STAGES St. Louis’ new leadership has added sparkle and depth to the company

by Grayling Holmes / Photography by Carmen Troesser

STAGES St. Louis implements a ‘jewel box effect,’” according to Executive Producer Andrew Kuhlman. Now, beginning their second season as co-leaders of the organization, he and STAGES St. Louis Artistic Director Gayle Seay carefully pluck each precious gem from their STAGES St. Louis’ jewelry box and allow it to sparkle on its own – from acting, to sets, to costumes.

“STAGES is unique in that way,” Andrew added. “You know how when you open a jewel box sitting atop a dresser and you see every piece together, creating one whole glimmering picture? But when you take pieces out individually, they each still shine on their own?”

And as if singing a duet, on cue, Gayle chimed in, “Every element of a production at STAGES shines, both on its own and as a collective. Our actors, directors, designers, technicians, marketing, box office, and anyone else involved in the show, they are all dedicated to bringing that shine to life day in and day out. That’s what Andrew is talking about.”

Their two-part harmony continued as Andrew said, “Here at STAGES, the audience can see every single piece because our theater is intimate enough to let the audience experience a Broadway-level performance in a unique way.”

Take a tour of the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, home of STAGES St. Louis.

They explained that as a team their aim is to bring the STAGES St. Louis tagline, “Experience The Story,” to life. “To do that we have to have AMAZING talent,” Andrew said, raising the pitch of his tenor on the word “amazing”.

Almost in unison, Gayle continued saying that in order to do that you have to bring in storytellers who encapsulate the vision of the show and can take existing scripts and create something fresh and specially designed for STAGES St. Louis.

“For instance, with ‘In the Heights’, we hired Luis Salgado, a prolific regional director/choreographer who was also a cast member in the show’s original Broadway run,” she said. “He did everything from sharing his vision for casting to making sure that the set, costumes, sound and musical designers were all on the same page. He had to provide direction for each and every element of the show in order for the audience to essentially experience the story in a new way.” she explained.

STAGES St. Louis’ production of “In the Heights” Summer 2022.

Another example? “Through my position as Artistic Director, I was able to direct our 2022 season production of ‘A Chorus Line’ here at STAGES. Instead of having the actors on stage simply talking to Zach, the play’s director in a distant light, I had Zach actually walk through the audience and approach the actors at the edge of the stage. I created a whole new feel from something audiences who saw the original Broadway production, the touring show, or the movie had seen. Our audience experienced ‘A Chorus Line’ in a whole new way, while maintaining the integrity of the piece.” she explained.

Gayle Seay directed the the STAGES St. Louis production of “A Chorus Line”.

Last summer, I witnessed that jewel box effect myself. It was my first time at STAGES St. Louis and I was expecting to see some second-rate community-theater-type production. Instead, I was blown away the moment I entered the darkened theater at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. I came to see Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida”. On center stage stood a glowing multi-colored pyramid that, from my vantage point, looked at least a story tall. Other smaller pyramids surrounded it. To add to the unanticipated and while leafing through my Playbill from my third-row seat, I noticed that the cast was lead by none other than Broadway’s Ace Young and his wife Diana DeGarmo, both of “American Idol” fame. Color me impressed.

STAGES St. Louis’s 2023 production of “Elton John and Tim Rice’s AIDA”.

Next, an enthusiastic young man bounded onto the stage welcoming the audience to the first-ever Pride Night at STAGES. During his pre-show curtain speech, he went on to describe the “Aida” cast, gathered from both local and Broadway talent.

Executive Producer Andrew Kuhlman gives curtain speech for STAGES first-ever PRIDE NIGHT prior to the AIDA performance.

“Aida” began, and for the next two hours I felt that I was witnessing a production on an intimate Broadway stage. On that night, Andrew had reached the top of his own pyramid. Over a dozen years, he climbed from intern to executive producer at the organization. How did a boy from Francis Howell High School take over one of St. Louis’ premier theater institutions, let alone work in tandem with a former NYC casting director, now STAGES Artistic Director, Gayle Seay?

Andrew’s story is that of someone who intended to be an actor and grew into a producer. “In this business, as in others, you oftentimes have a career evolution,” he said.

Born and raised in the St. Louis area, he left only to get a degree from Bradley University in Peoria, IL. “After graduation, I was Chicago-bound ready to do the acting thing,” he said. “I had even paid a deposit on an apartment when my maternal grandmother, who I credit for anything good in me, was diagnosed with ALS and didn’t have much time to live.”

