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| Members of the Circle in 2017 |
As I have noted in the past, the last couple of years have been rough for performing arts institutions. That includes ancillary organizations like the St. Louis Theater Circle, which had to cancel its 2021 awards ceremony and held a bare-bones version of its 2020 ceremony on line.
The Theater Circle is back his year with a virtual ceremony that will be streamed at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 28, 2022 on HEC’s YouTube channel and web site. Unlike the 2020 ceremony, which had to be assembled quickly, this one will be professionally recorded at and produced by HEC-TV at their studios.
Nominees in more than 30 categories will vie for honors covering comedies, dramas, musicals and operas produced by local professional theater and opera companies in the combined calendar years of 2020 and 2021.
In an attempt to represent the gender diversity of both roles and actors, the Circle has revised the categories of its acting awards. Those categories now are based on genders of the characters in the scripts rather than by the genders of the performers. For example, the category formerly titled “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy” now is termed “Outstanding Lead Performer in a Comedy, Female or Non-Binary Role.”
Because the pandemic brought about the cancellation of so many productions by virtually all local professional theater companies, approximately 75 productions have been considered for nominations for the combined years of 2020 and 2021. This compares to roughly 120 to 130 productions normally considered in one year alone.
For this ninth annual ceremony, members of the St. Louis Theater Circle considered nominees from shows produced in the first three months of 2020 and the last eight months of 2021 combined. In addition, a few shows produced between April 2020 and May 2021 were included. The total number of shows considered from the years 2020 and 2021 combined amounted to about 75 shows.
The nominees for the ninth annual St. Louis Theater Circle Awards are:
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Comedy, Female or Non-Binary Role
• Nicole Angeli, It Is Magic, The Midnight Company
• Ani Djirdjirian, The Thanksgiving Play, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Colleen Heneghan, Bloomsday, West End Players Guild
• Jennifer Theby-Quinn, Flanagan’s Wake, Playhouse at Westport Plaza
• Chrissie Watkins, It Is Magic, The Midnight Company
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Comedy, Male or Non-Binary Role
• Chuck Brinkley, The Thing – A Live Parody, Cherokee Street Theatre Company
• Stephen Cefalu Jr., The Gradient, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Joe Hanrahan, It Is Magic, The Midnight Company
• Carl Overly Jr., It Is Magic, The Midnight Company
• Jonathan Spivey, The Thanksgiving Play, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Leading Performer in a Comedy, Female or Non-Binary Role
• Shayna Blass, The Thanksgiving Play, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Michelle Hand, It Is Magic, The Midnight Company
• Stephanie Machado, The Gradient, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Ellie Schwetye, Tinsel Town, The Midnight Company
• Jennifer Theby-Quinn, Jake’s Women, Moonstone Theatre Company
Outstanding Leading Performer in a Comedy, Male or Non-Binary Role
• Jeff Cummings, Jake’s Women, Moonstone Theatre Company
• Adam Flores, The Thanksgiving Play, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Jeremy Goldmeier, Art, Stray Dog Theatre
• Jordan Moore, Dress the Part, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Garrett Young, Dress the Part, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play
• Joe Clapper, Spell #7, The Black Rep
• Mextly Couzin, The Gradient, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Jasmine Lesane, Mlima’s Tale, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Seth Reiser, A Christmas Carol, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• John Wylie, King Lear, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
Outstanding Sound Design
• Avi Amon, Mlima’s Tale, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• David R. Molina, King Lear, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Sadah Espii Proctor, The Gradient, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Nathan A. Roberts and Charles Coes, A Christmas Carol, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Rusty Wandall, Dress the Part, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
Outstanding Costume Design in a Play
• Dede Ayite, A Christmas Carol, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Mika Eubanks, King Lear, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Elizabeth Henning, Tinsel Town, The Midnight Company
