INTO THE WOODS, CLUE, and DEATH OF A SALESMAN Win Big at The St. Louis Theater Circle Awards

Last evening at The Loretto-Hilton Center, the St. Louis theatre community gathered for The St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards Gala. Thirty-Four awards were handed out with three productions winning big: The New Jewish Theatre’s production of INTO THE WOODS and STAGES St. Louis production of CLUE won 5 awards each, and The Black Rep’s production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN won 4 awards. Each of the three were named the best of their category, INTO THE WOODS was named Outstanding Production of a Musical, CLUE was named Outstanding Production of a Comedy, and DEATH OF A SALESMAN was named Outstanding Production of a Drama. 

The New Jewish Theatre was the most honored company with 6 awards total. STAGES St. Louis, The Black Rep, and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis each won 5 Awards. In total, 13 different theatre companies and 20 different productions were recognized for their outstanding work in their category.  

In addition to being named Outstanding Musical Production, INTO THE WOODS picked up the award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical. Robert Quinlan was recognized as the Outstanding Director of a Musical, Larry D. Pry was named for his Outstanding Musical Direction, and Phil Leveling was named Outstanding Supporting Performer Male or Non-Binary Role. The New Jewish Theatre picked up their sixth award overall when Christina Rios was honored as Outstanding Performer in a Comedy, Female or Non-Binary Role. Rios shared that honor when she tied in the balloting with Ricki Franklin who was in the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s production of TWELFTH NIGHT.  

STAGES St. Louis production of the hilarious, madcap comedy CLUE was the other most honored production of the evening. In addition to Outstanding Production of a Comedy, the talented cast of CLUE picked up the Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy award. Mark Price was named Outstanding Performer in a Comedy, Male or Non-Binary Role for his sidesplitting turn as Wadsworth, the butler of Boddy Manor. The other two wins included recognition for Brad Musgrove, Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, and Steve Bebout who was named the Outstanding Director of a Comedy. 

In addition to Outstanding Drama, The Black Rep’s production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN was recognized with acting awards for Ron Himes, Velma Austin, and Chauncy Thomas. Himes won Outstanding Performer in a Drama, Male or Non-Binary Role for his heartbreaking turn as Willie Lowman in the Arthur Miller Play. His spectacular work was equally matched by Austin, who was named Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Drama for her work as Linda Loman, and by Thomas who played their son Biff and was named Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Drama, Male or Non-Binary Role. This was Thomas’ first win in six nominations, and he thanked nearly everyone in the room by name in his spirited, over-the-moon acceptance speech that was one of the highlights of the evening. The Black Rep picked up its fifth award for Heather Beal, Robert Crenshaw, and Vivian Watt’s choreography of their production of EUBIE! 

The Repertory Theater of St. Louis won five awards. THE LEHMAN TRILOGY was named as the winner for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama. Carey Perloff bested the other four female nominees when she was named as Outstanding Director of a Drama for THE LEHMAN TRILOGY. For the first time in St. Louis Theatre Circle history, all five directing nominees in the drama category were female. In addition, Tim Mackabee was recognized for the set design of AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, and Michael Costagliola and Christina Watanabe won as Outstanding Sound and Lighting Designers for their work on IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY.  

De-Rance Blaylock was named Outstanding Performer in a Musical Female or Non-Binary Role for her stoic performance as Caroline in Fly North Theatricals’ production of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE. In her emotional acceptance Blaylock thanked her mother and sister who were in the audience, and tearfully dedicated her win to her aunt whom she was named after and had recently passed away in March. Other acting honors in Musicals went to John Riddle for his work as the Russian chess player in The Muny’s production of CHESS, and to Jackie Burns for her turn as Cynthia Weil in the Muny’s production of BEAUTIFUL: THE Carole King MUSICAL.  

The full list of winners is listed below or can be found on The St. Louis Theater Circle’s website: stltheatercircle.org. The St. Louis Theatre Circle’s web site includes a listing of all professional companies in St. Louis, and a calendar of the locally produced shows upcoming in 2024. The St. Louis Theater Circle’s mission is to promote and honor regional professional theatre in St. Louis, including the production and primary sponsorship of the annual St. Louis Theater Circle Awards.  

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