STAGES St. Louis Executive Director Andrew Kuhlman.

He moved back to St. Louis and split his time between nursing her and working at his old high school directing shows and coaching the speech team. His first real job in 2012 was as Apprentice for Theatre Leadership at STAGES St. Louis. He never left, rose through the ranks, and in January 2023, he became the second-ever executive producer in the 38-year history of the organization. Co-founder Jack Lane was the first.

“I once thought that acting was going to be my forever job,” reflected Andrew. “Then at one point I realized, ‘Wow! This is what love’ — being a part of the process of creating opportunities for St. Louis. I started focusing on producing and the administrative side.”

He now heads up a team ranging from development to marketing and everything in between. Although he has a development team, Andrew’s primary function is to secure funds to cover Stages’ $8 million annual budget, 55 percent of which is covered by ticket sales and 45 percent earned through contributed income.

“We have an incredibly consistent and loyal group of donors who really love STAGES, but we will always welcome more,” he added.

Gayle had a similar career evolution on the creative side. For nearly three seasons, she has been the Artistic Director, but that was a long road. She can’t answer the perennial St. Louis question, “Where did you go to high school?” because she hails from Trenton, N.J.

“I’ll answer anyway, Grayling,” she said. “I went to Ewing High.” She observed that when she first moved to St. Louis almost three years ago, there were three things she noticed that were prevalent: acronyms, toasted ravioli, and the high school question. Andrew nodded in agreement.

Her journey has taken her from dancer to performer to casting director, and now to Artistic Director. “I was a performer for most of my life. I started dancing when I was two-and-a-half years old – the usual stuff, ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary. I continued training in dance only until I went to a performing Arts High School in New Jersey. I went to Ewing High half a day and to a performing arts high school the other. I graduated, went on a tour, and never looked back. I’ve done everything from dinner theatre to national tours to Broadway shows.”

In 1995, her life intersected with STAGES for the first time when she was acting in a national tour of “Crazy for You”. The lead in the STAGES St. Louis production of the same show broke her ankle and Seay’s then boyfriend Scott (now husband) was in the production and knew co-founders Jack Lane and Michael Hamilton. Gayle left the tour, went to STAGES to take over the role, and loved The Lou. She came back the following season to do another show. Later her career transitioned to the world of casting. She co-owned the Wojcik-Seay Casting agency in New York City. She suggested partnering with STAGES on their casting efforts and auditions and she did it for about 15 years.

Approximately four years ago, she was asked to throw her hat in the ring for STAGES’ artistic director position. Michael Hamilton, the company’s founding artistic director, was preparing for retirement, and they were conducting a nation-wide search. She thought about it and realized it was an opportunity she had to grab.

Over the years, she fell in love with St. Louis. “This town has everything any city has to offer. It’s a great food, sports, and arts town. Everything is free from parks to museums. There’s so much to do, so much to keep you occupied. It’s like a hidden gem and people need to know more about it.”

Gayle works with Andrew, a native. “She’s the Batman to my Batman,” he declared. “There’s no Robin here.”

When I walked in on them the day of the interview, there were headshots and resumes spread all over a beautifully handmade lacquered table in the conference room at STAGES St. Louis’ Chesterfield headquarters. Scattered across the table were actors being considered for for the 2024 season’s productions of “Steel Magnolias,” “Ragtime and “Newsies.”

The 2024 Season for STAGES St. Louis debuts with Steel Magnolias on Friday, May 31st. **Click here for season tickets.** Click here for **single performance tickets.**

“We use each other like sounding boards,” he said. “In an artistic meeting, Andrew is there and in a finance meeting, I am there,” added Gayle.

The Batman and Batman dance continued as Andrew added, “There is so much local talent here, it’s incredible.” Gayle pirouetted and said, “We have been fortunate enough to hire actors, choreographers, and directors from New York and they too are floored about the talent level in St Louis. Once here, they say that they want to come back. They tell their friends and word is getting out. STAGES is a destination, not a stop along the way. Andrew and I are very lucky people indeed to co-captain this ship.”

“We are the first ones to celebrate together when we have a triumph and the first to cry together if something doesn’t work,” Andrew added. “We make each other better.”

A Dynamic Duo

Notable Productions in the STAGES St. Louis cannon