Court Theatre Earns Four ‘Jeffs’ for ‘Caroline, or Change’

The University's Court Theatre had a big night at the Jeff Equity Awards, the Chicago equivalent of New York's Tony awards.

The Theatre's smash-hit production of Tony Kushner's musical "Caroline, or Change" took home four awards at the 41st annual Joseph Jefferson awards ceremony on Monday, Oct. 19 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.

In addition to winning the coveted award for Best Musical, the play also earned individual honors for Artistic Director Charles Newell (Best Director - Musical), E. Faye Butler, (Best Actress - Musical) and Doug Peck (Music Direction).

"The artistic success of 'Caroline, or Change' helped to bring thousands of people to the University of Chicago campus, many of whom were first-time visitors. Through" Caroline", new audiences were not only exposed to the work we do at Court, but to the incredible range of artistic experience available on the U of C campus," said Artistic Director Charles Newell of Court's top honors. "I'm thrilled that the Jeff Awards committee chose to recognize the show. It's an award that belongs to the entire University of Chicago community."

Kushner's Tony Award-nominated play set in Lake Charles, La. during the peak of the racially turbulent 1960s centers on the relationship between Caroline, an African American maid, and Noah, a young Jewish boy. The play features a complex and soaring score by composer and lyricist Jeanine Tesori that combines spirituals, blues, Motown, and Jewish Klezmer music.

Court's production opened to widespread critical acclaim. Chief theater critic Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune praised the play as "Charles Newell's emotionally unstinting and thoroughly gripping four-star production."

Albert Williams of the Chicago Reader praised E. Faye Butler for bringing "volcanic power" and "impeccable musicianship" to her performance as Caroline. Time Out Chicago wrote the "graceful production blows a hole through the heart." and gave Newell's production the publication's first-ever five-star rating.

Following an extended seven-week run in fall 2008, "Caroline" is the one of the best selling productions in Court's 55-year history. On several nights, standing- room-only crowds delayed the curtain opening by several minutes.

Next spring, "Caroline, or Change" playwright Kushner, winner of a Pulitzer Prize for his drama "Angels in America", will visit campus as part of the University of Chicago's ArtsSpeaks program. Kushner has translated and adapted Pierre Corneille's The Illusion, which will be performed at the Court Theatre from March 11, 2010 to April 11, 2010. In addition Deputy Provost for the Arts Larry Norman has invited Charles Newell to co-teach a class with him. The focus of the class will be Pierre Corneille. It will feature a tremendous amount of interaction between artists and the students that participate in the class.

Tony Kushner, who worked closely with Artistic Director Charles Newell on "Caroline, or Change", will also participate in a public conversation with Newell as part of his ArtSpeaks visit.

For more information on upcoming productions at Court, please visit courttheatre.org.