Opera Theatre of St. Louis Honored at St. Louis Theater Circle Awards

Founding members of the St. Louis Theater Circle

Monday night marked the first St. Louis Theater Circle Awards. The mission of the St. Louis Theater Circle is simple: To honor St. Louis professional theater. While various reviewers may also cover touring shows at The Fox and the Peabody Opera House as well as selected community and college productions, the Theater Circle Awards are designed to focus attention on dozens of area theater companies which showcase the artistic efforts of actors, directors and technical artists in the metropolitan area. Other cities around the country, such as Phoenix, San Diego, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., honor their own local theatrical productions with similar awards programs.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis's production of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd picked up two awards in the Musical Theater category.  Stephen Lord was named Outstanding Music Director (a tie with F. Wade Russo for Sunday in the Park with George at The Rep) and Rod Gilfrey was named Outstanding Actor (also a tie, this time with Ron Bohmer of Sunday in the Park With George).  This was the first time an opera company has been named in a theater awards program.  I see it as a vindication of Opera Theatre's dedication to presenting opera as both a musical and theatrical form.

Congratulations to all of last night's honorees.  For a complete list, see my recent post on the Stage Left blog.

Chuck Lavazzi is the senior performing arts critic at 88.1 KDHX.