The Muny, or the Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States, is a not-for-profit municipally owned outdoor theatre, the largest in the United States. The Theater was built and opened in 1917 with 6 performances of Verdi's Aida. It operates solely in the summer, and its first official season ran from June to August 1919. In the beginning, it presented the latest operas of the time, calling on local performers and national celebrities alike to perform for a short run of a one- to, on occasion, three-week run. More recently, however, the Muny has shifted to presenting musicals, some old, some new, and some of the Muny's creation.
Here follows a list of the many shows that the Muny has presented in its summer seasons, with known dates included. To date, the 1919 season is the only one to hold all new productions (being the first season). By contrast, the 1946 and 1993 seasons have been the only summers where no new shows were added to the repertory.
Legend
The superscript notes below denote first productions (premieres), world premieres, in-season concerts, etc. at the Muny.
Muny Premiere: MP World Premiere at the Muny: WP Concert Presentation: C Ballet/Dance Event: B Ice Show: I Original Revue: R
1910s 1919 (Season 1) Robin Hood MP The Bohemian Girl MP El Capitan MP The Mikado MP The Wizard of the Nile MP Chimes of Normandy MP
Featuring mayor Henry Kiel as King Richard
1920s 1920 (Season 2) The Firefly MP Robin Hood Waltz Dream MP The Mikado Mascot MP The Gondoliers MP Babes in Toyland MP Katinka MP
1921 (Season 3) June 7–12: The Chocolate Soldier MP June 14–19: Fra Diavolo MP June 21–26: The Fortune Teller MP June 28 – July 3: San Toy MP July 5–10: The Beggar Student MP July 12–17: The Pirates of Penzance MP July 19–24: The Chimes of Normandy July 26–31: Sari MP
1922 (Season 4) June 6–11: The HighwaymanMP June 13–18: SweetheartsMP June 20–25: Sari Eva Fallon, Arthur Geary June 27 – July 2: The Yeomen of the GuardMP Frank Moulan July 4–9: The GeishaMP July 11–16: The Spring MaidMP July 18–23: The Queen's Lace HandkerchiefMP July 25–30: Miss SpringtimeMP Frank Moulan
Kalman's Der Zigeunerprimas.Reinhardt's Die Sprudelfee.Kalman's Zsuzsi kisasszony.
1923 (Season 5) Naughty Marietta MP Wang MP The Fencing Master MP Prince of Pilsen MP Die Fledermaus MP Sweethearts The Gypsy Baron MP The Merry Widow MP Gypsy Love MP The Spring Maid
1924 (Season 6) Princess Chic MP The Firefly Florodora MP A Chinese Honeymoon MP The Bohemian Girl Prince of Pilsen The Fortune Teller Lilac Domino MP Naughty Marietta The Beggar Princess MP
1925 (Season 7) A Night in Venice MP Mlle. Modiste MP Ruddigore MP Her Regiment MP Rob Roy MP Dolly Varden MP Lady in Ermine MP Cavalleria Rusticana MP H.M.S. Pinafore MP The Count of Luxembourg MP Martha MP Naughty Marietta The Merry Widow
1926 (Season 8) Eileen MP The Red Mill MP The Chocolate Soldier Spring Maid The Pink Lady MP Il Trovatore MP Sweethearts Iolanthe MP The Count of Luxembourg Woodland MP Fra Diavolo Babes in Toyland
1927 (Season 9) Robin Hood The Princess Pat MP Sari Song of the Flame MP The Red Mill Rose-Marie MP The Mikado The Dollar Princess MP Katinka The Serenade MP Gypsy Love The Tales of Hoffmann MP
1928 (Season 10) Princess Flavia MP The Merry Widow The Vagabond King MP No, No, Nanette MP Rose-Marie The Student Prince MP Lady in Ermine Song of the Flame The Love Song MP Mary MP Aida
This was the first production of the Verdi opera in a complete season. It had been previously performed in 1917 in the newly built amphitheater for the 13th Annual Convention of the St. Louis Advertising Club.
1929 (Season 11) Love Call MP The Student Prince Wildflower MP Castles in the Air MP The Chocolate Soldier The Bohemian Girl Rose-Marie Prince of Pilsen The Enchantress MP The Vagabond King Babes in Toyland Golden Dawn MP
1930s 1930 (Season 12) Nina Rosa MP The Circus Princess MP The Desert Song MP The New Moon MP Blossom Time MP Alone at Last MP The Red Robe MP Maytime MP Madame Pompadour MP The Student Prince Show Boat MP
Production starring W. C. Fields as Captain Andy.
