In just about a month, another Muny season will begin. For those of us in St. Louis, sitting outdoors under the stars while enjoying a Broadway classic revival musical is a sign of summer...and a wonderful one, at that! To celebrate my recent birthday, we went to lunch and then to the Missouri History Museum to see the temporary Muny exhibit before it closes.
The display opened last year in celebration of the 100th season of the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theater, better known as the Muny. It was interesting learning bits of information about our local gem. This photo below shows the audience of an outdoor performance on Art Hill in front of our famous art museum. Judging by the size of the crowd, this forerunner of the Muny was well-received even in 1914.
Today's Muny is close to Art Hill and was established between two trees in Forest Park. The initial production, Aida, opened there on June 5, 1917 and the guests sat on folding chairs. Today's Muny has the same configuration and hosts 11,000 permanent chairs. Of those seats, 1,500 are free and have always been offered to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
Not only famous actors frequent the Muny stage. It's also a tremendous opportunity to talented locals of all ages. Known for drawing youth, hundreds of youngsters audition annually for a chance to become a "Muny Kid" to dance and appear in shows.
The exhibit features parts of real sets, such as this glimpse of The Wizard of Oz. Many artifacts, like this camera are also available to see.
People are often curious about the comfort level experienced throughout a two-hour show during hot and humid summer evenings. For us, it has truly never been an issue and especially now. A few years back, the Muny installed large, slow-churning fans atop tall poles which are in quiet circulation the entire evening. I can personally attest to the fact that I do not get too warm and have even sometimes required a light wrap during the shows. The fact that the performances begin at 8:15 is a benefit.
Since there is a glare on the plague, I have copied the paragraphs below.
Many families are fourth and fifth generation Muny-goers. For them, the season isn't nearly long enough.
When the cast and crew assemble onstage for the final performance of the summer, the audience rises and sings "Auld Lang Syne" with them. This practice began in the first season at the request of Mayor Henry Kiel and has become a century-long tradition.
We are eager for the start of the 101st Muny season! In case you're interested, here is the lineup:
Guys and Dolls (June 10 – 16)
Kinky Boots (June 19 – 25)
1776 (June 27 – July 3)
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (July 8 – 16)
Footloose (July 18 – 24)
Lerner and Loewe's Paint Your Wagon (July 27 – August 2)
Matilda (August 5 – 11)
If you'd like to see the Muny Memories exhibit at the museum, it runs through June 2. Free parking is available in their lots and there is no charge to walk through this enjoyable display.
I always like hearing people speak of their own Muny experiences. I know of someone who was a "Muny Kid" more than 60 years ago. Another person shares stories of how she and her parents rode the streetcar to the Muny 70 years back and they went in their fine clothes--complete with hats and gloves. I'm sure everyone in St. Louis recalls his or her first trip to see a performance in the largest and oldest outdoor theatre. I have many fond Muny memories from childhood through the present. How about you?