Announcing the recipients of the third annual St. Louis Theater Circle Awards

Well, the third St. Louis Theater Circle awards have all been handed out. A crowd of nearly 400 actors, directors, designers, and theatre fans gathered at COCA last night to eat, drink, and be merry celebrating professional theatre in St. Louis. A fine old time was had by all, and many of the honorees (complete list below, courtesy of HECTV) used their brief acceptance speeches to note what a vibrant and lively theater community we have here in St. Louis.

Perusing the list of award recipients, I'm struck by how diverse it is. I was especially glad to see some of our smaller companies walk off with awards. It's a reminder that you need not have a big budget to produce big theatre.

And if you didn't get to attend the live event of watch the broadcast, rest assured that HECTV will be making the whole thing available for your viewing pleasure shortly at their web site.

COMEDY
Outstanding ensemble: "All in the Timing," St. Louis Actors' Studio
Outstanding supporting actress: Nancy Lewis, "Blithe Spirit," St. Louis Actors' Studio
Outstanding supporting actor: Michael James Reed, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding actress: Nancy Bell, "Blithe Spirit," St. Louis Actors' Studio
Outstanding actor: Raymond McAnally, "One Man, Two Guvnors," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding director: Paul Mason Barnes, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding production: "Blithe Spirit," St. Louis Actors' Studio

DRAMA
Outstanding ensemble: "Death of a Salesman," Insight Theatre Company
Outstanding supporting actress: Katie Donnelly, "Eat Your Heart Out," R-S Theatrics
Outstanding supporting actor: Jason Contini, "Death of a Salesman," Insight Theatre Company
Outstanding actress: Kate Levy, "The Other Place," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding actor: John Contini, "Death of a Salesman," Insight Theatre Company
Outstanding director: Wayne Loui, "Death of a Salesman," Insight Theatre Company
Outstanding production (a tie): "Death of a Salesman" at Insight Theatre Company and "The Normal Heart" at HotCity Theatre

MUSICALS
Outstanding choreographer: Stephen Bourneuf, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Stages St. Louis
Outstanding musical director: Jeffrey Richard Carter, "Bonnie & Clyde," New Line Theatre
Outstanding ensemble: "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Stages St. Louis
Outstanding supporting actress: Sara Kapner, "The Addams Family," the Muny
Outstanding supporting actor: Rob McClure, "Hello, Dolly!," the Muny
Outstanding actress: Lavonne Byers, "Cabaret," Stray Dog Theatre
Outstanding actor: Ben Nordstrom, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Stages St. Louis
Outstanding director: Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy, "Bonnie & Clyde," New Line Theatre
Outstanding production: "Seussical," the Muny

DESIGN AWARDS TO PLAYS (comedies and dramas)
Outstanding set design: Michael Ganio, "Other Desert Cities," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding costume design: Susan Branch Towne, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding lighting design: Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding sound design: Barry G. Funderburg, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

DESIGN AWARDS (musicals)
Outstanding set design: Robert Mark Morgan, "Seussical," the Muny
Outstanding costume design: Leon Dobkowski, "Seussical," the Muny
Outstanding lighting design: Rob Denton, "Seussical," the Muny

ADDITIONAL AWARDS
Outstanding new play: Rebecca Gilman, "Soups, Strews and Casseroles: 1976," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Special award for a body of work: Donna Northcott, founder and artistic director, St. Louis Shakespeare
Special award for a body of work: Agnes Wilcox, founder and artistic director, Prison Performing Arts