The Muny

I have been going to the muny since a young kid, its been a summer family tradition every thursday night during the summer months! If you have never been, I would highly recommend!

I was born in St. Louis, grew up here, and now live here as an adult. I’ve been to the Muny a bunch of times over the years, but each time I go back, I still enjoy this venue and the atmosphere of the performances. It’s a relaxed family environment and when the weather is perfect, you can just sit back and watch the show come to life. It can be the kind of experience (for kids and adults alike!) that makes you believe in magic again. It may not be Broadway but the Muny staff and performers know what they’re doing and always put on a good show.

What a great place for TONS of people to experience theatre together in the open summer air! If you want to park close to the theatre, you want to get there pretty early — I mean more than an hour before the show. In your time before the show eat the picnic that you’ve packed or the Chipotle you brought along! If you bought tickets, bring a blanket and find a place to sit. If you are in the free seats at the back, you can bring the food to your seats when they let you in at 7p.
My only complaint about this place are the seats — they’re like baseball stadium seats. They’re extremely uncomfortable!!! I would strongly suggest bring a cushion, towel or blanket to sit on!

Well. I have loved the Muny for many years, however I have to speak on the terrible customer service I just encountered. My family went to Hairspray a few weeks back and the show was rained out halfway through. We heard that night that we could exchange tickets for an upcoming show, even checked the website for the policy. We could not all make another night of hairspray so chose to wait until beauty and the beast. Drove to the Muny today and was told we could only exchange for the show hairspray and that since it ran a few minutes over an hour it technically was not a rainout. What? Really? So we paid for half a show and because we couldn’t make the next few nights of that show we can’t exchange tickets for another? Absolutely absurd.

The Muny is a great Summer attraction if you’re looking for something to do. The new fans are quiet and much nicer than the ones in the past which were so loud that they had to be turned off during the performances. The Muny also features a variety of big names playing the roles in their shows. I just saw Heather Headley perform in «Into the Woods», and I saw John O’Hurley perform a couple years ago in Spamalot. My only complaint about the Muny is that there is not enough leg room in the cheaper and free seats. I have sat in the free seats, the $ 14 seats, the $ 40 seats, and the $ 60 seats, and there is a noticeable difference in the amount of leg room between the more expensive seats and the free seats. I have honestly been in pain sitting in the free and $ 14 seats before, not even joking. (I have very long legs) But none-​the-​less, you should give the Muny a try.

Walking into The Muny for the first time I was expecting to sit on the lawn and watch a small show on stage… I was pleasantly surprised when we got there to a beautiful outdoor theater with stadium seating, fans, and especially the elaborately decorated stage. My first show was Aladdin and I was amazed when it started with live camels on stage! It was so much more than I could have ever expected. I have since enjoyed a a variety of shows and cannot wait to enjoy more!

Love this place Be it a season ticket holder or sitting in the free seats Amazing venue to watch a play You can come early pack a picnic and eat before the show Or chose a four course dinner at the Muny restaurant

Located in picturesque Forest Park, the Muny is an outdoor amphitheater that has been in operation for 97 years. Any true St. Louisan has experienced a show at the Muny. Ticket prices range from free to expensive but no matter where you sit, the true beauty comes from the music and songs from the performers.
We saw Buddy– The Buddy Holly Story last night. It was awesome! The main character actually sang all of Buddy Holly’s hits. He was phenomenal! The play told the story of Buddy Holly including his tragic plane crash. Wonderful show!
The Muny is such a fun experience for all ages. Even small children love and appreciate the art of a live theatrical performance.
What I love about it is you can bring in your own food and drink or picnic in the park before hand. They also have concessions, they can be pricey but the food is quite good .
Only drawback is the seats are tight and there isn’t much legroom but I can overlook that based on ticket prices (again, some are free) and the live theater experience!

My wife and I had the pleasure of seeing the opening show of the Muny’s 97^th season. We were way in the back but the show was great! My attention was mostly on the musical, but from time to time I took a moment to enjoy the refreshing breeze on my face, or to check on the stars as the progressed through the sky…
I took a point off the rating because I had trouble seeing the stage due to the fact that someone was sitting in front of me for half the show (she left during intermission). I suspect the elevation between rows isn’t as high as it should be. Or perhaps the lady was just very tall. Regardless, I enjoyed the show, and will be back again. And next time we’ll pay extra for better seats.

Once upon a time when driving through this city we stopped to see the Chicago production for free! No, this is not a made up bed time story — this is real life people!
The Muny is full of lush green fields perfect for a picnic or walk around. The outdoor theatre is breathtaking and I don’t think one of the free seats available had a bad view. The acoustics were ace as we could hear every word on stage. I’m pretty sure from reading through other reviews we lucked out on a cooler summer night. I’m a wimp when it comes to extreme heat/​humidity so I’d definitely check out the forecast before coming.
What a downright dreamy place for the arts and community!

