The St. Louis Theater Circle announces its 2022 awards ceremony

[NOTE: Much of this information comes from yesterday's St. Louis Theater Circle press release. Any opinions expressed, on the other hand, are mine alone.]

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.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of April 12, 2021

Now including both on-line and live events during the pandemic. To get your event listed here, send an email to calendar [at] stageleft.org.

Arts for Life presents an on-demand video stream of their fifth annual Theatre Mask Awards, honoring excellence in community theatre productions during 2020, on their YouTube channel. Act Two Theatre’s production of the farce “Who’s in Bed with the Butler?” leads this year’s Theatre Mask Awards nominations with nine. Alton Little Theater, with its two productions of “Inherit the Wind” and “The Miracle Worker,” earned 12 nominations in total – six for each. Two classic comedies by Clayton Community Theatre, “The Philadelphia Story,” and Monroe Actors Stage Company, “The Solid Gold Cadillac,” both received eight nominations apiece. Arts For Life announced the TMA nominations on March 12, during the nonprofit organization’s first-ever virtual trivia night. For more information: www.artsforlife.org

The Black Mirror Theatre Company presents Nuts and Bolts: Playwriting 101, an interactive, 6-week introductory class on Zoom, Thursdays from 7 to 9 pm through May 6. "Are you interested in writing your first short play, improving your playwriting basics or simply joining a short-term writing group to give your skills a spring work out?Join local playwright Michelle Zielinski in an exploration of the elements that make a good play." For more information, send emtil to blackmirrortheatrestl [at] gmail.com

Home

The Black Rep presents Home by Samm-Art Williams, recorded at Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus and streaming on demand from Thursday, April 15, through April 25. "Directed by Producing Director Ron Himes, Home tells the story of farm boy Cephus Miles who has inherited the family farm. He is content working the land until the girl he loves leaves for college and marries someone else. After a stint in prison for his opposition to the Vietnam War, he moves to the big city where he enjoys the fast-paced city life. His return to North Carolina, the farm, and the girl, reveals the true meaning of Home." For more information: http://theblackrep.org

The Blue Strawberry presents Open Mic Night with Sean Skrbec and Patrick White Sundays at 7 pm. "Come on down and sing, come on down to play, or come on down to listen and enjoy." The club is operating under a "COVID careful" arrangement with restricted indoor capacity, mask requirements, and other precautions. The Blue Strawberry is on North Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

The Blue Strawberry presents There's a Spring in My Step with singer/songwriter/conductor John McDaniel on Friday, April 16, at 7:30 pm. "Join St. Louis's own John McDaniel, Grammy and Emmy Award winner, as he leaps into Spring with songs and stories from his years on Broadway and television." The club is operating under a "COVID careful" arrangement with restricted indoor capacity, mask requirements, and other precautions. The show will also be available as a live video stream. The Blue Strawberry is on North Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Sister City Circus

Circus Harmony in St. Louis and Circus Circuli in Stuttgart, St. Louis's German sister city, present Sister City Circus, on Circus Harmony’s YouTube page.  "Through a series of online meetings, workshops, and classes the two troupes created 6 different circus acts and then filmed them at iconic architectural locations in each of their cities." This and many other Circus Harmony videos are available at the Circus Harmony YouTube channel.

Circus Harmony celebrates World Circus Day on Saturday, April 17, with performances from from 12- 2 and 6-7 pm outside of Steve’s Hot Dogs at 3457 Magnolia Avenue. "You need to mention Circus Harmony when you order for a portion of your purchase to support us. It also counts if you do an online order through Steve's website! Plus, if you go next door to the Tik Tok Tavern, and mention our name when you get something there, they are also participating in this Word Circus Day celebration in support of Circus Harmony!" For more information: circusharmony.org.

Fly North Theatricals presents three new free digital series. Their new digital line up includes The Spotlight Series, the Grown-Up Theatre Kids Podcast, and Gin and the Tonic. The Spotlight Series highlights the Fly North family of students and actors performing songs from previous FNT shows. In the Grown-Up Theatre Kids podcast you can join Colin Healy and Bradley Rohlf every other Friday as they explore life after drama club and what it means to make a living in theatre far from the lights of broadway. Gin and the Tonic is a "reckless unpacking of music history’s weirdest stories hosted by Colin Healy.” The Spotlight Series and Gin and the Tonic are available at the Fly North Theatricals YouTube channel and the Grown-Up Theatre Kids podcast can also be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Sticher, other podcast platforms. All three are updated on a bi-weekly (every other week) basis.

