(Editor’s Note: On June 3, The Muny announced that the theater will now open at full capacity instead of 60% percent, as previously stated. This means that the venue’s approximately 11,000 seats, including the 1,500 free seats offered nightly on a first-come, first-served basis, will be available.)
The Muny is getting ready for an Opening Night that will take place later this summer with a reworked five-show season instead of seven as originally planned.
Today, The Muny announced that its 103rd season will begin July 26 with “Smoky Joe’s Café” (July 26 to Aug. 1), followed by “The Sound of Music” (Aug. 3 to 9), “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” (Aug. 12 to 18), “On Your Feet” (Aug. 21 to 27) and “Chicago” (Aug. 30 to Sept. 5).
Two productions, “Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins” and “Sweeney Todd,” will move to the 2022 season.
Current season-ticket holders will be contacted personally with detailed information regarding updated seating options. New subscriptions for the 2021 five-show package are now available, with single tickets going on sale July 12. Tickets can be purchased online or by phone by calling (314) 361-1900. Currently, box office in Forest Park is closed for walk-up service.
The Muny initially announced a July 5 start date for 2021. With the later start date, it is hoped that “the health landscape will continue to improve, providing patrons more comfort and certainty when heading to the theatre.”
Managing director Kwofe Coleman tells Gazelle that The Muny plans to operate at 60% capacity when it opens to the public for the first time since cancelling all live, in-person performances last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other guidelines include social distancing at all times in all areas of the theater. Patrons will be ticketed in groups of six or less, with a minimum distance of 3 feet between parties in all directions (front, back, left and right). But masks will not be required for fully vaccinated adults, per the current guidelines announced this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, those who are not vaccinated are strongly required to wear masks, except when eating or drinking. A complete list of guidelines is available on The Muny website.
“We’re following what the CDC has put in place, as well as guidance from the (St. Louis) City Department of Health. It will be up to the individual … we encourage people to be comfortable, we want people to be comfortable,” Coleman said, adding that The Muny’s front-of-house staff – employees who will be interacting repeatedly throughout the evening with the public – will continue to be masked. Employees will also be subject to daily health screenings.
In addition to guidance from the CDC and local health officials, The Muny’s in-house COVID-19 compliance task force includes infectious disease experts from Washington University.
“It’s been a balancing act – we’re grateful for everyone’s collaboration,” Coleman said. “From the moment we ended work on our digital programming last season, we’ve been trying to stay as up to date as possible. We’ve been focused on how to bring live theatre back and bring everyone back together.”
For his part, that also involves overseeing the return of approximately 800 seasonal employees this summer.
“All this carries a sense of hope and relief,” Coleman said. “The fact that we’re able to come back and bring people back to work .. and to see the audience gather and the lights go on – it’s an exciting moment!”
One-Time Usher Rises Through the Muny Ranks to Become Its New Leader
