Start Summer with Six Nights of Live Theater in St. Louis

The stage is set. The lights are low. The show is live.

Start summer with six different St. Louis theater experiences, including a Broadway hit at the nation’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theater, a dazzlingly daring performance of legend and lore under The Big Top and a free Shakespearean masterpiece among the trees and wildlife of Forest Park.

And that’s only the beginning! For more artsy inspiration, check out our guide to museums, galleries, public art, theater and performing arts in the Gateway City.

Hamlet

Friday, June 20

To mark its 25th production in Forest Park’s Shakespeare Glen, the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival turns to the masterpiece Hamlet. Expect a bold, modern take on the dark, complex family drama from renowned Shakespeare director Michael Sexton. As one of the world’s largest outdoor Shakespeare productions, the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is “free forever to everyone always.” Hamlet runs from May 28 to June 22, followed by Romeo & Zooliet from July 8 to Aug. 17.

Presented by the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, the imaginative stage adaptation of Romeo & Juliet follows the Saint Louis Zoo’s animals as they stage their own Shakespeare performance. Featuring dazzling animal puppetry by Michael Curry Design, which worked on The Lion King on Broadway, Romeo & Zooliet isn’t just for kids. “The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival has been our close neighbor in Forest Park for many years, and we’re thrilled to collaborate on an original performance celebrating both Shakespeare and the natural world,” Saint Louis Zoo director Michael Macek said in a recent press release. “This impressive production will engage children and their families in the arts, telling a timeless story of friendship through the eyes of animal characters.”

Rent

Saturday, June 21

How do you measure a year in the life? New Line Theatre closes its 33rd season with Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning cultural phenomenon Rent. Set in New York City’s East Village, this cheerfully transgressive, 1990s rock-pop riff is best described in its creator’s own words: “In these dangerous times, where it seems the world is ripping apart at the seams, we can all learn how to survive from those who stare death squarely in the face every day, and we should reach out to each other and bond as a community, rather than hide from the terrors of life at the end of the millennium.” A show about connection and healing seems like a story we need now more than ever.

Rent runs from May 29 to June 21 at The Marcell in Grand Center. If you miss the performance, don’t worry – New Line Theatre has already released the lineup for its 2025/2026 season, and you have plenty of time to plan to attend the performances, including Bat Boy (Oct. 2 to 25), Broadway Noir Deux (Jan. 9 and 10), Promenade (March 5 to 28) and We Will Rock You (June 4 to 27).

Urban Legend

Sunday, June 22

Circus Flora is a beloved summer tradition in St. Louis, and it will return for its 39th season with an all-new show, Urban Legend, from June 5 to 22. Combining exceptional storytelling and world-class performances, Circus Flora dazzles audiences of all ages. In Urban Legend, the legends and lore of St. Louis come to life in thrilling and unexpected ways. Among the daring acrobats, clever clowns and incredible dogs, there’s also a monster! The emergence of this mysterious creature has sparked fear and curiosity. Can the talented cast of Circus Flora calm the chaos and uncover its true nature? Get tickets to the show to find out!

Murder for Two

Tuesday, June 24

This summer, STAGES St. Louis will put the laughter in manslaughter. In the killer musical comedy Murder for Two, officer Marcus Moscowicz, a small-town policeman aspiring to be a detective, seizes the chance to solve the murder of great American novelist Arthur Whitney when the writer is shot at his own surprise birthday party. With the nearest detective an hour away, Marcus, along with his silent partner, Lou, must solve the case before the real detective arrives. In the 90-minute, harmonious homage to classic murder mysteries, two performers play 13 roles, including the piano!

Later in the season, STAGES St. Louis will impress audiences from near and far with the pre-Broadway premiere of Austen’s Pride, a new musical that reimagines Pride and Prejudice as its esteemed author begins her own journey of self-discovery. As the stormy romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy unfolds in a fresh narrative, Austen gains new insights into both her creations and her identity. Blending wit, wisdom and a gorgeous original score, the production promises to whisk audiences away to an era rich with passion and longing.

Don Pasquale

Wednesday, June 25

Defying expectations, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis mixes beloved classical operas and bold contemporary works to create a spellbinding festival season. Through the talents of hundreds of local, national and international artists, St. Louis audiences experience the magic of innovative storytelling as they travel between fantasy and reality, comedy and tragedy, love and revenge. All the operas are sung in English and accompanied by the Grammy Award-winning St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

The 2025 festival season will mark 50 years of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis with productions of Die Fledermaus, This House, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Don Pasquale. See the latter as part of our packed theater itinerary! The topsy-turvy production follows lifelong bachelor Don Pasquale, who becomes livid when his heir, Ernesto, falls for a penniless widow. Determined to teach him a lesson, Don Pasquale decides to disown Ernesto, marry and produce a new heir. Enter Norina, Ernesto’s love, and her crafty friend Dr. Malatesta. They trick Pasquale into a fake marriage, with Norina posing as the picture-perfect bride. But before the ink on the marriage contract is even dry, Norina unleashes her inner spitfire, turning Pasquale’s tidy world riotously upside down.

Come From Away

Thursday, June 26

With every season, The Muny stages an eclectic mix of musicals that reflect the vitality and diversity of its audiences. The shows are enchanting, electrifying and empowering, and every night, there are free seats available on a first-come first-served basis, so everyone can experience the magic of St. Louis theater.

This year, the Muny season opens with Bring It On: The Musical, followed by Come From Away, Disney’s Frozen, Evita, Dear Evan Hansen, La Cage aux Folles and Jersey Boys. In Come From Away, a breathtaking musical based on a remarkable true story, 38 commercial flights from around the world are diverted for days to tiny Gander, Newfoundland. Unfazed by the arrival of almost 7,000 surprise guests, the residents provide light in a dark time, welcoming the stranded travelers with music, an open bar and hope.