Congratulations to the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alumni who won Joseph Jefferson Awards, Chicago’s top theatre award, at the 50th anniversary Non-Equity “Jeff Awards” ceremony on March 25, 2024. The awards honor excellence in Chicago’s non-Equity theatre during the 2023 theatre season, which ran from January 1 to December 31, 2023. The list of this year’s winners includes:
Jon Parker Jackson
Columbia College alum Jon Parker Jackson ’18, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BFA Program in Musical Theatre, won in the category of Performer in a Supporting Role – Musical for his performance as Samuel Byck in Assassins at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.
Kris Tori
Columbia College alum Kris Tori ’14, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Acting program with a Minor in Latino and Latin American Studies, won in the category of Short Run Production – Performer for her performance in Water People Theatre’s North & Sur.
Shannon O’Neill
Columbia College alum Shannon O’Neill ’07, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Acting, won in the category of New Work for her play The Kelly Girls, which was presented by the Factory Theatre, where O’Neill is co-artistic director.
John Hildreth
Former Columbia College Theatre Department faculty member John Hildreth also won in the category of New Work for his play Cat’s Cradle, which was presented by Lifeline Theatre, whose artistic director is Columbia College alum Ilesa Duncan ’99.
Aaron Reese Boseman
Also, the entire cast of Pulse Theatre Company Chicago‘s production of Once on This Island won in the category of Ensemble – Short Run Production. The show was directed by Columbia College alum and faculty member alum Aaron Reese Boseman ‘12, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Theatre Directing program, who is Pulse Theatre’s co-founder and artistic director.
Josh Pablo Szabo
Daryl Brooks (Photo: Joe Mazza/brave lux)
And the cast of Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre’s production of Assassins won in the category of Ensemble – Musical. In addition to Jon Parker Jackson, the cast included Columbia College alum Josh Pablo Szabo ’19, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BFA Program in Musical Theatre. The show was directed by Theatre Department faculty member Daryl Brooks, who is directing the Theatre Department’s upcoming mainstage production of Pippin.
Kaiser Ahmed
Boseman was also a presenter at the Jeff Awards ceremony, as was Columbia College alum Kaiser Ahmed ’08, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Theatre Directing program and co-founder and artistic director of Jackalope Theatre.
