They're All Wild About Jeff

By Justin Sondak in Arts & Entertainment on May 1, 2006 10:24PM

Nominations for The Joseph Jefferson Awards Citation Wing, recognizing the finest work from scrappy but brilliant non-Equity theater companies, were announced this morning. A local, less insufferable version of New York’s Tonys, the Jeff Awards recognize excellence among productions that opened between last April and this March. Click here to learn (and possibly understand) the nominations process.

Queen Lucia rules the musical nominations; Lifeline’s original adaptation of E.F. Benson’s operatic rivalry tale leads all productions with 8 nods. It’ll face off against Bailiwick’s Kiss of the Spider Woman, boasting a not-too-shabby 7 nominations. Nothing else is in their league apparently, since they’re the only contenders for Best Musical. Bailiwick Repertory and The Hypocrites, currently teaming up for Angels in America, and the Lifeline Theatre are getting the most love, each company earned around a dozen noms. A few shows we reviewed favorably on this humble little website—Valentine Victorious, I Sing! and Copenhagen—have also been recognized.

Husband and wife Bill and Donna McGough have been nominated for portraying husband and wife Willy and Linda Lowman in the Hypocrites’ Death of a Salesman, setting up a potentially glorious or awkward evening in their household. And from the wouldn’t-you-know-it file, four people are competing against themselves: Supporting Actress Isabel Liss, Sound Designer Michael Griggs, Lighting Designer Jared Moore, and Choreographer Brenda Didier.

The awards ceremony is June 5 at Park West. Starving actor or not, you’ll have to shell out $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Or wait until the next day for our roundup.

Image via www.jeffawards.org, where you can purchase tickets for the big night.