I have to admit, the Muny can be a lot of fun if the setting and show is right. It can also be down right awful thanks to St. Louis weather.
I’ve been to several shows here, and since last season (or was it the season prior?) the addition of the fans in the lower area have made a bit of a difference, but an outdoor theater in St. Louis during the summer months is hit and miss without a doubt.
My most recent visit was a gift from my sister in law, as she was out of town for the «Suessical» and gave us her season tickets for the show; which was great because my son’s nursery is all Dr. Suess and it made for a great introduction to musical theater for my little guy!
The show itself was cute and tied the stories together quite nicely. I will admit, however, that I only got to see the first half of the show. My little guy, Sawyer, is only about 10 weeks old at this point, and he was just captivated by the music and colors of the show. It was about an hour in, however, before the muggy St. Louis weather took its toll, and he went from mesmerized to «Daddy, get me the heck outta here! It’s HOTTTT!»
I can’t say I blame him though. I was uncomfortable as well. My wife, she could sleep in an oven and ask for a blanket, so she would have sat all night if Sawyer hadn’t started getting agitated.
I’m not sure what else one could do to counter the weather in an outdoor theater, but it might be the single most deterring factor for me when deciding to take in a show. These days, I only go to shows I just have to see. I don’t do well with hot, muggy weather, and neither does the little man.
If not for the weather, the Muny would still only be 4 stars because it just cannot compare to the sound and quality of an indoor show. The weather seems to dictate costume choice and creativity, which impacts every show I have seen here. The heat mandates «dumbed down» costumes to keep the talent comfortable, and to me this really impacts the quality of the show. It’s hard to get lost in some of the characters when the costumes look like something out of a summer camp production.

I treated myself to a ticket for the Tuesday production of Porgy and Bess. Since this was my first time I decided to buy a ticket in the b section. I love theatre and love to be close, B was not close enough for me. The seats are not sloped enough so it is tough to see over the heads. You do spend most off the night peering over people and moving sued to side as those in front if you do the same. I really enjoyed the sound quality and the actors when I peered through a neighbors binoculars but next time I want to be closer. I should have gone with a free ticket or one even further back to save money, I will be either close or far and just enjoy the music.
I planed to leave my hotel (20 min west of the park) around 6! And get dinner at the park. However I was advised that I would have hit traffic in and around the park leaving at that time. Leave by 5;30 or you’ll miss dinner. So I left at 7:15 and it was smooth saving into the park and I was able to park near the boat club a very easy walk to the theatre. Nice easy exit too.
Food, snack and even water were expensive, I skipped all of it. Water is more expensive in Muny than in some broadway theatres.
The seats are comfortable. The new fans are so quiet they leave them on for the entire show, which gave a nice breeze. Nice mix of people, some serious theatre buffs, some first timers. Nice mix of young and old.
I look forward to going again.

This is a great open theater to take the family to. The free seats have a great view of the stage! Great breeze great seats didn’t spend a dime and had a great time! I would strongly recommend bring your family out here for an entertaining evening!!!

Every other disgustingly humid summer, I want to spend at least one night outdoors listening to showtunes. The Muny is my go-​to for such an absurd craving.
That’s because the shows are top-​notch. I’ve enjoyed every Muny production I’ve seen. I’ve seen a few television show regulars in supporting roles in the productions; you’ll know them by the deafening applause that greets them. If you like musicals at all, you must go to the Muny at least once.
I’m a fan of the free seats. I’m not a fan of the seats themselves — it’s really pretty far away. If you know the show already, take it easy, save a few bucks and enjoy from a distance. Consider bringing binoculars. If you don’t know the show or are pretty serious about seeing the production, you should probably get the paid seats.
Oh, and bring water, a fan, and a handkerchief to wipe the sweat away.

I’ve seen some amazing plays here… Brigadoon, South Pacific, etc. it’s an outside theater, but I don’t recall ever being eaten up by bugs or not being able to hear. The setup is really nice. There are concessions in back and an intermission for bathroom breaks. The seating is comfortable.
This would be a great place to take a date or for couples. I started going there around 13 with my parents and loved it ever since then.

The MUNY is AWESOME! The only theater outdoor that has trees buildt around the stage! Love going here!

