The Muny Announces New Second Century Plan to Gain National Attention

The Muny has announced new additions to their program in the hopes of attracting more attention nationally.

Among other things, these changes include cabaret shows at the Sheldon Concert Hall, as part of their Second Century plan. Developed by Muny arts administrator Michael M. Kaiser, the plan is focusing on fostering a proram year-round.

"We've been Brigadoon," said Mike Isaacson, comparing them to the village depicted in Lerner and Loewe which only appears for a season and disappears again for an extended period of time. In light of that, the Muny wants to show an investment in musical theatre not just at one time and one place, but a variety of each.

The Second Century plan includes multiple steps, beginning with presentations of minimalistic in-concert musical productions, to be performed with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. They may also stage some performances, much like the Encores! productions, which have paved the way for Broadway shows such as the long-running revival of CHICAGO.

They will also be developing new musicals, in the hopes of getting shows picked up by theatres as well as opening up ways to watch Muny shows across multiple technologies. In addition, they will expand their educational programs in many ways, including hosting educational forums for musical theatre students and professionals worldwide, acknowledging its role as a pivotal force in American theatre, as Isaacson says.

Finally, they are also introducing a three-year plan to map out the future of the theatre.

Read the original article on the matter here.

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