Stages St. Louis' APPLAUSE! Gala Raises Over $435,000

 

On Friday, November 11, 2011 STAGES ST. LOUIS hosted the tenth annual APPLAUSE! Gala at the Ritz-Carlton, a benefit supporting the theatre's Education and Outreach Programs and the employment of St. Louis artists. APPLAUSE! 2011 raised proceeds of over $435,000, breaking all records for STAGES fundraising efforts. This year's numbers come on the heels of a record-breaking season, which generated over $1.7 million in ticket revenue. The Gala culminates STAGES 25th Anniversary Season. The event was hosted by Fox 2's Kevin Steincross. Judy Kent and Linda Gibson served as co-chairs.

The entertainment Sing a Song of STAGES, featured the dazzling stars of STAGES ST. LOUIS, including Casey Erin Clark, seen in the 2008 production Little Women, Executive Producer Jack Lane and St. Louis favorites Ben Nordstrom, last starring in 2010's Promises, Promises, and Zoe Vonder Haar, last appearing in Victor/Victoria. The teen a cappella sensation TeamSTAGES also performed "Man in the Mirror," as part of the Academy program.

In 2011 the Performing Arts Academy and its Outreach Programs will impact over 4,500 students, and reach an additional 3,500 community members through public performances. The Academy will also award nearly 145 Academy and Outreach scholarships and underwritings in keeping with its mission of serving all students. This is largely made possible through the generous support raised at APPLAUSE!. STAGES Performing Arts Academy enrolls nearly 1,000 students each year; its Outreach programs reach thousands more. The Academy leads collaborative programs with City Academy, Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, Parkway Central High School, Gateway Academy, St. Louis County Libraries, Marian Middle School and many more.

During the 2011 Season, STAGES issued 32 contracts to local professional actors, providing 195 weeks of employment and a source of steady income for those choosing to live and perform in and around the St. Louis metropolitan area. Today STAGES provides more annual workweeks to local union actors than any other St. Louis theatrical company.

The 2011 APPLAUSE! Gala was attended by over 400 supporters at The Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis.

Notable attendees included:

• Ted Briscoe & Kim Cella

• Lisa & Greg Nichols

• Paul & Debbie Estes

• Elizabeth & Hunt Niedringhaus

• Susan Ferguson & Mario Barretto

• Gwen Packnett

• Judy & Ira Gall

• Deborah Patterson & Kelvin Carter

• Michael and Elizabeth Gibbons

• Steve Sachs & Madeline Meyerowitz

• John W. & Barbara Hammond

• Senator Eric Schmitt

• Dave & Wendy Henry

• Terry & Sally Schnuck

• Ed & Lynne Higgins

• Jim & Karen Shaughnessy

• Debra Hollingsworth & Mark Stayce

• Representative Rick Stream & Ellen Stream

• Bob & Carol Jones

• Lynne Turley

• Judy & Jerry Kent

• Steve & Lynn Wedel

• Mike & Mary Meduski

• Bill & Linda Welborn

• Merry & Jim Mosbacher

Executive Producer Jack Lane stated "It has been a sensational year for STAGES ST. LOUIS. The celebration of our Silver Anniversary could not have been more exciting. STAGES has some of the greatest supporters in the not-for-profit theatre industry and I continue to be amazed at their generosity and their commitment to help make STAGES one of the best musical theatres in the nation. This much needed support will enable us to continue providing the region with the highest quality productions and educational opportunities.

STAGES ST. LOUIS will celebrate the great American Composers in its 2012 Season; Ain't Misbehavin' (June 1 – July 1), The Sound of Music(July 20 – August 19), My One and Only (September 7 – October 7) and the 2012 Theatre for Young Audience production of Disney's The Jungle Book (June 20 – July 1).

The 2011 Silver Anniversary Season has been made possible with 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, a state agency.

STAGES ST. LOUIS opened in 1987 with a staff of 8 part-time employees, a season of 24 performances, a budget of $50,000, and an audience of 3,000. Today STAGES can boast of 25 full-time staff members (with a seasonal company of 175), 124 performances each season, a budget of $3.8 million, and a loyal audience of over 47,000. In its 25-year history, STAGES has entertained nearly 850,000 patrons with 86 productions and over 2,700 performances. The recipient of twenty-three Kevin Kline Awards over the past six years, including three awards for Outstanding Production of a Musical, STAGES has become the leading company for musical theatre performance and education in the Midwest.

Photo Credit: Peter Wochniak

 

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