Professional Actress Amy Holland Pennell Will Host

John K. Mefford to posthumously receive the Lifetime Achievement Award

Clayton Community Theatre leads all community theater groups with 22 nominations for this year’s 11th annual Theatre Mask Awards, followed by Kirkwood Theatre Guild with 17, Monroe Actors Stage Company in Waterloo, Ill., with 14, and O’Fallon Theatre Works” with 10.

Sponsored by the non-profit organization Arts For Life, the TMAs will take place starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the Royale Orleans banquet center, 2801 Telegraph Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63125. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

The Theatre Mask Awards, which began in 2015, honors comedies and dramas produced by local community theatre companies. Awards will be presented in 17 categories in production, performance and creative design.

Among the 2025 plays garnering the most nominations are CCT’s “Who Killed Aunt Caroline?” with 11 and “The Graduate” with 9; KTG’s “Into the Breeches” with 8 and “God of Carnage” with 7; OTW’s “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged” with 9; and MASC’s “Outside Mullingar” with 8 and “Crimes of the Heart” with 5.

Goshen Theatre Project in Collinsville’s production of ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” earned six nominations. Other theater companies participating in AFL include Act Two Theatre, Alfresco Productions, Hawthorne Players, KTK Productions and Theatre Guild of Webster Groves.

Nominations are listed at artsforlife.org

This year’s master of ceremonies is award-winning actress Amy Holland Pennell, and the Lifetime Achievement Award winner is John K. Mefford, who died in January after supporting community theater as a performer, volunteer and patron throughout adulthood.

Amy Holland Pennell

A native of Granite City, Ill., Pennell is a professional actress who has appeared in movies, television shows and on stage in plays and musicals.

She earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in theatre and communication at Saint Louis University, honored as the outstanding graduate for performance and academic excellence. During her days here, she was a captain of the NFL St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders.

She has had recurring and guest-starring roles on HBO’s “The Newsroom,” Nickelodeon’s “Instant Mom,” Disney’s “Mighty Med,” CBS’s “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “How I Met Your Mother,” FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and ABC’s “Scandal.”

Her movie roles include “I Am,” “The Importance of Doubting Tom,” “Game Day” and “Exorcist House of Evil.”

On stage, she has played such iconic characters as Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” Abigail in “The Crucible,” and Annie Sullivan in “The Miracle Worker.”.

Pennell said she remains deeply grateful for her faith, family, and friends, and continues to bring passion, heart, and humor to everything she does—onstage, on camera, and in life.

.John K. Mefford

Mefford, a lifelong resident of southern Illinois and longtime Granite City resident, passed away on Jan. 31, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of storytelling, service, and unforgettable characters—both on and off the stage.

 For 25 years, John served the Six Mile Regional Library District, where generations came to know him fondly as “the bookmobile guy.” He considered libraries were living places—vehicles of imagination, history, and connection—and he brought books, curiosity, and kindness to every stop he made.

 A lifelong lover of history, John immersed himself fully in the past. He was a dedicated historical reenactor with the Milice de Ste. Famille, a member of the Victorian Mourning Society of St. Louis.

That same passion for embodiment and storytelling carried naturally onto the stage. An accomplished actor who performed with Masquers, Summerstage, Alfresco Productions, and many others.

In recent years, John became a beloved part of St. Charles Christmas Traditions, portraying Clement Moore, author of “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” His readings of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” enchanted audiences with warmth and humor.

Among his favorite roles were in “1776,” “The Rocky Horror Show” and “Alice in Wonderland.”

He was a cherished father, grandfather, husband, brother, friend and colleague who will be remembered for his generosity, creativity, and unmistakable spirit.

Tickets for Sale

Combination tickets for both TMAs and BPAs are available for $50 with a $2 service fee but must be purchased by April 10. After that, each event is $30 plus the $2 service fees.

Tickets are available at: https://arts-for-life-2.square.site/. Table seating is available at 10 per table. Cocktail attire is suggested. A buffet meal will be served, and a cash/card bar will be available.

The menu includes top round of beef with special LaFitte sauce, chicken parmesan, home-style green beans, pasta primavera, potatoes royale, salad and fresh bakery bread with butter. Special cupcakes from the Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery in Kimmswick, Mo., are dessert.

Arts For Life is a local not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to the healing power of the arts through its work with youth, the underserved, and the community, with its goal of “Making a Dramatic Difference.”

AFL is dedicated to promoting public awareness of local community theatre, encouraging excellence in the arts, and acknowledging the incredible people who are a part of it.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit the website.