SPECIAL FEATURE – The Show Must Go On

ANDREW KUHLMAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF STAGES ST. LOUIS

MEET STAGES ST. LOUIS’ NEW EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

ANDREW KUHLMAN LOVES A GOOD STORY. Since childhood, the St. Louis native has loved treading the boards and telling tales to audiences. While you’re much more likely to find him working offstage than on these days, he’s still sharing his love of theater with the community. He’s been working with STAGES St. Louis as an administrator for the last decade, and next year, he’ll take on the role of executive producer.

Have you always been interested in theater?

When I was a little kid, I loved performing in school plays, and I studied theatrical performance at Bradley University. There is something about the art of storytelling that compels me. My favorite question to ask someone is “How are you?” I think it’s a powerful question, and in theater, you can ask every audience member by engaging them. They can reflect on what’s on stage and how they themselves are doing. Hopefully, you can make them think about things in a different way or brighten their day, at least for a couple of hours. I really love that art has that power.

How did you get involved in the administrative side?

During my junior year at Bradley, I took a course on theatrical producing. Over spring break, we had an assignment to interview a theater administrative professional. I actually spoke with someone from STAGES for the project. The experience really opened my eyes to this whole other side of theater. Most people know about onstage and backstage work, but there are so many amazing people working off stage and applying their business acumen to marketing, fundraising and the box office. I got an internship opportunity working with the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, and after graduation, I became an intern at STAGES. Now, I’m celebrating 10 years with the company. The move to executive producer is kind of like the ultimate anniversary present.

What do you enjoy about working in theater?

The people. I work with some of the greatest people I’ve ever met. There’s the STAGES staff, but also the larger theatrical community in St. Louis. I consider myself lucky to be amongst that group. It also extends to the audience that comes to our shows. One of the most beautiful and fulfilling sights is watching people take in and appreciate a production you’ve worked on. One of my professors once told me that theater is a hard business, so if you can imagine yourself working in another industry, you should seriously consider pursuing it. There is nothing else I can see myself doing.

Do you have a favorite production you’ve worked on with STAGES?

It’s like picking a favorite child. I love every show we’ve done for different reasons. Our 2014 production of Fiddler on the Roof has stayed with me. It’s a classic musical, but I didn’t know enough about it. It’s so important to have the right storytelling. In fact, STAGES’ motto is: Experience the story. We had the perfect team for gorgeous storytelling in that show. I loved our production of In the Heights this season. The show is so reflective of community and inclusive of people. I would love to see more productions like it on the STAGES stage. This year, there also was our production of The Karate Kid - The Musical. I’m incredibly proud to have been part of the team that brought the pre-Broadway premiere to St. Louis.

What are you looking forward to when you take the executive producer position?

I go back to that motto: Experience the story. For 36 years, STAGES has shared some beautiful productions with St. Louis, and I want to see what stories we will tell next and who will tell them. The best theater administrators are Renaissance people. We look at each department to help lead and provide a strategic vision for the company. I’m constantly asking questions about where we are today and where we want to be tomorrow. I’m looking forward to what STAGES can do with its next 36 years, and I want to grow our involvement with both the local and national arts communities.

Are they any upcoming productions you are excited about?

We’re finishing up our current season with A Chorus Line, Sept. 9 to Oct. 9. It is a true love story to musical theater and one of the most beloved musicals of all time. People are always asking us when we’re going to do it again, and this production is directed by our new artistic director Gayle Seay. I can’t wait to see what she does with the show. I hope people will come out and share our 2022 curtain call with us. t&s