• Christina Leinecke, Dress the Part, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Brandin Vaughn, Spell #7, The Black Rep
Outstanding Set Design in a Play
• Wilson Chin, King Lear, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Tim Jones, Sweat, The Black Rep
• Carolyn Mraz, The Gradient, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Margery & Peter Spack, The Ville: Avengeance, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Margery & Peter Spack, Two Trains Running, The Black Rep
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Drama, Female or Non-Binary Role
• Kelly Howe, Sweat, The Black Rep
• Amy Loui, My Name Is Asher Lev, The New Jewish Theatre
• Alma Martinez, Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Elizabeth Teeter, The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis
• Sharisa Whatley, Two Trains Running, The Black Rep
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Drama, Male or Non-Binary Role
• Allen Gilmore, King Lear, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Brian McKinley, Spell #7, The Black Rep
• Shane Signorino, A Piece of My Heart, West End Players Guild
• Chauncy Thomas, The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis
• Chuck Winning, My Name Is Asher Lev, The New Jewish Theatre
Outstanding Leading Performer in a Drama, Female or Non-Binary Role
• Velma Austin, Sweat, The Black Rep
• Kari Ely, Comfort, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
• Debby Lennon, Songs for Nobodies, Max & Louie Productions
• Michelle Hand, Tiny Beautiful Things, Max & Louie Productions
• Laurie McConnell, Annapurna, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Outstanding Leading Performer in a Drama, Male or Non-Binary Role
• Andre De Shields, King Lear, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Kambi Gathesha, Mlima’s Tale, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• John Pierson, Annapurna, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
• Spencer Sickmann, Comfort, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
• James A. Williams, Two Trains Running, The Black Rep
Outstanding New Play
• Comfort, by Neil LaBute, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
• The Gradient, by Steph Del Rosso, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Madam, by Colin Healy, Fly North Theatricals
• Now Playing Third Base for the St. Louis Cardinals…Bond, James Bond, by Joe Hanrahan, The Midnight Company
• Tinsel Town, by Joe Hanrahan, The Midnight Company
Outstanding Achievement in Opera
• Sean Curran, Gianni Schicchi, Opera Theatre of St. Louis
• Levi Hernandez, Gianni Schicchi, Opera Theatre of St. Louis
• Karen Kanakis, La Fanciulla del West, Winter Opera St. Louis
• Patricia Racette, La Voix Humaine, Opera Theatre of St. Louis
• Leonard Slatkin, Highway 1, U.S.A., Opera Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Production of an Opera
• Gianni Schicchi, Opera Theatre of St. Louis
• Highway 1, U.S.A., Opera Theatre of St. Louis
• La Fanciulla del West, Winter Opera St. Louis
• La Voix Humaine, Opera Theatre of St. Lousi
• Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Union Avenue Opera
Outstanding Musical Director
• Charlie Alterman, Chicago, The Muny
• Colin Healy, Madam, Fly North Theatricals
• Jeremy Jacobs, Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
• Herve Samb, Dreaming Zenzile, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Nicolas Valdez, Head Over Heels, New Line Theatre
Outstanding Choreographer
• William Carlos Angulo, On Your Feet!, The Muny
• Kirven Douthit-Boyd, A Christmas Carol, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Marjani Forte-Saunders, Dreaming Zenzile, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Denis Jones, Chicago, The Muny
• Dana Lewis, Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical, Female or Non-Binary Role
• Tielere Cheatem, Head Over Heels, New Line Theatre
• Natascia Diaz, On Your Feet!, The Muny
• Bryonha Marie Parham, The Sound of Music, The Muny
• Elizabeth Teeter, The Sound of Music, The Muny
• Zoe Vonder Haar, Always…Patsy Cline, Stages St. Louis
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical, Male or Non-Binary Role
• Brent Michael DiRoma, Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
• Jason Michael Evans, Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
• Adam Heller, Chicago, The Muny
• Ryan Jesse, Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
• Mykal Kilgore, Smokey Joe’s Café, The Muny
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical
• Rob Denton, Chicago, The Muny
• Shelby Loera, The Sound of Music, The Muny
• Sean M. Savoie, Always…Patsy Cline, Stages St. Louis
• Sean M. Savoie, Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
• Yi Zhao, Dreaming Zenzile, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Set Design in a Musical
