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| The St. Louis Theater Circle at the 2015 awards |
The joint will be jumpin' on Monday, March 21, 2016, at the 700-seat Skip Viragh Center on the Chaminade campus. There will be bright lights, video cameras, and a red carpet for the celebs. What's the buzz? Is it the Emmys, Oscars, Grammys, or maybe the Hugos? No to all. It's something uniquely St. Louis.
It will, in fact, be the third annual St. Louis Theater Circle Awards. Created in 2012, the St. Louis Theater Circle is a volunteer organization whose voting members are all theatre critics for local media outlets and web sites, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Vital Voice, KMOX, KDHX (yes, that would be me; also Tina Farmer), Ladue News, and ALIVE Magazine.
Our mission is to honor St. Louis professional theatre by saluting local actors, directors, and designers in all areas of theatre. The awards are designed to focus attention on the dozens of area theater companies which showcase the work of the work of those theatre professionals. 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. See below for a complete list of nominees.
We're doing it not with a big, elaborate and expensive formal gala but with a party to which everyone is invited and for which the admission price is a mere $15 ("Cheap," to quote Alfred E. Neuman). Tickets are available in advance at brownpapertickets.com. A pre-ceremony buffet and open bar will be situated just outside the theater entrance. Food and drinks will be available on a cash basis, but the buffet has to be ordered and paid for in advance. Check out the With Love Catering site for details or call 314-637-7907.
That's a deal even the late Steve Mizerany would have found hard to beat. Because, bottom line, the whole point of this is for us to get together with our fellow theatre professionals and audience members and celebrate the lively and diverse scene here in St. Louis.
Local composer and pianist Joe Dreyer (whose latest cabaret show is part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival) will provide musical accompaniment throughout the evening. Professional photographer Jill Ritter Lindberg will photograph it all.
As Mr. Mizerany often said, "come on down!"
Some interesting notes, courtesy of fellow Circle member Lynn Venhaus at the Belleville News Democrat:
- The opera category received 6 nominations, the most yet: Opera Theatre with 5 (3 for Emmeline, 1 for The Barber of Seville, and 1 for La Rondine) and Union Avenue Opera with 1 for Rigoletto (which was one of the best opera productions I've seen anywhere, including Opera Theatre and Chicago Lyric).
- The top individual vote getters were Rob Lippert with 3 (two set designs at New Line and one at Stray Dog) and Rusty Wandall with 3 (two sound designs for The Rep and one for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis).
- Scott Miller received 2 directing nods, Em Piro two acting nods and Eileen Engel 2 - one for costumes, one for performance).
- The company with the single largest number of nominations was the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- The most-nominated musical was "Anything Goes" at Stages with Stray Dog Theatre's "Mystery of Edwin Drood" a very close second (and both outstanding shows in my opinion).
- Speaking of musicals, the two companies with the largest number of nominations were The Muny (15) and Stray Dog (14). Given that Stray Dog's budget is a tiny fraction of the Muny's, I that Stray Dog can be very proud of that. New Line and Stages shared second place with 11 each.
- There were no special awards this year. The Special Awards category is one that we decided could have as many or as few recipients as needed (including none) in any given year.
The St. Louis Theater Circle Award nominees for 2015:
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Betsy Bowman, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Shinnerrie Jackson, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Erin Kelley, The Killing of Sister George, Max & Louie Productions
Shannon Nara, The Killing of Sister George, Max & Louie Productions
Jeanitta Perkins, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler, St. Louis Shakespeare
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy
John Bratkowski, The World Begun, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Michael Brightman, Mr. Marmalade, West End Players Guild
Jeffrey C. Hawkins, Peter and the Starcatcher, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Pete Winfrey, Bad Jews, New Jewish Theatre
John Wolbers, Wild Oats, St. Louis Shakespeare
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy
Lavonne Byers, The Killing of Sister George, Max & Louie Productions
Kari Ely, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Suzanne Grodner, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Linda Kennedy, The Gin Game, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Em Piro, Bad Jews, New Jewish Theatre
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy
John Feltch, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Peter Mayer, The Gin Game, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Antonio Rodriguez, Bad Jews, New Jewish Theatre
William Roth, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Jeremy Webb, Buyer and Cellar, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play
Joseph Clapper, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Upstream Theater
Patrick Huber, Sublime Intimacy, Max & Louie Productions
Bess Moynihan, One Flea Spare, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble
Peter E. Sargent, Angel Street, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Nathan Schroeder, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, R-S Theatrics
Outstanding Sound Design in a Play
Paige Brubeck and Evan Sult, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Upstream Theater
Fitz Patton, All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Rusty Wandell, Angel Street, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Rusty Wandall, Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Rusty Wandall, I and You, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Costume Design in a Play
Beth Ashby, An Invitation Out, Mustard Seed Theatre
Dorothy Marshall Englis, The Winslow Boy, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
JC Krajicek, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler, St. Louis Shakespeare
Cyndi Lohrmann, The Killing of Sister George, Max & Louie Productions
David Toser, Angel Street, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Set Design in a Play
Wilson Chin, Angel Street, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Scott C. Neale, Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Paul Shortt, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Peter and Margery Spack, Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Mark Wilson, An Invitation Out, Mustard Seed Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama
Kelly Taffe, Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Jennifer Theby-Quinn, Afflicted: Daughters of Salem, Metro Theater Company
Cassia Thompson, Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Elizabeth Van Pelt, Rapture, Blister, Burn, West End Players Guild
