For 19 years, Shirley Stary has curated much of the Lakeside Chautauqua experience that you and your family enjoy each summer. As she puts the finishing touches on the 2024 Hoover season, it is bittersweet that we announce Shirley’s retirement as she wraps up duties as Director of Arts & Entertainment this spring.
Shirley has been serving Lakeside since 2005 when Keith Addy retired from the position. Since then, Shirley’s name has been synonymous with Chautauqua programming at Lakeside.
She began her tenure at Lakeside as the Vice President of Programming and was responsible for overseeing programming in all four Chautauqua Pillars as well as booking and management of Hoover Auditorium. Under Shirley’s leadership, Lakeside has produced more than 75,000 activities and experiences. Since 2005, Shirley presented 1,693 Hoover and Bandstand shows with a total attendance of 1,052,927 Lakesiders.
Shirley’s creativity and hard work has impacted millions of lives, helping Lakesiders deepen their connection and appreciation for the arts.
Contagious Love for the Arts
You would be hard-pressed to try and keep pace with Shirley, who juggles the small details and the big picture of more than 3,000 programs each summer. While serving on the Senior Team, Shirley was a champion for the employees serving as a mentor and keeping the staff on track every step of the way.
She has natural gifts for warm hospitality, finding new programming opportunities to enrich Lakesiders, identifying gaps in the schedule, and developing a plan to make the summer come to life.
Over the years, she has collaborated with the Lakeside Association Board of Directors, including past Program Advisory Committees, community groups, and the Lakeside Team, always with a focus on ensuring that the mission of Lakeside remains at the forefront and thrives.
Each summer brought new opportunities that Shirley approached with grace and a positive attitude. She planned budgets, put together the puzzle of Hoover shows, and launched new and unique programs making sure the Lakeside experience engaged the next generation while remaining true to itself. Her color-coded calendar was a testament to a quickly approaching season that staff grew to love and look forward to seeing.
“Shirley’s heart is filled with love for Lakeside. It’s contagious,” said Gretchen Colon, V.P. of Advancement & Marketing, who served with Shirley on Senior Team. “She cared about each person she connected with and was a big supporter. She pushed me when I was tired and picked me up when I needed it. She is a dear, dear friend and I’m going to miss her.”
Shirley has a love for the arts and could always be found at the back of Hoover Auditorium beaming as she watched the audience experience a new artist for the first time. Musicians, authors, performers and keynote speakers all raved about the “Stary hospitality” on and off the stage. She always made sure that they not only had everything they needed and wanted for their performance, but that they had a true Lakeside experience before stepping on the Hoover stage.
A One in a Million Friend
“Shirley has given her heart and soul to Lakeside,” says Rev. Dr. Charles Yoost, Senior Director of Religious Life & Pastoral Care. “Her knowledge not only of the arts, but of Lakeside and its people is incredible. She is a joy to work with, and a ‘natural resource’ on our Programming Team. Besides being a tireless worker, she will go to any length to get the job done. Shirley is also a very caring person and a wonderful friend. She is one in a million.”
Every September, once the Chautauqua summer season had ended, Shirley was leading the effort to start planning the next year. This included attending art showcases and conferences, meeting with agents, booking Hoover shows, and onboarding more than 150 seasonal employees.
Most recently, Shirley has been a resource through staff transitions. All three of the Chautauqua Pillar Directors were hired after Stary, and she was very helpful in getting team members acclimated, assisting in any way possible to help them succeed.
“She’s warm, generous, a friend and a co-worker,” says John Mann, Director of Education, “She is an institution. When I switched over to education, I didn’t realize how close the Education Pillar and the Arts & Entertainment Pillar work together. She’s helped me unbelievably.”
Shirley also created an arts intern experience that has sparked a passion for the arts in many young people. She has even taken interns to conferences to meet agents and potential Lakeside performers, guiding them in the day-to-day operations and mentoring them on their professional career journeys. As a result, dozens of interns have gone on to work in arts management, leading nonprofit organizations and being inspired to complete their master’s degree in arts management.
