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

Arts for Life

Theatre Mask Awards

Kirkwood Theatre Guild production Winners

Each year, ARTS FOR LIFE conducts, The Theatre Mask Awards to honor play productions for community theatres in the St. Louis metro east. Kirkwood Theatre Guild began their eligibility in 2021.

2021

Danny Brown, The Man Who Came to Dinner – Best Direction of a Play
Abby Pastorello, The Man Who Came to Dinner – Best Costume Design
Ken Lopinot, The Man Who Came to Dinner – Actor in a Leading Role – Comedy
Brittany Kohl Hester, The Man Who Came to Dinner- Actress in a Leading Role – Comedy
Kent Coffel, The Man Who Came to Dinner – Actor in a Supporting Role – Comedy

2022

Calendar Girls – Outstanding Comedy
Deanna Jent, Calendar Girls – Best Direction of a Comedy
Cherol Bowman Thibaut, Calendar Girls – Best Costume Design
Kay Love, Calendar Girls – Actress in a Leading Role – Comedy
Gerry Love, Calendar Girls – Actor in a Supporting Role – Comedy
Gabi Maul, Calendar Girls – Actress in a Supporting Role – Comedy
Jan Meyer, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – Actress in a Supporting Role - Drama

2023

Annie Bayer, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike – Actress in a Supporting Role – Comedy
Jesse O’Freel, The Mousetrap – Actor in a Supporting Role - Drama

2025

Into The Breeches – Outstanding Comedy

Into The Breeches – Outstanding Small Ensemble

Mike DePope, God of Carnage – Best Direction of a Comedy

Will Shaw, Into the Breeches – Actor in a Supporting Role – Comedy

Membership Awards

Lifetime Member is an honorary title bestowed as an acknowledgement of significant contribution by an individual throughout their association with the Kirkwood Theatre Guild. The President of the Guild is responsible for naming those to be honored so long as certain criteria have been met. The individual must be in good standing with the Guild, provided a minimum of 15 years’ service to the Guild, served at least one term on the Board of Governors in any capacity and contributed significantly to at least 50 Guild productions.

Lifetime Members to date:

Martha Jane Mohler awarded by President Jackie Dames in June 1995

Merrick Mohler awarded by President Jackie Dames in June 1995

Mim Kittner awarded by President Anthony Mullin in June 1999

Polly Cummings awarded by President Anthony Mullin in June 2000

Paul Thomas awarded by President Steve Abling in June 2006

Steve Abling awarded by President Cherol Thibaut in June 2009

Beverly Weissenburger awarded by President Cherol Thibaut in June 2009

Jason Weissenburger awarded by President Cherol Thibaut in June 2009

Bert Wunderlich awarded by President Cherol Thibaut in June 2009

Joan Thomas awarded by President Danny Austin in June 2012

JT Taylor awarded by President Cherol Thibaut in June 2014

Cherol Thibaut awarded by President Ken Lopinot in June 2023

Linda Menard awarded by President Ken Lopinot in June 2024

Anthony Mullin awarded by President Ken Lopinot in June 2025