Tom Gass

Tom Gass was born and raised in the entertainment industry. A California native, and the son of Dianne Lennon of The Lennon Sisters, Tom spent his childhood surrounded by television and live theater settings. In the 1980s, Tom toured the Los Angeles club circuit playing music, and was able to work with many up-and-coming artists. Behind the scenes, Tom spent time touring as road crew and sound technician.

In 1994, Tom ventured to Branson, where he completed the installation of the lighting and sound systems for the well-known Welk Resort Theater. Upon completion, Tom was hired as the theater’s audio technician, where he worked for three seasons. Noticing a need in Branson’s entertainment industry, Tom merged his strong background in construction, renovation and restoration with a love of entertainment, bringing Backstage Connections to life in 1996. In doing so, Tom established Branson’s only local provider of theater supplies.

Noelle Gass

Noelle Gass was born and raised near Branson. Shortly after marrying Tom in 1996, the two founded Backstage Connections, followed by having three sons, Tully,Trik and Sawyer. Noelle’s life has been an adventure, but she loves it and is always up for the challenge.

Best in Branson:i> I love Branson for its small town feel, but millions of people visit here each year. Branson is constantly changing and growing to cater all of its visitors.

What do I enjoy most about Backstage Connections?i> We get to work closely with a lot of the changing aspects and growth in Branson. If you have theatrical needs, come visit us, or we’ll come to you!

John Bernhardi (a.k.a. "Goober")

A Californian by birth, but Bransonian at heart, John is a "jack of all trades" who loves art, carpentry and working with his hands. John holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology, which in 2001 led him to study archaeology in Yemen. At Backstage Connections, John's philosophy is to "work hard and have fun, but most importantly improve and learn."

Best in Branson:i> The shows in Branson are very unique – lots of people who honestly just want to entertain.

Favorite Music:i> Cheesy 70’s love songs.

What do I enjoy most about Backstage Connections?i> The best thing about working at Backstage is the atmosphere. This is a great place to create and be creative.

Shelli James

Born and raised in Southern California, Shelli has lived in Branson for the past six years. With a strong background in retail management, Shelli strives to make Backstage Connections' customers happy – whether it be a service call, or a custom set piece.

Thoughts on Branson:i> A peaceful, beautiful place to visit and live. Spend some time here and you will never want to leave. When I moved here six years ago I saved money; it was 45 minutes to Target and we did not have a Starbucks, now we have both; I'm set and just waiting for Pier One Imports.

Perfect Weekend:i> A baseball weekend in St. Louis – room service included.

What do I enjoy most about Backstage Connections?i> Being able to come to work and have fun every day. Tom, Noelle and "the boys" are a great bunch of people and our customers are really great as well.