From the largest and longest running outdoor musical theatre to experimental theatre companies performing in chill neighborhood spots, St. Louis has something for everyone when it comes to plays, musicals, dance, and performing arts.
Here, you’ll find stories that’ll stay with you for years to come and gain a newfound appreciation for how getting up close and personal to live performance can lift the spirit.
Below are some of the most anticipated performances for 2025, and there’s something for every interest and budget (even if that budget is $0).
CATEGORY: Opera
June 14 – 18 | A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
When fairies and mortals cross paths, mayhem is sure to follow. Fairy king Oberon and his wife Tytania are locked in a quarrel when a group of unhappy young lovers wanders into their forest. Oberon dispatches the mischievous sprite Puck to resolve the young lovers’ strife with the help of a magical elixir… but when Puck applies that elixir to the wrong people, chaos erupts across the forest. The young paramours enter a dark and surreal dream world where plans of revenge go hand-in-hand with seduction. Britten’s hypnotizing score sets the perfect atmosphere for this journey into love’s absurdities. This year marks the start of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ 50th season.
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CATEGORY: Musical Theatre
June 16 – August 24 | 2025 Summer Season
The MUNY
The Muny is the country’s oldest, largest outdoor musical theatre — and your destination for an evening of fun under a big, open sky. The list of 2025 productions inlude: Bring It On!: The Musical (June 16 – 22), Come From Away (June 26 – July2), Frozen the Musical (July 6 – 14)), Evita (July 18 – 24)), Dear Even Hansen (July 28 – August 3), La Cage aux Folles (August 8 – 14), Jersey Boys (August 18 – 24).
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CATEGORY: Circus Arts & Performance
Through June 22 | Urban Legends
Circus Flora
Looking for a performance to remind your inner child of the joys and wonder of the mysterious circus? For its 39th year St. Louis’ Circus Flora is returning with performances set to awaken your excitement and sense of curiosity. This year’s theme is “Urban Legend,” which according to the theater “invites you into a world where folklore comes to life in thrilling and unexpected ways with daring acrobats, clever clowns, incredible performance dogs — and a MONSTER?!”
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CATEGORY: Theatre & Performance Art
July 8 – August 17 | Romeo & Zooliet
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
Looking for a way to introduce your children to art while they are on summer break? The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival has created a special production that speaks specifically to these young artists with its unique take on Romeo and Juliet. Premiering on July 8 and showing until August 17, the performance will feature puppetry at the St. Louis Zoo that begs the question: What happens when the gates of the zoo close and the keepers go home for the night? This production features dazzling animal puppetry by world-renowned Michael Curry Design, known for its work on Broadway’s “The Lion King”!
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CATEGORY: Theatre
July 11 – 27 | 11th Annual Labute New Theater Festival
St. Louis Actors’ Studio + The Gaslight Theatre
This marks the return of the nearly month-long LaBute New Theater Festival. Neil LaBute received his Master of Fine Arts degree in dramatic writing from New York University and was the recipient of a literary fellowship to study at the Royal Court Theatre and also attended the Sundance Institute’s Playwrights Lab. LaBute will delight with his own new story as they present winning submissions from both high school and emerging professional playwrights.
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CATEGORY: Theatre
July 17 – August 24 | Steel Magnolias
Tesseract Theatre Company
The Tesseract Theatre Company is proud to present its summer production of Steel Magnolias, directed by the phenomenal Kathryn Bentley and brought to life by an all-POC cast. Set in a Southern beauty salon, this iconic story shines with humor, heart, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. It’s a celebration of resilience, joy, and the strength it takes to hold each other up through life’s toughest seasons. Come experience a fresh, powerful take on a beloved classic. Let these women move you, inspire you, and leave you laughing through tears.
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CATEGORY: Musical Theatre
July 24 – 27 | Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Center of Creative Arts (COCA)
The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with this Tony-nominated Broadway adaptation of the beloved musical which will put a spell on audiences of all ages. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella showcases some of the songwriting duo’s loveliest tunes, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago.” Add a dash of fairy-tale romance, magical onstage transformations, and the iconic pumpkin and glass slippers—and you’re guaranteed to have a ball!
