Non- Equity Jeffs go genderless

Nominations— no longer split between men, women — released; Griffin Theatre leadsway with 14 nods

The Non- Equity Jeff Awards will no longer divide nominations in its performance categories along gender lines, it was announced Monday, along with the official list of 2018 nominees. The performance categories will now include at least 10 nominations and two winners in each category.

Leading the field among the 115 nominations for the 45th annual recognition of shows presented between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2018, are Griffin Theatre with 14 nods overall, fueled by its critically acclaimed production of “Ragtime,” followed by Pride Films and Plays and Steep Theatre Company with 11 nominations apiece.

Among individual nominations, Scott Weinstein received best director nominations for his work on “Ragtime” and “Violet” at Griffin Theatre Company. Jesse Case received nominations for original music in a play and sound design for his work on “Fox finder” at Interrobang Theatre Project.

In the category of best production of a musical, nominees include “Bonnie & Clyde” ( Kokandy Productions), “Marie Christine” ( BoHo Theatre), “Ragtime” ( Griffin Theatre Company), “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” ( Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre) and “Violet” ( Griffin Theatre Company).

Nominations for best production of a play include: “Fox finder” ( Interrobang Theatre Project), “Ideation” ( Jackalope Theatre Company), “Lela & Co.” ( Steep Theatre Company), “The Invisible Hand” ( Steep Theatre Company) and “The Light” ( The New Colony).

Best new musical nominations went to: “Carrie 2: The Rage ( An Unauthorized Musical Parody)” at Underscore Theatre Company; “Lady X: The Musical” at Hell in a Handbag Productions; and “The Civility of Albert Cashier” at Permoveo Productions in association with Pride Films and Plays.

Nominees for best new play include: “Never the Milk and Honey” at MPAACT; “1980 ( Or Why I’m Voting for John Anderson)” at Jackalope Theatre Company; “Kingdom” at Broken Nose Theatre; “Forty- Two Stories” as City Lit Theater Company; “Franklinland” at Jackalope Theatre Company; and “The Light” at The New Colony.

The awards will be presented June 11 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport. For tickets, $ 45-$ 50, visit

athenaeumtheatre. org. The complete list of nominees is online at suntimes. com/ entertainment.

GREG GILMAN MICHAEL BROSILOW The Griffin Theatre Company received 14 Non- Equity Jeff Awards nominations, fueled by its acclaimed production of “Ragtime” ( pictured). The Steep Theatre production of “Lela & Co.” is nominated for best play. Steep received a total of 11 Non- Equity...