The Joseph Jefferson Award, more commonly known informally as the Jeff Award, is given for theatre arts produced in the Chicago area. Founded in 1968, the awards are named in tribute to actor Joseph Jefferson, a 19th-century American theater star who, as a child, was a player in Chicago's first theater company. Two types of awards are given: "Equity" (annual judging season August 1st to July 31st) for work done under an Actors' Equity Association contract, and "Non-Equity" (annual judging season April 1st to March 31st) for non-union work. Award recipients are determined by a secret ballot. Source: Wikipedia (en)