2017 JEFF AWARDS - A LETTER FROM RON KEATON
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” – Voltaire
Our Conversation this week comes in the form of a letter from Ron Keaton. Ron agreed to step in when business called me out of town. It was a chance for Ron to give his unique point of view on a big night of recognition for Chicago's professional theatre community and share comments from award recipients in many of the categories. Congratulations to all of the truly exceptional performers and productions honored at the 2017 Equity Jeff Awards ceremony on November 6th at Drury Lane. And, thanks for your memories of the night, Ron! Ed
“To get the full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with. – Mark Twain
Hello Ed,
As you know, when you asked me to fill in and report on the 2017 Jeff Awards while you were out of town, I said “Sure. Happy to do it.” I attended in a totally different role. For the moment, I was a unique part of the Fourth Estate. An observer who helps to sum up this particular occasion for those who peek in from the outside, while, at the same time, providing a bit of insider’s perspective.
Suddenly I was struck with a bit of fear. Me? ME? Who in the world would care what I had to say? I went straight to that place that worries about what others had to say about what I had to say. It took a little time to remind myself that it was never about me, but about others in the room, and what they share – what we all share – in the theatre.
The night was filled with terrific performances from the nominated shows. I began to realize that all the talent, all the work, the commitment, ALL of it comes from a place of cathartic love and joy. This year’s Jeff Awards had its share of emotional release and connection, leaving folks pretty high.
So, Ed, in addition to listing the recipients, allow me to highlight, in as much of their own words as possible, what I mean.
Here we go:
2017 EQUITY JEFF AWARDS PHOTO GALLERY|BILL RICHERT
I truly enjoyed Anish Jethmalani and Mierka Gierken who were both constant, charming hosts throughout the entire evening.
NEW PLAY
Michael Cristofer - “Man in the Ring” – Court Theatre
Lauren Gunderson/Margot Melcon – “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” – Northlight Theatre
Antoinette Nwandu - “Pass Over” – Steppenwolf Theatre
ORIGINAL MUSIC
Orbert Davis – “Paradise Blue” – Timeline Theatre Company
“I was hoping someone else would speak first, so I’d know what to do! ... I’m totally out of my league here. … This is such an incredible experience.”
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Marton Csokas – “Uncle Vanya” – Goodman Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Kymberly Mellen – “The Columnist” – American Blues Theater
“First person I need to thank is my husband; we’ll be married 22 years this month! ... There is no way I could do anything I do without that man!”
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
E. Faye Butler – “Chicago The Musical” – Drury Lane Productions
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Jonathan Butler Duplessis – “Parade” – Writers Theatre
Oh, Ed…I have to stop here and tell you, it was like a churning machine of infectious joy. Jonathan couldn’t stop, and people didn’t want him to stop.
He kept jumping up and down:
“NONE of this was supposed to happen! None of it! ... I wanna thank so many people right now … I wanna thank my beautiful girlfriend right over there! I wanna thank my grandmother, who we had to take two weeks to get her here tonight!”
And he certainly thanked all the right people profusely. But then, and I’ve never seen anything like it, I had a special vantage point, sitting right behind Kathleen, his girlfriend, and his grandmother. When Jonathan returned to his seat, he gave the award to his grandmother. He got down on his knees. He laid his head down in her lap. And cried. Probably five minutes, the young man cried with joy, his grandmother’s arms all around him. I was almost embarrassed at witnessing this family exchange. But what a privilege I had, watching this utter, absolute joy.
SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE/MIDSIZE
Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” – Paramount Theatre (LARGE)
Joe Schermoly – “Naperville” – Theater Wit (MIDSIZE)
LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE/MIDSIZE
Nick Belley/Jesse Klug – “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” – Paramount Theatre (LARGE)
Cat Davis – “The River Bride” – Halcyon Theatre (MIDSIZE)
COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE/MIDSIZE
Theresa Ham – “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” – Paramount Theatre (LARGE)
Kristy Leigh Hall – “Pygmalion” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company (MIDSIZE)
SOUND DESIGN – LARGE/MIDSIZE
Andre Pluess – “Man in the Ring” – Court Theatre (LARGE)
Grover Hollway – “The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz” – The House Theatre Of Chicago (MIDSIZE)
PROJECTIONS DESIGN
Mike Tutaj – “Objects in the Mirror” – Goodman Theatre
PUPPET DESIGN
Jesse Mooney-Bullock – “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” – Paramount Theatre
SPECIAL JEFF AWARD – Steve Scott
A Special Jeff Award was presented on the occasion of Scott’s retirement after 37 years at the Goodman Theatre, a person we need among us at all times and one I hope to be when I grow up – a teacher who never stops learning. The award was presented by David Liesse, the Jeff Committee chair, and by Roche Schulfer and Robert Falls of the Goodman Theatre.
