Congratulations to the alumni and faculty of the Columbia College Chicago School of Theatre and Dance who received 2026 Joseph Jefferson Awards, Chicago’s top theatre award. The Equity “Jeff Awards” honor excellence in Chicago’s Equity theatre during the 2025-2026 theatre season (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). The individual winners include these Columbia College alumni and faculty:
Grant Sabin ’05, a graduate of the Theatre Program’s Theatre Design Program and also a faculty member in the Theatre program, in the category of Scenic Design – Midsize for his work on American Blues Theatre’s Things With Friends;
School of Theatre and Dance faculty member James Sherman, in the category of New Work (The Libby Adler Mages Award) for his play The First Lady of Television, which received its world premiere at Northlight Theatre;
School of Theatre and Dance faculty member Daryl D. Brooks, in the category of Director – Revue for Black Ensemble Theatre’s Men of Soul, which also received the award for Production – Revue;
former Theatre Program faculty member Kirsten Fitzgerald, in the category of Director – Play – Midsize for A Red Orchid Theatre’s Birds of North America, which also won a Jeff Award in the category of Production – Play – Midsize.
Congratulations also to Columbia College Chicago Theatre alums Teressa LaGamba ’13, a graduate of the Theatre Program’s BA Program in Acting; JC Widman ’14, a graduate of the Theatre Program’s Technical Theatre program; and Milo Bue ’16, a graduate of the Theatre Program’s BA Program in Theatre Design, and to School of Theatre and Dance faculty member Maximo Gran de Oro. They were in the cast and creative team of Raven Theatre’s Octet, which received Jeff Awards in the categories of Production – Musical – Midsize and Ensemble – Musical or Revue. LaGamba was a cast member, Bue was the scenic designer, Widman was the stage manager, and Gran De Oro was the lighting designer.
The 58th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity Theatre ceremony was held Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago. The evening was directed by Columbia College School of Theatre and Dance faculty member Ray Frewen. Congratulations to all!
