History
The Fox Theatre, also known as The Fabulous Fox, is a performing arts center located in the Grand Center Arts District at 527 N. Grand Blvd. First built in 1929 by movie pioneer William Fox as a movie palace, the venue was renovated to be a performing arts center and reopened in September 1982. The restoration project was spearheaded by St. Louis philanthropist Mary Strauss, and took one year and more than two million dollars to complete. According to The Fox, the renovation team aimed to restore the theater “as closely as possible to its 1929 state of magnificence,” keeping the history of the theater alive and well with its signature elephant carpet being rewoven; the 2,000 pound chandelier being lowered, cleaned, and relamped; and the theaters 4,5000 seats being renovated and reinstalled. The Fabulous Fox has been showcasing the best of Broadway performances and more for local theater lovers ever since.
“No longer need residents of St. Louis look beyond their own city for the finest in entertainment,” said William Fox in 1929. The sentiment still rings true today as the Fox presents everything from rock and comedy concerts to Broadway classics.
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The venue
The Fox is famous for its grand lobby, which was crafted after ancient Indian religious buildings in a style known as “Siamese Byzantine.” Filled with rows of columns and crimson and gold accents, the 90-foot-long lobby greets guests upon arrival.
The theater itself seats 4,500 audience members at capacity, with the grand stage fully equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems for an outstanding viewing experience.
The seating sections consist of the orchestra pit, which is the closest section to the stage, the orchestra, the mezzanine, the balcony, the middle balcony, and the upper balcony. A full view of the seating chart can be found on the Fox Theatre website.
Events and shows
The Fox Theatre offers a packed lineup of shows and events, from the best of Broadway to hilarious comedic acts.
“One of the goals that our booker has is to make sure that we have this well-rounded season, so there is just something for everybody,” says Fox publicity manager Megan Ketcherside. “You can bring your kids, you can bring your mom and dad, you can bring your friends for a girls’ night out, or whatever that may be. You have those options, so it’s not the same kind of show or genre for every show that’s on our season.”
Broadway series
The 2024-2025 Broadway series is bringing several buzzy new shows to St. Louis for the first time, including Kimberly Akimbo, winner of the 2023 Tony Award for Best Musical. See below for the full lineup:
Back to the Future: The Musical: September 24 – October 6
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical: October 29 – November 10
Peter Pan: November 13-24
SIX: January 21 – February 2, 2025
Shucked: February 11-23, 2025
Some Like It Hot: February 26 – March 9, 2025
Kimberly Akimbo: March 25 – April 6, 2025
& Juliet: May 20 – June 1, 2025
Off-series specials for the 2024-2025 season include Hamilton, Chicago, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Mean Girls, Riverdance, and Ain’t Too Proud. Seven and eight-show season ticket packages go on sale Friday, May 10.
Holiday performances
Several shows each season get audiences into the holiday spirit this season. Past productions have included Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Twas the Night Before, the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the Musical. The theater’s traditional festive decor is the cherry on top of a holiday night out.
“The theater is already so much to look at with all of the decor, but I think when we really decorate it for the holidays it’s a really special time, and families try to make it a tradition to come to the Fox during the holiday season,” says Ketcherside.
Concerts
The Fox has also welcomed musical artists of all kinds over its long history, including Lenny Kravitz, Wilco, Chris Stapleton and more. Among the upcoming highlights are the annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition finals and RAIN, the long-running Beatles tribute show.
Comedy
There is no shortage of the types of entertainment provided by the Fox Theatre, comedy shows included. On April 27, audiences can laugh along with St. Louis-born comedian Nikki Glaser during her Good Girl Tour. May 17 and 18, Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein is rolling through on his The Second Best Night of Your Life Tour. Then, June 21-23 Nate Bargatze is returning for five shows with his much-lauded Be Funny Tour. Named “The Nicest Man in Stand Up” by The Atlantic and reaching number one on iTunes comedy charts with his album Yelled at by a Clown, Bargatze offers a humorous and family-friendly experience.
Ticket information
Single tickets for any show can be purchased online at Metrotix, by phone at 314-534-1111, or in person at the box office, located at 531 N. Grand Blvd. The box office is open on all show days, as well as Fridays in July and August.
Season pass tickets for 2024-2025 go on sale May 10 and are available as seven or eight show packages. Season ticket holders for the Broadway series receive several benefits, such as no waiting in line, priority purchase for other Broadway specials, and more.
Prices vary based on shows and seating, so check the website for additional pricing information.
FAQs
What should I wear?
There is no dress code at The Fox, so anything from business casual to casual attire is all welcome. Event descriptions upon purchasing tickets will provide dress code information if the event is formal.
Is the theater accessible?
The Fox offers accessible seating, communication aids, and more. Other accommodations can be requested through Metrotix at (314) 534-1111 or (800) 293-5949. Additional information on accessibility can be found on the theater’s ADA information page.
Where are the bathrooms?
Bathrooms are available on the first four floors of the venue, with the main accessible bathroom being on the main floor of the venue next to guest services. If you’re trying to skip the lines during intermission, we recommend hiking upstairs to the fourth floor. It’s quite a few steps, but there’s hardly ever a wait.
Are food and drinks available?
Concession stands are open at every performance, with various snacks, beverages, and alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Snack and drink options include La Bonne Bouche cookies, hot pretzels, cinnamon pecans, cashews, M&Ms, Clementine’s Ice Cream, water, Pepsi products, beer and wine selections, and more. Ketcherside also says that a signature specialty cocktail will be available for each broadway show.
Where should I park?
The Fox’s parking garage is located across Washington from the theater at 3637 Washington Blvd., and is open 24/7. Guest parking is available for $20 per vehicle. For additional information about directions to fox, visit the website.
How can I find out where I am in the theater?
Being a very large theater, it can be easy to get turned around and get distracted while wandering the venue. Ketcherside likes to tell guests to look to the elephants, which decorate the carpet of the theater. Regardless of where you are, those elephant trunks are facing the stage, so you can always find it easily. “If you get lost and don’t know where you’re going, just follow the elephants,” says Ketcherside.
What are some restaurants or other activities nearby?
To make a show a full experience, Ketcherside recommends guests check out one of The Fabulous Fox’s restaurants, which are open on show days in Grand Center. Stage Left Grill, which is located right north of the theater, offers a more casual dining experience, serving burgers and other diner food. For a more upscale experience, guests may visit Curtain Call Lounge, a cocktail bar serving an extensive drink selection as well as small food plates and more.
