Celebrating its centennial season this past summer, the show has gone on at The Muny year after year. To commemorate this milestone, the Missouri History Museum shines a spotlight on the oldest and largest continuously operating outdoor theatre in the United States with Muny Memories: 100 Seasons Onstage. This 6,000-square-foot exhibit examines the history of The Muny through approximately 130 artifacts, including costumes and props from favorite Muny shows, interviews with Muny stars and staff, and opportunities to learn a dance step or two.
Photo courtesy of the Missouri History Museum
“Sharing the story of 100 seasons of Muny magic within the historical narrative of the St. Louis region presented quite a challenge,” says Sharon Smith, curator of civic and personal identity for the Missouri History Museum. “This exhibit is as much about St. Louis as it is about musical theatre. There are stories about Forest Park, St. Louisans who made it big, and, of course, the personal stories of how generations of St. Louisans have grown up seeing at least one Muny performance.”
The Missouri History Museum staff worked closely with The Muny team to develop the exhibit, which draws from the collections of the Missouri Historical Society and The Muny archives, sharing how the theatre came to be. A timeline complete with photographs, blueprints, and maps shows The Muny’s transformation over the years, and a breathtaking and colorful program wall displays every Muny program cover from the past 99 seasons.
Photo courtesy of the Missouri History Museum
Visitors can learn dance steps from a Muny choreographer and cast their votes for favorite Muny stars. Some of the many props kept in the Muny storehouse are on display, including the carriage from Cinderella, the deathbed from The King and I, the black umbrella from Mary Poppins, and more.
The exhibit also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how that Muny magic is brought to life. Visitors can "follow the yellow brick road" behind the set of the Scarecrow scene used in the 2016 Muny production of The Wizard of Oz and learn about show selections, auditions, and the big stars that have graced the Muny stage, including Cary Grant, Pearl Bailey, Mary Wickes, Betty White, Bob Hope, and Jennifer Holliday.
Muny Memories is designed to be enjoyed by visitors of all abilities. Guests will be able to touch examples of set materials, use a relief map of The Muny with braille, and listen to an audio description of two scenes from the 2016 production of The Wizard of Oz described by Elaine Laws of Mind's Eye, the company that provides visual descriptions for each Muny show.
Photo courtesy of the Missouri History Museum
“One hundred seasons is a lot to explore, even in a 6,000-square-foot exhibit. In addition to the artifacts, costumes, and props, visitors will learn about The Muny and the history of this region through hundreds and hundreds of photographs,” says Smith. “Whether you’ve experienced the theatre from the front row or the free seats or have never been to the Muny at all, this exhibit has something for you. I believe visitors will walk away from the exhibit with a real sense of why The Muny truly is ‘Alone in Its Greatness.’”
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of the Missouri History Museum. Visit the museum's website to learn more.
