If you normally think of New York or Chicago as the best places for theater actors to earn their chops, think again! St. Louis is a thriving home for thespians who tread the boards professionally. We spoke with a few successful local actors who say that here, it is uniquely possible to gain notoriety in their field and have a fulfilling personal life.
gary glasgow
Alabama native Gary Glasgow advances the profession of acting by both living it and teaching it locally. He has nearly 40 productions at The Muny under his belt and has appeared at The New Jewish Theatre, Variety Children’s Theatre, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis and other venues. To help future thespians keep the torch lit, he teaches classes at the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University.
“St. Louis theatergoers are so welcoming and gracious,” he says. “You’ll find very democratic audiences at places like The Muny and Shakespeare Festival. The free seats allow actors to perform for a great cross-section of people and really give something back to the community. I don’t think you often find that in other cities.”
Glasgow says there is plenty of competition for good stage roles, but the odds of landing them are more favorable in St. Louis. “It’s not like New York or Chicago, where there may be several hundred people auditioning for one spot,” he notes. He recently appeared in The Muny’s production of Newsies, and enjoys playing “niche characters with some sparkle to them,” like rogues in Shakespearean tales.
Glasgow says St. Louis is an ideal place for actors of all ages to receive training. “Webster and Washington universities have very good study programs, COCA has classes for adults, and The Muny has programs for kids and teens. It makes them great advocates for the arts whether they go on to acting careers or not.” He advises aspiring local performers to be as well-rounded as possible by studying voice and dance as well as acting.
“You never know when you’ll be called on to waltz on stage,” he says. “The more skills you learn, the more opportunities you’ll have. You want as big of a toolbox as you can get, and St. Louis is a great place to build it.”
amy loui
Amy Loui returned recently from a trip to England and was inspired by the commitment of theater audiences there. “People in London view the stage in the same way Americans get attached to sports,” she says. “Everyone gets together before and after a performance, and they debate it and get passionate about it. That kind of audience, I think, is something we’re trying to develop here in St. Louis.”
Loui is contributing to that effort by appearing in a variety of local roles, from Shakespeare to modern drama and comedy, hoping to appeal to audiences of all ages. “There’s an enormous amount of great theater going on in St. Louis,” she notes. “There are wonderful shows at places like The Rep, Fox Theatre and The Muny. But there also are a number of really good small theaters drawing people in.” She recently appeared in the lead role of Vera for The New Jewish Theatre’s production of 4,000 Miles. During her off-stage hours, she runs her own event production company.
Loui says she is in awe of the quality of local theater talent. “The people who act here and make it their home could work anywhere, but they choose to stay because of family or cost of living,” she says. She also is thankful that many companies like The Rep have placed more focus on area talent in recent years. Loui mentions Kari Ely as an example of an actor who has achieved significant fame locally. “Kari is the wonder girl of Stages St. Louis,” she says. “Audiences come to see whatever she is in—not just because she’s so good, but because she’s one of us.”
leah berry
Leah Berry grew up in Festus and spent time honing her craft in New York. She returned to the Show-Me state when her husband took a job here in 2009. “As someone who really wanted to ‘break away’ from home, I had a hard time coming to terms with returning,” she notes. “But then I realized the passion St. Louisans have for theater. I really admire their spirit and enthusiasm. St. Louis may not be a major hub, but there are many talented people here who love to create and tell stories.”
Berry has appeared in a variety of productions, many of them musical, at Stages St. Louis, The Muny, The New Jewish Theatre and other area venues. “For young actors, this is a great place to learn and grow,” she says.
“There are so many opportunities to work with other professionals who have figured out a great balance between their art and their personal lives. Part of the charm of this area is that it’s affordable to live here, so you can have an acting career and a full life outside of it.” Berry loves working with kids at Variety Children’s Theatre and is set to play the lead role of Nellie Forbush in Stages’ fall production of South Pacific. When she’s not under the lights, she enjoys doing radio commercials and other voice projects for clients like Schnuck Markets and Eckert’s Farms. She also works with Washington University medical students as part of a role-playing training program. She and other actors pose as patients with various conditions, and students are evaluated on their compassion and knowledge while working with them.
“I love doing it because it draws on my acting experience and makes me better,” Berry says. “I always go home feeling inspired.”
Pictured at top: Amy Loui performs on stage.