Court Theatre receives 12 Jeff Award nominations

Court Theatre has received 12 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, including nominations for direction and musical production for its hugely successful production of Porgy and Bess.

The Jeff Awards, which often are described as the Chicago equivalent of the Tony Awards, were established in 1968 to honor outstanding Chicago theater artists. The 43rd annual Jeff Award nominations for Chicago equity productions were announced Wed., Aug. 31. The awards will be presented Mon., Nov. 7.

“What makes these 12 Jeff nominations particularly exciting is that all five productions from the season—The Comedy of Errors, Home, Three Tall Women, Orlando, and Porgy and Bess—were recognized,” said Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell. “The nominations also span a wide range of categories from directing and design to acting and adaptation.  It’s exciting to see Court, and by extension the University of Chicago, acknowledged by such a prestigious body.”

Below is a list of Court’s 2010 Jeff Award nominations:

Musical Production—Porgy and Bess

Director—Charles Newell, Porgy and Bess

Actress in a Principal Role (Play)—Lois Markle (A), Three Tall Women

Actor in a Supporting Role (Musical)—Sean Blake (Sporting Life), Porgy and Bess

Actress in a Supporting Role (Play)—Tracey N. Bonner (Woman 2), Home

Actress in a Supporting Role (Play)—Mary Beth Fisher (B), Three Tall Women

Actress in a Supporting Role (Musical)—Bethany Thomas (Serena), Porgy and Bess

New Adaptation—Sean Graney, The Comedy of Errors

Music Direction—Doug Peck, Porgy and Bess

Lighting Design—Jaymi Lee Smith, Orlando

Costume Design—Jacqueline Firkins, The Comedy of Errors

Sound Design—Andre Pluess, Orlando