Drury Lane, Marriott share wealth at Jeff Awards

Drury Lane and Marriott, those twin titans of suburban musical theater, literally shared the wealth Monday at the 40th annual Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in Chicago-area theater.

A statistical dead heat between Jim Corti, director of Drury Lane Oak Brook's razor-sharp "Sweet Charity," one of its best shows in recent memory, and Dominic Missimi's remarkable re-imagining of "Les Miserables" for Marriott in Lincolnshire resulted in both men being hailed as best director of a musical.

"I can't believe I'm standing up here," said Corti, referring to his fellow nominees. "I'm kind of like the new guy. These guys are Chicago theater - Chicago theater that I love so much."

For anyone who experienced his gossamer falsetto and powerhouse performance as Jean Valjean in Marriott's "Les Mis," John Cudia's recognition as actor in a musical came as no surprise. Cudia brought the house down with his brilliant reprise of the exquisite "Bring Him Home." Summer Naomi Smart wowed the crowd, too. She took home a Jeff for actress in a musical for her hip-shaking turns as the titular "Sweet Charity."

The ceremony marked the introduction of a new, two-tier system designating equity (union) theaters as large or mid-size based on the theater's budget. The new system allows for separate awards for each tier in the categories of play, musical, review, set, costume, lighting and sound.

"Les Mis" also received awards for musical (large) and for supporting actor Richard Todd Adams. "Sweet Charity" also earned choreographer Mitzi Hamilton a Jeff for her spot on homage to Bob Fosse, whose genius she credited in her acceptance speech.

"This is such a thrill," said the hometown girl. "I feel like you've really accepted me back home."

Arlington Heights native Keith Huff won the new work award for his unrelenting cop drama "A Steady Rain." "I want to thank the gifted artist Randy Steinmeyer and Peter DeFaria," said Huff. "I threw the script in their laps. They ran with it, and it rocked." An unexpected smash from Chicago Dramatists, the play also won for outstanding play (mid-size). The production also earned Randy Steinmeyer a Jeff for principal actor for his ferocious performance as an old-school cop adrift.

"New York ain't got nothing on us in Chicago," said Steinmeyer. He went on to praise co-star DeFaria, saying "Pete was in the foxhole with me every night."

Fresh off its Regional Tony Award win, Chicago Shakespeare Theater earned acclaim for its innovative take on "The Comedy of Errors" which found artistic director Barbara Gaines collaborating with Second City's Ron West, who wrote new material bookending the comedy. The Jeff Committee awarded it best production play (large), director (Gaines), new adaptation (West) and costume design (large) for Ana Kuzmanic. CST also picked up the ensemble award for "Funk it Up About Nothin'," the Q Brothers' ad-rap-tation of Shakespeare's merry "Much Ado."

Masterful E. Faye Butler, who lit up local stages this year, picked up a Jeff Award for actress in a revue for "Ella" at Northlight Theatre in Skokie.

"BJ (Jones, artistic director for Northlight Theatre), you told me I could do it and you knew what you were talking about," Butler said. "Ella" also earned an award for director Rob Ruggiero. James Rank picked up the award for actor in a revue for the artfully conceived "The American Dream Songbook" at Next Theatre in Evanston.

Complete List of Jeff Equity Award Recipients:

Production - Play (Large)

"The Comedy of Errors," Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Production - Play (Mid-size)

"A Steady Rain," Chicago Dramatists

Production - Musical (Large)

"Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre

Production - Musical (Mid-size)

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Bailiwick Repertory Theatre

Production - Revue

"Ella," Northlight Theatre

Ensemble

"Funk It Up About Nothin'," Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Director - Play

Barbara Gaines, "The Comedy of Errors," Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Director - Musical (2)

Jim Corti, "Sweet Charity," Drury Lane Oakbrook

Dominic Missimi, "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre

Director - Revue

Rob Ruggiero, "Ella," Northlight Theatre

New Work

Keith Huff, "A Steady Rain," Chicago Dramatists

New Adaptation

Ron West, "The Comedy of Errors," Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Solo Performance

Nilaja Sun, "No Child.," Lookingglass Theatre Company

Actor in a Principal Role - Play

Randy Steinmeyer, "A Steady Rain," Chicago Dramatists

Actor in a Principal Role - Musical

John Cudia, "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre

Actress in a Principal Role - Play

Lois Smith, "The Trip to Bountiful," Goodman Theatre

Actress in a Principal Role - Musical

Summer Naomi Smart, "Sweet Charity," Drury Lane Oakbrook

Actor in a Supporting Role - Play

Mark Ulrich, "Juno and the Paycock," The Artistic Home

Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical

Richard Todd Adams, "Les Misérables," Marriott Theatre

Actress in a Supporting Role - Play

Hallie Foote, "The Trip to Bountiful," Goodman Theatre

Actress in a Supporting Role - Musical

Jessie Mueller, "Carousel," Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre

Actor in a Revue

James Rank, "The American Dream Songbook," Next Theatre Company

Actress in a Revue

E. Faye Butler, "Ella," Northlight Theatre

Scenic Design (Large)

E. David Cosier, "The Trip to Bountiful," Goodman Theatre

Scenic Design (Mid-size)

Kevin Depinet, "Cadillac," Chicago Dramatists

Costume Design (Large)

Ana Kuzmanic, "The Comedy of Errors," Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Costume Design (Mid-size)

Bill Morey, "Nine," Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago

Lighting Design (Large)

J. R. Lederle, "The Turn of the Screw," Writers' Theatre

Lighting Design (Mid-size)

Mike Durst, "Requiem for a Heavyweight," Shattered Globe Theatre

Sound Design (Large)

Barry G. Funderburg, "Carter's Way," Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Sound Design (Mid-size)

Jack Arky, "Because They Have No Words," Piven Theatre

Choreography

Mitzi Hamilton, "Sweet Charity," Drury Lane Oakbrook

Original Incidental Music

David Pavkovic, "Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day," Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art

Musical Direction

Doug Peck, "Carousel," Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre

Fight Choreography

Nick Sandys, "Requiem for a Heavyweight," Shattered Globe Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Videography (Artistic Specialization)

John Musial, "Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day," Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art

Special Award

Eileen Boevers, Outstanding Achievement, Founder, Apple Tree Theatre

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=1&type=video&item=130">'The Trip to Bountiful' </a></li> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=1&type=video&item=134">'Sweet Charity' </a></li> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=1&type=video&item=113">'Les Miserables' </a></li> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=1&type=video&item=120">'A Steady Rain'</a></li> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=1&type=video&item=95">'Requiem for a Heavyweight'</a></li> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=1&type=video&item=85">'Ella' </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>