Arts for Life
Best Performance Awards
Kirkwood Theatre Guild production Winners
Each year, ARTS FOR LIFE conducts, The Best Performance Awards to honor musical theater for community theatres in the St. Louis metro east. KTG has had over 200 nominations, the following are our winning members.
1999
Glenn Guillermo, “Rookie Carroca” My Favorite Year – Actor in a Supporting role
Mary-Ellen Tobin, “Alice Miller” My Favorite Year – Actress in a Comedic Role
2000
Into the Woods – Best Musical Production
Brad Schwartz, Into the Woods – Best Direction
John (J.T.) Taylor, Into the Woods- Technical Design
Deborah Sharn, "The Witch" Into the Woods – Actress in a Leading Role
Todd Schaefer, "Jack" Into the Woods – Actor in a Featured Role
Doug Erwin, "Cinderella's Prince/Wolf" Into the Woods – Actor in a Supporting Role
Matthew Strohmeyer, "Rapunzel's Prince" Into the Woods – Actor in a Comedic Role
Julie La Beau-Bond, "Little Red Ridinghood" Into the Woods – Actress in a Comedic Role
Gerry Love, "The Narrator" Into the Woods – Actor in a Non-singing Role
Katie Roley/Emily Scott, "Florinda & Lucinda" Into the Woods – Actress in a Cameo Role
2001
John Inchiostro, Anything Goes- Costume Design
Linda Walsh Ryan, "Reno Sweeney" Anything Goes – Actress in a Leading Role
Richard Green, "Lord Evelyn Oakleigh" Anything Goes – Actor in a Comedic Role
Mary McCreight, "Evangeline Harcourt" Anything Goes – Actress in a Non-Singing Role
2002
Janet Ehrlich, Over Here – Choreography
Larry Love/Jenn Koehne, " Lucky/Maggie" Over Here – Featured Dancer
2003
Richard Green, “Major General Stanley” Pirates of Penzance – Actor in a Supporting Role
Larry Love, “Police Sergeant” Pirates of Penzance – Feature Dancer
2004
Cherol Bowman Daniels/Jamie Sullivan/Ren Binder, City Of Angels- Costume Design
Glenn Guillermo, “Snoopy” You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown – Actor in a Featured Role
Linda Walsh Ryan, “Alaura/Carla Haywood” City Of Angels – Actress in a Supporting Role
Ray Shea/Glenn Guillermo, “Big Six and Sonny” City Of Angels – Actor in a Cameo Role
2006
Jeffrey M. Wright, "J. Pierrepont Finch" How To Succeed… – Actor in a Leading Role
Ryan Cooper, "Bud Frump" How To Succeed… - Actor in a Comedic Role
2007
Lucky Stiff – Best Small Ensemble Musical Production
JT Ricroft, Lucky Stiff – Direction
2008
Glenn Guillermo & Troy P. Turnipseed, "Leading Players" Pippin - Duo or Group Performance
2009
Damn Yankees – Best Large Ensemble Musical Production
Kent Coffel, "Applegate" Damn Yankees – Actor in a Leading Role
2010
Tori Geising, "Dinah Lord" High Society – Outstanding Juvenile Performer
2012
Kimberly Klick, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – Best Choreography
2013
Pat Klick, "Chief Sitting Bull" Annie Get Your Gun – Actor in a non-singing Role
2016
The Addams Family – Best Large Ensemble Musical Production
Lori Gibson, The Addams Family – Best Direction
Todd Schaefer, The Addams Family – Set Design
2018
Chris Strawhun, "Nicely-Nicely Johnson" Guys & Dolls- Actor in a featured Role
2019
Nice Work if You Can Get It – Best Large Ensemble Musical Production
Dani Mann- Nice Work if You Can Get It – Best Direction
Jaclyn Amber, "Billie Bendix" Nice Work If You Can Get It – Actress in a Leading Role
Kimmie Kidd-Booker, "Estonia Dulworth" Nice Work If You Can Get It – Actress in a Featured Role
Will Shaw, "Senator Max Evergreen" Nice Work If You Can Get It- Actor in a Non-singing Role
Maria Wilken, "Millicent Winter" Nice Work If You Can Get It- Actress in a Non-singing Role
2020-2021
Shrek the Musical – Best Large Ensemble Musical Production
Adam Grun, Shrek the Musical – Best Direction
Kimberly Klick, Shrek the Musical – Best Choreography
Sean Bippen, Shrek the Musical -Best Musical Direction
Stephanie Draper, Shrek the Musical – Best Lighting Design
Christopher Strawhun, "Shrek" Shrek the Musical –Actor in a Leading Role
Dawn Schmid, "Princess Fiona" Shrek the Musical – Actress in a Leading Role
John Emery, "Lord Farquad" Shrek the Musical – Actor in a Featured Role
Jack Nichols, "Pinocchio" Shrek the Musical – Actor in a Supporting Role
Chris Moore, "Donkey" Shrek the Musical – Actor in Comedic Role
2022
Michael Baird, "Seymour" Little Shop of Horrors – Actor in a Leading Role
Kyle Morr, "Mr. Mushnik" Little Shop of Horrors – Actor in a Featured Role
Tychirra Moreno/Kymora Gentry/Adrienne Spann, "The Do-Whop Girls" Little Shop of Horrors – Duo or Group Performance
2024
Anything Goes - Best Large Ensemble Musical Production
Sara Rae Womack, Anything Goes -Best Direction
Michelle Sauer, Anything Goes - Choreography
Rhiannon Bush, "Hope Harcourt" Anything Goes - Actress in a Supporting Role
Bridget Biundo, Emily René Fornachon, Maggie Nold, Livy Potthoff, "The Angels" Anything Goes - Duo or Group Performance
Stephanie Merritt, "Erma Latour" Anything Goes - Actress in a Comedic Role
2025
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Best Small Ensemble Musical Production
Sean Bippen, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Best Musical Direction
Matt Dossett, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Best Set Design
Nathan Schroeder, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Best Lighting Design
Kayla Dressman/Abby Pastorello, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Best Costume Design
Jen Kerner, “Miss Shingle” A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Actress in a Cameo Role