The St. Louis Theatre Circle has announced their nominations for their annual awards to be distributed on March 23, 2026, at the Loretto-Hilton Center. 172 theatre artists have been nominated in 34 categories honoring the best in St. Louis Theater in 2025.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis leads all companies with a record-breaking 38 nominations for their productions of Athena, Clyde’s, Emma, Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Brothers Size, and The Cottage. Emma is the most nominated comedy of the season with 11 nominations.
This past season was the year of the comedy in St. Louis Theater. Companies across the city had audiences laughing all season long with slapstick, farce, and satire. There were some wonderful musical productions that really sang, a few hard hitting dramas, but comedies reigned in both quantity and quality. Instead of publishing a Top 10 list this year, I’m going to recognize the Best in St. Louis Theater for 2025. “The Best” is still a shortened list of just 13 shows out of the nearly 90 shows I saw this past year. It took weeks of thought and painstaking consideration to decide which productions would be included in my annual list. Here they are. The productions are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked by favorites:
Professor House blends Jacob Juntunen’s psychologically charged script with visionary direction, spellbinding performances, and evocative lighting and sound design. Director Sam Hayes, the cast, and technical team create an otherworldly experience that is riveting, thrilling, and absorbing. The macabre subject matter is deeply unsettling, but Hayes’ immersive storytelling is impressively unforgettable. It is a directorial masterwork from an emerging theater artist with an immense amount of vision and talent.
Local theater artist Sam Hayes is finding their niche. The Louisiana native studied theater at The University of Southern Mississippi, earning two Bachelor of Fine Arts Degrees, one in acting/performance and the other in costume design/technology. Following graduation, Hayes moved to St. Louis to begin their theater career at STAGES St. Louis. Since arriving they have worked non-stop acting, directing, and desiging costumes for shows.
Acclaimed Ozark storyteller Ursa Miles is bringing her original work OZARK PHANTASMAGORIA to St. Louis for a one-night performance at The Chapel. Miles, a renowned professional storyteller, studied in the Master’s graduate storytelling program at East Tennessee State University and trained under master storyteller David Novack.
Contraband Theatre’s new production will be the World Premiere of AM I DANGEROUS? written by local playwright by E.K. Doolin. BroadwayWorld spoke with the playwright and producer. Read the interview here!
Some bright local voices were heard at Prism Theatre Company’s SPOTLIGHT ON ... BEING YOU over this past weekend in St. Louis. The best of the festival was the performance billed as a ‘Popera’ written and composed by Holly Barber and Lee Ehmke. THAT PERFECT KISS, a retelling of Cinderella and her Prince, is a short musical ditty about finding one’s genuine self. Accompanied by composer Holly Barber on guitar, Sarah Lueken, Rachel Bailey, Zach Thompson, and Matt Kauzlarich performed the light pop score with charm and pizzaz. In just a few minutes, Barber and Ehmke used familiar characters, re-told their stories, provided them arc, and created an indelible musical memory for the audience. The prince wasn't the only thing that was charming in this coming-of-age tale.
This past year was a spectacular season for theatre in St. Louis. Forbes magazine recognized St. Louis as having “America’s most exciting emerging arts district.” The article credits the The Kranzberg Foundation for buying and operating spaces where artists can create. Many of the smaller theatre companies in St. Louis rely on The Kranzberg Foundation venues for performance and rehearsal space. In addition to the smaller professional companies, the mid-size and larger companies including The Muny, STAGES St. Louis, and The Black Rep all presented stellar musicals and plays that were produced locally. Blue Strawberry and The St Louis Cabaret project advanced cabaret performing in St. Louis booking amazing shows with Tony nominated Broadway performers Adam Pascal, Beth Leavel, and Robin de Jesús.
The world premiere production of SEE YOU IN A MINUTE is compelling because of its relevance, its intelligent and well-written script, the sharp direction, and the terrific performances from all the actors.
Contraband Theatre is producing the new play, See You in a Minute by local playwright, Jacob Juntunen, at The Chapel (6238 Alexander Dr., St. Louis). Performances run Oct 11-28, Wednesdays at 7pm and Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm.
Playwrights Foundation, the West Coast's premier launchpad for exceptional new plays and playwrights, has revealed the semifinalists and finalists for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival, which will be presented in a hybrid festival.
Not-for-profit History Matters: Celebrating Women's Plays Of The Past has announced its winner for the 2022 Judith Barlow Prize. The annual Judith Barlow Prize is awarded to a student playwright for an exceptional one-act play inspired by the work of an historic female playwright. The winner of the prize receives a $2,500 award and a reading of their work, with a $500 award to the participating professor.
Theatre of NOTE continues its 2016 season with the west coast premiere of D DEB DEBBIE DEBORAH by Jerry Lieblich and directed by Doug Oliphant. D DEB DEBBIE DEBORAH will open on Thursday, August 11 and run through Saturday, September 17 at Theatre of NOTE, 1517 N Cahuenga Blvd (just north of Sunset) in Hollywood.
It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Columbus Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!
Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Columbus Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!
Sideshow Theatre Company concludes its 2013-14 season with the world premiere of TYRANT by Artistic Associate Kathleen Akerley, co-directed by Kathleen Akerley and Ensemble Member Megan A. Smith, playing today, May 24 - June 29, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.
