“Meet Me in St. Louis” Reignites Audiences

With Homespun Charm and Spectacular Staging

by Pat Lindsey

Sky rockets at night and a forever St. Louis delight is “Meet Me in St. Louis,” now playing on The Muny stage nightly through Aug. 13. For those of us who were born and raised in St. Louis, this show is part of our DNA. No matter how many times we’ve seen the movie or stage play, it always thrills us with scenes of St. Louis past and stories of the marvelous 1904 World’s Fair.

The 2026 production of this beloved classic made me feel as though I was seeing it for the first time. Modern technology and the genius of all the designers have given it a facelift with breathtaking sets and many moving parts bedazzled with extraordinary lighting and sound. Add to this an outstanding cast in beautiful period costumes with mind-blowing talent and this show becomes the one not to be missed this season.

The Smith family’s home at 5135 Kensington Ave. in St. Louis, Missouri is where most of the story unfolds. Mr. Alonzo Smith (Colin Donnell) is an up-and-coming lawyer who works hard to support his wife, Anna (Patti Murin); five children, Lon (Ilan Eskenazi), Rose (Kyla Stone), Esther (Katerina McCrimmon), Agnes (Joylin Bass), and Tootie (Lilah Levinson); house maid Katie (Beth Leavel); and Grandpa Prophater (Stan Brown). Life is good for the entire family. Love is in the air for the older children and the two younger ones enjoy being precocious and getting into mischief. Grandpa is a retired doctor and outspoken Katie is undeniably Irish. All is well until Mr. Smith comes home from work one evening and tells his wife that he is getting a promotion and plans to move the family to New York in a few months.

When news of the move gradually leaks out, everyone in the family becomes upset. Still, life goes on, romances continue to grow, and the opening of the World’s Fair in the spring of 1904 looms ahead, just out of reach for the Smith family that prepares to move to New York in January. The youngest daughter, Tootie, seems to be the most distraught about leaving St. Louis. She buries her dolls in the yard and makes a family of snow people for, supposedly, the last time. Christmas 1903 becomes the turning point of the plot.

Pulsating performances of “The Trolley Song,” “The Boy Next Door,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” are tenderly delivered by Katerina McCrimmon (Esther), whose soft, beautiful voice can become a powerhouse in the blink of an eye. Everyone in the cast has a vocal role to play and every voice is star quality. A new song, “That’s Enough of That,” written by Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe award winner Mark Sonnenblick, is being debuted in this production by Muny sweetheart Beth Leavel (Katie). The entire company shines with the title song “Meet Me in St. Louis” in the finale.

The kids’ choreography by Sarah Meahl is an outstanding feature that I don’t recall seeing before. On Halloween, the children are dressed in their costumes and do a synchronized dance as they try to put a scarecrow on the railroad tracks. The adult choreography is often colorful and lively and later slows to a lovely waltz at the Christmas ball. The dancers are accompanied by the fantastic Muny orchestra under the direction of Paul Byssainthe, Jr.   

Another remarkable feature of this show is the ride on the trolley, which takes the audience on a ride, too. The moving scenery gives everyone a ride past turn of the century homes in St. Louis on a   three dimensional vehicle that carries a full car of passengers across the stage and makes a 360-degree turn. It’s a thrill ride for all.

The closing scene of the brightly lit World’s Fair is a show-stopper. It’s everything you’d hope it would be and more. Can you hear the clang, clang, clanging of the trolley? Hurry! Don’t miss your chance to see our city’s namesake show, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” now through Aug. 13. For more information, go to muny.org or call 314-534-1111.

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