Saturday, January 19, 2013

Will it go round in circles

By now you've probably heard about The St. Louis Theater Circle (of which yours truly is a member) and our Louie Awards for outstanding work by local professional theatre companies.  If not, here's the official press release.  As you can see, our aims are modest: celebrate local theatre and have a party in the process.  Come one down and join us.  The Gaslight Theater is cozy and I think you'll find the food and drink at the West End Grill and Pub most agreeable.

No, we don't have a web site just yet.  But we do have a Facebook page where you can "like" us.  Because we're performing arts types and we're needy.

Anyway, congratulations to all the nominees.  As you can see, we collectively liked a lot of what we saw in 2012.  We have a rockin' theatre scene here in St. Louis; here's a toast to everyone who makes it that way.

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For more information contact:

Mark Bretz, Bretz Public Relations

314-838-9371 or mark at bretzpr.com For Immediate Release:

NOMINATIONS ARE ANNOUNCED FOR INAUGURAL LOUIE AWARDS TO HONOR OUTSTANDING WORK IN LOCAL PROFESSIONAL THEATER

ST. LOUIS, January 18, 2013 -- Performances by local professional theater companies, ranging in size from The Muny and its productions in the 11,000-seat Forest Park amphitheater to small companies performing in modest spaces throughout the area, will be recognized at the inaugural Louie Awards.

The first Louie Awards presentation, to be held March 11, 2013 at the Gaslight Theater in the Central West End, will celebrate theatrical achievements in the year 2012 in local professional theater as recognized by the St. Louis Theater Circle, a new organization of area reviewers. Tickets will be $10 apiece, payable in cash only at the door on the night of the event, and can be reserved by contacting stltheatercircle at sbcglobal.net. Additional seating will be available at the West End Grill & Pub, which adjoins the Gaslight Theater, where food and drinks can be purchased throughout the evening.

The mission of the St. Louis Theater Circle is simple: To honor St. Louis professional theater. While various reviewers may also cover touring shows at The Fox and the Peabody Opera House as well as selected community and college productions, The Louies are designed to focus attention on dozens of area theater companies which showcase the artistic efforts of actors, directors and technical artists in the metropolitan area. Other cities around the country, such as Phoenix, San Diego, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., honor their own local theatrical productions with similar awards programs.

Nominations for The Louies are divided into categories for musicals, dramas and comedies. Approximately 100 local professional theatrical productions were presented in the St. Louis area in 2012.

The nominees for the 2012 Louie Awards are:

