The Jeff Committee, the nonprofit all-volunteer organization behind Chicago\u2019s Jeff Awards, announced Tuesday that the Non-Equity Jeff Awards will pause all awards consideration of non-equity productions opening on or after June 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we got into this work, we realized how complicated it was for the non-equity community,\u201d said Suzanne Ross, communications chair for the Jeff Awards. \u201cIn order for us to be in touch with the community of non-equity theaters, we just need more time. And the best way for us to do this is to take a pause and connect with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
This decision arrives on the heels of immediate backlash<\/a> from theater companies and artists following the 52nd annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards in March<\/a>, when the committee of judges honored Invictus Theatre\u2019s artistic director Charles Askenaizer as best director. Askenaizer is under investigation by the theater company\u2019s board after recent allegations of abuse surfaced<\/a> on social media from actors.<\/p>\n In the days after the ceremony, a growing number of theater companies announced they would cut ties with the Jeffs, citing Askenaizer\u2019s award and reports of unprofessionalism on behalf of Jeff committee members, which include judges sleeping through performances.<\/p>\n The committee was tasked to review the awards\u2019 judging and voting practices and incorporate what it learned from outreach to the community and report its findings by July 1 and said Tuesday more time was needed.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think the theater community wants us to be the ethics police,\u201d said Ross. \u201cThe challenge for us is that we were established as an organization to evaluate artistic and technical aspects of what is on stage. We would never know what is going on behind the scenes to get that artistic work to the stage. We don\u2019t have the knowledge or the expertise to be monitoring or intervening with things happening in the theaters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to be supportive in any way possible to help ensure those things are happening,\u201d Ross said.<\/p>\n After six weeks of outreach \u2014 six working group meetings, surveys of over 75 award eligible non-equity theaters and research into best practices of regional, national and global awards\u2019 agencies and theater service organizations \u2014 the Jeff Committee decided to halt the non-equity awards at this time. The annual awards recognize Chicago\u2019s storefront scene and other theaters that are non-unionized.<\/p>\n Moving forward, the committee plans to continue the work of understanding the needs and concerns of Chicago\u2019s theater community. It said it will address this goal through ongoing outreach to theater companies, continuing the assessment of its non-equity framework and strengthening its advocacy through collaborative dialogue within the Chicago theater community in seeking safe professional work environments.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing research and outreach to theater awards around the country,\u201d said Ross. \u201cWe found out that this is so complicated and nuanced and this incident last fall was just the tip of the iceberg. We want to make sure we are having conversations with theaters so we understand their position and their ideas about what they are asking us to do. And that\u2019s why we just need more time.\u201d<\/p>\n Non-equity companies that have already received a Jeff Awards Recommendation in 2026 will continue to be listed on the committee\u2019s website and will be eligible for award consideration in the future.<\/p>\n The 58th Annual Equity Jeff Awards, currently scheduled for this fall, will continue as planned.<\/p>\n Ross anticipates the Jeff Committee will have more information on the future of the non-equity awards in the fall.<\/p>\n