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CATEGORY: Opera
July 25 – 26 & August 1 – 2 | Josephine / Pagliacci
Union Avenue Opera
Presented together, Josephine and Pagliacci explore the complex interplay between performance and personal turmoil. In Josephine, Tom Cipullo brings to life the intimate reflections of Josephine Baker, the trailblazing entertainer and activist from St. Louis, MO, as she navigates the tension between her public persona and private struggles with love, identity, and racism. In Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, the inner turmoil of a traveling actor troupe explodes into violence as Canio, the troupe’s lead clown, confronts his wife Nedda’s betrayal, shattering the boundary between performance and reality. Both works reveal the emotional depths of performers whose onstage lives mask profound personal pain. Together, they create a compelling evening of raw humanity and unflinching artistry.
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CATEGORY: Musical Theatre
July 25 – August 10 | Madam
Fly North Theatricals
In 1870, Eliza Haycraft was the richest woman in St. Louis, having built an empire of brothels on three simple rules: RESPECT. CONSENT. PAY UP FRONT. As rich men stand to profit while rights are stolen in the name of “morality,” the MADAM must fight back to protect her fortune, legacy, and her girls.
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CATEGORY: Theatre
July 31 – August 9 | Dollhouse
Equally Represented Arts
In this experimental theatre, three emerging directors each direct one act of Ibsen’s Doll’s House: Act I directed by Miranda Jagels Felix, Act II directed by Spencer Lawton, and Act III directed by Jimmy Bernatowicz. Produced by Ashwini Arora, Lucy Cashion, and Miranda Jagels Felix for ERA.
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CATEGORY: Theatre
August 7 – 30 | The Second Hurricane
Stray Dog Theatre
The Second Hurricane is a youth opera by Aaron Copland with libretto by Edwin Denby. Written specifically for young people and set during the Great Depression, it tells the story of high school students who become trapped on an island while working to rescue the victims of a hurricane. During the adventure, the students learn tolerance, courage, and the spirit of freedom in a time of danger.
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CATEGORY: Theatre
August 7 – 17 | A Streetcar Names Desire
Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis
Their mission is to enrich the cultural life of St. Louis by producing an annual theater festival that celebrates the art and influence of Tennessee Williams. In their tenth anniversary season, the Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis is set to perform the classic, A Streetcar Names Desire. Don’t miss the “STELLA” Shouting Contest on Friday, August 8!
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CATEGORY: Theatre, Musicals, Dance, and More
August 11 – 17 | STL Fringe Fest 2025
St Lou Fringe is a six day event that involves a couple of thousand people at multiple venues throughout Grand Center & beyond. The festival features an array of original material meant to celebrate all of the arts. No one gets too fussy about swears or nudity, but squeaky-clean content isn’t marginal or discouraged, either.
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CATEGORY: Theatre
September 3 – 28 | The Cottage
The Repertory Theatre St. Louis
This 1920s comedy is brought to you by the same playwright who turned the boardgame Clue into a major motion picture and is performed by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. “Set in 1923 in an English country cottage, a woman decides to expose her latest affair to both her husband—and her lover’s wife,” according to The Rep. “As secrets unravel and passions collide, the meaning of love, identity, and marriage are all thrown into question, and served in a way only the British can serve it: with tea.” Learn More & Get Tickets
CATEGORY: Theatre
September 11 – 28 | The Wanderers
The New Jewish Theatre
Two marriages have seemingly little in common: Esther and Schmuli are Orthodox Jews navigating strictly defined rules and roles, while Sophie and Abe are secular and free to make their own choices. But both couples are growing apart as they strive to balance their individual identities with the families they’ve created. As Esther tests the boundaries of her personal freedom, Abe falls into a correspondence with a movie star that will shake the foundations of his marriage and career. Anna Ziegler’s funny, moving, and thoughtful play asks if following one’s truth is worth it, no matter the cost.
