Jan Albus

Jan is now in her 11th year as executive producer of Variety Theatre. She has produced and directed over 300 special events, including ballet, musical theater, operetta, and concerts. Her performing career includes 40 productions with The Muny, the St. Louis Civic Ballet, and the Florida Ballet Company. She holds a teaching degree and BA in French and English from St. Louis University, and a doctorate from the I.S.T.D., London, England. While teaching in the theatre department at The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, she established the St. Louis Performing Arts Academy and the Westport Playhouse Dance Department. Jan founded St. Louis Performing Arts Productions and counts Bye Bye Birdie and Babes in Toyland as her favorites as producer there. At Variety, her position as CEO has utilized her background in theater, fundraising for children’s causes, and her marketing experience with national corporate sponsors. Since joining Variety in 1995, she has founded many programs, including Variety’s Bikes for Kids, Adventure Camp, Variety Chorus, Variety Dance, Curtain Up Camp, Variety Theatre, Young Variety, Pedia Pals, TherHappy Kids, and the Dennis and Judith Jones Playground in Forest Park. She created Variety’s Runway Lights Fashion Show, and produced the Dinner with the Stars gala for 21 years. In 2011, Jan received the Women in Leadership Award from the St. Louis Empowerment Foundation. In 2018, she and Lara Teeter were honored with the St. Louis Theater Circle “Award for a Body of Work” for Variety Theatre. Jan is married to Larry, her mentor and inspiration in all endeavors, and is proud of her daughter Jacque, son Mike and his wife Annie, and two incredible grandsons Sam and Ben.