Stages Hosts 10th ANNUAL STAGES’ APPLAUSE GALA 11/11

On Friday, November 11, 2011 STAGES ST. LOUIS will host the tenth annual APPLAUSE! Gala at the Ritz-Carlton, a benefit to support the organization's Education and Outreach Programs and the employment of St. Louis artists. APPLAUSE! 2010 raised proceeds of over $280,000. The event will be hosted by Fox 2's Kevin Steincross. Judy Kent and Linda Gibson serve as co-chairs.

The entertainment Sing a Song of STAGES, will feature 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 and the teen a cappella sensation TeamSTAGES will also perform a piece from their just-released CD.

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 award nearly 145 scholarships valued at $25,000 and another $25,000 in outreach program underwriting 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 will be attended by over 400 supporters at The Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis. Single tickets to the black tie event are $250.00 per person and sponsorships begin at $2,500. For more information contact STAGES Development Department at 636.530.5959 ext. 633.

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.

To post a comment, you must register and login.