Boasting six coveted awards, the New Jewish Theatre was the biggest winner at the 2024 St. Louis Theater Circle Awards, which took place Monday night at the Loretto-Hilton Center. The annual event, now in its 11th year, celebrates locally produced professional theater work performed in 2023 and is presented by St. Louis-area theater critics.
Five of NJT’s six awards went to its musical production of “Into the Woods,” which ran from Nov. 30 to Dec. 17 at the Jewish Community Center’s Wool Studio Theater. In addition to Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical and Outstanding Production of a Musical, Robert Quinlan won for Outstanding Director of a Musical; Phil Leveling won for Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical, Male or Non-Binary; and Larry D. Pry won for Outstanding Musical Director.
NJT’s sixth award went to Christina Rios for Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Comedy, Female or Non-Binary Role, for her work in “Broadway Bound.”
“I am thrilled at the success of all of New Jewish Theatre’s artists at this year’s St. Louis Theater Circle Awards. Adapting “Into the Woods” for our intimate studio theater was a challenge, but one that brought out tremendous creativity and artistry from the director, music director, choreographer, actors and designers,” said Rebekah Scallet, artistic director of NJT. “It is wonderful to see their hard work and ingenuity rewarded by the Theater Circle. I have been so fortunate to work with amazingly talented and wonderful people in my time so far with NJT — hopefully this is the only the beginning of our successful collaborations together.”
“Into the Woods” had received 11 of NJT’s 24 total nominations, which was the second most nominations of any local theater company, and just two less than the Muny, which received 26.
After NJT, Stages St. Louis, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and the Black Rep, each took home five awards on Monday night.
The Muny, the Shakespeare Festival and Opera Theatre of St. Louis each won two awards.
In total, nominees in 33 categories vied for honors covering comedies, dramas, musicals and operas. Approximately 100 productions were considered for nominations for this year’s event.
For a list of all the nominees and winners, go to stltheatercircle.org/2024-program.
