Bringing Broadway to the Art Coast®
The Art Coast is known for its sweeping views of Lake Michigan, thriving artistic community, and…Broadway performances? That’s right. Each summer, the Saugatuck Center for the Arts (SCA) hosts two musical performances of a caliber you would expect to find in a much larger city. Imagine taking in the spectacle and artistry of your favorite Broadway show in an intimate setting where you can easily sit steps away from the stage. That’s just the type of experience you can expect when you visit the Art Coast of Michigan.
Artistic Director Kurt Stamm has been bringing Broadway magic to the area since 2003, before the SCA building even had running water. Kurt draws on over 30 years of experience as an actor, singer, dancer, director, and choreographer to curate and direct theater for the SCA.
He partners with Maribeth Van Hecke, who serves as Producing Director for Theater & Performance. With a background in dance and creative writing, Maribeth is also the talent buyer and manager for the SCA’s one-off mainstage events, performance series, special events, and festivals.
How do you pick the Broadway lineup each season?
Kurt: I’m always scouting. I just came back from New York, where I saw two shows—always with a scouting mindset. Our audience leans contemporary, so we aim for newer titles—shows just coming off Broadway or national tours, as soon as licensing allows. Last summer, we were among the first in Michigan to get Come From Away, and we also did Waitress shortly after its tour concluded.
What’s your casting process?
Kurt: We’re an equity theater, so about 50 percent of the cast must be union to meet contract obligations. We hold equity principal auditions in Chicago in January, plus a full day of local auditions in Saugatuck and a full week in New York City.
Maribeth: In the cast, there may be one or two locals each season. But for crew, backstage, and designers, 40–50 percent are local.
What are some of the activities that have to happen before opening night?
Kurt: Before the weeks of rehearsal, we do extensive research and blocking. Set, prop, costume, and lighting design are underway—often starting around March for shows rehearsing late May.
How do you adapt large shows for a smaller venue?
Kurt: Many big titles (Legally Blonde, Beautiful, Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia, In the Heights) have original casts over 20. For us, 20 on stage is about the limit; with swings and understudies, you’re managing more. We combine smaller roles and sometimes do orchestral reductions. Our set designs are built specifically for our smaller space. The result can be powerful: for Come From Away, audience members who’d seen the tour said the SCA’s intimacy made them feel more connected.
Maribeth: Our space is uniquely intimate—400 seats—with a high level of production. You’re closer than in most professional venues, which heightens the experience.
Can you share any interesting behind-the-scenes stories?
Kurt: During Legally Blonde, our local powerhouse Kelly Carey lost her voice two days after opening. Her understudy went on that night with virtually no rehearsal. We call it “shove with love”—the company gently moves a performer through the show. The understudy knew the material, and it worked. Kelly recovered and finished the run.
Another time, during Once, the performer playing Billy needed to have an emergency appendectomy. There wasn’t an understudy, so my assistant Nathan, who’d been in rehearsal every day, went on with about four hours of prep. He even learned two chords on the banjo. The rest of the band picked up the slack. The audience never knew.
How does the cast bond and spend time in the area?
Maribeth: During rehearsal, the cast works 10 am – 6 pm, six days a week. After opening, call is typically 7 pm. Once the show opens, days free up, and the cast hits the beach, plays pickleball, and has game nights. We also host an opening-night party, and donors and board members often have cocktail parties.
What sort of reactions have visiting performers had to their time staying along the lakeshore?
Maribeth: They’re struck by how picturesque it is—“storybook” and “Hallmark movie” come up a lot. Some are not used to rural driving, but they love the vibe.
For visitors to the area, what’s the ideal show-day itinerary?
Maribeth: I always tell people to arrive early, walk through the SCA building, and view the gallery. Park near us, then walk into town—coffee at Uncommon Coffee Roasters and then an early dinner at one of the many great restaurants in the area. Our lobby opens an hour before curtain (1 pm for matinees; 6:30 pm for 7:30 pm shows). Have a drink, stroll the garden, and enjoy the evening.
What do you most want people to know about Broadway at SCA?
Kurt: Visitors don’t expect the scale and quality they see at SCA. They anticipate a small summer-stock production but experience New York-level performances in an intimate space—both in our theatrical shows and in our cabarets and concerts. We’re grateful to bring that caliber of performance to Saugatuck.
