Nominations are in for the 2023-24 Equity Jeff Awards, with the Goodman Theatre scoring the most nominations with 20. Mercury Theater Chicago, the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Chicago Shakespeare and Drury Lane Productions also had very good years. Nominees for the annual awards for Chicago’s union-affiliated Equity theaters were announced Tuesday morning by the all-volunteer Jeff committee.
The Steppenwolf Theatre, meanwhile, saw two of its hit spring productions nominated for best production: Samuel D. Hunter’s “Little Bear Ridge Road” and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ “Purpose,” which likely is headed to Broadway next season. Mercury Theater dominated the “midsize” category of musicals with its productions of “Jersey Boys,” “Rock of Ages” and “Young Frankenstein.
” And Susan V. Booth, the new Goodman artistic director, scored a nod for her production of of “The Penelopiad.” Famous names on the list include Sufjan Stevens and Justin Peck, both nominated for “Illinoise,” Joe Mantello, nominated for directing “Little Bear Ridge Road,” Phylicia Rashad, nominated for directing “Purpose” at Steppenwolf, Jason Alexander, nominated for his work in “Judgment Day” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Hershey Felder for “Hershey Felder as Monsieur Chopin” at Writers Theatre, and Laurie Metcalf, the star of “Little Bear Ridge Road.
” The most nominated productions in the past year were “Turret” by A Red Orchid Theatre, tied with �.