Kevin Kline Awards
The Kevin Kline Awards were started in 2006, to recognize outstanding achievement in professional theatre in the Greater St. Louis area. The awards are sponsored by PTAC, the Professional Theatre Awards Council, and were named in honor of Kevin Kline, a St. Louis native who has been the recipient of both Tony and Academy Awards.
Eligibility and judging
In order for a play to be considered for a Kevin Kline Award, it must:- Be produced within the St. Louis metro area
- Include at least six performances
- Have paid those who work on the show, including both actors and crew
The first award ceremony was held on March 20, 2006, in the Roberts Orpheum Theatre, and hosted by St. Louis-native Broadway actor Jason Danieley. Presenters included Kline, and St. Louis-born Broadway actor Ken Page. Kline received the first-ever Kevin Kline Award to be created, and was also told at the performance about the creation of the Kevin Kline Theater Ticket Fund, which will provide free tickets to area high school students.
The Kevin Kline Awards were suspended in June 2012 due to financial concerns.
2006 Awards
Outstanding Production of a Musical
- West Side Story, The Muny
Outstanding Production of a Play
- Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Director of a Musical
- Kevin Backstrom, West Side Story, The Muny
- Michael Hamilton, Footloose, Stages St. Louis
Outstanding Director of a Play
- Rob Ruggiero, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Musical Direction
- Kelsey Halbert, West Side Story, The Muny
Outstanding Choreography
- Dana Lewis, Footloose, Stages St. Louis
Outstanding Costume Design
- Reggie Ray, Crowns, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Lighting Design
- John Lasiter, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Set Design
- Christopher Pickart, The Tempest, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Outstanding Sound Design
- Ann Slayton & Robin Weatherall, The Tempest, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Outstanding New Play or Musical
- The Ensemble, So to Speak, Washington Avenue Players Project
Outstanding Ensemble in a Play
- Going to See the Elephant, Orange Girls
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
- West Side Story, The Muny
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
- Ben Nordstrom, Footloose, Stages St. Louis
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
- Nat DeWolf, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
- Zoe Vonder Haar, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. Louis
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
- Michelle Hand, Separate Tables, Act Inc.
- Nancy Lewis, Going to See the Elephant, Orange Girls
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
- Ken Page, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Muny
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
- Gary Wayne Barker, Driving Miss Daisy, New Jewish Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
- Natascia Diaz, West Side Story, The Muny
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
- Brooke Edwards, Going to See the Elephant, Orange Girls
Outstanding Production for Young Audiences
- Bah! Humbug!, The Imaginary Theatre Company/The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
2011 Awards
- Outstanding Production for Young Audiences: Tie: Delilah’s Wish
- Tie: The Aristocats
- *A Peter Rabbit Tale
- *Amelia Earhart
- *The Nutcracker
- Outstanding New Play or Musical: David Slavitt, translator
- *Jami Brandli
- *Lee Patton Chiles
- *Sandra Marie Vago
- Outstanding Costume Design: John Inchiostro
- *JC Krajicek
- *Dorothy Marshall Englis
- *JC Krajicek
- *Jess Goldstein
- Outstanding Lighting Design: John Lasiter
- *Brian Sidney Bembridge
- *Matthew McCarthy
- *Matthew McCarthy
- Outstanding Set Design: David Gallo
- *Gianni Downs
- *Christopher M. Waller
- *Mark Halpin
- *Michael Heil
- Outstanding Sound Design: Tie: Josh Limpert
- Tie: Ann Slayton and Robin Weatherall
- Tie: Matthew Koch
- *Mic Pool
- Outstanding Ensemble in a Play: The Chosen
- *The 39 Steps
- *Outlying Islands
- *Hamlet
- *High
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play: Kari Ely
- *Kimiye Corwin
- *Colleen Backer
- *Patrese McClain
- *Kelley Ryan
- *Betsy Bowman
- *Susan Greenhill
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play: Evan Jonigkeit
- *Jerry Vogel
- *Bobby Miller
- *Richard Lewis
- *Aaron Orion Baker
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play: Kari Ely
- *Michelle Hand
- *Magan Wiles
- *Kathleen Turner
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play: Jim Butz
- *Jason Cannon
- *Scott McMaster
