St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s KING LEAR Stars André De Shields and Allen Gilmore Nominated for St. Louis Theater Circle Awards; 9 Nods include Outstanding Production, Director, Ensemble, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Costume Design, and Set Design

Rayme Cornell, André De Shields and The Company of KING LEAR. Photo by Lia Chang

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s production of King Lear starring Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winner André De Shields (Hadestown, The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Play On!, The Full Monty) and helmed by Carl Cofield, has garnered 9 St. Louis Theater Circle Award nominations.

Allen Gilmore and André De Shields in St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s production of KING LEAR in 2021. Photo by Lia Chang

The categories include Outstanding Leading Performer in a Drama — Male or Non-Binary Role for André De Shields, Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Drama — Male or Non-Binary Role for Allen Gilmore, Outstanding Production of a Drama, Outstanding Director of a Drama for Carl Cofield, Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama, Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play for John Wylie, Outstanding Sound Design in a Play for David R. Molina, Outstanding Costume Design in a Play for Mika Eubanks, and Outstanding Set Design in a Play for Wilson Chin.

Tyler White, André De Shields, Christina Yancy, Atum Jones, Kentrell Jamison, Leland Fowler and J. Samuel Davis. Photo by Lia Chang

After a two-year absence, the St. Louis Theater Circle Awards will return in a virtual ceremony on Monday, March 28, 2022. The event will be streamed by HEC-TV. The ninth annual ceremony will celebrate recipients of awards for the 2020 and 2021 years combined, covering approximately 75 theater and opera productions. Once again, because of the continued presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony will be streamed as a virtual presentation. streamed event.

1st Row: Tyler White, Christina Yancy, André De Shields, Daniel Jose Molina, Rayme Cornell, Jacqueline Thompson, Kentrell Jamison, Brian McKinley, Carl Cofield.
2nd Row: Mika Eubanks, David R. Molina, Brian Sievers, Theorri London, Jason J. Little, Atum Jones, Wilson Chin, Michael Tran, Brian Anthony Wilson, Nicole King, J. Samuel Davis, Allen Gilmore, Carl Overly, Jr. Emilee Buchheit, Sam Hayes. Photo by Lia Chang

King Lear was the first major live theatrical event in the country since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rayme Cornell, Jason J. Little, André De Shields, Allen Gilmore and J. Samuel Davis. Photo by Lia Chang

André De Shields led an all-BIPOC company featuring some of the finest actors out of New York, Chicago and St. Louis. He was joined by Brian Anthony Wilson (“The Wire,” “The Sopranos”) as Gloucester, acclaimed Chicago and Shakespearean actor Allen Gilmore as the Fool and St. Louis legend J. Samuel Davis as Kent. The three daughters are played by Nicole King (Cordelia) and Festival favorites Rayme Cornell (Goneril) and Jacqueline Thompson (Regan). Daniel José Molina (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and Leland Fowler (TFANA) play Gloucester’s sons Edgar and Edmund, respectively. The company also includes Jason J. Little (Albany), Carl Overly, Jr. (Cornwall) and Michael Tran (Oswald), as well as an ensemble of actors from The Black Rep’s Professional Internship Program: Kentrell Jamison, Theorri London, Brian McKinley, Tyler White and Christina Yancy. Click here for the virtual playbill.

Tyler White, André De Shields, Christina Yancy, Atum Jones, Kentrell Jamison, Leland Fowler and J. Samuel Davis. Photo by Lia Chang

The creative team for King Lear includes first-time Festival designers Wilson Chin (Scenic Design), Mika Eubanks (Costume Design) and David R. Molina (Music and Sound Design). John Wylie (Lighting Design) returns for his fourteenth season.

André De Shields, Allen Gilmore and Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Brian Anthony Wilson and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang

The mission of the St. Louis Theater Circle is simple: To honor St. Louis professional theater. Other cities around the country, such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington D.C., pay tribute to their own local theatrical productions with similar awards programs.

For more information, contact stltheatercircle@sbcglobal.net or the St. Louis Theater Circle’s Facebook page.

J. Samuel Davis and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields and Daniel Jose Molina. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields and Daniel Jose Molina. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields
Brian Anthony Wilson and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
J. Samuel Davis, Allen Gilmore and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
KING LEAR curtain call- MIchael Tran, Brian McKInley, Leland Fowler, Daniel Jose Molina, Nicole King, André De Shields, J. Samuel Davis, Allen Gilmore, Jason J. Little, Rayme Cornell, Jacqueline Thompson, Carl Overly, Jr. and the Company. Photo by Lia Chang

Click below for all of the nominees.

St. Louis Theater Circle unveils nominations for the best local theater in 2020 and 2021

NPR Black Theater Artists Are Helping #Shakespeare Speak To More Diverse Audiences

Photos: Opening Night with St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s KING LEAR Star André De Shields; St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Presents Proclamation Naming June 4, 2021 – KING LEAR/ André De Shields Day 

Broadwayworld: Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s KING LEAR With André De Shields & More

St. Louis Magazine: André De Shields on playing King Lear in Shakespeare in the Park and why the tragedy is the best play for this time

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Tony winner André De Shields stars in ‘King Lear’ that engages with the times at Shakespeare Festival

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