The Spotlight Shines on St. Louis
Alexis Davis, Technical Editor
Did you know that St. Louis used to have a large theater district known as the “Grand White Way”? Back in the 1920s, the two largest theater districts in the country were in New York (Broadway) and St. Louis. Jazz dancing and musical performances were huge in St. Louis, including the original Rockettes, before they were moved to New York City. Today, St. Louis’ theater district has shrunk, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any gorgeous theaters around the city with spectacular shows.
Today, two main theaters remain on St. Louis’ Grand White Way: The Fabulous Fox Theater and the St. Louis Theater, now known as Powell Symphony Hall. The Fabulous Fox, built in 1929, is not only a gorgeous theater, but is also a venue for concerts and other events. The Fox recently closed their production of Phantom of the Opera, but that does not mean the season is coming to an end. The Fox still has six stunning musicals coming to their stage: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Bat Out of Hell, Beetlejuice, Monty Python’s Spamalot, MJ: The Musical, and Hadestown. Outside of the performances, The Fox is hosting four other events: Attack on Titan: The Official Concert, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Blue Man Group, and The Best of Steve Martin and Martin Short.
The Fabulous Fox also recently announced their 2026-2027 season, bringing more award-winning talent to St. Louis. Their 26-27 season will include Clue, Death Becomes Her, Boop!, The Great Gatsby, Water for Elephants, Beauty and the Beast, Maybe Happy Ending, and Wicked. There will also be special performances of A Beautiful Sound: The Neil Diamond Musical, The Book of Mormon, Legally Blonde, and Mamma Mia!. Comedy shows and concerts are yet to be added to the schedule, but be on the lookout!
The other main theater on Grand White Way is Powell Hall, the home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Like The Fox, Powell Hall has a plethora of events coming up; concerts directed toward classical enthusiasts and families alike. For the classical fans of the world, Powell Hall is the place for you. Scheherazade, Víkingur Ólafsson in Recital, and Mahler’s Fifth are just a few of the glorious events that the Powell Hall will be hosting in the coming months. For those who aren’t fans of classical performances but still want to appreciate the arts, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra puts on performances of movies, live in concert. Within the next few months, Powell Hall will be hosting Marvel Infinity Saga, Flow, and The Sound of Music, all played with the symphony orchestra.
However, the Fabulous Fox and Powell Hall aren’t the only theaters in St. Louis. In fact, in the summer of 2025, one of St. Louis’ most famous theaters won the Regional Theater Tony Award. This theater is The Muny, America’s oldest and largest outdoor amphitheater. This upcoming season will be The Muny’s 108th season, and they will be performing Hairspray, Shrek: The Musical, South Pacific, Newsies, Ain’t Too Proud, Meet Me in St. Louis, and their finale, Something Rotten. If you’re looking for a cheap summer night activity, The Muny famously gives around 1500 seats in the back rows for free at every show. Both of the previous theaters mentioned have long-running seasons, but The Muny will only run from June 15 to August 23, so buy your tickets as soon as possible to catch the award-winning theater in action.
However, these big-name theaters aren’t the only ones putting on spectacular shows soon. In fact, one theater that is putting on a show in the coming months is quite close to home for the St. Joe community. St. Joseph Academy’s theater will be putting on its spring production, St. Joe Goes Broadway! This performance is a musical review, “featuring songs and dances from Broadway musicals”, says director, St. Joe’s very own Mr. Pierce.
“We have over 35 students in the production,” says Mr. Pierce, “Some of the numbers the audience will hear include songs from Grease, Hairspray, Rent, Sister Act and many more!”
Whether supporting your classmates, visiting award-winning theaters, or stepping back into St. Louis’ theatrical history, there are countless opportunities to see musical performances in the coming months and throughout the summer. So prepare the spotlight, it’s showtime!