- *Drew Pannebacker
- *Alan Knoll
- Outstanding Director of a Play: Philip Boehm
- *Bruce Longworth
- *Doug Finlayson
- *Philip Boehm
- *Rob Ruggiero
- *Deanna Jent
- Outstanding Production of a Play: Hamlet
- *Outlying Islands
- *High
- *The Chosen
- Outstanding Director of Musical: Michael Hamilton
- *Ron Himes
- *Paul Blake
- *Marc Bruni
- *Edward Coffield
- Outstanding Choreography: Mary MacLeod
- *Lazette Rayford-O’Brien
- *Heather Beal
- *Suzanne Viverito
- Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical: Five Guys Named Moe
- *The Wild Party
- *Damn Yankees
- *Cats
- *Aristocats
- *Show Boat
- *State Fair
- *Last of the Red Hot Mamas
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical: Brandi Wooten
- *Sharisa Whatley
- *Jo Ann Hawkins White
- *Johanna Elkana-Hale
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical: Michel Bell
- *Joneal Joplin
- *Lara Teeter
- *Kevin Loreque
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical: Ashley Brown
- *Vanessa Rubin
- *Stephanie J. Block
- *Leah Horowitz
- *Hollie Howard
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Ben Nordstrom
- *Ben Nordstrom
- *John Sparger
- *Jeffrey Pruett
- *Eric Kunze
- Outstanding Musical Direction: Charles Creath
- *Sallie duMaine
- *Michael Horsley
- *Lisa Campbell Albert
- *Ben Whiteley
- *Catherine Matejka
- *Henry Palkes
- Outstanding Production of a Musical': Show Boat
- *Five Guys Named Moe
- *Big River
- *Damn Yankees
- *Promises, Promises
- *Sound of Music
- *State Fair
2012 Awards
- Outstanding Production for Young Audiences: The Giver, Metro Theater Company and Edison Theatre
- *Chanticleer!, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis/Imaginary Theatre Company
- *Trail of Tears, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis/Imaginary Theatre Company
- *Cruel to be Kind?, Shakespeare Festival Education Tour
- *Elves and the Shoemaker, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis/Imaginary Theatre Company
- Outstanding New Play or Musical: Deanna Jent, Falling, Mustard Seed Theatre
- *Deanna Jent, Till We Have Faces, Mustard Seed Theatre
- *Samm Art-Williams, The Montford Point Marine, The Black Rep
- *David L. Williams, The Winners, HotCity Theatre
- *Carter Lewis, Hit-Story, OnSite Theatre
- *Lucia Laragione, English translation byPhilip Boehm, Cooking With Elisa, Upstream Theater
- Outstanding Costume Design: Dorothy Marshall Englis, The Secret Garden, Stages St. Louis
- *Dorothy Marshall Englis, The Vibrator Play, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Garth Dunbar, Awake and Sing!, The New Jewish Theatre
- *Michele Siler, The Death of Atahualpa, Upstream Theater
- *Brad Muskgrove, Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, Stages St. Louis
- *Teresa Doggett, The Royal Family, Act Inc.
- *Lou Bird, Victor/Victoria, Stages St. Louis
- *JC Krajicek, Palmer Park, St. Louis Actors’ Studio
- Outstanding Lighting Design: Robert M. Wierzel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Josh Smith, The Immigrant, The New Jewish Theatre
- *Matthew McCarthy, The Secret Garden, Stages St. Louis
- *Phil Monat, Red, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Matthew McCarthy, Victor/Victoria, Stages St. Louis
- *Kirk Bookman & Steve O’Shea, God of Carnage, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Outstanding Set Design: *Tie: Gianni Downs, The Vibrator Play, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Tie: Scott C. Neale, Awake and Sing!, The New Jewish Theatre
- Tie: Michael Ganio, Red, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Scott C. Neale, Cooking With Elisa, Upstream Theater
- *Regina Garcia, Ruined, The Black Rep
- *Scott C. Neale, The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
- Outstanding Sound Design: Daniel Baker & Aaron Meicht, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Rusty Wandall, Macbeth, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Josh Limpert, The Immigrant, The New Jewish Theatre
- *Rusty Wandall, Red, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Rusty Wandall, Circle Mirror Transformation, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Outstanding Ensemble Play: Tie: The Immigrant, The New Jewish Theatre
- Tie: Circle Mirror Transformation, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *The Vibrator Play, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *The Real McCoy, The Black Rep
- *The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play: Peggy Billo, The Immigrant, The New Jewish Theatre
- *Linda Kennedy, Pericles, The Black Rep
- *Emily Baker, Just Desserts, St. Louis Actors' Studio
- *Julie Venegoni, Savage in Limbo, OnSite Theatre
