Writers’ exquisite ‘Comet of 1812’ is Jeff Awards’ most honored production

Writers Theatre’s magnificent regional premiere of “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” a chamber musical based on 70 pages from Leo Tolstoy’s literary colossus “War and Peace,” was the single most honored production at Monday’s 57th Joseph Jefferson Award ceremony recognizing excellence in Chicago and suburban equity theater.

Named best large musical, the Glencoe theater’s production also received awards for ensemble, director Katie Spelman, lighting designer Yael Lubetzky and costume designer Raquel Adorno.

Paramount Theatre’s revival of “Cats,” a brilliantly reimagined, cirque-inspired spectacle, received awards for Sylvia Hernandez DiStasi’s circus choreography, Kasey Alfonso’s choreography and designer Katie Cordts’ wigs, hair and makeup.

Jeffrey D. Kmiec’s meticulous, immersive set for Paramount’s “Million Dollar Quartet” (featuring props by Jonathan Berg-Einhorn) for Stolp Island Theatre shared the award for best large theater scenic design with Christopher Oram, who won for his lush set for Goodman Theatre’s “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil The Musical.”

Speaking of Goodman, Chicago native and Broadway veteran Brittney Mack received an award for principal performance in a musical for her performance as Celie — one of the most soulful, finely tuned performances in recent memory — in Goodman's “The Color Purple.”

Marriott Theatre’s gloriously sung, impressively designed revival of “Titanic The Musical” earned awards for music director Ryan T. Nelson and for sound designer (large theater) Michael Daly.

“Always … Patsy Cline,” the combination tribute concert and memoir was named best revue. The Drury Lane Theatre production also earned a Jeff for revue director Scott Weinstein and revue performer Bri Sudia.

The Chicago Puppet Studio, Caitlin McLeod and Zachary Sun received the artistic specialization award for their puppets for the Oakbrook Terrace theater’s “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” which also netted Sawyer Smith an award for supporting performer in a musical.

The projection design award went to Anthony Churchill and Mike Tutaj for Drury Lane’s visually arresting “The Da Vinci Code.” The duo shared the award with Michael Salvatore Commendatore who won for Lookingglass Theatre Company’s “Iraq, But Funny.”

“Iraq, But Funny” playwright Atra Asdou collected The Libby Adler Mages Award for new work, which she shared with writer Mickle Maher for Court Theatre’s “Berlin.

Asdou also received the Jeff Award for principal performer in a play for “Iraq, But Funny.” Elliot Esquivel received the principal performer in a play award for Shattered Globe Theatre’s “Lobby Hero.”

Court Theatre received a total of nine Jeff Awards, including two for its co-production of “Falsettos” with Timeline Theatre. Those went to Stephen Schellhardt, who won for principal performer in a musical, and Sarah Bockel, who won for supporting performer in a musical.

In addition to new work, Court’s “Berlin” received awards for best play (large theater), ensemble and director Charles Newell.

Newell picked up a second director award for the Chicago theater’s short-run revival of “An Iliad” for which Timothy Edward Kane received the short-run performer award.

AnJi White received the award for supporting performer in a play for Court’s “East Texas Hot Wings.” Rae Gray was also named best supporting performer in a play for her work in Northlight Theatre and Theater Wit’s co-production of “Prayer for the French Republic.”

In addition to Esquivel’s lead performance, Shattered Globe’s “Lobby Hero” received awards for midsize play and director Nate Santana. The Chicago theater’s “A Tale of Two Cities” received awards for director Mikael Burke, composer Christopher Kriz, costume designer Kotryna Hilko and lighting designer Eric Watkins.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company stage manager Laura D. Glenn received the inaugural Equity Jeff Impresario Award, honoring excellence in stage management.

Lastly, the Jeff Committee recognized five longtime Chicago-area theaters for their combined 200 years of theatrical excellence and for “inspiring theater artists, providing creative opportunities, entertaining audiences and helping build Chicago’s reputation as a theater powerhouse.”

Goodman, the city’s largest nonprofit theater, was honored for its 100th anniversary while Marriott Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theatre and Steppenwolf Theatre Company were recognized for their 50th anniversaries.

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