It's a tradition for St. Louis natives and a tourist destination for the out-of-towners. It's also a yearly tradition among families and a great night out with friends.  A new season of The Muny is underway with a line up of musicals that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.  To enjoy a relaxing evening out, here is some great information to make the most of your night at this iconic St. Louis landmark.

     
Dining outside The Muny theater.  Photo from The Muny Facebook page.

1.  Pack up the picnic basket, snag a park bench, and enjoy the views of Forest Park by creating your own five star restaurant before the show, a tradition among many Muny veterans.  For a sit down affair, The Culver Pavilion restaurant (reservations only), offers mouth-watering entrees, desserts, soups, and salads. During intermission cool off with a variety of treats at the concession stands, especially the Muny staff favorite-ice cream cones!  Use their trick and have cup to put your cone in so it won't melt all over your clothes.

 2.  Did you know that The Muny houses 11,000 seats, 1,500 of them are free? But bring your binoculars and be at the gates at 7 p.m. to snag one of the seats because they're very popular. Purchasing seats though, will get you closer to the action. Laura Peters, Director of Marketing and Publicity, says that her favorite seats are the "honeymoon seats," an entire row with just two single seats.

 3.  A typical St. Louis summer can be summed up in two words- hot and humid.  Take the right precautions to stay cool during the show.

• A soft sided cooler that fits under the seat
•  Plastic bottles full of ice cold water
•  Ice pack
•  Wet rags to wrap around your neck
• Fans (homemade from paper or battery-powered handheld)

4.  The Muny Kids, live bands, and sponsored events are some of the pre-show entertainment offered.  Each Muny production provides different entertainment to provide variety to the many frequent visitors.  These events start at 7 p.m. and are located throughout the venue.  Just keep an ear out for music!

                        

Children partake in pre-show activities for The Little Mermaid. Photo from The Muny Facebook page

 5.  Dress to impress when visiting The Muny.  Whether it's your Sunday best or a new summer dress, a variety of styles are worn by all ages. The most important consideration is to stay cool and comfortable in cotton or other breathable fabrics.

 6.   To keep comfortable for hours, seat cushions are a must and are available for rent before the show.  A well stocked cooler will help you stay hydrated and binoculars are encouraged if you want a front row view from 40 rows back.

7.  The Muny is a timeless family tradition for all ages.  Some season tickets have stayed in the family for three generations.  For one patron, The Muny has special family ties.  According to Joy Boland, The Muny receptionist, one woman working on an anniversary party for her parents, came in with a ticket stub from the show her parents saw on their first date in 1952.  After looking through the archives, Joy discovered the play was entitled, "Sally."  When told the name of the play, this woman's eyes filled up with tears.  "Sally is my name," she told Joy, in amazement that she was named after the production of her parent's first date.

 8.  First time to The Muny? Here a list of things to know from veterans before the big show:

• There is free parking along the streets of Forest Park
• Get there early to enjoy a great meal and mingle with other Muny guest
• Be courteous to others during the production – take bathroom breaks before the show and during intermission, and try not to eat loud or smelly foods
• Turn off your cellphone during productions
• Stay until after curtain call

 
9.   The Muny is just exciting for the guest as it is for the actors and staff backstage.  During hot summer nights, performers wear ice pack vests under their costumes to keep them cool.  Throughout the day, The Muny set is busy with show rehearsals which are done just 10 days before the opening.  Staff members keep busy chasing a family of ducks around the venue before performances.  When The Muny is out of season, twelve staff members work year round to bring the viewer the best outdoor theater experience in the county. 

Brenna Seger, brenna@stlrac.org