulfer said in a videotaped message. “I am grateful beyond measure to all of them and the amazing Chicago theater community. You’ve made my life in theater possible.”

For a complete list of winners, see jeffawards.org.