NOMINEES FOR MUSICALS

Outstanding Production
  • Ain’t Misbehavin’, Stages St. Louis
  • Chicago, The Muny
  • Spring Awakening, Stray Dog Theatre
  • Sunday in the Park with George, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
  • Sweeney Todd, Opera Theatre Saint Louis
Outstanding Director
  • Justin Been, Spring Awakening, Stray Dog
  • Michael Hamilton, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Stages
  • Denis Jones, Chicago, The Muny
  • Scott Miller, High Fidelity, New Line Theatre
  • Rob Ruggiero, Sunday in the Park with George, The Rep
Outstanding Actor
  • Ron Bohmer, Sunday in the Park with George, The Rep
  • Ryan Foizey, Cry-Baby, New Line
  • Rod Gilfry, Sweeney Todd, Opera Theatre
  • Antonio Rodriguez, Urinetown, Stray Dog
  • John Sparger, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, New Line
Outstanding Actress
  • Erin Davie, Sunday in the Park with George, The Rep
  • Natascia Diaz, Chicago, The Muny
  • Tari Kelly, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Muny
  • Jennifer Theby, Urinetown, Stray Dog
  • Karen Ziemba, Sweeney Todd, Opera Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor
  • Dean Christopher, Chicago, The Muny
  • Mike Dowdy, Cry-Baby, New Line
  • Zachary Allen Farmer, High Fidelity, New Line
  • Ryan Foizey, Spring Awakening, Stray Dog
  • Steve Isom, My One and Only, Stages
Outstanding Supporting Actress
  • Terrie Carolan, Cry-Baby, New Line
  • Beth Leavel, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Muny
  • Susanne Menzer, Sweeney Todd, Opera Theatre
  • Deborah Sharn, Urinetown, Stray Dog
  • Anna Skidis, Spring Awakening, Stray Dog
Outstanding Acting Ensemble
  • Ain’t Misbehavin’, Stages
  • Chicago, The Muny
  • High Fidelity, New Line Theatre
  • Sunday in the Park with George, The Rep
  • Urinetown, Stray Dog
Outstanding Set Design
  • David Blake, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Stray Dog
  • Adrian Jones, Sunday in the Park with George, The Rep
  • Scott L. Schoonover, High Fidelity, New Line
  • Michael Schweikardt, The King and I, The Muny
  • James Wolk, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Stages
Outstanding Costume Design
  • Lou Bird, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Stages
  • Brad Musgrove, My One and Only, Stages
  • Alexandra Scibetta Quigley, Spring Awakening, Stray Dog
  • Alejo Vietti, Sunday in the Park with George, The Rep
Outstanding Lighting Design
  • Tyler Duenow, Spring Awakening, Stray Dog
  • Seth Jackson, Chicago, The Muny
  • John Lasiter, Sunday in the Park with George, The Rep
  • Matthew McCarthy, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Stages
Outstanding Choreography
  • Robin Michelle Berger, Cry-Baby, New Line
  • Denis Jones, Chicago, The Muny
  • Dana Lewis, My One and Only, Stages
  • Lara Teeter, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Muny
  • Chris Bailey, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Muny
Outstanding Musical Direction
  • Lisa Campbell Albert, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Stages
  • Stephen Lord, Sweeney Todd, Opera Theatre
  • Chris Petersen, Spring Awakening, Stray Dog
  • Justin Smolik, High Fidelity, New Line
  • F. Wade Russo, Sunday in the Park with George, The Rep
NOMINEES FOR DRAMAS

Outstanding Production
  • Angels in America, Stray Dog Theatre
  • Clybourne Park, The Rep
  • Good, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
  • Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, St. Louis Black Repertory Company
  • The Hairy Ape, Upstream Theater
Outstanding Director
  • Gary Bell, Angels in America, Stray Dog
  • Deanna Jent, Going to See the Elephant, Mustard Seed Theatre
  • Timothy Near, Clybourne Park, The Rep
  • Ed Smith, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Black Rep
  • Milton Zoth, Good, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Outstanding Actor
  • John Hickok, The Invisible Hand, The Rep
  • Michael Scott Rash, 9 Circles, R-S Theatrics
  • Michael James Reed, A Steady Rain, The Rep
  • Ben Watts, Angels in America, Stray Dog
  • B Weller, Good, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Outstanding Actress
  • Nancy Bell, Clybourne Park, The Rep
  • Rachel Fenton, Oleanna, HotCity Theatre
  • Rachel Hanks, Angels in America, Stray Dog
  • Patrese McClain, No Child, The Black Rep
  • Kirsten Wylder, Bug, Muddy Waters Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor
  • Larry Dell, Killer Joe, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
  • Greg Fenner, Angels in America, Stray Dog
  • Terry Meddows, Way to Heaven, New Jewish Theatre
  • Joshua Thomas, Othello, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
  • David Wassilak, Angels in America, Stray Dog
Outstanding Supporting Actress
  • Teresa Doggett, Good, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
  • Rachel Fenton, Killer Joe, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
  • Laura Kyro, Angels in America, Stray Dog
  • Elizabeth Ann Townsend, The Maids, Upstream Theater
  • Kelley Weber, Lost in Yonkers, New Jewish Theatre
Outstanding Acting Ensemble
  • Angels in America, Stray Dog
  • Clybourne Park, The Rep
  • Going to See the Elephant, Mustard Seed Theatre
  • Good, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
  • The Hairy Ape, Upstream Theater
NOMINEES FOR COMEDIES

