With 21 nominations for its 2010 season, the Muny received the most nominations of any theater for the sixth annual Kevin Kline Awards.

"High" at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis received eight nominations, the most for any straight play. "Promises, Promises" at Stages St. Louis received seven nominations, the most for any musical.

The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony March 28 at the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road. There's an informal celebration of the nominations at 7 p.m. Sunday at Dressel's, 419 North Euclid Avenue.

Thirty plays and musicals produced here last year by 22 companies received nominations. Seven judges, drawn from a floating pool of 45 judges, evaluate each production. (Three judges evaluate shows for young audiences.) Judges evaluated 118 productions from 39 companies.

The Kevin Kline Awards, which honor excellence in St. Louis professional theater, are presented by the Professional Theatre Awards Council. Ticket information for the gala will be available soon at kevinklineawards.org.

2010 NOMINATIONS

Outstanding Production for Young Audiences

• "Delilah's Wish," Metro Theater Company

• "A Peter Rabbit Tale," The Rep's Imaginary Theatre Company

• "Amelia Earhart," The Rep's Imaginary Theatre Company

• "The Aristocats," Stages St. Louis

• "The Nutcracker," The Rep's Imaginary Theatre Company

Outstanding New Play or Musical

• Jami Brandli, "The Sinker," HotCity Theatre

• Lee Patton Chiles, "Eye on the Sparrow — The World Within St. Louis," Gitana Productions

• David Slavitt, translator, from Sophocles, "Oedipus King," Upstream Theater

• Sandra Marie Vago, "Treading Backwards Thru Quicksand Without Wearing Your Water Wings," Black Cat Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design

• JC Krajicek, "Tartuffe," Mustard Seed Theatre

• Dorothy Marshall Englis, "Hamlet," Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

• John Inchiostro, "The Aristocats," Stages St. Louis

• JC Krajicek, "Crumbs from the Table of Joy," Mustard Seed Theatre

• Jess Goldstein, "High," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Lighting Design

• Brian Sidney Bembridge, "Crime and Punishment," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• Matthew McCarthy, "Big River," Stages St. Louis

• Matthew McCarthy, "Promises, Promises," Stages St. Louis

• John Lasiter, "High," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Set Design

• Gianni Downs, "Crime and Punishment," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• Christopher M. Waller, "It Had To Be You," Max and Louie Productions

• Mark Halpin, "Promises, Promises," Stages St. Louis

• Michael Heil, "Oedipus King," Upstream Theater

• David Gallo, "High," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Sound Design

• Mic Pool, "The 39 Steps," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• Josh Limpert, "Outlying Islands," Upstream Theatre

• Ann Slayton and Robin Weatherall, "Hamlet," Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

• Chuck Harper, "Slasher," HotCity Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play

• "The 39 Steps," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• "Outlying Islands," Upstream Theater

• "Hamlet," Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

• "High," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• "The Chosen," Mustard Seed Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play

• Kari Ely, "Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them," HotCity Theatre

• Kimiye Corwin, "Hamlet," Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

• Colleen Backer, "Our Town," Stray Dog Theatre

• Patrese McClain, "Crumbs from the Table of Joy," Mustard Seed Theatre

• Kelley Ryan, "Equus," HotCity Theatre

• Betsy Bowman, "The Tempest," St. Louis Shakespeare

• Susan Greenhill, "Next Fall," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play

• Jerry Vogel, "Outlying Islands," Upstream Theater

• Bobby Miller, "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," New Jewish Theatre

• Evan Jonigkeit, "High," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• Richard Lewis, "The Chosen," Mustard Seed Theatre

• Aaron Orion Baker, "Long Day's Journey Into Night," Muddy Waters Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play

• Michelle Hand, "Fires in the Mirror," Mustard Seed Theatre

• Magan Wiles, "My Name Is Rachel Corrie," Blue Rose Stage Collective

• Kathleen Turner, "High," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• Kari Ely, "Long Day's Journey Into Night," Muddy Waters Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

