This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 31, 2012 - Following a great 2011 with the off-Broadway optioning of artistic director Deanna Jent's "Falling," Mustard Seed Theatre also came out a big winner in this year's Kevin Kline Awards nominations. The nominations were announced tonight at an event at Tucci and Fresta Trattoria and Bar in Clayton.
Mustard Seed garnered a total of 10 nominations, three for "Falling" and five for "Godspell." The New Jewish Theatre received the most nominations for a single play, with eight nods for "The Immigrant" and 14 nominations in all. Several plays received seven nominations each, including: Stages St. Louis' "The Secret Garden" and "Victor/Victoria," and the Muny's "Singin' in the Rain."
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis received the most overall nominations for a total of 31.
Veteran actress Linda Kennedy and actor Gary Wayne Barker were the only actors to be nominated twice in this year's list. Kennedy is up for best supporting actress for both the Black Rep's "Pericles" and Upstream's "Blood Wedding." Baker is up for for his work in "The Immigrant" by New Jewish and "Shadowlands" by Mustard Seed.
This year's awards ceremony is scheduled for Monday April 2 in its usual location at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus.
To see last year's winners: Kevin Kline Award winners and to find what's coming up check out St. Louis Theater Productions.
Seventh Annual Kevin Kline Awards Nominees
Outstanding Production for Young Audiences
"The Giver," Metro Theatre Company & 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
"Till We Have Faces," Mustard Seed Theatre
"The Montford Point Marine," The Black Rep
"Falling," Mustard Seed Theatre
"The Winners," HotCity Theatre
"Hit-Story," OnSite Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design
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 Theatre
Brad Muskgrove, "Disney's 101 Dalmations," Stages St. Louis
Teresa Doggett, "The Royal Family," Act Inc.
Dorothy Marshall Englis, "The Secret Garden," Stages St. Louis
Lou Bird, "Victor/Victoria," Stages St. Louis
JC Krajicek, "Palmer Park," St. Louis Actors' Studio
Outstanding Lighting Design
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
Robert M. Wierzel, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Set Design
Scott C. Neale, "Cooking With Elisa," Upstream Theatre
Regina Garcia, "Ruined," The Black Rep
Gianni Downs, "The Vibrator Play," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Scott Neale, "Awake and Sing!," The New Jewish Theatre
Scott Neale, "The Taming of the Shrew," Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Michael Ganio, "Red," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Sound Design
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
-Daniel Baker & Aaron Meicht, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Ensemble Play
"The Vibrator Play," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
"The Real McCoy," The Black Rep
"The Immigrant," The New Jewish Theatre
"Circle Mirror Transformation," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Linda Kennedy, "Pericles," The Black Rep
Peggy Billo, "The Immigrant," The New Jewish Theatre
Emily Baker, "Just Desserts," St. Louis Actor's Studio
Julie Venegoni, "Savage in Limbo," OnSite Theatre
Linda Kennedy, "Blood Wedding," Upstream Theatre
Hayley Treide, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Bob Harvey, "The Price," Avalon Theatre Company
Chauncy Thomas, "The Real McCoy," The Black Rep
Jason Cannon, "Awake and Sing!," The New Jewish Theatre
Gary Wayne Barker, "The Immigrant," The New Jewish Theatre
Jonathan Foster, "Falling," Mustard Seed Theatre
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Andrea Frye, "Ruined," The Black Rep
Kari Ely, "Sirens," The New Jewish Theatre
Brooke Edwards, "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea," Non-Prophets
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
Gary Barker, "Shadowlands," Mustard Seed Theatre
J. Samuel Davis, "Ruined," The Black Rep
John Pierson, "Closer," St. Louis Actor's Studio
Bobby Miller, "Awake and Sing!," The New Jewish Theatre
Bob Thibaut, "The Immigrant," 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
Andrew Moodie, "The Real McCoy," The Black Rep
Edward Coffield, "The Immigrant," The New Jewish Theatre
Steven Woolf, "Red," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
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
"The Vibrator Play," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
"Awake and Sing!," The New Jewish Theatre
"The Immigrant," The New Jewish Theatre
"Red," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
"God of Carnage," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
"Circle Mirror Transformation," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outstanding Musical Direction
Michael Sebastian, "Beehive," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Charles Creath, "Black Pearl Sings!," The Black Rep
Lisa Campbell-Albert, "The Secret Garden," Stages St. Louis
Michael Horsley, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," The Muny
Joe Schoen, "Godspell," The Mustard Seed Theatre
Outstanding Choreography
Kelli Barclay, "Singin' in the Rain," The Muny
Dana Lewis, "The Secret Garden," Stages St. Louis
Pepper Clyde, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," The Muny
Dana Lewis, "Victor/Victoria," Stages St. Louis
Alicia Gbaho, "Black Nativity," The Black Rep
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
"Beehive," The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
"Legally Blonde," The Muny
"Singin' in the Rain," The Muny
"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," The Muny
"Godspell," The Mustard Seed Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Jessica Vaccaro, "A Chorus Line," Stages St. Louis
Michele Ragusa, "Singin' in the Rain," The Muny
Julia Cardia, "The Secret Garden," Stages St. Louis
Melinda Crown, "Victor/Victoria," Stages St. Louis
Amy Loui, "Godspell," The Mustard Seed Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Curtis Holbrock, "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
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
Alexis Kinney, "The Secret Garden," Stages St. Louis
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 Dalmations," 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
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
Deanna Jent, "Godspell," The Mustard Seed Theatre
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," The Mustard Seed Theatre
Contact Beacon staff writer Nancy Fowler. You can also follow her arts alerts on Twitter: @NFBeaconArts.
Nancy Fowler Beacon arts reporter