Outstanding Production
  • Jacob and Jack, New Jewish Theatre
  • The Comedy of Errors, The Rep
  • The Divine Sister, HotCity Theatre
  • The Foreigner, The Rep
  • The Violet Hour, Max & Louie Productions
Outstanding Director
  • Paul Mason Barnes, The Comedy of Errors, The Rep
  • Edward Coffield, Jacob and Jack, New Jewish Theatre
  • Suki Peters, The Compleat Wks of Wm Shkspr (Abridged), St. Louis Shakespeare
  • Marty Stanberry, The Divine Sister, HotCity
  • Edward Stern, The Foreigner, The Rep
Outstanding Actor
  • Ryan DeLuca, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Rep
  • Greg Fenner, Fully Committed, Stray Dog
  • John Flack, The Divine Sister, HotCity
  • Bobby Miller, Jacob and Jack, New Jewish Theatre
  • John Scherer, The Foreigner, The Rep
Outstanding Actress
  • Emily Baker, Season’s Greetings, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
  • Sarah Cannon, Dinner with Friends, Dramatic License Productions
  • Tarah Flanagan, The Comedy of Errors, The Rep
  • Meghan Maguire, Talley’s Folly, New Jewish Theatre
  • Carol Schultz, The Foreigner, The Rep
Outstanding Supporting Actor
  • Matthew Galbreath, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Black Rep
  • Chopper Leifheit, The Divine Sister, HotCity
  • Casey Predovic, The Foreigner, The Rep
  • Antonio Rodriguez, The Violet Hour, Max & Louie Productions
  • Lenny Wolpe, The Comedy of Errors, The Rep
Outstanding Supporting Actress
  • Sarajane Alverson, Wake Up, Cameron Dobbs, West End Players Guild
  • Lavonne Byers, The Divine Sister, HotCity Theatre
  • Teresa Doggett, Season’s Greetings, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
  • Shanara Gabrielle, The Comedy of Errors, The Rep
  • Kirsten Wylder, The Divine Sister, HotCity Theatre
Outstanding Acting Ensemble
  • Jacob and Jack, New Jewish Theatre
  • The Comedy of Errors, The Rep
  • The Divine Sister, HotCity Theatre
  • The Foreigner, The Rep
  • The Violet Hour, Max & Louie Productions
COMEDIES and DRAMAS

Outstanding Set Design
  • Jason Coale, The Maids, Upstream Theater
  • Dunsi Dai, Imaginary Jesus, Mustard Seed Theatre
  • Scott Neale, Clybourne Park, The Rep
  • Erik Paulson, The Comedy of Errors, The Rep
  • John Stark, Way to Heaven, New Jewish Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design
  • Felia Katherine Davenport, Good, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
  • Sarita Fellows, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Black Rep
  • Daryl Harris, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Black Rep
  • Alexandra Scibetta Quigley, Angels in America, Stray Dog
  • Margaret E. Weedon, The Comedy of Errors, The Rep
Outstanding Lighting Design
  • Steve Carmichael, The Hairy Ape, Upstream Theater
  • Tyler Duenow, Angels in America, Stray Dog
  • Phil Monat, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Rep
  • Nathan Schroeder, Talley’s Folly, New Jewish Theatre
  • Michael Sullivan, Way to Heaven, New Jewish Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design
  • Justin Been, Angels in America, Stray Dog
  • Zoe Sullivan, Going to See the Elephant, Mustard Seed
  • Rusty Wandall, A Steady Rain, The Rep
  • Robin Weatherall, Good, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
  • Robin Weatherall, Way to Heaven, New Jewish Theatre
Outstanding New Play
  • Imaginary Jesus, Deanna Jent, Mustard Seed Theatre
  • Stupefy! The 90-Minute Harry Potter Live!, Jaysen Cryer, Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre
  • The Invisible Hand, Ayad Akhtar, The Rep
  • The New World, Nancy Bell, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
  • Wake Up, Cameron Dobbs, Stephen Peirick, West End Players Guild.
Founding members of the St. Louis Theater Circle include Steve Allen, Stagedoorstl.com; Andrea Braun, The Vital Voice and Playback; Mark Bretz, Ladue News; Bob Cohn, St. Louis Jewish Light; Chris Gibson, Broadwayworld.com; Harry Hamm, KMOX; Gerry Kowarsky, Two on the Aisle; Chuck Lavazzi, KDHX; Judith Newmark, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Andrea Torrence, Stlouistheatresnob.com; Lynn Venhaus, Belleville News-Democrat; and Bob Wilcox, Two on the Aisle and Town & Style.

For more information, contact stltheatercircle at sbcglobal.net or 314-838-9371.

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