STAGES St. Louis to Host 30th Anniversary APPLAUSE! Gala

On Friday, November 11th, 2016 STAGES St. Louis will hold its fifteenth annual Applause! Gala at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton to support the organization's Education and Artistic programs. Judy and Jerry Kent will serve as Presenting Sponsors, with major St. Louis arts philanthropists Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, Pat and Peggy Sly of Emerson, and Ernst and Young's Jim and Lynne Turley as Honorary Co-Chairs.

Following a successful 30th Anniversary Season, this year's Gala theme, "Back to the Future: A Musical Odyssey", offers a look ahead to STAGES' promising future. St. Louis Actors Kari Ely and John Flack serve as event hosts, while the evening's entertainment showcases stars of STAGES' 2016 Season, including Keith Boyer, Kendra Lynn Lucas, Corinne Melançon, and Kent Overshown. The evening will also feature inspiring performances by the STAGES Performing Arts Academy's wonderfully-talented premier performance group, Triple Threats.

Some 500 guests representing the region's top corporations and philanthropists will attend the event. The festivities begin at 6:30pm with red carpet photos, cocktails, and Silent Auction filled with numerous options for holiday gift giving. Dinner begins at 8:00pm followed by the Live Auction, featuring exclusive STAGES experiences, elegant dining and travel, and more. Sponsorship opportunities and incredible entertainment will conclude the evening.

"Unquestionably 2016 has been a thrilling season," stated Executive Producer Jack Lane, "and what better way to celebrate all STAGES' extraordinary triumphs than at a party with so many fellow patrons of the arts. It's certain to be a fun-filled evening."

Single tickets to the black-tie event are $300.00 per person and table sponsorships begin at $3,000. Guests are encouraged to bring their smartphones. For more information contact STAGES' Development Department at 636.449.3948.

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 135 performances from June 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 25 overseeing a budget of $4.7 million. During the performance season, an additional 150 actors and crew members bring the productions to life. To date, STAGES professionals have produced 106 musicals, with over 3,500 performances, playing to more than one million patrons.