STAGES Raises $90,000 AT 9th Annual Cabaret

STAGES St. Louis hosted its 9th Annual Summer Cabaret, Cheers!, benefiting its Education and Artistic programs on Monday, August 14, 2017 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood. This year's theme, Showstoppers!, featured incredible hits from the last 31 Seasons at STAGES performed by some of your favorite stars from the organization's 2017 productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Seussical, 9 to 5, and South Pacific, including Broadway artists Corinne Melançon and Nic Thompson, New York performers Brent Michael DiRoma, Jason Michael Evans, Brittany Rose Hammond, and Summerisa Bell Stevens, and St. Louis favorites Leah Berry, Kari Ely, Zoe Vonder Haar, Claire Logan and Steve Isom.

The event opened with a reception and pre-show activities including a wine pull and Triple Threat Teens Raffle, which raised a record-breaking amount for STAGES' Performing Arts Academy. The full house of attending STAGES Board members, VIP donors, and loyal patrons then enjoyed one show stopping performance after another as the evening's entertainment began. STAGES' own Executive Producer, Jack Lane took the stage performing "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha. A delightful surprise to the audience, Artistic Director, Michael Hamilton joined the festivities too, singing "I Am What I Am" from La Cage aux Folles and Cole Porter's "You're The Top" from Anything Goes with Brent Michael DiRoma.

The Academy's premiere performance group, STAGES Triple Threat Teens, also entertained the crowd with renditions of "Wait For It" from Hamilton and "Nothing Without You" from The Theory of Relativity, making it a truly special night for education and the arts. Guests were able to show their support for STAGES' academic and artistic programs during intermission with a live auction and a sponsorship opportunity. This year's exciting auction items featured Cardinals tickets, front row seats to see Jerry Seinfeld, a getaway to historic Savannah, Georgia, an overnight at Union Station with tickets to board the Polar Express Holiday Train, a trip to Broadway to enjoy the Tony Award Winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen, and even a walk-on role in STAGES' upcoming production of South Pacific.

Bringing the $90,000 fundraising event to a close, attendees shared a post-show champagne and dessert reception with the performers themselves. "This year's Cheers! event was a complete success because of the truly show stopping entertainment and the amazing generosity and support shown by so many" said Executive Producer, Jack Lane. "It is evenings like this one that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the power and impact of the performing arts on a community."

If you are interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to STAGES, please contact the Development Office at StagesStLouis.org or call (636) 449.5771.

STAGES' remaining 2017 Season features 9 to 5, The Musical (now - August 20th) and South Pacific (September 8th - October 8th). Single tickets are on sale now and prices range from $25-$60. STAGES performs in the intimate, 377-seat Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Civic Center, 111 South Geyer Road in St. Louis, MO. For more information or to purchase tickets call 314-821-2407 or visit www.StagesStLouis.org.

STAGES St. Louis is the region's foremost not-for-profit company committed to preserving and advancing the art form of Musical Theatre through excellence in performance and education. In 2017, STAGES celebrates its 31st year of producing Broadway-quality theatre, presenting 140 performances from June through October to nearly 50,000 patrons.

STAGES St. Louis is grateful for the support of the Regional Arts Commission, and has been funded in part by the Arts & Education Council. In addition, financial assistance has been provided by the Missouri Arts Council.

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