In order for a play to be considered for a Kevin Kline Award, it must:

• Be produced within the St. Louis metro area
• Include at least six performances
• Have paid those who work on the show, including both actors and crew

Each nominee is reviewed by seven judges, who are drawn randomly from a pool of 49. Judges then give each production a numerical rating on each of the available categories (acting, directing, lighting, etc.) and submit their ballot within 24 hours of seeing the production. At the end of each year, the five productions with the highest score in each category are listed as the nominees, and the award goes to the one with the best score:^[1]

The first award ceremony was held on March 20, 2006, in the Roberts Orpheum Theatre, and hosted by St. Louis-native Broadway actor Jason Danieley. Presenters included Kline, and St. Louis-born Broadway actor Ken Page.^[2] Kline received the first-ever Kevin Kline Award to be created, and was also told at the performance about the creation of the Kevin Kline Theater Ticket Fund, which will provide free tickets to area high school students.

The Kevin Kline Awards were suspended in June 2012 due to financial concerns.^[3]

Outstanding Production of a Musical edit

• West Side Story, The Muny

Outstanding Production of a Play edit

• Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Director of a Musical edit

• Kevin Backstrom, West Side Story, The Muny
• Michael Hamilton, Footloose, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Director of a Play edit

• Rob Ruggiero, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Musical Direction edit

• Kelsey Halbert, West Side Story, The Muny

Outstanding Choreography edit

• Dana Lewis, Footloose, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Costume Design edit

• Reggie Ray, Crowns, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Lighting Design edit

• John Lasiter, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Set Design edit

• Christopher Pickart, The Tempest, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Outstanding Sound Design edit

• Ann Slayton & Robin Weatherall, The Tempest, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Outstanding New Play or Musical edit

• The Ensemble, So to Speak, Washington Avenue Players Project

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play edit

• Going to See the Elephant, Orange Girls

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical edit

• West Side Story, The Muny

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical edit

• Ben Nordstrom, Footloose, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play edit

• Nat DeWolf, Take Me Out, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical edit

• Zoe Vonder Haar, Hello, Dolly!, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play edit

• Michelle Hand, Separate Tables, Act Inc.
• Nancy Lewis, Going to See the Elephant, Orange Girls

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical edit

• Ken Page, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Muny

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play edit

• Gary Wayne Barker, Driving Miss Daisy, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical edit

• Natascia Diaz, West Side Story, The Muny

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play edit

• Brooke Edwards, Going to See the Elephant, Orange Girls

Outstanding Production for Young Audiences edit

• Bah! Humbug!, The Imaginary Theatre Company/The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

• Official website Archived 2007-06-30 at the Wayback Machine
• 2007 nominees and recipients (.doc file)
• 2006 nominees and recipients
• "Best of St. Louis Theatre Honored at March 20 Kevin Kline Awards", March 17, 2006, Playbill
• Jim Campbell, [1], March 20, 2006, PLAYBACK:stl
• http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=8388
• https://archive.today/20130126071352/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/Kevin_Kline/195578
• http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2005-12-14/culture/great-expectations/