Columbia College Chicago Theatre, Communication, Music, and Cinema/TV Arts Dept. Alumni and Faculty Nominated for 2019 Joseph Jefferson Awards

Kudos to the alumni, faculty, and current and former students of the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department, the Columbia College Chicago Communication Department, the Columbia College Chicago Music Department, and the Columbia College Chicago Cinema and Television Arts Department who have been nominated for 2019 Joseph Jefferson Awards, Chicago’s top theatre award. The Non-Equity “Jeff Awards” honor excellence in Chicago’s non-Equity theatre. The list of this year’s Non-Equity “Jeff Award” nominees, announced April 22, included nominations for alumni and faculty from Columbia College Chicago in the areas of performance, direction, design, playwriting and writing for performance, musical direction, and stage combat and intimacy design — including:
Performer in a Principal Role — Play:

Joel Reitsma in “Birdland”

Columbia College alum Joel Reitsma ’08, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Acting program, for his performance in Birdland (Steep Theatre);

Kendra Thulin

Columbia College Theatre Department faculty member Kendra Thulin for her performance in Linda (Steep Theatre);

Kenneth D. Johnson

Columbia College alum Kenneth D. Johnson ’90 for his performance in Between Riverside and Crazy (Redtwist Theatre);

Marssie Mencotti

Columbia College Communication Department faculty member Marssie Mencotti for her performance in The Safe House (City Lit Theater Company).

Performer in a Supporting Role — Play:
Columbia College Communication Department faculty member Marssie Mencotti (again) for her performance in Herland (Redtwist Theatre).
Performer in a Supporting Role–Musical:

Former Columbia College Theatre Department Darilyn Burtley for her performance in The Last Session (Refuge Theatre Project).

Director–Play:

Ilesa Duncan

Columbia College alum Ilesa Duncan ’99, for her direction of Eclipsed (Pegasus Theatre Chicago);

John Mossman

Cinema and Television Arts Department faculty member John Mossman, for his direction of Requiem for a Heavyweight (The Artistic Home).

Scenic Design:

Jacqueline Penrod

Theatre Department faculty member Jacqueline Penrod, for Eclipsed (Pegasus Theatre Chicago).

Lighting Design:
Claire Chrzan

Claire Chrzan

Columbia College alum Claire Chrzan ’11, a graduate of Columbia’s Theatre Design program, nominated twice, for Fun Harmless Warmachine (The New Colony) and Yen (Raven Theatre).

Projection Design:

Paul Deziel (Photo: Alexandra Kelly Colburn)

Columbia College alum Paul Deziel ’14, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Technical Theatre program, for his design for Tilikum (Sideshow Theatre Company).

New Play:

Shannon O’Neill

Columbia College alum Shannon O’Neill ’07, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Acting, for May the Road Rise Up (Factory Theatre);

Kristiana Rae Colón

Columbia College Theatre Department resident playwright Kristiana Rae Colón, for Tilikum (Sideshow Theatre Company)

Music Direction:

Jermaine Hill

Theatre Department faculty member Jermaine Hill, for The Total Bent (Haven Theatre)

Fight Choreography:

Almanya Narula

Columbia College alum Almanya Narula ’12a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Acting, for Monsieur D’Eon Is a Woman (Trap Door Theatre);

Cinema and Television Arts Department faculty member John Mossman, Requiem for a Heavyweight (The Artistic Home).
Sound Design:

Peter Wahlback

Columbia College Music Department alum and faculty member Petter Wahlbäck ’00, MFA ’08, a graduate of the Music Department’s BA Program in Music Composition and MFA Program in Music Composition for the Screen, for Requiem for a Heavyweight (The Artistic Home).

Artistic Specialization:

Sam Hubbard (Photo : Ian McLaren)

Columbia College alum Sam Hubbard ’12, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Acting program, for his Violence and Intimacy Direction for Yen (Raven Theatre);

 

Rachel Flesher

Columbia College Theatre Department faculty member Rachel Flesher, for her Rigging Design for The Displaced (Haven Theatre Company).

 

Ensemble:

The Jeff Awards Committee also nominated six productions in the category of Ensemble. The nominated ensembles include the following Columbia College alumni and students:

Emilie Modaff

In the Blood (Red Tape Theatre): Columbia College alum Emilie Modaff ’14, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Acting BA program;

RjW Mays

Alison Dornheggen

Plainclothes (Broken Nose Theatre): Columbia College alums RjW Mays ’06 and Alison Dornheggen ’01, both graduates of the Acting BA program;

Joel Reitsma

Red Rex (Steep Theatre): Theatre Department Acting program alum Joel Reitsma ’08; and

Kelan Smith

Haymarket (Underscore Theatre Company): Kelan Smith, a junior in the Theatre Department’s BFA Program in Musical Theatre Performance.

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The 46th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, June 3, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. For more information, click here.
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