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents A Fistful of Hollers through May 8. "Gun slingers, dance hall girls, cowboys, gold diggers, cowboy boots and ten-gallon-hats will abound. Rowdy cowboys will duel to the death as the crooked sheriff watches with glee. But none of these characters are as dangerous as Nasty Nate, he’s the orneriest gun in the west and word is that he’s going to be stirring up trouble at the Lemp Mansion." The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

Moonstone Theatre Company presents Moonstone Connections, a series of in-depth interviews with arts leaders by company founder Sharon Hunter. New episodes air the third Tuesday of each month; see linktr.ee/moonstoneconnections for more information.

The Muny presents Attuned: Cast Me at the Muny, a nine-part podcast that "showcases audition tips and funny stories, while offering an inside look at what makes casting a Muny show so challenging." The series is available on demand at the Classic 107.3 web site. For more information: classic1073.org/podcasts

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presenss Belonging in Opera: Learning from Our Past, Engaging with Our Future, an online symposium Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, April 13th. "Explore the rich canon of Black composers and engage in discussion about inclusion and equity within opera with current Black composers, artists, and administrators. Led by Dr. Naomi André, University of Michigan professor and author of Black Opera: History, Power, Engagement, this educational and inspiring series is free to all and will be livestreamed on OTSL’s Facebook and YouTube channels." For more information: opera-stl.org/belonging

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, in collaboration with Baltimore Center Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, The Public Theater and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, present Play at Home, a series of micro-commissioned short plays from some of the American theatre's most exciting and prominent playwrights. These new plays – which all run 10 minutes or less – are available for the public to download, read and perform at home for free at playathome.org.

Adena Varner and family

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents a live video stream of the WiseWrite Digital Play Festival running until the end of the Rep's 2020-2021 season. “Step into the imagination of three young playwrights as The Rep presents professional readings of their new plays.” The production is directed by Adena Varner, the Rep's Director of Learning and Community Engagement. For more information: repstl.org.

Deal Orlandersmith in
After the Flood

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and All Arts present Until the Flood, written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith, via on-demand streaming. "On August 9, 2014, Darren Wilson, a white police officer, shot and killed Michael Brown, an African American teenager in Ferguson, Missouri. The shooting ignited weeks of social unrest, propelled the Black Lives Matter movement and prompted a controversial investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Celebrated writer, performer and Pulitzer Prize finalist Dael Orlandersmith traveled to St. Louis and conducted interviews with dozens of people who were grievously shaken by Brown’s shooting and the turbulent aftermath. From these intimate conversations, Orlandersmith created eight unforgettable characters who embody a community struggling to come to terms with the personal damage caused by these events." For more information: allarts.org

R-S Theatrics presents While the Ghostlight Burns, a virtual discussion series featuring R-S Artistic Director Sarah Lynne Holt in conversation with St. Louis theatre artists, Mondays at 7 pm.  Conversations will be archived at the R-S Theatrics YouTube channel. For more information: r-stheatrics.com/while-the-ghostlight-burns.html

Come Together

The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival presents streaming videos from the SHAKE20 festival, including re-imagined, condensed versions of classic Shakespeare plays and new takes on old favorites like Joe Hanrahan's Come Together, at the Shakespeare Festival Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/STLShakesFest/videos

SATE, in collaboration with COCA and Prison Performing Arts, presents Project Verse: Creativity in the Time of Quarantine. Project Verse presents two new plays: Quatrains in Quarantine by e.k. doolin and Dream On, Black Girl: Reflections in Quarantine by Maxine du Maine. The performances are streamed free of charge on SATE’s website and Facebook page. For more information: slightlyoff.org.

Classic Mystery Game

SATE also offers streaming performances of the shows originally scheduled for live 2020 productions: The Mary Shelley Monster Show, As You Like It (produced for SHAKE20, Project Verse, and Classic Mystery Game. The shows are available on their YouTube channel.

 

Looking for auditions and other artistic opportunities? Check out the St. Louis Auditions site.

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's Events Calendar.

Would you like to be on the radio? KDHX, 88.1 FM needs theatre reviewers. If you're 18 years or older, knowledgeable in this area, have practical theatre experience (acting, directing, writing, technical design, etc.), have good oral and written communications skills and would like to become one of our volunteer reviewers, send an email describing your experience and interests to chuck at kdhx.org. Please include a sample review of something you've seen recently.

Virtually Yours: The St. Louis Theater Circle Awards take to the Internet

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do a lot of things in this country, especially in the performing arts. That's certainly true of the St. Louis Theater Circle, the organization of local theatre critics, of which I am a member.

This year, for the first time since we founded the organization in 2012, we've been obliged to cancel our annual awards ceremony--which has become known as the "St. Louis theatre prom" because of how gussied up all of us get for it--and move it to where so much our activity has gone these days: the Internet.

