Show-Me State Times

Saint Louis University Theatre and Dance faculty have been recognized with nominations at the 2025 St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards. This annual event honors outstanding work in regional professional theater in St. Louis.

The nominations were recently announced, highlighting the contributions of several SLU faculty members. Full-time professors Gary Wayne Barker, Nancy Bell, Lucy Cashion, and assistant professor Denisse Chavez received nominations for their roles in various productions. Additionally, adjunct faculty member Joel Moses was acknowledged by the St. Louis Theater Circle.

Joel Moses received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Comedy, Male or Non-Binary Role for his performance in "As You Like It" with the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival. He was also nominated for Outstanding Performer in a Drama, Male or Non-Binary Role for "Lungs" at Albion Theatre.

Denisse Chavez was recognized for her work in lighting design with nominations for "All My Sons" at New Jewish Theatre and "As You Like It" at the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival.

Nancy Bell earned a nomination for Outstanding Director of a Comedy with "As You Like It," while Lucy Cashion received nominations as well for directing both "Romanov Family Yard Sale" at ERA Theatre and "Spirits to Enforce" with The Midnight Company.

Gary Wayne Barker was nominated as Outstanding Director of a Drama for his direction of "All My Sons" at New Jewish Theatre.

In addition to individual recognitions, productions directed by SLU faculty were nominated for outstanding production awards: "As You Like It," directed by Nancy Bell, and "Romanov Family Yard Sale," directed by Lucy Cashion, were both up for Outstanding Production of a Comedy. Meanwhile, "All My Sons," directed by Gary Wayne Barker, was nominated for Outstanding Production of a Drama.