Joseph Jefferson Nominations Announced

The nominations for the 2026 Joseph Jefferson Awards have been announced. The awards honor achievement in Chicago's professional theatre community.

The design nominees are:

Scenic Design (Large)
Fly Davis, Paranormal Activity at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Kevin Depinet, Ashland Avenue at Goodman Theatre
Jeffrey D. Kmiec, South Pacific at Paramount Theatre
Collette Pollard, The Dance of Death at Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Collette Pollard, Gaslight at Northlight Theatre
Walt Spangler, Holiday at Goodman Theatre

Scenic Design (Midsize)
Morgan Laszlo, Birds of North America at A Red Orchid Theatre
Lauren M. Nichols, Wish You Were Here at Remy Bumppo Theatre
Shayna Patel, Come Back, Little Sheba at American Blues Theater
Jacqueline and Richard Penrod, Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Grant Sabin, Things with Friends at American Blues Theater
Joe Schermoly, The Ally at Theater Wit

Sound Design (Large)
Eric Backus, Twisted Melodies at Northlight Theatre
Dee Etti-Williams, Covenant at Goodman Theatre
Gareth Fry, Paranormal Activity
André Pluess, Two Sisters and a Piano at Writers Theatre
Jane Shaw, Leopoldstadt at Writers Theatre

Sound Design (Midsize)
Eric Backus, Do Something Pretty at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Thomas Dixon, Come Back, Little Sheba at American Blues Theater
Ethan Korvne, Birds of North America
Ethan Korvne, Oak at Raven Theatre
Christopher Kriz and Hannah Kwak, Octet at Raven Theatre

Lighting Design (large)
Lee Fiskness, The Dance of Death
Greg Hofmann, South Pacific
Gina Patterson, Covenant
Anna Watson, Paranormal Activity
Hannah Wien, White Rooster at Lookingglass Theatre Company

Lighting Design (Midsize)
Garrett Bell, Birthday Candles
Ben Carne, Top Girls
Maximo Grano De Oro, Octet
Eric Watkins, Oak
Levi J. Wilkins, Things with Friends

Projection Design
Stefania Bulbarella, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao at Goodman Theatre
Anthony Churchill, Catch Me If You Can at Marriott Theatre
Anthony Churchill, Dear Evan Hansen at Paramount Theatre
Rasean Davonte Johnson, Mr. Wolf at Steppenwolf Theatre
Mike Tutaj, South Pacific

Costume Design (Large)
Raquel Adorno, Gaslight
Mara Blumenfeld, White Christmas at Paramount Theatre
Sally Dolembo, A Little Night Music at Marriott Theatre
Amanda Gladu, Amadeus at Steppenwolf Theatre
Alex Jaeger, Leopoldstadt
Yvonne L. Miranda, Big White Fog at Court Theatre
Sully Ratke, Catch Me If You Can

Costume Design (Midsize)
Aly Greaves Amidei, Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley
Delena Bradley, Eelpout! at Shattered Globe Theatre
Kristy Leigh Hall, Wish You Were Here
Lily Walls, Always...Patsy Cline at American Blues Theater
Anna Wooden, Top Girls

Artistic Specialization
Chris Fisher, illusion design, Paranormal Activity
Caitlin McLeod, puppet design, White Rooster
Jesse Mooney-Bullock, puppet design, Little Shop of Horrors at Marriott Theatre
Steph Paul, movement director, Billie Jean at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Cassie Schillo, properties design, Father of the Bride at Drury Lane Productions
Tom Watson, hair, wig and makeup design, Leopoldstadt at Writers Theatre.

In a special category for short runs, Nick Solyom was cited for the lighting design of The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt, produced by Tiwary Entertainment Group

Among the nominees, Paranormal Activity is set to open on Broadway on August 25.

The 58th anniversary Equity Jeff Awards will take place Monday, September 14, 2026, at The Harris Theater.

For the full list of nominees, check out the link below.