The St. Louis Theater Circle in 2017

This year the Circle's gala event, originally scheduled for March 30, 2020 at the Loretto-Hilton Center, was turned into a Facebook-based webcast by HEC Media. Normally a full evening event with food, drink, and live entertainment, the ceremony this year was short and to the point, running just over 30 minutes. It aired "live" on Tuesday, April 7th, and can still be seen at the Facebook link above.

Awards were given in 31 categories covering comedies, dramas and musicals, as well as two categories for opera. In addition, Ken and Nancy Kranzberg received a special award for their philanthropic contributions to the arts and theater in the St. Louis area, including many developments in Grand Center.

As a volunteer staffer at KDHX, I was happy to see that. The Kranzbergs have been very good to us; we would not be in Grand Center ourselves right now without their help.

New Jewish Theatre led the way with six awards while Max and Louie Productions' performance of Indecent copped five. Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis for its production of A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur got four, with the rest distributed among other local companies large and small. Altogether, a total of 21 productions and 14 companies were recognized. This year there were also nominees from two companies, Black Mirror Theatre and The Q Collective, which were represented for the first time. Each company received an award for outstanding achievement.

Here's the complete list of honorees. Personally, I was happy to see Union Avenue Opera's La Bohème get the nod; it was a fine production, one of the best I have seen.

Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy
A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Kelley Weber, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Patrick Blindauer, Love's Labors Lost, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy (tie)
Katie Kleiger, Pride and Prejudice, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Maggie Wininger, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy
Will Bonfiglio, Fully Committed, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Director of a Comedy
Kari Ely, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis

Outstanding Production of a Comedy
Brighton Beach Memoirs, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama
Indecent, Max and Louie Productions

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama
Carly Uding, Translations, Black Mirror Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
J. Samuel Davis, District Merchants, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Actress in a Drama
Donna Weinsting, Salt, Root and Roe, Upstream Theater

Outstanding Actor in a Drama
Gary Wayne Barker, District Merchants, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Director of a Drama
Joanne Gordon, Indecent, Max and Louie Productions

Outstanding Production of a Drama
Indecent, Max and Louie Productions

Outstanding Set Design in a Play
Margery and Peter Spack, Brighton Beach Memoirs, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design in a Play
Felia Davenport, District Merchants, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play
Patrick Huber, Indecent, Max and Louie Productions

Outstanding Sound Design Phillip Evans, Indecent, Max and Louie Productions

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical
Mary Engelbreit and Paige Hathaway, Matilda, The Muny

Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical
Sarah Porter, La Cage aux Folles, New Line Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical
Sean M. Savoie, Man of La Mancha, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Musical Director
Charles Creath, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, The Black Rep

Outstanding Choreographer
Dexandro Montalvo, Such Sweet Thunder, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Big Muddy Dance Company, Jazz St. Louis, Nine Network of Public Media

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
Matilda, The Muny

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Taylor Louderman, Kinky Boots, The Muny

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Tielere Cheatem, La Cage aux Folles, New Line Theatre

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kendra Kassebaum, Guys and Dolls, The Muny

Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Luke Steingruby, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Q Collective

Outstanding Director of a Musical
Michael Hamilton, Man of La Mancha, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Production of a Musical
Such Sweet Thunder, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Big Muddy Dance Company, Jazz St. Louis, Nine Network of Public Media

Outstanding New Play
Nonsense and Beauty, by Scott C. Sickles, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Achievement in Opera (tie) Terence Blanchard and Kasi Lemmons, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Roland Wood, Rigoletto, Opera Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Production of an Opera La Bohème, Union Avenue Opera

Special Award
Ken and Nancy Kranzberg

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 Media); Chuck Lavazzi, KDHX and Stage Left; Sarah Bryan Miller, St.Louis Post-Dispatch; Judith Newmark, judyacttwo.com; Ann Lemons Pollack, stlouiseats.typepadcom; Tanya Seale, Broadwayworld.com; Lynn Venhaus, PopLifeSTL.com; Bob Wilcox, Two on the Aisle (HEC Media); and Calvin Wilson, St.Louis Post-Dispatch. Eleanor Mullin, local actress and arts supporter, is the group's administrator.

For more information, contact stltheatercircle at sbcglobal.net or 'like' The St. Louis Theater Circle on Facebook.

[Thanks to TC Executive Board member Mark Bretz for much of the information in this article.]

This article originally appeared at 88.1 KDHX, where Chuck Lavazzi is the senior performing arts critic.