Steve Scott: “We do work that is difficult and truthful and honest – and for the respect that we all deserve as artists and as citizens.” …“We can never assume viciousness in our world today, when the problem is actually ignorance.” … “We must never forget that, though our rehearsal rooms are safe spaces, our theatres by their very definition, are not … and that the most potent weapon we have in dealing with those who don’t agree with us is empathy – our ability to understand what ties us together as human beings.”
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Linda Reiter – “Rose” – The Greenhouse Theater Center in association with Forum Productions
After a joyful “whoop!” and following Steve Scott, who directed this production: “Well, I was trying to get this under a minute, but, apparently, we have a really long time now. Yay!”
ENSEMBLE (Sponsored by Actor’s Equity Association)
“East Texas Hot Links” – Writers Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
Matthew Crowle – “Crazy for You” – Drury Lane Productions
“My Mom and Dad are here tonight … You never missed a dance recital. And you never missed an opening night. And the older I get, the more I realize how rare that is … and how profoundly fortunate I am.”
MUSIC DIRECTION
Tom Vendafreddo – “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” – Paramount Theatre
DIRECTOR – PLAY (The Michael Maggio Award)
Ron OJ Parson – “Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Court Theatre
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL OR REVUE
Jim Corti – “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” – Paramount Theatre
ACTOR IN A REVUE
Austin Cook – “Marry Me A Little” – Porchlight Music Theatre
ACTRESS IN A REVUE
Michelle Lauto – “Spamilton” – Royal George Theatre
“So many times, in theatre, women are resigned to playing shallow archetypes and don’t get to show off their most bold, dynamic, fun selves. I played thirteen characters in 80 minutes, and I spent most of that time making ugly faces and doing funny voices; there was no love story and I never did a ballad about whether I was missing something. It was just bliss!”
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Angela Ingersoll – “End of the Rainbow” – Porchlight Music Theatre
“I made a wish on a Christmas star two years ago; that was the little voice in my head that I couldn’t stop hearing. I believe that is God’s will and believe in that, because then the dreams you dream really do come true!”
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Alex Weisman – “Hand to God” – Victory Gardens Theater
“…this play is about an absent father and a silent mother, and I have a very present father and a very loud mother! ... and the greatest thrill of my life is getting to take you to my Broadway debut!”
ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Paul Jordan-Jansen – “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” – Paramount Theatre*
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICALKathy Voytko – “The Bridges of Madison County” – Marriott Theatre
“Wow! ... Thank you, Jeff Committee … I got my Equity card here in Chicago in 1996, and for me, Chicago is home. Alex Weisman, Broadway is great, but Chicago is home!”
PRODUCTION – REVUE
“Smokey Joe’s Café” – Drury Lane Productions
Artistic Director William Osetek: “…most especially we want to thank Marcia Milgrom Dodge (the director of the production) … Marcia took a review and created character and relationship and story without adding a word of dialogue or changing anything … I know my work will be forever better by having worked with Marcia.”
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL (LARGE) – The Dr. Harlan Haimes Award
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (Large) – Paramount Theatre
Artistic Director Jim Corti: “Lord knows our world is going through hell right now. If only we could show more love out there, like the love in this room.”
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL (MIDSIZE)
“The Scottsboro Boys” (Midsize) – Porchlight Music Theatre
Assistant Director Wardell Julius Clark: “I’m standing here on behalf of Samuel G. Roberson, Jr. (the 34 year-old director of the production who passed away this past May after a 25-year battle with leukemia)…This was a labor of love from Sam; he was insistent on being a social justice activist and telling our stories our way, unapologetically.”
PRODUCTION – PLAY (LARGE/MIDSIZE)
“Blues for an Alabama Sky” – Court Theatre (LARGE)
Artistic Director Charles Newell: “…Ron OJ Parson helped us change the way we look at classics. It changed our audience…and it garnered your respect. Thank you all!”
“Born Yesterday” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company (MIDSIZE)
Artistic Director Nick Sandys: “We chose this play in 2015, because we thought it might have relevance in November 2016 … it had a HUGE amount of relevance!”
RONALD KEATON won a 2015 Jeff Award for CHURCHILL in the Solo Performance category. He will be appearing in the Mercury Theatre production of THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER November 24-December 31. More at: www.solochicagotheatre.com
Ed, I wonder often if people really understand how the arts affect their lives. When you’re smack in the middle of it, it becomes more than a job. It’s a calling, one that addresses every aspect of life right down to that first cup of coffee in the morning. I have tried to share a bit of that here with you and with my fellow artists. I can’t remember who said it, but the saying goes:
“The truly committed artist goes to where the work is, where the people are … and simply goes to work.”
Cheers!
Ron
Comments have been edited for length and clarity. Images courtesy of Jeff Awards/Bill Richert Photography.
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For more information about the Jeff Awards, including a complete list of nominees and recipients, visit the website at: JEFF AWARDS
You can listen to CONVERSATIONS with Steve Scott, Angela Ingersoll, Matt Crowle, E. Faye Butler and more in our Archive at Conversations with Ed Tracy. Check out PicksinSix.
