2026 Equity Jeff Awards honor ‘Leopoldstadt,’ ‘Octet’ and actor Brendan Hunt in celebratory night for Chicago theater
Writers Theatre’s epic family drama Leopoldstadt took home the most prizes at Monday’s 58th annual Equity Jeff Awards. The Glencoe theater won five awards, all for its Midwest premiere of the Tom Stoppard epic family drama.
The ambitious production, about multiple generations of a Jewish family in the decades up to the Holocaust, featured nearly 30 actors and 475 costumes and cost Writers more than $1 million to produce. It was recognized in categories including best production, ensemble and director.
The 2026 Equity Jeff Awards celebrated excellence in theater on Chicago’s biggest stages at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park. The prestigious awards honor productions staged at the area’s biggest playhouses and under actors’ union contracts in the 2025-26 season.
A Red Orchid Theatre’s “Birds of North America” tied for second most awards for an individual show, earning four honors for midsize play, director (Kirsten Fitzgerald), and sound design and original music (both by Ethan Korvne). The gripping two-hander, which has returned for a limited run through Oct. 4, explores generational differences between a father and daughter.
Raven Theatre’s hit acapella musical “Octet,” which graduated to a bigger stage this summer at the Goodman (and will soon become a film by Lin-Manuel Miranda), also took home four awards, for midsize musical, ensemble, director (Keira Fromm) and music director (Nick Sula).
The shortrun production “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt,” produced by Tiwary Entertainment Group, also received four awards.
Raven Theatre’s hit acapella musical “Octet,” which received four Equity Jeff Awards, graduated to a bigger stage this summer at the Goodman Theatre.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
The Goodman Theatre nabbed four wins. The theater’s support of new work was recognized for “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.” Al’Jaleel McGhee won best actor for his unforgettable portrayal of the ambitious trumpeter Levee in Goodman’s production of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Paramount Theatre also won four awards, with Trent Stork taking best director for “Come From Away.”
The Jeffs recognized 41 winners from 37 categories and 209 nominees from a list of 30 producing companies.
Black Ensemble Theatre, which won three awards, received a special honor for its 50th season and legacy of arts leadership. The company, founded and led by theater legend Jackie Taylor, is a nationally celebrated institution with a mission of eradicating racism through the arts.
Black Ensemble Theatre was honored Monday night at the Equity Jeff Awards with a special honor for arts leadership.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Here’s a complete list of 2026 Equity Jeff Award winners:
Production – Play (Large)
“Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Production – Play (Midsize)
“Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Production – Musical (Large) – The Susan and Harlan Haimes Award
“A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
Production – Musical (Midsize)
“Octet” – Raven Theatre
Production – Revue
“Men of Soul”- Black Ensemble Theater
Director – Play (Large) – The Michael Maggio Award
Carey Perloff – “Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Director – Play (Midsize)
Kirsten Fitzgerald – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Director – Musical (Large)
Trent Stork – “Come From Away” – Paramount Theatre
Director – Musical (Midsize)
Keira Fromm – “Octet” – Raven Theatre
Director – Revue
Daryl D. Brooks – “Men of Soul”- Black Ensemble Theater
Ensemble – Play
“Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Ensemble – Musical
“Octet” – Raven Theatre
Al’Jaleel McGhee received a Jeff for his unforgettable portrayal of the ambitious trumpeter Levee in Goodman’s production of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Courtesy of Justin Barbin
Performer In A Principal Role – Play
Al’Jaleel McGhee – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” – Goodman Theatre
Gwendolyn Whiteside – “Come Back, Little Sheba” – American Blues Theater
Performer In A Principal Role – Musical
Cody Combs – “Dear Evan Hansen” – Paramount Theatre
Allsun O’Malley – “South Pacific” – Paramount Theatre
Performer In A Revue
Maxel McLoud Schingen – “Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Solo Performance
Kelvin Roston, Jr. – “Twisted Melodies” – Northlight Theatre
Performer In A Supporting Role – Play
Audrey Francis – “Catch As Catch Can” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Wesley Taylor – “Holiday” – Goodman Theatre
Performer In A Supporting Role – Musical
Veronica Garza – “A Little Night Music” – Marriott Theatre
Claudia Quesada – “On Your Feet!” – Drury Lane Productions
New Work – The Libby Adler Mages Award
Marco Antonio Rodriguez – “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” – Goodman Theatre
James Sherman – “The First Lady of Television” – Northlight Theatre
Choreography
Luis Salgado – “On Your Feet!” – Drury Lane Productions
A Red Orchid Theatre’s “Birds of North America” tied for second-most awards for an individual show.
Original Music In A Play
Ethan Korvne – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Music Direction
Nick Sula – “Octet” – Raven Theatre
Scenic Design (Large)
Walt Spangler – “Holiday” – Goodman Theatre
Scenic Design (Midsize)
Grant Sabin – “Things With Friends” – American Blues Theater
Lighting Design (Large)
Anna Watson – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in co-production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Lighting Design (Midsize)
Eric Watkins – “Oak” – Raven Theatre
Costume Design (Large)
Alex Jaeger – “Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
Costume Design (Midsize)
Aly Greaves Amidei – “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Sound Design (Large)
Gareth Fry – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in co-production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Sound Design (Midsize)
Ethan Korvne – “Birds of North America” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Projection Design
Anthony Churchill – “Dear Evan Hansen” – Paramount Theatre
Artistic Specialization
Chris Fisher – Illusion Design – “Paranormal Activity” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater in co-production with Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre Company
Tom Watson – Hair, Wig and Makeup Design – “Leopoldstadt” – Writers Theatre
The short-run production “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” received four Jeffs.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Short Run Production
“The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group
Short Run Production – Performer
Brendan Hunt – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group
Short Run Production – New Work
Brendan Hunt – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group
Short Run Production – Design
Nick Solyom – Lighting Design – “The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt” – Tiwary Entertainment Group
Special Award
Black Ensemble Theater
Impresario Award, Honoring Excellence in Stage Management
Caitlin I. Quinn, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble