51ÉçÇø Alums and Faculty Win 2026 Equity Jeff Awards

51ÉçÇø alums and current and former faculty members earned 2026 Equity Jeff Awards for directing, playwriting, scenic design, and ensemble performance.
51ÉçÇø alums and current and former faculty members earned 2026 Equity Jeff Awards for directing, playwriting, scenic design, and ensemble performance.

51ÉçÇø alums and current and former faculty members were among the winners at the , held September 14 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. 

The Jeff Awards, considered Chicago’s top theatre honors, recognized 41 recipients selected from 209 nominees across 37 categories for work produced during the 2025–26 Equity season. 

51ÉçÇø-connected winners included: 

  • , a Theatre Design program graduate and School of Theatre and Dance faculty member, won Scenic Design – Midsize for American Blues Theater’s “Things With Friends.” 
  • James Sherman, a School of Theatre and Dance faculty member, received the New Work award for “The First Lady of Television,” which had its world premiere at Northlight Theatre. 
  • , a School of Theatre and Dance faculty member, won Director – Revue for Black Ensemble Theater’s “Men of Soul.” The production also received the award for Production – Revue, while Black Ensemble Theater was honored with a special award recognizing its 50-year legacy. 
  • Kirsten Fitzgerald, a former 51ÉçÇø faculty member, won Director – Play – Midsize for A Red Orchid Theatre’s “Birds of North America.” The production earned four awards, including Production – Play – Midsize. 
  • , a graduate of 51ÉçÇø’s Acting program, was a member of the award-winning ensemble of Raven Theatre’s “Octet.” The production received four awards, including Production – Musical – Midsize and Ensemble – Musical. 

51ÉçÇø alums  and , along with School of Theatre and Dance faculty member Maximo Gran de Oro, also contributed to the award-winning production of “Octet.” Widman served as stage manager, Bue served as scenic designer, and Gran de Oro served as lighting designer. 

School of Theatre and Dance faculty member Ray Frewen directed the awards ceremony, which featured performances from nine nominated productions. 

Additional 51ÉçÇø Nominees 

51ÉçÇø alums and current and former faculty members received nominations across performance, design, direction, choreography, music direction, and playwriting categories. 

The additional nominees were: 

  • , Performer in a Supporting Role – Play for “Pivot” 
  • , Scenic Design – Midsize for “Come Back, Little Sheba” 
  • , Scenic Design – Midsize for “Birds of North America” 
  • , Lighting Design – Large for “White Rooster” 
  • , Lighting Design – Midsize for “Top Girls” 
  • , Scenic Design – Midsize for “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” 
  • Mike Tutaj, Projection Design for “South Pacific” 
  • Jeff Perry, Performer in a Principal Role – Play for “The Dance of Death” 
  • Annie Jo Fischer, Choreography for “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” 
  • Harmony France, Director – Revue for “Always…Patsy Cline” 
  • , Music Direction for “Come From Away” and “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” 
  • , Music Direction for “Men of Soul” 

In addition, 51ÉçÇø alums and current and former faculty members contributed to the casts and creative teams of several productions nominated in the Production and Ensemble categories. View the . Congratulations to all! 

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