A stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Hard Times at Lookingglass Theatre was the big winner in this year’s Joseph Jefferson Awards, given to award achievement in the Chicago theatre community. Hard Times won in five categories, including production of a play, director of a play, new adaptation, choreography, and lighting design; the latter was designed by Brian Sidney Bembridge. Other designer winners included Linda Buchanan, for the scenic design of House at the Goodman Theatre, Nancy Missimi for the costume design of The King and I at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, and Mike Frank and Andre Pluess for the sound design of Macbett, produced by Division 13 Productions and greasy joan and company.
There were other multiple winners as well. The King and I was cited for production of musical, principal actress in a musical, and costumes. Big, the Musical, produced by Drury Lane Oakbrook, win for director of a musical and principal actor in a musical. The new musical The Ballad of Little Jo, produced by Steppenwolf Theatre, won for new work and musical direction.
The awards were handed out November 5th, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, Il.
A complete list of winners follows: Production of a play: Hard Times, by Lookingglass Theatre with the Actors Gymnasium.
Production of a musical: The King and I at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire
Director of a play: Heidi Stillman for Hard Times.
Director of a musical: Gary Griffin for Big, the Musical, Drury Lane Oakbrook.
Director of a revue: Marc Robin, And the World Goes 'Round,Drury Lane Theatre, Evergreen Park.
New work: Ann Noble, The Pagans, Seanachai Theatre, and Mike Reid and Sarah Schlesinger, The Ballad of Little Jo, Steppenwolf Theatre.
New adaptation: Heidi Stillman, Hard Times.
Principal actress in a play: Carmen Roman, Wit, Goodman Theatre.
Principal actor in a play: Greg Vinkler, King Lear, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.
Principal actress in a musical: Mary Ernster, The King and I.
Principal actor in a musical: Rod Thomas, Big, the Musical
Supporting actress in a play: Laura T. Fisher, Early and Often, Famous Door Theatre.
Supporting actor in a play: David Darlow, Endgame, American Theater Company.
Supporting actress in a musical: Alene Robertson, Mame, Marriott.
Supporting actor in a musical: Gordon McClure, Being Beautiful, Chicago Theatre Company.
Ensemble: The Incident, Next Theatre.
Actress in a revue: E. Faye Butler, Could It Be Magic, Mercury Theatre.
Actor in a revue: Mark Townsend, The Nat King Cole Story, Black Ensemble Theatre.
Choreography: Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, Hard Times."
Scenic design: Linda Buchanan, House, Goodman.
Costume design: Nancy Missimi, The King and I.
Lighting design: Brian Sidney Bembridge, "Hard Times.
Sound design: Mike Frank and Andre Pluess, Macbett, Division 13 Productions and greasy joan & company.
Original music: Alaric Jans, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.
Musical direction: Patrick Vaccariello, The Ballad of Little Jo.
Non-resident production: The Bomb-Itty of Errors.
Principal actress, non-resident: Marilu Henner in Annie Get Your Gun.
Principal actor, non-resident: Nick Garrison in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Special awards to Irv and Essee Kupcinet and Artbeat Chicago (WTTW-Ch.11)
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