WINSTON-SALEM – North Carolina School of the Arts faculty member Jeff Lewis has been nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award, which honors excellence in Equity productions in the Chicago theatre community.  

Lewis, who has taught singing in the NCSA School of Drama since 1997, was nominated for his musical direction of “James Joyce’s ‘The Dead.’” The show is also nominated for best musical production. 

In addition, NCSA School of Design & Production alumnus Robert Perry has been nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for his lighting design of “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” which played at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the fall of 2002. Perry received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in lighting design from NCSA in 1993. 

One of the most lauded new musicals of the last decade and winner of the 1999 Tony Award for Best Book, “James Joyce’s ‘The Dead’” played in the fall of 2002 at Chicago’s Court Theatre. Court Artistic Director Charles Newell directed the production, which featured a 14-person cast. One of those cast members was NCSA School of Drama alumnus Chris Cordon ’00, who played Freddy Malins. 

The scene designer for “The Dead” production was NCSA School of Design & Production alumnus Brian Bembridge, who received a BFA in scene design from NCSA in 1997. Bembridge also designed scenery for “Sunday in the Park with George” (nominated for Best Musical) and “The Cider House Rules: Parts I and II” (nominated for Best Play). Currently, Bembridge is teamed with fellow alumnus and Director John Langs (School of Drama ’96) on a musical, “The Philosophy of the World,” set to premiere at Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre.  

A professional musical director and master teacher of musical theatre and singing technique, Jeff Lewis made his Court Theatre debut with “James Joyce’s ‘The Dead.’” Most recently in Chicago, Lewis was musical director of the smash hit musical “Side Show” at the Northlight Theatre, where he also music directed “Master Class,” “Bubbe Meises,” and “Quilters” (Jeff nomination.) His numerous Chicago credits also include “Little Me,” “Brigadoon” and “Gypsy” at Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theatre, all winners of the Joseph Jefferson Best Musical Award; “The Great Gatsby,” “Goblin Market” and “Assassins,” all nominated for Jefferson Musical Director Awards; and “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Pacific Overtures,” “The Frogs” and “Anyone Can Whistle,” all recipients of the Jefferson Citation for Musical Direction. Lewis’ regional credits include productions at The Old Globe Theatre, Great Lakes Theater Festival and Coconut Grove Playhouse. Lewis received his B.M.E. from Indiana University and his M.M. from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. 

The Jeff Awards will be held Nov. 3 at Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.  

For more information, please call Marla Carpenter at 336-770-3337 in the public relations office at the North Carolina School of the Arts.

###