• Jason Cannon, "Outlying Islands," Upstream Theater

• Scott McMasters, "Outlying Islands," Upstream Theater

• Jim Butz, "Hamlet," Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

• Drew Pannebacker, "Equus," HotCity Theatre

• Alan Knoll, "This Wonderful Life," Dramatic License Productions

Outstanding Director of a Play

• Philip Boehm, "Outlying Islands," Upstream Theater

• Bruce Longworth, "Hamlet," Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

• Doug Finlayson, "Equus," HotCity Theatre

• Philip Boehm, "Oedipus King," Upstream Theater

• Rob Ruggiero, "High," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• Deanna Jent, "The Chosen," Mustard Seed Theatre

Outstanding Production of a Play

• "Outlying Islands," Upstream Theater

• "Hamlet," Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

• "High," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• "The Chosen," Mustard Seed Theatre

Outstanding Choreography

• Lazette Rayford-O'Brien, "Five Guys Named Moe," the Black Rep

• Heather Beal, "The Me Nobody Knows," the Black Rep

• Mary MacLeod, "Damn Yankees," the Muny

• Suzanne Viverito, "Cats," the Muny

Outstanding Musical Direction

• Charles Creath, "Five Guys Named Moe," the Black Rep

• Sallie duMaine, "Pump Boys and Dinettes," Bear Stage

• Michael Horsley, "Damn Yankees," the Muny

• Lisa Campbell Albert, "Promises, Promises," Stages St. Louis

• Ben Whiteley, "The Sound of Music," the Muny

• Catherine Majetka, "Show Boat," the Muny

• Henry Palkes, "The Last of the Red Hot Mamas," New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical

• "Five Guys Named Moe," the Black Rep

• "The Wild Party," New Line Theatre

• "Damn Yankees," the Muny

• "Cats," the Muny

• "The Aristocats," Stages St. Louis

• "Show Boat," the Muny

• "State Fair," Stages St. Louis

• "The Last of the Red Hot Mamas," New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

• Sharisa Whatley, "The Me Nobody Knows," the Black Rep

• Brandi Wooten, "Promises, Promises," Stages St. Louis

• Jo Ann Hawkins-White, "Show Boat," the Muny

• Johanna Elkana-Hale, "The Last of the Red Hot Mamas," New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Joneal Joplin, "The Fantasticks," Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• Lara Teeter, "Beauty and the Beast," the Muny

• Kevin Loreque, "Cats," the Muny

• Michel Bell, "Show Boat," the Muny

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

• Vanessa Rubin, "Yesterdays: An Evening with Billie Holiday," the Black Rep

• Stephanie J. Block, "Cats," the Muny

• Ashley Brown, "The Sound of Music," the Muny

• Leah Horowitz, "Show Boat," the Muny

• Hollie Howard, "State Fair," Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

• Ben Nordstrom, "Gutenberg! The Musical!," Temporary Theatre

• John Sparger, "Pump Boys and Dinettes," Bear Stage

• Jeffrey Pruett, "The Wild Party," New Line Theatre

• Eric Kunze, "Damn Yankees," the Muny

• Ben Nordstrom, "Promises, Promises," Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Director of a Musical

• Ron Himes, "Five Guys Named Moe," the Black Rep

• Paul Blake, "Damn Yankees," the Muny

• Michael Hamilton, "Promises, Promises," Stages St. Louis

• Marc Bruni, "The Sound of Music," the Muny

• Edward Coffield, "Man of La Mancha," Insight Theatre Company

Outstanding Production of a Musical

• "Five Guys Named Moe," the Black Rep

• "Big River," Stages St. Louis

• "Damn Yankees," the Muny

• "Promises, Promises," Stages St. Louis

• "The Sound of Music," the Muny

• "Show Boat," the Muny

• "State Fair," Stages St. Louis