The party's over: a look back at the Fourth Annual St. Louis Theater Circle Awards

The St. Louis Theater Circle critics at the 2016 awards

So, (to paraphrase Mr. Kipling a bit) the tumult and the shouting have died after the Fourth Annual St. Louis Theater Circle Awards last night. The general consensus appears to be that we have really hit our stride with this one, with a new and very classy venue at the Skip Viragh Center on the Chaminade campus, slick media production from HEC-TV, and an all-around positive vibe from everyone in attendance, regardless of who did or didn't get an award or nomination.

Speaking of the awards, though, here's the official list of who got what. For those of you keeping score, the companies that got the largest number of awards were Stages St. Louis and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis with five awards each. Next were Opera Theatre of St. Louis and St. Louis Actors' Studio with four each; Mustard Seed Theatre, Shakespeare Festival, and Upstream Theater with two each; and one each for Insight Theatre Company, Max and Louie Productions, Metro Theatre Company, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble, The Black Rep, Union Avenue Opera, and West End Players Guild.

As someone who reviews classical music as well as theatre, I was struck by how well our local opera companies did this time around. I thought it was especially notable that the awards for outstanding actor/actress in a musical both went to opera productions. That says something, I think, about the dedication local opera companies have to the theatrical aspects of their craft.

The event was broadcast live on HEC-TV and, for those of you who missed it, will be available on their web site shortly. Thanks to them for all their great work on this project.

Congratulations are also due to some Theater Circle members who go above and beyond the call of duty in helping put this whole shebang together. Specifically:

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch critic Judith Newmark for her script
• Andrea Torrance of St. Louis Theater Snob for pulling all the production photos together
• Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky for their work with HEC-TV
• Executive Board member Mark Bretz of Ladue News for his tireless work behind the scenes, along with Judith and our administrator Eleanor Mullin
• The original Funny Lady herself, Donna Weinsting, for her hilarious opening monologue

It was fun, folks. See you next year. And meanwhile, keep reading our reviews. And here's the complete list:

Category	Person	Show	Company
Supporting Actress in a Comedy	Betsy Bowman	Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?	St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Supporting Actor in a Comedy	Michael Brightman	Mr. Marmalade	West End Players Guild
Actress in a Comedy	Kari Ely	Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?	St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Actor in a Comedy	Jeremy Webb	Buyer and Cellar	Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Lighting Design in a Play	Peter E. Sargent	Angel Street	Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Sound Design in a Play	Greg Mackender and Rusty Wandall	Antony and Cleopatra	Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Costume Design in a Play	Beth Ashby	An Invitation Out	Mustard Seed Theatre
Set Design in a Play	Wilson Chin	Angel Street	Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Supporting Actress in a Drama	Jennifer Theby-Quinn	Afflicted: Daughters of Salem	Metro Theater Company
Supporting Actor in a Drama	John Flack	Sublime Intimacy	Max & Louie Productions
Actress in a Drama	Amy Loui	The Amish Project	Mustard Seed Theatre
Actor in a Drama	J. Samuel Davis	Bashir Lazhar	Upstream Theater
New Play	Nancy Bell	The World Begun	Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Musical Director	George Manahan	Emmeline	Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Choreographer	Keith Tyrone Williams	Once on This Island	The Black Rep
Supporting Actress in a Musical	Zoe Vonder Haar	The Full Monty	Stages St. Louis
Supporting Actor in a Musical	Joneal Joplin	The Fantasticks	Insight Theatre Company
Lighting Design in a Musical	Christopher Akerlind	Emmeline	Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Set Design in a Musical	Shoko Kambara	The Barber of	Seville Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Costume Design in a Musical	Brad Musgrove	Anything Goes	Stages St. Louis
Actress in a Musical	Joyce El- Khoury	Emmeline	Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Actor in a Musical	Jordan Shanahan	Rigoletto	Union Avenue Opera
Ensemble in a Comedy		The 39 Steps	Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble
Ensemble in a Drama		All the Way	Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Ensemble in a Musical		Anything Goes Stages	St. Louis
Director of a Comedy	John Contini	Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?	St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Director of a Drama	Patrick Siler	The Rime of the Ancient Mariner	Upstream Theater
Director of a Musical	Michael Hamilton	Anything Goes	Stages St. Louis
Production of a Comedy		Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?	St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Production of a Drama		All the Way	Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Production of a Musical		Anything Goes	Stages St. Louis

St. Louis theatre circle announces nominees for 2015 awards

The St. Louis Theater Circle at the 2015 awards

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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.

About those video cameras: the whole shebang is being broadcast and webcast live on HEC-TV Charter channel 989, U-Verse channel 99, and at hectv.org. So while we hope you'll join us in person, you can always settle down with some popcorn and watch us on TV. A previously taped program about the awards, prepared by HEC producer Julie Winkle, will be shown on HEC immediately preceding the festivities.

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