- *Linda Kennedy, Blood Wedding, Upstream Theater
- *Hayley Treide, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play: Gary Wayne Barker, The Immigrant, The New Jewish Theatre
- *Bob Harvey, The Price, Avalon Theatre Company
- *Chauncy Thomas, The Real McCoy, The Black Rep
- *Jason Cannon, Awake and Sing!, The New Jewish Theatre
- *Jonathan Foster, Falling, Mustard Seed Theatre
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play: Brooke Edwards, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, The Non-Prophet Theatre Company
- *Andrea Frye, Ruined, The Black Rep
- *Kari Ely, Sirens, The New Jewish Theatre
- *Michelle Hand, Falling, Mustard Seed Theatre
- *Susan Louise O’Connor, God of Carnage, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play: Bob Thibaut, The Immigrant, The New Jewish Theatre
- *Gary Barker, Shadowlands, Mustard Seed Theatre
- *J. Samuel Davis, Ruined, The Black Rep
- *John Pierson, Closer, St. Louis Actors' Studio
- *Bobby Miller, Awake and Sing!, The New Jewish Theatre
- *Brian Dykstra, Red, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Danny McCarthy, Circle Mirror Transformation, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Outstanding Director of a Play: Steven Woolf, Red, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Andrew Moodie, The Real McCoy, The Black Rep
- *Edward Coffield, The Immigrant, The New Jewish Theatre
- *Stuart Carden, Circle Mirror Transformation, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Jeremy B. Cohen, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Outstanding Production of a Play: Tie: Red, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Tie: Awake and Sing!, The New Jewish Theatre
- *The Vibrator Play, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *The Immigrant, The New Jewish Theatre
- *God of Carnage, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Circle Mirror Transformation, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Outstanding Musical Direction: Tie: Lisa Campbell-Albert, The Secret Garden, Stages St. Louis
- Tie: Joe Schoen, Godspell, Mustard Seed Theatre
- *Michael Sebastian, Beehive, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Charles Creath, Black Pearl Sings!, The Black Rep
- *Michael Horsley, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Muny
- Outstanding Choreography: Pepper Clyde, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Muny
- *Kelli Barclay, Singin’ in the Rain, The Muny
- *Dana Lewis, The Secret Garden, Stages St. Louis
- *Dana Lewis, Victor/Victoria, Stages St. Louis
- *Alicia Gbaho, Black Nativity, The Black Rep
- Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Muny
- *Beehive, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Legally Blonde, The Muny
- *Singin’ in the Rain, The Muny
- *Godspell, Mustard Seed Theatre
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical: Melinda Crown, Victor/Victoria, Stages St. Louis
- *Jessica Vaccaro, A Chorus Line, Stages St. Louis
- *Michele Ragusa, Singin’ in the Rain, The Muny
- *Julia Cardia, The Secret Garden, Stages St. Louis
- *Amy Loui, Godspell, Mustard Seed Theatre
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical: Curtis Holbrook, Singin’ in the Rain, The Muny
- *Ken Page, Little Shop of Horrors, The Muny
- *Lewis J. Stadlen, Bye Bye Birdie, The Muny
- *Steve Judkins, Victor/Victoria, Stages St. Louis
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical: Alexis Kinney, The Secret Garden, Stages St. Louis
- *Lisa Estridge, Beehive, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Debra Walton, Beehive, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- *Denise Thimes, Black Pearl Sings!, The Black Rep
- *Alli Mauzey, Little Shop of Horrors, The Muny
- *Jenny Powers, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Muny
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Leigh Wakeford, Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, Stages St. Louis
- *Tony Yazbeck, Singin’ in the Rain, The Muny
- *James Bleecker, Thrill Me, Max & Louie Productions
- *David Schmittou, Victor/Victoria, Stages St. Louis
- Outstanding Director of a Musical: Deanna Jent, Godspell, Mustard Seed Theatre
- *Andrea Frye, Black Pearl Sings!, The Black Rep
- *Rick Conant, Singin’ in the Rain, The Muny
- *John Miller-Stephany, Little Shop of Horrors, The Muny
- *Mark Schneider, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Muny
- Outstanding Production of a Musical: Singin’ in the Rain, The Muny
- *The Secret Garden, Stages St. Louis
- *Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Muny
- *Victor/Victoria, Stages St. Louis
- *Godspell, Mustard Seed Theatre