STAGES St. Louis Celebrates Success of 2013 APPLAUSE Gala

On Friday, November 15, 2013 STAGES ST. LOUIS hosted the twelfth annual APPLAUSE! Gala at the Ritz-Carlton, a benefit to support the organization's Education and Artistic Programs. APPLAUSE! 2013 raised proceeds of over $356,000. This year's numbers come on the heels of another record-breaking season, which generated nearly $2 million in ticket sales, out-grossing any season in STAGES' 27-year history. The event was hosted by STAGES stars Kari Ely and David Schmittou. Lynne Turley and Lisa Nichols served as event Co-Chairs.

Guests were dazzled by the headlining entertainment provided by Jacqueline Petroccia, the star of STAGES' hit production Always... Patsy Cline. The live band from the show, led by STAGES Music Supervisor Lisa Campbell-Albert, accompanied Petroccia as she sang Patsy Cline standards as well as selections from the American Songbook. The evening also featured the teen a cappella sensation TeamSTAGES joined by Triple Threats, STAGES Performing Arts Academy's Advanced Musical Theatre Performing Group.

In 2013, STAGES Performing Arts Academy programs brought Musical Theatre arts education to over 3,200 students, awarded 800 Scout badges, engaged 1,000 parents/guardians and their children in interactive dramatic play via Stories@STAGES, and entertained thousands of audience members at TeamSTAGES performances. Our regionally unique Access the Arts program continues to bring the beauty of Musical Theatre to youth with developmental and physical disabilities. Since its inception, the Urban Arts Initiative has conducted more than 160 programs for 3,000 underserved students. By ensuring access to a rich performing arts education, the next generation is transformed and our community enriched. Sponsorship monies raised from the APPLAUSE! Gala help to support all of these wonderful and vital education and artistic programs.

The 2013 APPLAUSE! Gala was attended by over 430 supporters at The Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis.

Notable attendees included:

Don & Marilyn Ainsworth
John & Crystal Beuerlein
Arash & Dana Amini
Leona L. Bohm
Scott & Debbie Cusimano
Pat & Michele Duff?
Judith Gall
Walter & Nancy Galvin
Michael & Elizabeth Gibbons
Barbara B. Goodman
Leon & Nancy Hall
John & Barbara Hammond
Dave & Wendy Henry
Ed & Lynne Higgins
Sam & Patricia Hopmeier
Bob & Carol Jones
Judy Kent
Pia & Matt Koster
Nancy Kranzberg
Merry & Jim Mosbacher
Lisa & Greg Nichols
John & Anita O'Connell
Peter & Meredith Perkins
Gary & Diana Rich
Robert & Celeste Roberson
Terry & Alison Roberts
Ruth Saphian & Omer Kinran
David & Susan Sherman
Pat & Peggy Sly
Wayne & Margaret Smith
Lynne & Jim Turley
Wayne & Patti Withers

Executive Producer Jack Lane stated "2013 has truly been a banner year for STAGES. We're thrilled and honored to have celebrated our recent accomplishments with our incredible family of supporters, and we're truly grateful for their continued commitment to helping us improve the human experience through the impact of Musical Theatre. The APPLAUSE! Gala is both a celebration of a record-breaking season and an opportunity for the community to come together in support of the arts. The immense success of this event has filled me with gratitude and pride."

STAGES ST. LOUIS' 28th Mainstage Season will include They're Playing Our Song, a song-filled love story based on one of the most prolific American song writing teams of the 20th Century, Academy Award-winning Composer Marvin Hamlisch, and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Carol Bayer Sager. The season continues with the Pulitzer Prize-winning How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, a true pursuit of the American Corporate Dream. The grand finale is the Tony Award-winning Fiddler On The Roof, the definitive musical about reaching for the American Dream. The season hits its first note May 30 and runs through October 5, 2014. In addition, the 2014 season Theatre for Young Audiences production will feature Disney's Sleeping Beauty, beginning June 18.

STAGES ST. LOUIS is thrilled to announce, after unprecedented demand, Always... Patsy Cline will return to St. Louis April 22 - June 15, 2014 to The Playhouse at Westport Plaza. Single tickets are on sale December 12, 2013 and start at $50. For more information or to purchase tickets call 314-821-2407 or visit 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 2014, STAGES celebrates its 28th year of producing Broadway-quality theatre, presenting 127 performances from May through October to nearly 50,000 patrons.

STAGES opened in 1987 with a budget of $50,000 and a part-time seasonal staff of eight. Today, the company employs a full-time staff of more than 30 overseeing a budget of nearly $4 million. During the performance season, an additional 150 actors and crew members bring the productions to life. To date, STAGES professionals have produced 94 musicals, with over 2,900 performances, playing to over 900,000 patrons. In 2005, STAGES added its annual Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) production to encourage multiple generations to attend professional, live musical theatre together on family-friendly schedules.

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