The Columbia College Chicago School of Theatre and Dance proudly congratulates the Columbia College Chicago Theatre alums who won 2025 Joseph Jefferson Awards, Chicago’s top theatre award, at the Non-Equity “Jeff Awards” ceremony on Monday, March 23, 2026. The Non-Equity “Jeff Awards” honor excellence in Chicago’s non-Equity theatre during the 2025 theatre season, which ran from January 1 to December 31, 2025. The winners include these Columbia College Theatre alums:

Ryan Hake

Ryan Hake ’14, a graduate of the Theatre Program’s BA Program in Acting, honored in the category of Performer in a Principal Role – Play for his performance as Prior Walter in Invictus Theatre’s acclaimed production of Tony Kushner‘s landmark drama Angels in America.

Anne Trodden ’09, a graduate of the Theatre Program’s BA Program in Acting, honored in the category of Performer in a Supporting Role – Play for her performance as Harper Pitt in Invictus Theatre’s Angels in America.

Kevin Rolfs ’17, a graduate of the Theatre Program’s BA Program in Theatre Design, honored in the category of Scenic Design for his design of Invictus Theatre Company’s The House That Will Not Stand.

In addition, Joe Griffin, a former student in the Columbia College Chicago Music Program, was honored in the category of Sound Design for City Lit Theatre’s Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter.

In addition to these individuals, Columbia College alumni were featured in two shows honored in the categories of Production and Ensemble: Invictus Theatre’s production of the play Angels in America and Kokandy Productions’ staging of the musical Jekyll & Hyde.

The 2025 Jeff Awards for Non-Equity Theatre were presented Monday, March 23, 2026, in a ceremony at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago directed by Columbia College Chicago Theatre alum Adrian Abel Azevedo ’15, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Theatre Directing program.