The nominees for the 58th Annual Equity Jeff Awards, honoring excellence in Chicago theater, were announced, reflecting a broad range of productions across the city’s prominent stages. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on September 14 at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.

The awards feature multiple categories including Production of a Play and Production of a Musical, divided into large and midsize venues, as well as categories for revue, ensemble, direction, acting, technical achievements, and new works.

Among the contenders for Production of a Play (Large) are Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s “Amadeus,” Goodman Theatre’s “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” and “Holiday,” TimeLine Theatre Company’s “An Enemy of the People” and “Eureka Day,” and Writers Theatre’s productions of “Job” and “Leopoldstadt.” Goodman Theatre’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s “Much Ado About Nothing” also received nominations.

In the midsize play category, nominees include Theater Wit’s “The Ally,” A Red Orchid Theatre’s “Birds of North America,” American Blues Theater’s “Come Back, Little Sheba,” Raven Theatre’s “Oak,” and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble’s “Pivot.”

The large musical category features Paramount Theatre’s “Come From Away,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “White Christmas,” and “South Pacific.” Writers Theatre’s “As You Like It,” Marriott Theatre’s “A Little Night Music,” Drury Lane Productions’ “On Your Feet!,” and Raven Theatre’s “Octet” (in the midsize category) also earned nods.

Revue nominations include American Blues Theater’s “Always… Patsy Cline,” Black Ensemble Theater’s “Men of Soul,” and The Second City’s “Pandemonium, Please Hold.”

Several productions received multiple nominations, with “Birds of North America” at A Red Orchid Theatre and “White Christmas” at Paramount Theatre each leading with seven nods. A five-way tie for second place includes “Always… Patsy Cline” (American Blues Theater), “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” (Goodman Theatre), “Leopoldstadt” (Writers Theatre), “A Little Night Music” (Marriott Theatre), and “Octet” (Raven Theatre), each with six nominations.

Notable multiple nominees include director Robert Falls, actor Timothy Edward Kane, scenic designer Collette Pollard, projection designer Anthony Churchill, sound designer Ethan Korvne, choreographer Deidre Goodwin, musical directors Kory Danielson and Michael Mahler, and composer Christopher Kriz.

Some critically acclaimed works received more limited recognition. Court Theatre’s “Big White Fog,” praised as one of the best shows of 2025, garnered a single nomination for costume design. Additionally, Goodman Theatre’s “Iceboy! The Musical,” which has potential for a Broadway transfer, did not receive a nomination in the Best Musical category, nor did its star Megan Mullally.

Awards also recognize new work, with nominees including Richard Greenberg’s “Holiday” at Goodman Theatre and Tarell Alvin McCraney’s “Windfall” at Steppenwolf Theatre.

Further categories honor directing, principal acting, supporting roles, design elements such as lighting, sound, scenic and costume design, choreography, music direction, original music, projection design, and artistic specialization.

The annual Equity Jeff Awards celebrate the achievements of Chicago’s professional theaters and theater artists, highlighting the city’s vibrant and diverse theatrical landscape. Tickets for the upcoming ceremony will be available starting July 24. More information can be found at the awards’ official website.