The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is focused on producing for the stage—but it has no shortage of stars from the screen willing to lend it support. Three years ago, when the theater was teetering on the brink with a $2.5 million budget deficit, that was John Goodman. Last year, it was Sean Gunn, known for Gilmore Girls and Guardians of the Galaxy.
This year, though, has brought the Rep’s Holiday Benefit its buzziest headliner yet: Britt Lower, fresh off her Emmy win for Severance. Lower is an old friend of artistic director Kate Bergstrom, dating back to their meeting 10 years ago in the new play development room at the Ojai Playwrights Conference. A native of Heyworth, Illinois, which is near Bloomington, Lower is also no stranger to St. Louis: She spent the summer of 2022 here, living in her egg-shaped camper in The Big Top’s parking lot and performing with Circus Flora.
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Bergstrom, who moved here more recently from New York City, says she wasn’t aware of their shared St. Louis connection until her husband spotted Lower in a recent documentary about City Museum. “He was like, ‘Have you thought about asking Britt to come for the holiday benefit?’” Bergstrom recalls. “And I hadn’t, until he said that.”
Bergstrom says there’s a reason actors who make their name in Hollywood are eager to support the stage. “Theater is the first playground for a lot of these film and TV folks, and I hope it is a playground they will revisit and cut their teeth in,” she says. “And I think that they know the value of theater and that liveness and live experience to catching the storytelling bug.”
Indeed, once the Rep made the ask, it was an easy sell. Lower is busy filming the next season of Severance, but agreed to take a few questions via email. She tells SLM, “St. Louis will always have a special place in my heart because of Circus Flora, but also because I have family in this part of the Midwest. Some of my ancestors had apple farms on the Illinois side of the Mississippi.”
And the summer she spent in St. Louis also remains a fond memory for Lower. It led to her short film Circus Person. She says she’s also currently writing and developing a feature film “inspired by the time I’ve spent with tent circuses.”
When she comes back on December 9 to headline the Holiday Benefit at the Loretto-Hilton Center, Lower will be joined by Broadway star Taylor Louderman (Mean Girls) and Miss Missouri Shelby Ringdahl, both of whom will share musical performances. Lower will recite “The Night Before Christmas” and also share how she created her character on Severance.
Says Bergstorm, “I’ve seen her create characters from the ground up 10 years ago, and I know how fascinating and phenomenal that process is. So hearing it from her is going to be special.”
We asked Lower a few lightning round questions about St. Louis. Her answers are below. Want more? You’ll have to show up for the Holiday Benefit.
SLM: What are some of your memories of your summer in St. Louis?
Britt Lower: Discovering the extraordinary City Museum with my circus castmates.
For all your Severance fans: What real-life person would you want to work with you on the severed floor?
BL: My brother. When we were kids I used to watch him play computer games like Myst. I feel like he’d be good at figuring out what the numbers were.
What’s the first St. Louis food favorite your outie would introduce to your innie?
BL: I don’t know if this is a St. Louis food, but everyone should experience a baked potato.
