April 25--The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee said on Saturday that it had disqualified The Hypocrites from its 2014-15 non-Equity awards, due to its discovery of the theater's status as a Equity company operating under a low-level "Tier N" agreement.
Apparently, The Hypocrites, a long-standing non-union company, did not realize that their new deal with Equity disqualified them and had asked to be judged in the wrong category. In a statement, artistic director Sean Graney said he had brought the issue to the attention of the committee.
The confusion appears to have arisen because Jeff rules allow non-Equity companies to work with Equity guest artists, but once they sign any kind of season-long contract, they are removed to the other wing of the awards.
Joseph Jefferson Awards chair Diane Hires said that such shows as "All Our Tragic," which had the biggest number of nominations of any show, now will be judged under the separate Equity category, awarded in the fall.
And, as a result, there now are new nominations in addition to the ones released on Thursday.
In the category of "Production -- Play," the Lifeline Theatre production of "Monstrous Regiment" is added to the nominees, in place of The Hypocrites' "All Our Tragic."
In the category of "Best Ensemble," Kokandy Productions' "Assassins" is added, also in place of "All Our Tragic."
In the category of "Director -- Play," Sean Graney is removed but no additions are made.
In the category of "Director -- Musical," Graney is replaced with Fred Anzevino, director of "Always Patsy Cline" at the Theo Ubique Theatre
In the category of "Actor in a Supporting Role -- Play," Walter Briggs and Brian Shaw are removed. They are replaced by Will Casey, who appeared in "Vieux Carre" at the Raven Theatre and Jack Miggins, who appeared in "The Vandal" at Steep Theatre.
In the category of "Actress in a Supporting Role -- Play," Erin Barlow is replaced by Jen Short, who appeared in "All My Sons" at Raven Theatre.
In the category of "New Adaptation," Graney's two nominations are removed but not replaced.
In the category of "Scenic Design," Elizabeth Bracken is replaced by Courtney O'Neill for "Men Should Weep."
In the category of "Lighting Design," Maggie Fullilove-Nugent is replaced by Laura Wiley for "Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" at the Idle Muse Theatre Company.
In the category of "Costume Design," Alison Siple is removed but not replaced.
in the category of "Sound Design," Kevin O'Donnell is removed but not replaced.