Shirley’s Legacy at Lakeside
Planning the Sesquicentennial Celebration was a milestone experience for Shirley, one that the Lakeside community had its eye on for years. For the 2023 season, she booked nearly 150 programs.
Shirley’s efforts over the past 19 years will be instrumental in continuing to elevate arts and entertainment performances and experiences in Lakeside. Shirley brought top-notch acts to Hoover, such as Wynonna Judd, Amy Grant, Three Dog Night, Little River Band, Lonestar, Paul Reiser and Tony Danza.
“Shirley is the staple for Hoover and Lakeside,” Lakeside’s COO Charles Allen says. “She is a person who has driven the vision and the artistic direction of our community. I really appreciate her passion, drive and love, not only for the arts but for this community. I value her professionalism so much, but also our time together and our conversations. She’s special.”
A Passion for the Lakeside Mission
More than anything, Shirley’s legacy will be her genuine and endless passion for Lakeside and its mission.
“Shirley will be missed, not for the hundreds of amazing performances she booked in her career, but for the way she exemplified and nurtured the Lakeside mission,” Director of Recreation & Wellness Katalin Domotorffy says. “She cared for each and every performer, team member, intern and community member with a smile, attention and detail.”
Next time you stand at the back of historic Hoover Auditorium as a show begins, look out over the audience of the thousands of Lakesiders who are enjoying the arts. Each seat represents one more life that has been changed and enriched by Shirley and her team. Shirley has created these moments through the years. She has made a difference in your life and the life of so many in 20 years. Her heart, passion and love of Lakeside will be missed by all, but the legacy she leaves on Hoover and on Lakeside will live on for generations to come.
Gratitude for Shirley
“I am so grateful for this depth of experience and my time at Lakeside,” Stary says. “The community has been amazing to me. I have never felt more valued. Lakeside has been so good for my family and extended family, and I worked with amazing people.”
Shirley plans to be around this summer, and we will plan a time for the community to celebrate her accomplishments with her in June. Together, we will honor her compassionate leadership, many years of dedication to the mission and her lasting Lakeside legacy. Stay tuned for more details on the celebration.
In the meantime, leave a special note of gratitude for Shirley and read about her reflections in a recent Q&A with the Lakesider newspaper below.
Q&A with Shirley Stary
Why retire now?
Stary: There are a lot of things that impacted the decision. Getting older has changed a lot for me – in a good way. I thought, ‘Wait a minute, I have a new grandson who’s three months old. I have a niece and two nephews who had babies this year.’ I thought, ‘If I’m not careful, I’m going to miss so much.’ For the past 19 summers I’ve been consumed with work. My husband, Bill, and I talked a lot about it on vacation in October. I thought, “You know what, this just seems like the right time to do it.” I’ve heard all along that I would know when it was the right time to retire. One of my goals when I was hired in 2005 was to stay through Lakeside’s 150th Anniversary season. With that goal accomplished, I think now is a good time to ‘exit stage right.’
How did you get started in Lakeside?
Stary: It’s a little long and convoluted. I am blessed to know longtime Lakesiders, Bill and Ruth Shannon. Ruth is a retired pastor who counseled me through my divorce. I was working at Ashland University at the time, and she was a member of the church we attended. I found myself in great need of a listening ear and a counselor, and God put her in my path. During this time, I met (my husband) Bill, who lived on Catawba Island. As our relationship grew more serious, I planned to relocate to the area.
About that time, my predecessor, Keith Addy, announced that he’d be retiring in a year. Ruth said, “There may be a position at Lakeside opening soon, and you would be perfect for it.” She had me contact Kevin Sibbring, who was just starting as President and CEO at the time.
It all came together over several months. I applied in December or January, and it took a couple months to process, which was another good thing. Since I was working at Ashland University, I really didn’t want to leave before graduation in May. I worked with the Campus Activities Board and Student Leadership Development, so I was really invested in the students. By the time Lakeside offered me the job in April, I negotiated a start date right before Memorial Day of 2005.
I believe in divine intervention. It was the right opportunity with the right organization at the right time. I haven’t doubted my decision for a minute. I thought I could never find a job as good as working for my alma mater, then I came to Lakeside and it was even better. The Ashland job was very fulfilling, and this one has been even more so. It’s long hours, hard work and a grueling schedule, but it has been incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. I know a lot of people my age who have never had a job that they felt this way about. To have this longevity in a career I really love has been a real blessing.
What were your biggest accomplishments in Lakeside?
Stary: When I started, they gave me the mission or the agenda that I’m going recommend to the next person. It’s time to infuse more of the music and the entertainment of the next generation into the Hoover schedule to meet the interests of folks who we are trying to bring into Lakeside. When I started, Keith Addy was the “old guy” and now I’m the “old gal.” It’s time for me to move on so someone younger with fresh ideas can take the reins.
What I attempted to do was to look at ways we could elevate some of the entertainment to reach new generations and people. It was to listen to the Lakeside community and try to provide the best possible entertainment within our budget, and to make as wide a variety of programs within a season so it wasn’t just the same old thing.
Do you have a favorite Hoover show?
Stary: It’s interesting. I do have favorite shows, but it’s often for different reasons. The first time I brought “Whose Line is It Anyway?” it was an introduction to comedy for Lakeside. The goal was to break a few barriers and have folks of all ages enjoy the show. Those guys are so blasted funny, and they do it without being too off-color. It was a really great show because it was something totally different. Sometimes the success comes from a really tough show going well. There’s also the success and feeling of satisfaction when a concert with a big artist goes off well, and it was a piece of cake.
One of my biggest successes is Girl Named Tom. To go from paying them almost nothing to perform at the Pavilion in September 2021, to the next year when they make it big on “The Voice” and come back as one of our biggest shows. They had to postpone their concert to after the season because of COVID, so it wasn’t the easiest of successes, but one I’m very proud of.
My other favorites (in no particular order) were Von Trapp Family Singers, The Spinners, Riders in the Sky, Rhythmic Circus, Leahy, Helen Welch, Jack Hanna, Megan Hilty, Ciaran Sheehan, Chipper Lowell, Mike Super, Amy Grant, The Good Lovelies, Tony Danza, Postmodern Jukebox, Peter Noone & Herman’s Hermits, Collision of Rhythm, the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra Pops Concert “Music of the Knights” and Michael Cavanaugh.
I’m blessed to be able to say I think there have been many wonderful shows over the years. I always love the family shows, like the Peking Acrobats or a magician, when there are 2,000 people in the audience who are diverse in ages all having fun together. I stand back and say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so cool.’
Another special moment was the first rehearsal with the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra after COVID. After Bob Cronquist retired, I was responsible for the hiring of personnel and organizing the music. As I was taking on more and more, I really didn’t think it would come together. Then all of a sudden, you hear them playing the first note. I was with (former Marketing Projects Manager) Hannah Brainard, and we just stood there almost in shock saying, ‘Wow, we did this.’ Getting over the hurdles and the obstacles was tough. I had constant fears that I didn’t hire the right number of trombones, or the music in the folder wasn’t correct. It was so out of my wheelhouse operating the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra on that level. I think it was another example of divine intervention!
Is there a show that surprised you?
Stary: Los Lobos and The Spin Doctors last year surprised me. I didn’t know their music very well but wanted to diversify our program offerings. I was surprised how much I enjoyed both concerts. I don’t know either of their music very well, but you talk about musicianship, the guys are very impressive. The funny thing is, there are a lot of shows I book that I wouldn’t necessarily buy a ticket for. People think I only book shows that I like, but that is not the case. I’ve really attempted to look at other interests and viewpoints and bring those artists to Lakeside. I’m not a huge fan of country music, but I loved Lonestar this past year.
Over the years, I’ve resisted tribute acts other than Mike Albert’s Elvis show or a Beatles tribute. My thinking was that tributes were really just pricey cover bands. However, a colleague at another venue challenged me to try out a few, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much our audience loved them. Everything from ABBA to The Eagles, to Journey and The ELO tributes have done very well for us. And Motown reviews always have a great turnout. People want to dance to the music they grew up with, and it’s fun to watch them let loose.
Is there an act that you really wanted to book, but it just didn’t work out?
Stary: Jim Gaffigan is the one artist I wish I could have booked before retiring, but his fee was too high even 10 years ago. Another was (author, humorist and radio personality) Garrison Keillor before he was involved in a bit of scandal. For at least five consecutive years, I put in a bid trying to bring Garrison to Lakeside, and barely got a reply from his agent even though I offered the ‘asking price.’ Now I can get him, but I’m not sure he’s the best fit.
It took me years to get Amy Grant to come to Lakeside, but I think that was due to her agent more than Amy. I think if artists knew how may obstacles their agents put up, they would be surprised.
There are some NPR style shows like “From the Top” or “Wait! Wait! Don’t Tell Me!” that I would love to bring in. It’s not necessarily a budget issue, but more the process and how you connect with these program producers. I think these would be great collaborations with NPR, so those are certainly going in my recommendation files for the new person to consider.
What’s it like when you get a shout out from a performer on stage?
Stary: I can’t deny it, sometimes it’s more motivating than being paid (but please don’t tell anyone I said that.) Anybody who knows me knows I’m a people pleaser. When I bring somebody into Hoover, I feel like I’m bringing them into my home, so a shout out from the stage says, ‘I enjoyed my visit here.’ That’s pretty special. There are some artists who only do it, so I invite them back, which doesn’t always work. When I feel it is a reward for good service, you can’t beat it. And most of the time, it’s a nice surprise. And although I love the concert, one of my favorite moments of a long 16-hour day is to wave goodbye to the tour bus and reflection on what the team accomplished that day.
Are there any stories or experiences you’ll remember the most?
Stary: I think having ice cream on my birthday in 2012 with Jimmy Osmond after his show down at the waterfront ranks up there as one of my favorites. It brought my life full circle. Jimmy was my teenage heartthrob, and if you had told my 13-year-old self that Jimmy Osmond would be taking me out for ice cream one day, I probably would have died right there. It was a very special night. My mom had just passed away and his mother had just passed away, so meeting him at sound check and being able to say, ‘I’m so sorry for your loss. I just lost my mom and I know how impactful that is.’ It was surreal to be having that kind of conversation with him.
Hoover is not an easy venue to present shows in, so my goal is to make the day go as smoothly as possible from the moment the artist or crew member walks into the theatre. I set the expectation with the Hoover staff that we should do anything possible to make the artist’s job easier. I hope the band remembers the wonderful community, the kind hospitality and that we bent over backwards to help. That’s kind of been my mission.
My motivation is to just do the right thing or do the nice thing. When I’m at a conference and an agent or an artist says, ‘You treat us better than anybody,’ I guess that’s what I want to be known for in the industry. If Lakeside is going to have a reputation, I want it to be that this is one of the best places to perform, not because of the venue, but because of the way we took care of them. It’s a blessing that many of the artists say they can’t wait to come back.
Any retirement plans you want to share?
Stary: I hope to not have to go back to work full time. I’m looking for something that continues to give me purpose with great flexibility. I have some little ideas here and there. Maybe I’m the perfect virtual personal assistant for someone. I love museums, performing arts venues and working with college students. There are so many things I love to do. I am blessed that at this time in my life it doesn’t need to be about money or a full-time job. I really want to take some time to figure out all the fun that I can have while still having purpose. Oh, and it will be nice to have my summers back!
