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
Each nominee is reviewed by seven judges, who are drawn randomly from a pool of 49. Judges then give each production a numerical rating on each of the available categories (acting, directing, lighting, etc.) and submit their ballot within 24 hours of seeing the production. At the end of each year, the five productions with the highest score in each category are listed as the nominees, and the award goes to the one with the best score:
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
2012 Awards
References
External links
Official website Archived 2007-06-30 at the Wayback Machine
2007 nominees and recipients (.doc file)
2006 nominees and recipients
"Best of St. Louis Theatre Honored at March 20 Kevin Kline Awards", March 17, 2006, Playbill