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
Will Cobbs, Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
John Flack, Sublime Intimacy, Max & Louie Productions
Andrew Kuhlman, One Flea Spare, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble
Michael James Reed, All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Chris Tipp, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, Stray Dog Theatre
Outstanding Actress in a Drama
Shirine Babb, Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Emily Baker, Sight Unseen, New Jewish Theatre
Danielle Carlacci, I and You, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Amy Loui, The Amish Project, Mustard Seed Theatre
Lisa Tejero, The Kiss, Upstream Theater
Outstanding Actor in a Drama
J. Samuel Davis, Bashir Lazhar, Upstream Theater
Brian Dykstra, All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Daniel Morgan Shelley, Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Jerry Vogel, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Upstream Theater
Eric Dean White, The Kiss, Upstream Theater
Outstanding New Play
Nancy Bell, The World Begun, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Shualee Cook, An Invitation Out, Mustard Seed Theatre
Neil LaBute, Kandahar, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Ken Page, Sublime Intimacy, Max & Louie Productions
Alec Wild, Off the Record, OnSite Theatre
Outstanding Musical Director
Jeffrey Richard Carter, The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre
Charles Creath, Once on This Island, The Black Rep
Michael Horsley, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Muny
George Manahan, Emmeline, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Chris Petersen, Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre
Outstanding Choreographer
Stephen Bourneuf, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis
Denis Jones, Holiday Inn, The Muny
Dan Knechtges and Jessica Hartman, Hairspray, The Muny
Susan Stroman and Ginger Thatcher, Oklahoma!, The Muny
Keith Tyrone Williams, Once on This Island, The Black Rep
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Eileen Engel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre
Heather Headley, Into the Woods, The Muny
Sydney Mancasola, La rondine, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Sarah Porter, The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre
Zoe Vonder Haar, The Full Monty, Stages St. Louis
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Dan Fenaughty, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis
Joneal Joplin, The Fantasticks, Insight Theatre Company
Rob McClure, Beauty and the Beast, The Muny
Milton Craig Nealy, The Full Monty, Stages St. Louis
Sam Weber, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Muny
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical
Christopher Akerlind, Emmeline, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Tyler Duenow, Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre
John Lasiter, Oklahoma!, The Muny
Sean M. Savoie, Once on This Island, The Black Rep
Sean M. Savoie, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis
Outstanding Set Design in a Musical
Shoko Kambara, The Barber of Seville, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Rob Lippert, Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre
Rob Lippert, Heathers, New Line Theatre
Rob Lippert, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre
James Wolk, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis
Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical
Eileen Engel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre
Andrea Lauer, Into the Woods, The Muny
Brad Musgrove, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis
Sarah Porter, The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre
Alejo Vietti, Holiday Inn, The Muny
Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Julie Cardia, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis
Shannon Cothran, Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre
Erin Dilly, Into the Woods, The Muny
Joyce El-Khoury, Emmeline, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Anna Skidis, Heathers, New Line Theatre
Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Andy Christopher, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Muny
Ben Davis, Oklahoma!, The Muny
Evan Fornachon, Heathers, New Line Theatre
Gerry Love, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre
Jordan Shanahan, Rigoletto, Union Avenue Opera
Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy
Bad Jews, New Jewish Theatre
Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, R-S Theatrics
The 39 Steps, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Wild Oats, St. Louis Shakespeare
Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama
All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
One Flea Spare, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble
Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
The Winslow Boy, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis
Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre
Into the Woods, The Muny
Heathers, New Line Theatre
The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre
Outstanding Director of a Comedy
John Contini, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Michael Evan Haney, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Sydnie Grosberg Ronga, Bad Jews, New Jewish Theatre
Jacqueline Thompson, The World Begun, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Kirsten Wylder, The 39 Steps, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble
Outstanding Director of a Drama
Deanna Jent, The Amish Project, Mustard Seed Theatre
Jane Page, I and You, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Ellie Schwetye, One Flea Spare, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble
Patrick Siler, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Upstream Theater
Steven Woolf, All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Justin Been, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre
Michael Hamilton, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis
Scott Miller, The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre
Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy, Heathers, New Line Theatre
Rob Ruggiero, Oklahoma!, The Muny
Outstanding Production of a Comedy
The Gin Game, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
The Killing of Sister George, Max & Louie Productions
The 39 Steps, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Wild Oats, St. Louis Shakespeare
Outstanding Production of a Drama
All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
I and You, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
One Flea Spare, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Upstream Theater
The Winslow Boy, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Production of a Musical
Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis
Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre
Heathers, New Line Theatre
The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre
The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre
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