• Edward E. Haynes Jr. and Kevan Loney, Smokey Joe’s Café, The Muny
• Tim Mackabee and Shawn Duan, Chicago, The Muny
• Tim Mackabee and Kate Ducey, On Your Feet!, The Muny
• Michael Schweikardt and Caite Hevner, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Muny
• James Wolk, Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical
• Leon Dobkowski, On Your Feet!, The Muny
• Eileen Engel, Madam, Fly North Theatricals
• Courtney Gibson and Sarah Porter, Head Over Heels, New Line Theatre
• Sully Ratke, Smokey Joe’s Café, The Muny
• Emily Rebholz, Chicago, The Muny
Outstanding Leading Performer in a Musical, Female or Non-Binary Role
• Diana DeGarmo, Always…Patsy Cline, Stages St. Louis
• J. Harrison Ghee, Chicago, The Muny
• Kimmie Kidd-Booker, Madam, Fly North Theatricals
• Kate Rockwell, The Sound of Music, The Muny
• Somi, Dreaming Zenzile, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Leading Performer in a Musical, Male or Non-Binary Role
• Christopher Kale Jones, Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
• Chris Kernan, The Story of My Life, New Line Theatre
• James T. Lane, Chicago, The Muny
• Omar Lopez-Cepero, On Your Feet!, The Muny
• Jeffrey M. Wright, The Story of My Life, New Line Theatre
Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy
• Art, Stray Dog Theatre
• Dress the Part, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• It Is Magic, The Midnight Company
• The Thanksgiving Play, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Wildfire, Upstream Theater
Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama
• King Lear, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Mlima’s Tale, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Spell #7, The Black Rep
• Sweat, The Black Rep
• Two Trains Running, The Black Rep
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
• Chicago, The Muny
• Head Over Heels, New Line Theatre
• Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
• Madam, Fly North Theatricals
• Smokey Joe’s Café, The Muny
Outstanding Director of a Comedy
• Eddie Coffield, Jake’s Women, Moonstone Theatre Company
• GQ and JQ, Dress the Part, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Suki Peters, It Is Magic, The Midnight Company
• Amelia Acosta Powell, The Thanksgiving Play, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Rachel Tibbetts, Tinsel Town, The Midnight Company
Outstanding Director of a Drama
• Carl Cofield, King Lear, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Ron Himes, Sweat, The Black Rep
• Brian Hohlfeld, The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis
• Annamaria Pileggi, Annapurna, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
• Ed Smith, Two Trains Running, The Black Rep
Outstanding Director of a Musical
• Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Smokey Joe’s Café, The Muny
• Michael Hamilton, Always…Patsy Cline, Stages St. Louis
• Michael Hamilton, Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
• Denis Jones, Chicago, The Muny
• Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy-Windsor, Head Over Heels, New Line Theatre
Outstanding Production of a Comedy
• Dress the Part, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• It Is Magic, The Midnight Company
• Jake’s Women, Moonlight Theatre Company
• The Thanksgiving Play, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Tinsel Town, The Midnight Company
Outstanding Production of a Drama
• The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis
• King Lear, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
• Mlima’s Tale, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• Sweat, The Black Rep
• Two Trains Running, The Black Rep
Outstanding Production of a Musical
• Always…Patsy Cline, Stages St. Louis
• Chicago, The Muny
• Head Over Heels, New Line Theatre
• Jersey Boys, Stages St. Louis
• Smokey Joe’s Café, The Muny
The mission of the St. Louis Theater Circle is to honor outstanding achievement in St. Louis professional theater. Other cities around the country, such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., pay tribute to their own local theatrical productions with similar awards programs.
Members of the St. Louis Theater Circle include Steve Allen (stagedoorstl.com); Mark Bretz (Ladue News); Bob Cohn (St. Louis Jewish Light); Tina Farmer (KDHX); Michelle Kenyon (snoopstheatrethoughts.com); Gerry Kowarsky (Two on the Aisle, HEC-TV); Chuck Lavazzi (KDHX); Rob Levy (Broadwayworld.com); Judith Newmark (judyacttwo.com); Ann Lemons Pollack (stlouiseats.typepad.com); Lynn Venhaus (St. Louis Limelight Magazine); Bob Wilcox (Two on the Aisle, HEC-TV); and Calvin Wilson (St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Eleanor Mullin, local performer and arts supporter, is group administrator.
For more information, visit the St. Louis Theater Circle Facebookpage.
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