Nominations are in for the 52nd anniversary Non-Equity Jeff Awards with Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre leading the way with 20 nominations in total, including 10 for “Diana the Musical.” Theo is closely followed by Kokandy Productions with 17 nominations, also with 10 for its own musical “Jekyll Hyde,” which ran late last year in the Chopin Theatre in Wicker Park. “Diana” and “Jekyll Hyde” tied for the most-recognized productions in the nominations announced Wednesday. Both companies are known for their off-Loop musicals and are longtime favorites of the all-volunteer Joseph Jefferson Awards committee. Invictus Theatre, recently in the news for postponing its next production amid internal conflicts, was the next most recognized company with 14 nominations, including nine for “Angels in America” at the Windy City Playhouse, making it the leading play. This year’s list includes shows by 26 Chicago-area non-union theater companies from the last year, running between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025. Nominations were spread among 147 theater artists across 26 categories. An awards ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. March 23 at the Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph St.) in Millennium Park; tickets ($62.30) go on sale Feb. 17 at www.jeffawards.org. Non-Equity Jeff Award nominees for 2026 PRODUCTION OF A PLAY “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre “Girls Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater “The Pilon” – Red Theater “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre “Jekyll Hyde” – Kokandy Productions “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Nicki Rossi as The Angel in "Part Two: Perestroika" from "Angels in America" by Invictus Theatre Company at the Windy City Playhouse. (Aaron Reese Boseman) ENSEMBLE OF A PLAY “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre “The Pilon” – Red Theater “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company “Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery” – Pegasus Theatre Chicago “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company ENSEMBLE OF A MUSICAL “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre “Jekyll Hyde” – Kokandy Productions “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre NEW WORK Zach Barr – “The Pilon” – Red Theater Susan H. Pak – “The F*** House” – Strawdog Theatre Company Omer Abbas Salem – “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater Lisa Sanaye Dring – “Kairos” – Red Theater Chase Wheaton-Werle – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – Factory Theater DIRECTOR OF A PLAY Charles Askenaizer – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Mikael Burke – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre Jessica Love – “The Pilon” – Red Theater Nadya Naumaan – “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater Robin Witt – “Girls Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company Quinn Simmons, David Moreland and cast in "Jekyll Hyde" by Kokandy Productions at the Chopin Theatre. (Evan Hanover) DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL Fred Anzevino and Brenda Didier – “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Danny Kapinos – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Derek Van Barham – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions Derek Van Barham – “Jekyll Hyde” – Kokandy Productions PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY Kirk Anderson (Hamm) – “Endgame” – Facility Theatre William Delforge (Gary) – “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” – Redtwist Theatre Terry Guest (Courtney / Anthony) – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre Ryan Hake (Prior Walter) – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Brookelyn Hébert (Hedda Gabler) – “Hedda Gabler” – Artistic Home Lenin Izquierdo (Angel Cruz) – “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” – City Lit Theater Company Olivia Lindsay (Steff) – “The F*** House” – Strawdog Theatre Company David Lovejoy (Galileo) – “Galileo” – Trap Door Theatre Seoyoung Park (Eliza) – “Tom Eliza” – TUTA Theatre Bradford Stevens (Lucius Jenkins) – “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” – City Lit Theater Company Scott Westerman (Arthur Pryszbyszewski) – “Superior Donuts”  – Artistic Home PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL Jesús Barajas (Pablo) – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre Evan Bradford (Giorgio Bachetti) – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company Brittney Brown (Fosca) – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company Teah Kiang Mirabelli (Charity Hope Valentine) – “Sweet Charity” – Blank Theatre Company David Moreland (Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde) – “Jekyll Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Kate McQuillan (Diana) – “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Luke Nowakowski (Bobby Strong) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Aurora Penepacker (Amélie Poulain) – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions Joshua Zambrano (Kid Prince) – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre Evan Bradford and Brittney Brown in "Passion" by Blank Theatre Co. at Greenhouse Theater Center. (Steve Townshend) SOLO PERFORMER Cynthia Marker (Woman) – “Girls Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company Dani Pike (Emma) – “Tell Me on a Sunday” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY Patrick Blashill (Clarence Seward / Thomas Edison) – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – Factory Theater Amber Dow (Paulina) – “The Winter’s Tale” – Invictus Theatre Caty Gordon (Lady Teazle) – “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company Michael D. Graham (Roy M. Cohn) – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Dakota Hughes (Liza Minnelli) – “Queen for a Day” – Hell in a Handbag Productions Delia Kropp (Rhonda) – “The Pilon” – Red Theater Cynthia Marker (Wendy Lee Evans) – “One Party Consent” – First Floor Theater Hanna Rhode (Janice) – “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” – Redtwist Theatre Paul Michael Thomson (Vickie / Hunter) – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre Anne Trodden (Harper Amaty Pitt) – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Todd Wojcik (Jorge Tessman) – “Hedda Gabler” – Artistic Home PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL Joe Giovannetti (Nino Quincampoix) – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions Jacqueline Grandt (Queen / Barbara) – “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Rachel Guth (Clara) – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company Ava Lane Stovall (Lucy Harris) – “Jekyll Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Emily McCormick (Emma Carew) – “Jekyll Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Amanda Rodriguez (Hope Cladwell) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Jack Saunders (Charles) – “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Ryan Stajmiger (Officer Lockstock) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Maya Tanaka Allwardt (Little Sally) – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Colette Todd (Camilla) – “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Shaina Toledo (Langhorne) – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre Company Paul Michael Thomson and Terry Guest in "At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen" by Story Theatre at Raven Theatre. (David Hagen) MUSIC DIRECTION T.J. Anderson and Anna Wegener – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions Carolyn Brady – “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Aaron Kaplan – “Passion” – Blank Theatre Company Aaron Kaplan – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Nick Sula – “Jekyll Hyde” – Kokandy Productions SCENIC DESIGN Kevin Hagan – “Hedda Gabler” – Artistic Home Tatiana Kahvegian – “Tom Eliza” – TUTA Theatre Sotirios Livaditis – “Girls Boys” – Griffin Theatre Company Ruby Lowe – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company Manuel Ortiz – “The Pilon” – Red Theater Kevin Rolfs – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Invictus Theatre COSTUME DESIGN Terrie Devine – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Invictus Theatre Patty Halajian – “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Victoria Jablonski – “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company Rachel Lambert – “Hedda Gabler” – Artistic Home Jennifer Mohr – “The Blood Countess” – Idle Muse Theatre Company Racquel Postigilione – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre CHOREOGRAPHY Kasey Alfonso – “Kid Prince and Pablo” – Lifeline Theatre Brenda Didier and Cameron Turner – “Diana the Musical” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Brenda Didier – “Jekyll Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Brenda Didier – “Urinetown” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Lauryn Schmelzer – “Sweet Charity” – Blank Theatre Company Cynthia Marker in "Girls Boys" by Griffin Theatre Company at Bramble Arts Loft. (Michael Brosilow) SOUND DESIGN Joe Griffin – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company Joe Griffin – “War of the Worlds” – Lifeline Theatre L.J. Luthringer – “The Blood Countess” – Idle Muse Theatre Company Matt Reich – “Jekyll Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Petter Wahlbäck – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre LIGHTING DESIGN Brenden Marble – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre G. Max Maxin IV – “Amélie” – Kokandy Productions G. Max Maxin IV – “Jekyll Hyde” – Kokandy Productions Keith Parham – “Tom Eliza” – TUTA Theatre Brandon Wardell – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre Levi J. Wilkins – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Invictus Theatre PROJECTION DESIGN DJ Douglass – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company G. Max Maxin IV – “Angels in America” – Invictus Theatre David Sajewich – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – Factory Theater ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION Jeremiah Barr (puppet design) – “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter” – City Lit Theater Company David Blixt (fight choreography) – “Superior Donuts” – Artistic Home Ayanna Bria Bakari (wig design) – “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” – The Story Theatre Victoria Jablonski (wig design) – “The School for Scandal” – Idle Muse Theatre Company Rachel Livingston (properties design) – “The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince” – Factory Theater Robin Manganaro (properties design) – “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” – Redtwist Theatre Chas Mathieu (properties design) – “The Pilon” – Red Theater Keith Ryan (wig design) – “The Real Housewives of the North Pole” – Hell in a Handbag Productions Petter Wahlbäck (original music) – “The Winter’s Tale” – Invictus Theatre Brian Parry and the cast of "Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter" by City Lit Theater and Black Button Eyes Productions. (Steve Graue) PRODUCTION OF A SHORT RUN “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre “The Drowning Girls” – Three Crows Theatre “Helena Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts DIRECTOR OF A SHORT RUN Daniel King – “The Drowning Girls” – Three Crows Theatre Tony Lawry – “Matt Ben” – Theatre Above the Law Stefan Roseen – “Helena Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. David G. Zak – “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts NEW WORK – SHORT RUN Dominick Alesia – “Helena Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. Greta Geiser – “The Pyg Hypothesis” – Theatre Above the Law PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – SHORT RUN Courtney Abbott (Sarah Bernhardt) – “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre Connar Brown Sprenger (Matt Ben) – “Matt Ben” – Theatre Above the Law Andrew Kain Miller (Terrence) – “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts Shannon McEldowney (Hermia) – “Helena Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. Cameron Raasdal-Munro (Junior) – “Gangsta Baby” – Open Space Arts Kendal Romero (Matt Ben) – “Matt Ben” – Theatre Above the Law PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – SHORT RUN Riley Capp (Justin) – “Mr. Parker” – Open Space Arts Abby Denault (Maureen) – “Rent” – Suring Films Theatrics Stephen Loch (Constant Coquelin) – “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre Josh Odor (Senior) – “Gangsta Baby” – Open Space Arts Ian Rigg (Nick Bottom) – “Helena Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. Sarah Wisterman (Professor Pickering) – “The Pyg Hypothesis” – Theatre Above the Law DESIGN OF A SHORT RUN Elizabeth Niemczyk (costume design) – “Bernhardt/Hamlet” – Edge of the Wood Theatre Toria Olivier (costume design) – “Helena Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey” – The Impostors Theatre Co. Jae Robinson (sound design) – “Pussy Sludge” – Facility Theatre [email protected]  ...read more read less