Augusta lost a shining light in its arts’ community over the weekend.
Scott Seidl, who had served as the Augusta Players’ artistic and executive director since 2017, died Sunday, Nov. 23.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend and beloved Executive and Artistic Director, Scott Seidl,” according to a Facebook post at noon Nov. 24, signed by Amy Patton, board chair.
Seidl came to Augusta as longtime executive director Debi Ballas retired.
He had an expansive and storied resume that included actor, director, musician, teacher, playwright, tour accountant for Live Nation and road manager for Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
“He was the true Swiss Army knife of musical theater,” said Ryan Abel, past Augusta Players’ board chair and performer in shows such as “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
All of those previous jobs made him the perfect fit for his role with the Players, he said.
“He was specifically crafted; his skill set and everything was the perfect fit for what was needed for where we were eight years ago,” Abel said. “He helped build upon the legacy of Debi Ballas and Richard Justice and the many others before them. He established his own legacy.”
Part of that legacy included a new home for the Players at 712 Ellis St.
“This will be something that’s our own for the first time in the soon to be 80-year existence of the organization,” said Seidl in a January 2024 Augusta Good News’ article.
He helped launch a capital campaign, and the organization is still raising funds. The building was renovated, and the Players moved into the completed space earlier this year.
He also took chances on the types of performances he brought to the stage. Some of the musicals brought with them a social justice message.
The first was “Ragtime,” which opened the 2019-2020 season with Russell Joel Brown as the lead. The show, which highlights racial injustice, has always been a favorite of Brown’s, and Brown learned after meeting Seidl that it was a favorite of Seidl as well.
Not long after he moved to Augusta, Seidl met Brown on a panel at the Morris Museum of Art. The two chatted, becoming fast friends, and Brown said, “I have the perfect show for you to do. You should do ‘Ragtime’ and you should let me play the lead.”
Not only did Brown have the chance to play his dream role, but he had the opportunity to do it in a dream fashion.
“Scott was such a sensitive director. He had clear idea overall of how he wanted things to go,” he said, but the two of them developed the role together, which doesn’t happen in many productions.
Brown called Seidl a healing force.
Seidl’s last production was “The Color Purple” in October, which featuring a predominantly African American cast and crew. The play also deals with racism and abuse.
It had a profound effect on Seidl.
“I’ve done this for 50 years. I’ve never been affected this deeply by anything, and I’ve done a lot of shows, in a lot of places, at a lot of different levels. This is remarkable in the biggest sense of the word,” said Seidl, in a Sept. 25 Augusta Good News article.
Seidl opened the door for all actors, according to Laurie Easterlin.
More African Americans found a place on Seidl’s stage and so did more women – particularly older ones, she said.
“When he arrived and I got to know him a bit, we were at dinner party and he asked me to tell him my greatest theater hopes. And I said, ‘Scott. Here’s a hope. Please know you have some incredible older female actors in this town who will work hard and have been in theater for decades. My wish is that you’d cast age-correct women rather than dressing up 20 year olds as women our age.’ He said, ‘You got it. You are heard.’ And thus you now see correct-aged females in those roles. I remember calling Kay Gross and telling her we needed to SHOW UP after my big request,” Easterlin wrote in a message.
The cast of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” will still bring Seidl’s vision to the Imperial Theatre stage Dec. 12-14.
As word of Seidl’s death rippled through the Augusta arts’ community Sunday night and Monday morning, many people took to social media to express their sadness at his passing as well as the joy in knowing him. Some changed their Facebook profile pictures to include ones with him in them.
“Scott was a remarkable mentor, a brilliant director, and a true friend. His genuine belief in me as a theatre professional boosted my confidence and encouraged me to trust my instincts. Scott’s kindness, creativity, and vision have left a permanent mark on the Augusta arts community and will remain with us always,” said Rebecca Brune, who teaches drama at John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School and has been involved with the Augusta Players and Augusta Junior Players for more than 15 years.
While his talent and business acumen will be remembered, what others remember is his love for the people who surrounded him.
“Scott cared abundantly. One of my favorite memories was during rehearsals for Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. We were nearing Thanksgiving, and I asked Scott if he planned to see family for the upcoming holiday. His gaze shifted to the rehearsal space with all of our cast. A smile warmed his face as he said, ‘I already am.,’” said Tres Taylor.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