We took the girls last night to see Mary Poppins at the Muny. Needless to say, they were really excited.
We are really lucky to have the Muny if you would like to take in a show. I have always loved the architecture and the history that makes up the Muny.
Once we arrived, we had some time to kill prior to the show so we walked around the facility. The folks that work at the Muny are all very nice and handed out some fans for those that were waiting around. We really did not need them last night but it was really nice.
Since the weather was so cool, I was a bit bummed that I could not see the new fans in action but they look really impressive. That will be a huge bonus now that they will be running when the show is going on for those nights when it is a brisk 95 degrees with 90% humidity. However, last night was more like a fall evening so they were not on.
The show and cast were great! The girls loved every minute of it, especially when Mary Poppins flew out over the crowd!

I write this as a guide to the Muny for those who have never been here. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and veterans may disagree.
1. If you plan to drive in, don’t plan to park in the lots unless you get there really really early. They fill up quick. There is plenty of parking on the street and I recommend parking as close to the intersection and direction that you plan to go. Getting out of here can be a mess if you’re car is facing the wrong way.
2. Bring a thermos of cold water so you don’t spend your rent on $ 4 water bottles. Also, if you own one, bring a seat pad. It’ll elevate your stature so you can see better. Which brings me too…
3. Leave the little ones at home unless you are okay with hearing «But Mom, I can’t see!» all night or sit towards the back sections. (Also, the people in front of you don’t want to hear that either). As an amphitheater, the seats in Terrace A level out too much for little bodies to see over the taller people. Even some of the adults in front of us were having trouble seeing over some of the larger patrons.
4. Invest in a personal fan — either electric or hand generated. With 12,000 people, it gets hot and sticky quick. Oh, also, if you plan to wear shorts, you’ll probably stick to the plastic seats. I did and it wasn’t comfortable.
5. If you enjoy theater and seeing the facial expressions, spring for the closer seats. Once you get behind Terrace A, it’s hard to see the acting going on. But you can still easily enjoy the show.
6. Although the free seats allow you to see the show, they’re up in no mans land. If this is a casual thing, free seats are great. If you’re looking forward to the show, spring for the tickets. Compared to most Broadway theaters, it’s really affordable.
7. Hmmm. What else did I learn? Oh yeah, try not to knock people over on your way out the door. There’s a lot of older patrons who walk slow and will clog the aisles. Be kind and wait the extra couple of minutes for them. It’s just the polite thing to do.

The Muny is a spectacular St. Louis jewel. I’ve had season tickets for more years than I can remember. For rich history, see:
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It’s amazing to think that this is the world’s largest outdoor theatre, and it started in 1917. .. before cars and airplanes! Stars from around the world are drawn to perform at The Muny.
There are magnificent presentations. .. all musicals. .. that resonate through the years and the generations.
Bring binoculars.
I always go early to get a good parking spot and bring my dinner. .. with a soft cooler full of soda/​water. They are admissible.
The concessions are ridiculously expensive, and the lines can be long. As can be the lines at intermission for the women’s restroom. (Can’t speak to the men’s restroom.) Avoid at all costs.
Every season there’s a chidren’s musical. Regardless, they speak to everyone. The songs are always ageless.
I’ve been there sweating, and I’ve been there freezing. And I’ve been there in the rain waiting for them to «call it.» You never know what the weather will bring.
At leave time, we always give a standing ovation to get a leg-​up on the exit. .. usually try to get to the car early. But if that doesn’t happen, just chill in the parking lot and avoid the crowd trying to get out.
It’s always a lucious experience.

BITTERSWEET
Which described my night more than the play we saw.
Free seats!!! Why didn’t I know this before I bought section B seats for $ 20? I really didn’t do my research before I came here. My friend and I bought tickets online and we didn’t realize this was an outdoor theater until we arrived. It was a gorgeous place, but I was sweating my butt off in the humidity.
There were plenty of parking, at least at the back of the theater. It was a pretty confusing place to find, so we were glad we had printed out a map from their website.
PLAY: Cats started promptly at 8:15pm. The stage was amazing and the costumes were cool (or rather, HOT! I don’t know how they sang and danced in all that fur). The sound quality was great.
WEATHER: It started storming around 9:00pm and we ran for cover. They didn’t cancel the show until about 9:40pm and we were given the option to come back to the ticket office the next day for Sunday’s showing. However, I was leaving town and cannot make next day’s show and they refused to give us tickets for the following weekend because the show was on for an hour. If they want to be nit picky, I believe the show lasted 59 minutes whereas they claimed it lasted 61 minutes.
STAFF: They were all friendly, but most of them seem clueless. They didn’t know if there were parking towards the front of the stage and gave us incorrect information about the refund policy.
CONCESSION: There were no lines and lots of eager cashiers waiting to help. I would have brought my own soft cooler with non-​alcoholic beverages and food if I had known this was an outdoor theater. Instead, we spent $ 4 on a bottle of water.