The Writers Theatre production of “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” was the most feted production at the 2025 Jeff Awards, winning five awards, including for best large musical, musical ensemble, best director for Katie Spelman, best lighting design for Yael Lubetzky, and costume design for Raquel Adorno.
The 57th anniversary Equity Jeff Awards were presented in a ceremony on Monday at the Harris Theater, recognizing the work of the Chicago area’s union-affiliated Equity theaters. The theater companies that took home the most wins overall this year were Court Theatre, whose production of “Berlin” won for best large production of a play, and Shattered Globe Theatre, honored for its stellar revival of the play “Lobby Hero,” the winner for best midsized production of a play.
Best directing honors went to Spelman, Charles Newell (“Berlin”), Mikael Burke (“A Tale of Two Cities” at Shattered Globe) and Nate Santana (“Lobby Hero”). Scott Weinstein won for directing the revue “Always… Patsy Cline” at Drury Lane.
Jeffs for best performances across various categories went to Elliot Esquivel (“Lobby Hero”), Atra Asdou (“Iraq, But Funny” at Lookingglass Theatre), Brittney Mack (“The Color Purple” at Goodman Theatre), Stephen Schellhardt (“Falsettos” by Court and TimeLine Theatres), and Bri Sudia (“Always … Patsy Cline”). Several Chicago theaters celebrating their 50th or 100th anniversaries were given special awards.
The annual ceremony took place at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park for the first time, a return to the city for the celebration. The all-volunteer Jeffs Committee recognized 44 award recipients selected from among 214 nominees across 32 categories, from 40 theaters and producing entities.
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.
cjones5@chicagotribune.com
2025 Equity Jeff Award winners
PRODUCTION OF A PLAY – LARGE: “Berlin” – Court Theatre
PRODUCTION OF A PLAY – MIDSIZE: “Lobby Hero” – Shattered Globe Theatre
PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL – LARGE: “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
PRODUCTION OF A REVUE: “Always … Patsy Cline” – Drury Lane Productions
ENSEMBLE OF A PLAY: “Berlin” – Court Theatre
ENSEMBLE OF A MUSICAL: “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
Raven Whitley, Tim Decker, Elizabeth Laidlaw and Guy Van Swearingen in “Berlin” at Court Theatre. (Michael Brosilow)
NEW WORK
Atra Asdou – “Iraq, But Funny” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Mickle Maher – “Berlin” – Court Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A PLAY – LARGE: Charles Newell – “Berlin” – Court Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A PLAY – MIDSIZE:
Mikael Burke – “A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Nate Santana – “Lobby Hero” – Shattered Globe Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL – LARGE: Katie Spelman – “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
DIRECTOR OF A REVUE: Scott Weinstein – “Always… Patsy Cline” – Drury Lane Productions
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY:
Atra Asdou – “Iraq, But Funny” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Elliot Esquivel – “Lobby Hero” – Shattered Globe Theatre
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Brittney Mack – “The Color Purple” – Goodman Theatre
Stephen Schellhardt – “Falsettos” – Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company
SOLO PERFORMANCE: Jean Claudio – “Memorabilia” – Teatro Vista
Bri Sudia and Aja Alcazar in “Always … Patsy Cline” at Drury Lane Theatre. (Justin Barbin Photography)
PERFORMER IN A REVUE: Bri Sudia – “Always… Patsy Cline” – Drury Lane Productions
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY:
Rae Gray – “Prayer for the French Republic” – Northlight Theatre and Theater Wit
AnJi White – “East Texas Hot Links” – Court Theatre
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL:
Sarah Bockel – “Falsettos” – Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company
Sawyer Smith – “The Little Mermaid” – Drury Lane Productions
CHOREOGRAPHY: Kasey Alfonso – “Cats” – Paramount Theatre
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY: Christopher Kriz – “A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
MUSIC DIRECTION: Ryan T. Nelson – “Titanic The Musical” – Marriott Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE:
Jeffrey D. Kmiec – “Million Dollar Quartet” – Paramount Theatre
Christopher Oram – “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” – Goodman Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN – MIDSIZE: Lauren M. Nichols – “Memorabilia” – Teatro Vista
2025 Equity Jeff Awards: Paramount, Court and Goodman Theatres top the nominations
COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE: Raquel Adorno – “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN – MIDSIZE: Kotryna Hilko – “A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
SOUND DESIGN – LARGE: Michael Daly – “Titanic The Musical” – Marriott Theatre
SOUND DESIGN – MIDSIZE: Satya Chávez – “Memorabilia” – Teatro Vista
LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE: Yael Lubetzky – “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” – Writers Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN – MIDSIZE: Eric Watkins – “A Tale of Two Cities” – Shattered Globe Theatre
PROJECTION DESIGN
Anthony Churchill and Mike Tutaj – “The Da Vinci Code” – Drury Lane Productions
Michael Salvatore Commendatore – “Iraq, But Funny” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Chicago Puppet Studio, designers Caitlin McLeod and Zachary Sun – puppet design – “The Little Mermaid” – Drury Lane Productions
Katie Cordts – wig, hair, and makeup design – “Cats” – Paramount Theatre
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi – circus choreography – “Cats” – Paramount Theatre
SHORT RUN – DIRECTION: Charles Newell – “An Iliad” – Court Theatre
SHORT RUN – PERFORMER: Timothy Edward Kane (The Poet) – “An Iliad” – Court Theatre
IMPRESARIO AWARD FOR STAGE MANAGEMENT: Laura D. Glenn, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
The 57th Equity Special Awards were presented to five theaters celebrating anniversaries, including the Goodman Theatre for its 100th anniversary, and Marriott Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theatre and Steppenwolf Theatre Company for their 50th anniversaries.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/29/winners-of-the-2025-equity-jeff-awards/