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CATEGORY: Musical Theatre
September 19 – October 19 | Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
STAGES
Follow the incredible journey of Carole King, from her humble beginnings as a teenage songwriter in Brooklyn to her rise as a chart-topping music legend. BEAUTIFUL celebrates King’s remarkable career and personal resilience, featuring iconic hits like “I Feel the Earth Move,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” and many more. Through a story filled with passion, heartbreak, and triumph, experience the unforgettable moments that shaped her life and music. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her songs, this musical is a joyous tribute to one of the most beloved voices in American music history
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CATEGORY: Musical Theatre
October 2 – 25 | Bat Boy
New Line Theatre
BAT BOY tackles a range of bold topics, like American prejudice, modern religion, genetic engineering, even inter-species sex. Think of it as Little Shop of Horrors meets Les Misérables meets Dracula, with its own unique blend of big-hearted comic horror that will have you checking under the bed at night and nibbling on your loved ones during the day.
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CATEGORY: Theatre
October 7 – 19 | Life of Pi
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
Based on a novel of the same name, the theatrical performance of Life of Pi follows the journey of a 16-year-old boy stranded at sea who is joined by hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. The Fabulous Fox is hosting the performance and says: “Told with jaw-dropping visuals, world class puppetry and exquisite stagecraft, Life of Pi creates a breathtaking journey that will leave you filled with awe and joy.” Other popular 2025 productions include The Notebook: The Musical and The Wiz.
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CATEGORY: Ballet
October 11 – 12 | Take 5 More or Less
Saint Louis Ballet
The Saint Louis Ballet is bringing to the stage a “Jazzy, upbeat fusion of music, dance and Matisse-inspired costumes and lighting from acclaimed Broadway choreographer Susan Stroman.” This contemporary ballet will have multiple performances.
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CATEGORY: Theatre
October 8 – 26 | The Woman in Black
The Repertory Theatre St. Louis
As part of its 2025/2026 season The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis will feature a stage adaptation of Susan Hill’s ghost story, The Woman in Black. A story that refuses to stay buried. Arthur Kipps has carried a dreadful secret for years—determined to confront his darkest memories, he hires a young actor to help bring his nightmare to life and finally put it to rest. But as the rehearsals unfold, something sinister stirs in the shadows. In this haunting stage adaptation of Susan Hill’s ghost story, The Woman in Black pulls audiences into the mystery of Eel Marsh House, where shadows stretch long, voices whisper in the wind, and an inescapable terror lurks just out of sight.
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CATEGORY: Theatre
October 17 – November 2 | I Have Been Here Before
Albion Theatre
A group of people thrown together by chance when they decide to stay at a remote Yorkshire inn, discover that they are so inter-dependent that a decision taken by any one of them is likely to have a profound effect on the lives of the others. Have they lived through the experience before? Is there a chance to make different decisions this time?
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CATEGORY: Dance
November 14 – 16 | Fall Series
Saint Louis Dance Theatre
The season opens with a new work by Belgian-Colombian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, internationally acclaimed for her diverse artistry encompassing dance, theater, opera, and film. With more than 100 works created for 81 dance companies worldwide, Lopez Ochoa brings her distinct artistic voice to Saint Louis Dance Theatre. Described as “truly a masterful choreographer with an edge for what dance can and should be,” her extensive catalogue makes her one of the most versatile creatives of our times.
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CATEGORY: Musical
November 18 – 23 | Les Misérables
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
This relevant and well-timed Tony Award-winning classic will premier at the Fox beginning in mid November. “Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit,” according to the theater. “This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.”
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This list is just the beginning — St. Louis is packed with creative events all year long. Whether you’re planning a road trip or just looking for a reason to visit, St. Louis promises music, food, art, and unforgettable memories. Want more ideas? Explore your vibe and start planning.
How do we fill this list? Great question! The short answer—it’s not easy. StLouisArts.org is powered by the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, and we aim to lift up all the artists, arts programs, and arts organizations that make this city shine. If you think something is missing, we may have simply overlooked it—feel free to reach out.
