# Kevin Kline Awards

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