The Guy Adkins Award
THE GUY ADKINS AWARD
for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in Chicago
Each year, Porchlight Music Theatre celebrates an individual who has made an exceptional and lasting contribution to the state of the art of Chicago music theatre, with the prestigious Guy Adkins Award, presented at Porchlight’s annual Chicago Sings concert benefit. The recipient, chosen by committee at Porchlight Music Theatre including past recipients themselves, is selected based on the following criteria:
- A person who has demonstrated a profound respect and admiration for the art and craft of music theatre.
- A person who has made a noticeable impact on the state of the art of music theatre in Chicago.
- A person who strives to achieve their best, to create great art, and to share it passionately, proudly and wholeheartedly with an audience.
- A person who, in the form of music theatre, has made the community of Chicago a better place for their efforts.
- A person who has extended themselves to assist others in realizing their desire to participate in the making of music theatre.
ABOUT GUY ADKINS
Guy Adkins was an award-winning Chicago actor. Among his significant stage credits were Oklahoma! Windy City and A Funny Thing Happened… at Marriott Theatre; The Taming of the Shrew at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre; Pericles, Twelfth Night, The Invention of Love and the title role in Hamlet at Court Theatre; The Time of Your Life at Steppenwolf and the world premieres of the musicals The Return of Martin Guerre and The Visit, both at The Goodman Theatre. The Chicago Sun Times called Guy, “…a smart and invariably graceful actor” and The New York Times called him “outrageously talented” for his turn at “Puck” in a A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the McCarter Theatre in New Jersey. Sadly, Guy passed away in 2010, but his spirit lives on through his many gifts to our theatre community.
The Recipients of The Guy Adkins Award
| 2024 | Roberta Duchak | Multi-award-winning music director and actress |
| 2023 | Rick Boynton | Award-winning actor, casting director & creative producer, Chicago Shakespeare Theater |
| 2022 | Jim Corti | Multi-award-winning actor, choreographer & director artistic director, Paramount Theatre |
| 2021 | Felicia P. Fields | Multi-award-winning actress |
| 2019 | Gary Griffin | Multi-award-winning director |
| 2018 | Brenda Didier | Multi-award-winning director and choreographer |
| 2017 | Rachel Rockwell | Multi-award-winning actress, director, choreographer and writer |
| 2016 | E. Faye Butler | Multi-award-winning actress and director |
| 2015 | Dominic Missimi | Multi-award-winning director and teacher |
| 2014 | Paula Scrofano | Multi-award-winning actress |
| 2013 | Doug Peck | Multi-award-winning music director and conductor |
| 2012 | Hollis Resnik | Multi-award-winning actress |
| 2011 | L. Walter Stearns | Award-winning director, executive director – The Mercury Theatre former artistic director – Porchlight Music Theatre |
And the Award goes to…
A person who has demonstrated a profound respect and admiration for the art and craft of music theatre.
A person who has made a noticeable impact on the state of the art of music theatre in Chicago.
A person who strives to achieve their best, to create great art, and to share it passionately, proudly and wholeheartedly with an audience.
A person who, in the form of music theatre, has made the community of Chicago a better place for their efforts.
A person who has extended themselves to assist others in realizing their desire to participate in the making of music theatre.
The Guy Adkins Award Selection Committee
Roberta Duchak, Multi-award-winning music director and actress (2024 Guy Adkins Award)*
Rick Boynton, Award-winning actor, casting director & creative producer – Chicago Shakespeare Theater (2023 Guy Adkins Award)*
E. Faye Butler, Award-winning actress & director (2016 Guy Adkins Award)*
Jim Corti, Award-winning actor, choreographer & director, Artistic Director – Paramount Theatre (2022 Guy Adkins Award)*
Brenda Didier, Award-winning director and choreographer (2018 Guy Adkins Award)*
Felicia P. Fields, Award-winning actress (2021 Guy Adkins Award)*
Gary Griffin, Award-winning director (2019 Guy Adkins Award)*
Diane Hires, Past chair – Joseph Jefferson Awards, former Porchlight board member
Kenny Ingram, Award-winning director, choreographer and actor, Porchlight board member
James Jensen, Broadway producer, former Porchlight board member
Sean Allan Krill, Tony Award-nominated actor; Porchlight advisory board member
Dominic Missimi, Award-winning director and teacher (2015 Guy Adkins Award)*
Doug Peck, Award-winning music director and conductor (2013 Guy Adkins Award)*
Hollis Resnik, Award-winning actress (2012 Guy Adkins Award)*
L. Walter Stearns, Award-winning director, executive director – The Mercury Theatre, former artistic director – Porchlight Music Theatre (2011 Guy Adkins Award)*
Michael Weber, Porchlight Artistic Director
*Previous winners are invited to become members of the voting committee