Winners of the 2025 Equity Jeff Awards include Court, Shattered Globe and Writers Theatre’s big ‘Comet’

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

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

SOLO PERFORMANCE: Jean Claudio – “Memorabilia” – Teatro Vista

PERFORMER IN A REVUE: Bri Sudia – “Always… Patsy Cline” – Drury Lane Productions

PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY:

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:

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.