Candide, Madness of George III score big at 2011 Equity Jeff Awards

2011EquityJeffAwards

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  Geoff Packard and Lauren Molina in Candide at the Goodman Theatre

  Photo: Liz Lauren292.theat.rev.candide.jpg911671
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  Harry Groener in The Madness of George III at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

  Photo: Liz Lauren322.th.th.rv.TheMadnessofGeorgeIII.jpg147375432
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  The Original Grease at American Theater Company

  Photo: Brett Beiner327.th.th.cap.TheOriginalGrease.jpg147819413
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  Nick Sandys and Annabel Armour in The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

  Photo: Johnny Knight321.th.th.cp.TheGoatorWhoIsSylviaNEW.jpg147254974
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  Lia D. Mortenson, Will Zahrn, Peggy Roeder and Phillip Earl Johnson in The Big Meal at American Theater Company

  Photo: Chris Plevin314.th.th.cp.TheBigMeal.jpg2499335
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  Michael Lehrer, Jessica Joy, Tim Baltz, Brendan Jennings, Aidy Bryant and Mary Sohn in Sky's the Limit (Weather Permitting) at Second City e.t.c.

  Photo: Michael Brosilowscetc_skys_the_limit_pr_001.jpg148635596
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  Porgy and Bess at Court Theatre

  Photo: Michael Brosilow330.th.th.cp.PorgyandBess.jpg148198077
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  Rod Thomas and Jessie Mueller in She Loves Me at Writers' Theatre

  Photo: Michael Brosilow292.theat.rev.shelovesme.jpg911808
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  Barbara Robertson in The Detective's Wife at Writers' Theatre

  Photo: Liz Lauren328.th.th.rv.TheDetectivesWife.jpg147965119
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  Jennifer Lim and James Waterston in Chinglish at the Goodman Theatre

  Photo: Eric Y. Exit335.th.th.pu.Chinglish.JPG1486650510
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  Rondi Reed and John Mahoney in The Outgoing Tide at Northlight Theatre

  Photo: Michael Brosilow331.th.th.cp.TheOutgoingTide.jpg1483115311
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  Joe Kinosian and Alan Schmuckler in Murder for Two at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

  Photo: Liz Lauren335.th.th.cp.MurderforTwo.JPG1486650912

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Geoff Packard and Lauren Molina in Candide at the Goodman Theatre

Photo: Liz Lauren

Mary Zimmerman's revision of Candide and Chicago Shakespeare Theater's revival of Alan Bennett's The Madness of George III were the biggest winners at tonight's presentation of the 43rd annual Equity Jeff Awards at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace. In addition to being named best large productions of a musical and play, respectively, the two shows tied for the most awards racked up overall, with seven each.

Edward Albee's The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? at Remy Bumppo and American Theater Company's restoration of The Original Grease earned best production honors in the midsize categories. The Jeffs for new work, which can be awarded to multiple recipients, went to David Henry Hwang for Chinglish and Bruce Graham's The Outgoing Tide on the play side; in the musical or revue category, new work honors were given to Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair for Murder for Two and to director Matt Hovde and the ensemble of Sky's the Limit (Weather Permitting) at Second City e.t.c.

The Jeff committee gave a special award to Hedy Weiss, the Chicago Sun-Times' theater and dance critic since 1984, for her years of service. Kathryn Lamkey, the retiring Central Regional Director of Actors' Equity Association, was also surprised with a tribute. Tomorrow we'll have a recap of highlights from tonight's ceremony [update: Oliver Sava reports on the evening]; after the jump, see the complete list of nominees and winners.

The nominees and winners of the 2011 Equity Jeff Awards (winners in bold):

PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE
Chinglish - Goodman Theatre
Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Heartbreak House - Writers’ Theatre
The Madness of George III - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
The Outgoing Tide - Northlight Theatre
The Seagull - Goodman Theatre
Travels with My Aunt - Writers’ Theatre

PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE
The Big Meal - American Theater Company
Frost/Nixon - TimeLine Theatre Company
Edward Albee's The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
The Importance of Being Earnest - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Scorched - Silk Road Theatre Project
To Master the Art - TimeLine Theatre Company

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – LARGE
42nd Street - Marriott Theatre
Candide - Goodman Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company
A Chorus Line - Marriott Theatre
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess - Court Theatre
Monty Python's Spamalot - Drury Lane Productions

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – MIDSIZE
The King and I - Porchlight Music Theatre
Merrily We Roll Along - The Music Theatre Company
The Original Grease - American Theater Company

PRODUCTION – REVUE
Shout! - Marriott Theatre
Sky's the Limit (Weather Permitting) - The Second City e.t.c.