The Muny has announced a scenario for an abbreviated 102nd season with five shows instead of seven and an opening night one month later than originally planned.
“There are a million moving parts and we are adjusting those. The primary thing that we’ll continue to look at is the health and safety of the community,” said Kwofe Coleman, managing director of The Muny. “We are looking at the information that’s coming in. The City of St. Louis has done a tremendous job of keeping everyone informed and we are 100% depending on the guidance we get from national, city and health officials about that time.”
Under the proposed modified schedule unveiled Monday, the six-time Tony Award-winning musical, “Chicago,” will open at The Muny July 20, instead of in mid-June. Coleman said it would all depend on whether it is deemed safe for audiences, as well as cast, crew and staff, to gather in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A final decision from The Muny is expected on June 8.
“By June 8, we will need to know what the climate and environment of a July 20 opening would look like,” Coleman said. “We’re looking at everything – every single point of contact and interaction, which ones should be adjusted – it’s a new, ever-evolving reality we’re facing and we’re not going to jeopardize the safety of people.”
If by June 8, conditions for a July 20 opening have not been deemed safe and positive for the community, the entire season for the country’s largest and longest-running outdoor musical theater will be postponed until the summer of 2021, Coleman said.
The two shows previously slated for this summer that will move into the 2021 season are Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s “Mary Poppins” and “Sweeney Todd.”
“So many things went into deciding how to proceed, including the size of the production and the creative and production teams, and how much it takes to mount those shows,” Coleman explained. “We considered if we had to get down to five shows, what would be the combination of shows that would still speak to the community and offer something for everyone? It was a difficult decision.”
Coleman added The Muny intends to include the “Mary Poppins” and “Sweeney Todd” productions in the 2021 lineup.
“These were shows people voted for – they were shows they wanted,” he said.
The Muny offices in Forest Park have been closed since mid-March in accordance with stay-at-home restrictions imposed by the City of St. Louis. Coleman said late April and early May would normally be the time for production crews to begin work behind the scenes.
“Crews would be on site,” he said. “Using the “Brigadoon” analogy, the sleepy town backstage is waking back up. We’d have the stage decks coming back in, all the crew, and the facility would be starting to get ready. From a patron standpoint, we would normally have single-show tickets available in early May.”
Instead, The Muny plans to contact current season ticket holders personally regarding their options and next steps. New season tickets for the five-show package are available now, with tickets to be mailed in early June. Single-season show tickets will go on sale June 29.
With stay-at-home orders and gathering restrictions still in place, walk-up service to The Muny box office is not available. However, tickets can be purchased online at MetroTix.com.
“We’re cautiously optimistic for this five-show season and we hope the situation continues to improve,” Coleman said. “The thing we want to stress is that we’re not moving forward blindly, we’re not tone deaf, we’re trying to absorb it all and see what’s possible. More important, as a city, we hope to move toward the other side of this – that’s the most important thing.”
The Muny’s modified 2020 season includes:
Chicago | July 20 – 26
Smokey Joe’s Cafe | August 15 – 21
The Sound of Music | July 29 – August 4
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers | August 24 – 30
On Your Feet! | August 7 -13
For more information, visit muny.org
