Like much of Chicago's theater community, the Jeff Awards has spent the last few years focused on reinforcing our foundation to support theater excellence and being innovative about how best to support the local arts industry. We have remained committed during the pandemic when stages were dark and in the years since curtains raised again for live performances. As the New Year begins, we wanted to share some highlights of new initiatives and introduce you to our newest leadership.
RECENT PROGRAM INVESTMENTS
* Creation of Jeff Impact Fellowship Grants - annually recognizing two early career emerging theater artists in Chicago with grants of $10,000 each to pursue artistic excellence and in 2026 we will announce our third class of fellows
* Expansion of Awards Categories - today we evaluate a wide range of more than 30 potential categories of artistic and technical excellence and, most recently, added Short Runs Productions (9-16 performances) and World Language Productions (with subtitles)
* Launch of the Jeff Impresario Award - to honor the vital role of stage managers we introduced new awards for both Equity and Non-Equity companies to recognize the importance of this role to theater production
* Building Bridges within the Theater Community - we began a formal program to work more closely with theaters and industry organizations to advocate for their work and collectively support theater excellence
* Double-downed on a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion - through regular training and membership recruitment we are working to help ensure we are best aligned with the theater community we serve
* Relocation of the Awards Ceremonies - we have returned the annual awards celebration programs to downtown Chicago at the Harris Theater
* Securing new private and government support - to help us sustain and build new programs we deliver through our all volunteer organization
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR 2026 AWARDS CELEBRATIONS
Positive feedback has been overwhelming for the relocation of the annual awards shows to the Harris! Make sure to mark your calendars for this year's events and watch for more details throughout the year.
* 52nd Anniversary Non-Equity Awards Program - Monday, March 23, 2026
* 58th Anniversary Equity Awards Program - Monday, October 5, 2026
MEET OUR CURRENT LEADERSHIP
Chair - Paulette Petretti
Paulette moves into the chair role after decades of service to the Jeff Awards, most recently as Equity Chair including the return of our awards program to the Harris Theater. She is a partner with the Chicago law firm of Himes, Petrarca & Fester, Chtd. A former theater teacher, actor and director, she remains a member of Actor's Equity Association (AEA) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).
You can reach her at chair@jeffawards.org.
Equity Wing Chair - Barry Taylor
Barry has been active in theater for many years as an actor, choreographer and director, as well as serving Season of Concern as a board member, chair and producing their benefits. As a disability civil rights lawyer, Barry has also worked collaboratively with many Chicago theaters to ensure performances are accessible to theatregoers.
You can reach him at equitywingchair@jeffawards.org.
Non-Equity Wing Chair - Brittany Chhutani
Brittany is a lifelong lover of the arts with a passion that began at the age of five winning talent shows, then acting, coaching high school drama students and being immersed in the world of theater and story telling. She continues in her wing chair role after stepping in mid-term of 2024 to take on Non-Equity leadership duties and produced the first awards ceremony at the Harris Theater. Brittany is also a practicing attorney.
You can reach her at nonequitywingchair@jeffawards.org.
Vice Chair - Mike Fischer
Mike is a dramaturg working with Wisconsin and Chicagoland theaters as well as a former drama critic and book reviewer for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. He is also the Literary Manager for Forward Theater in Madison, WI, and host of Theater Forward, a bimonthly theater podcast. As a member of the Jeff Awards, he coordinates the Short Run Productions Committee and has worked on awards criteria, membership and mentoring, and the organization's By-Laws.
Treasurer - Thomas Sapp
Tom is a long-time international theater enthusiast and World Languages teacher of French. He also is a lead mentor for a junior honors program which focuses on the Arts and Contemporary American and International Plays. He has been a member of the Jeff Awards for nearly a decade supporting membership recruitment, events, our education committee and Building Bridges program and technical production for the Equity Awards show.
Secretary - Kathy Byrne
Kathy continues her role as Secretary of the Jeff Awards that she began serving four years ago. She is the Director of TV/Theatrical for SAG-AFTRA Chicago as well as the head of Agency Relations for the Chicago local. In addition, she spent nearly 20 years as Project Coordinator for Film and Television at the Chicago Film Office.
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE JEFF AWARDS?
We welcome theater professionals and enthusiasts passionate and knowledgeable about artistic and technical aspects of live theater to become members who help us adjudicate more than 100 productions each year and help promote theater excellence. To learn more about candidate qualifications and membership contact membership@jeffawards.org.
ABOUT THE JEFF AWARDS
The Jeff Awards is one of the most active and engaged theater awards organizations in the country evaluating hundreds of theatrical productions annually and holding two awards ceremonies highlighting work over the past Equity and Non-Equity seasons. Through our recommendations, awards, and honors we help foster the growth of companies, encourage artists, bring new appreciation for diverse storytelling, and cultivate civic pride in the achievements of the Chicago theater community. Originally chartered in 1968 to recognize Equity productions, the Jeff Awards Non-Equity Wing was established in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre. For more information, visit www.jeffawards.org.