1931 (Season 13) Three Little Girls MP The Street Singer MP Music in May MP Nina Rosa Rose-Marie Countess Maritza MP The Three Musketeers MP A Wonderful Night MP Irene MP Circus Princess Rio Rita MP
Film actor Cary Grant, appearing under his real name Archibald Leach, was a repertory performer during the 1931 season before starting his screen career. In addition to The Street Singer, Grant appeared in Music in May, Nina Rosa, The Three Musketeers, A Wonderful Night, Irene and Rio Rita.
1932 (Season 14) The New Moon The Riviera Girl MP The Last Waltz MP Blossom Time The Desert Song The Rose of Stamboul MP The Honeymooners MP The Blue Paradise MP Sari The Land of Smiles MP Love Call Cyrano de Bergerac WP
1933 (Season 15) Bitter Sweet MP Florodora White Lilacs MP Rip Van Winkle MP The Student Prince The Nightingale MP Naughty Marietta My Maryland MP Beau Brummell MP The Cat and the Fiddle MP The Desert Song
1934 (Season 16) Sweet Adeline MP Cyrano de Bergerac The Last Waltz East Wind MP Mlle. Modiste Music in the Air MP The Rose of Algeria MP Sally MP The New Moon Show Boat
1935 (Season 17) Teresina MP Rio Rita Madame Sherry MP The Chocolate Soldier Good News MP Vagabond King Sunny MP Beloved Rogue MP The Cat and the Fiddle The Desert Song Roberta MP Whoopee! MP
1936 (Season 18) Kid Boots MP The Three Musketeers No, No, Nanette Sons o' Guns MP The Bohemian Girl Oh, Boy! MP The Merry Widow The New Moon A Connecticut Yankee MP Bitter Sweet The Red Mill Glamorous Night MP
1937 (Season 19) The Great Waltz MP The Fortune Teller Music in the Air Louis the XIV MP The Mikado Salute to Spring MP Prince of Pilsen The Bartered Bride MP The Pink Lady Robin Hood Babes in Toyland Wild Violets MP
1938 (Season 20) Gentlemen Unafraid MP Of Thee I Sing MP The White Horse Inn MP Roberta Virginia MP The Lost Waltz MP Chimes of Normandy Rosalie MP Knights of Song MP The Gingerbread Man MP Show Boat
Production starring Red Skelton.
1939 (Season 21) Rose-Marie Queen High MP The Lost Waltz Katinka Waltz Dream On Your Toes MP The Firefly The Bartered Bride Mary Babette MP Song of the Flame
1940s 1940 (Season 22) The American Way MP Naughty Marietta Apple Blossoms MP Rio Rita The Chocolate Soldier Good News Knickerbocker Holiday MP Anything Goes MP East Wind Rosalie Babes in Arms MP The Great Waltz
1941 (Season 23) New Orleans MP Sweethearts Too Many Girls MP The Firefly The Three Musketeers Irene Nina Rosa The Merry Widow Bitter Sweet The Desert Song The Red Mill Balalaika MP
1942 (Season 24) Glamorous Night MP Sally Song of the Flame Hit the Deck MP No, No, Nanette The New Moon Girl Crazy MP Wildflower Roberta The Wizard of Oz MP Show Boat
1943 (Season 25) Balalaika Sunny Rose-Marie Sons o' Guns The Chocolate Soldier The Great Waltz Rosalie The Desert Song Babes in Toyland The Merry Widow Chu Chin Chow MP
1944 (Season 26) June 1–11: Open Road MP June 12–18: Good News June 19–25: The Vagabond King June 26 – July 2: Eileen July 3–9: Hit the Deck July 10–16: Naughty Marietta July 17–23: Music in the Air July 24–30: Maytime July 31 – August 6: Irene August 7–13: The Bohemian Girl August 14–20: The Red Mill August 21–27: Rio Rita
1945 (Season 27) June 7–17: Jubilee MP June 18–24: O'Brien Girl MP June 25 – July 1: The Fortune Teller July 2–8: The New Moon July 9–15: The Cat and the Fiddle July 16–22: Madam Pompadour July 23–29: The Firefly July 30 – August 5: The Pink Lady August 6–12: The Three Musketeers August 13–19: Bitter Sweet August 20–26: Sari August 27 – September 2: Roberta
1946 (Season 28) June 6–16: The Desert Song June 17–23: Mary June 24–30: Gipsy Love July 1–7: Rosalie July 8–14: The Merry Widow July 15–21: The Lost Waltz July 22–28: East Wind July 29 – August 4: Prince of Pilsen August 5–11: Robin Hood August 12–18: The Wizard of Oz WP August 19 – September 1: The Great Waltz
New production for the Muny, using songs from the 1939 MGM film; adapted by Frank Gabrielson.Wizard of Oz Tams-Whitmark Library Website.
