STAGES St. Louis Raises Over $80,000 at Annual Cabaret Event

On Monday, August 10th, STAGES St. Louis hosted its annual one-night-only cabaret event, Cheers!, benefiting the organization's Education and Artistic Programs. This year, STAGES proudly presented the world premiere of The Story Goes On: The Songs of Maltby & Shire, the inaugural workshop production from Emerson American Musical Creative (AMC). AMC is the newest division at STAGES for the creation of new American musicals. Monday night's attending audience was the first to enjoy this brand new show.

The Story Goes On... is a musical revue showcasing songs written by Tony Award-winner Richard Maltby, Jr. and Academy Award and two-time Grammy Award-winner, David Shire. Under the direction of STAGES' Associate Artistic Director Stephen Bourneuf and featuring Musical Director Lisa Campbell-Albert on the piano, the show tells the story of three couples at different times in their lives as they explore the ups and downs of what it means to be in a relationship. Cast members from STAGES' 2015 productions of Anything Goes and The Full Monty starred in the show, including Julie Cardia, John Flack, Leah Berry, Austin Hohnke, Bronwyn Tarboton, and Erik Keiser.

The event, held at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood, opened with a 6:30PM reception and pre-show activities including a wine pull and a Triple Threats raffle. The performance began at 7:30PM with a full house comprised of STAGES Board members, VIP donors, and loyal patrons. Ticket prices ranged from $75 to $250. The evening featured St. Louis Actress Kari Ely and New York Actor Brennan Caldwell as co-hosts, who provided off-the-cuff humor as they led the live auction at intermission. This year's exciting auction items offered opportunities for exclusive dinners and parties with cast members, a package to enjoy two evenings at St. Louis Cardinals games, which included gift cards to Ballpark Village, tickets to an enchanted ride on the Polar Express with dinner and hotel stay at Union Station, and even a special walk-on role in STAGES' upcoming production ofThe Full Monty.

A total of $80,383 was raised throughout the evening's exciting events. "What a monumental moment for STAGES to offer audiences a sneak peek of this new work of Musical Theatre," exclaimed Executive Producer, Jack Lane. "The money raised will help ensure the continuation of superior performances and exceptional educational opportunities through STAGES St. Louis." If you are interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to STAGES, please contact the Development Office at Stagesstlouis.org or call (636) 530-5959.

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 2015, STAGES celebrates its 29th year of producing Broadway-quality theatre, presenting 144 performances from May through October to nearly 50,000 patrons, during its mainstage season. 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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