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 areaInclude at least six performancesHave paid those who work on the show, including both actors and crewEach 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.
Outstanding Production of a Musical
Footloose, Stages St. LouisA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisHello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisMan of La Mancha, Stages St. LouisWest Side Story, The MunyOutstanding Production of a Play
Going to See the Elephant, Orange GirlsThe Merchant of Venice, New Jewish TheatreTake Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisThe Tempest, Shakespeare Festival of St. LouisValhalla, HotCity TheatreOutstanding Director of a Musical
Kevin Backstrom, West Side Story, The MunyRon Gibbs, Jesus Christ Superstar, The MunyMichael Hamilton, Footloose, Stages St. LouisMichael Hamilton, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisMichael Hamilton, Man of La Mancha, Stages St. LouisEdward Stern, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisOutstanding Director of a Play
Deanna Jent, Going to See the Elephant, Orange GirlsTom Martin, Lobby Hero, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisRob Ruggiero, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisWayne Salomon, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Spotlight TheatreRussell Treyz, The Tempest, Shakespeare Festival of St. LouisOutstanding Musical Direction
Lisa Campbell Albert, Man of La Mancha, Stages St. LouisTim Carpenter, Crowns, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisAl Fischer, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisKelsey Halbert, West Side Story, The MunyBen Whiteley, Beauty and the Beast, The MunyOutstanding Choreography
Kevin Backstrom, West Side Story, The MunyDana Lewis, Footloose, Stages St. LouisDana Lewis, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisJanet Watson, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisVivian Anderson-Watt and Theodore Jamison, Dancing on Air, HistoryonicsOutstanding Costume Design
Lou Bird, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisJennifer "JC" Carter, Dangerous Liaisons, St. Louis ShakespeareMichael J. McDonald, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisReggie Ray, Crowns, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisAustin Sanderson, The Tempest, Shakespeare Festival of St. LouisOutstanding Lighting Design
Christopher Edwards, Valhalla, HotCity TheatreDon Guy, The Tempest, Shakespeare Festival of St. LouisJohn Lasiter, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisMatthew McCarthy, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisMatthew McCarthy, Man of La Mancha, Stages St. LouisPeter Sargent, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisOutstanding Set Design
John Ezell, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisMark Halpin, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisAdrian W. Jones, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisChristopher Pickart, Lobby Hero, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisChristopher Pickart, The Tempest, Shakespeare Festival St. LouisOutstanding Sound Design
Janet Kalas, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisJason Krueger, West Side Story, The MunyNathan Ruyle, Adult Entertainment, HotCity TheatreAnn Slayton & Robin Weatherall, The Tempest, Shakespeare Festival St. LouisJohn Taylor, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Spotlight TheatreOutstanding New Play or Musical
Lee Patton Chiles, Dancing on Air, HistoryonicsThe Ensemble, So to Speak, Washington Avenue Players ProjectMargeau Steinau, B. Weller and Rachel Jackson, Famous Monsters, HotCity TheatreOutstanding Ensemble in a Play
Adult Entertainment, HotCity TheatreGoing to See the Elephant, Orange GirlsLobby Hero, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisThe Tempest, Shakespeare Festival of St. LouisThis Is Our Youth, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisOutstanding Ensemble in a Musical
Crowns, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisFootloose, Stages St. LouisA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisHello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisMan of La Mancha, Stages St. LouisWest Side Story, The MunyOutstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Bill Lynch, Footloose, Stages St. LouisBen Nordstrom, Footloose, Stages St. LouisDavid Schmittou, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisMatthew Scott, West Side Story, The MunyBob Walton, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisOutstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Philip Anthony-Rodriguez, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisJim Butz, Lobby Hero, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisNat DeWolf, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisNorman McGowan, I'm Not Rappaport, New Jewish TheatreAndrew Michael Neiman, The Elephant Man, Stray Dog TheatreOutstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Kate Baldwin, The Sound of Music, The MunyAndrea Burns, West Side Story, The MunyKari Ely, Footloose, Stages St. LouisSarah Litzsinger, Beauty and the Beast, The MunyZoe Vonder Haar, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisOutstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Michelle Hand, Separate Tables, Act Inc.Michelle Hand, A Streetcar Named Desire, Stray Dog TheatreDarrie Lawrence, The Retreat from Moscow, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisNancy Lewis, Going to See the Elephant, Orange GirlsMeghan Maguire, Going to See the Elephant, Orange GirlsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Nat Chandler, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisThomas E. O'Brien, Man of La Mancha, Stages St. LouisKen Page, Jesus Christ Superstar, The MunyJeffrey Pruett, The Robber Bridegroom, New Line TheatreJohn Seidman, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Michael Balsley, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisGary Wayne Barker, Driving Miss Daisy, New Jewish TheatreDrew Bell, Glen or Glenda: Live!, Magic Smoking Monkey TheatreJim Butz, The Merchant of Venice, New Jewish TheatreJohn Kinney, Unexpected Tenderness, New Jewish TheatreOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Melissa Bohon, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. LouisNatascia Diaz, West Side Story, The MunyLynn Eldredge, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisGeorgia Engel, Mame, The MunyLynette Knapp, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisJamie McKittrick, The Robber Bridegroom, New Line TheatreOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Teresa Doggett, Separate Tables, Act Inc.Brooke Edwards, Going to See the Elephant, Orange GirlsMichelle Hand, Going to See the Elephant, Orange GirlsLiz Hopefl, Separate Tables, Act Inc.Rory Lipede, Valhalla, HotCity TheatreMagan Wiles, The Tempest, Shakespeare Festival of St. LouisOutstanding Production for Young Audiences
Bah! Humbug!, The Imaginary Theatre Company/The Repertory Theatre of St. LouisFree to Be... You and Me, Stages St. LouisHonk!, DramaRamaSalt & Pepper, Metro Theatre CompanyThe Tempest in a Flash, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis