Joe Gfaller
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Director of Marketing & Public Relations
St. Louis, MO
Joe Gfaller has served as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Opera Theatre since February, 2011. In that time, he has managed some of the company's most successful sales campaigns, including record-setting campaign for the world premiere of Terence Blanchard and Michael Cristofer's 2013 world premiere of "Champion" and OTSL's on-going robust initiatives to build new, young, and diverse audiences. During his tenure managing OTSL's "Young Friends" program, the series has expanded significantly, with participation in the program more than tripling. He has helped originate Opera Theatre's Engagement & Inclusion Task Force, as well as the company's Opera Tastings and Kids' Club programs. For his work in building inclusive audiences for opera, he was recognized in 2014 with the St. Louis Business Journal's Diverse Business Leader Award. He has been part of Opera America's strategic plan committee and is co-chair of Opera America's Marketing Forum.
Outside of his work in opera, he is also past board president for St. Louis's Gateway Men's Chorus, a former board member of Webster Arts, 7 Stages Theatre, and the Little 5 Points Business Association. He also teaches the course "Marketing for the Arts" as part of Webster University's masters degree program in Arts Management and Leadership. He has previously taught at Berry College and at Clark Atlanta University.
Prior to relocating to St. Louis for his position at OTSL, Joe held marketing leadership positions at the Alliance Theatre and 7 Stages Theatre, both in Atlanta. He began his career in marketing and public relations at the American Repertory Theatre. He worked for many years as a freelance stage director, directing regional premieres and world premieres by Caryl Churchill, David Mamet, Christopher Durang, Richard Greenberg, Mark St. Germain, Gabriel Dean, and Addae Moon, among others.
He and his husband love to travel and have two dogs, Sprout and Emmit.