1947 (Season 29) June 5–15: The Dancing Years MP June 16–22: Nina Rosa June 23–29: No, No, Nanette June 30 – July 6: Rose-Marie July 7–13: Apple Blossoms July 14–20: Die Fledermaus July 21–27: Sally July 28 – August 3: Chimes of Normandy August 4–10: Naughty Marietta August 11–17: Babes in Toyland August 18–31: Show Boat
Production featuring Marge Champion.
1948 (Season 30) June 3–13: Auld Lange Syne MP June 14–20: Venus in Silk MP June 21–27: Rio Rita June 28 – July 4: Hit the Deck July 5–11: The Three Musketeers July 12–18: The White Eagle MP July 19–25: Jubilee July 26 – August 1: A Connecticut Yankee August 2–8: Sunny August 9–15: Sari August 16–29: Up in Central Park MP
1949 (Season 31) June 9–19: The New Moon June 20–26: Bloomer Girl MP June 27 – July 3: The Fortune Teller July 4–10: The Firefly July 11–17: The Chocolate Soldier July 18–24: Bitter Sweet July 25–31: Irene August 1–7: The Vagabond King August 8–14: Roberta August 15–21: The Red Mill August 22 – September 5: Song of Norway MP
1950s 1950 (Season 32) June 8–18: Brigadoon MP June 19–25: Rosalie June 26 – July 2: East Wind July 3–9: Of Thee I Sing July 10–16: Robin Hood July 17–23: Lady in the Dark MP July 24–30: The Desert Song July 31 – August 6: The Pink Lady August 7–13: Whoopee! August 14–20: Rodgers and Hammerstein Music Festival C August 21 – September 3: Carousel MP
1951 (Season 33) June 7–17: Nina Rosa June 18–24: High Button Shoes MP June 25 – July 1: Music in the Air MP July 2–8: Miss Liberty MP July 9–15: Die Fledermaus July 16–22: Girl Crazy July 23–29: Rodgers and Hammerstein Music Festival C July 30 – August 5: The Bohemian Girl August 6–12: The Merry Widow August 13–19: The Wizard of Oz August 20 – September 2: The Great Waltz
1952 (Season 34) June 5–15: Show Boat June 16–22: Sally June 23–29: The Cat and the Fiddle June 30 – July 6: Rose-Marie July 7–13: The Student Prince July 14–20: The Bartered Bride July 21–27: Countess Maritza July 28 – August 3: Mlle. Modiste August 4–10: Naughty Marietta August 11–17: Babes in Toyland August 18–31: Annie Get Your Gun MP
1953 (Season 35) June 4–14: Up in Central Park June 15–21: Bloomer Girl Cyrano de Bergerac June 29 – July 5: Rio Rita July 6–12: Blossom Time July 13–19: Rip Van Winkle July 20–26: No, No, Nanette July 27 – August 2: Carmen MP August 3–9: One Touch of Venus MP August 10–16: Bitter Sweet August 17–30: Kiss Me, Kate MP
1954 (Season 36) June 3–13: Call Me Madam MP June 14–20: The New Moon June 21–27: Song of Norway June 28 – July 4: Roberta July 5–11: The Mikado July 12–18: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes MP July 19–25: The Three Musketeers July 26 – August 1: Panama Hattie MP August 2–8: Where's Charley? MP August 9–15: The Red Mill August 16–29: Oklahoma! MP
1955 (Season 37) June 2–12: The Merry Widow June 13–19: Brigadoon June 20–26: Wonderful Town MP June 27 – July 3: The Vagabond King July 4–10: Guys and Dolls MP July 11–17: The Desert Song July 18–24: Rodgers and Hammerstein in Concert C July 25–31: Carousel August 1–7: Allegro MP August 8–14: The King and I MP August 15–28: South Pacific MP
1956 (Season 38) June 7–17: Annie Get Your Gun June 18–24: Paint Your Wagon MP June 25 – July 1: The Student Prince July 2–8: Hit the Deck July 9–15: The Great Waltz July 16–22: The Chocolate Soldier July 23–29: Wish You Were Here MP July 30 – August 5: Kiss Me, Kate