Broadway Stars Join The Muny's 108th Season

Richard Kind, Taylor Louderman, Beth Leavel, and Paulo Szot to headline productions this summer in Forest Park.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:07pm

An abstract, minimalist illustration featuring bold, jagged black silhouettes and geometric shapes in a high-contrast palette of red, white, and black, capturing the energy and excitement of a summer musical theater season.The Muny's 108th season brings together a star-studded cast of Broadway talent for a summer of musical theater under the stars.Bourbon Today

Tony Award nominees Richard Kind and Taylor Louderman, along with Tony Award winners Beth Leavel and Paulo Szot, will star in productions this summer as part of The Muny's 108th season in St. Louis' Forest Park. Kind will make his Muny debut as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, while Louderman, a St. Louis native, will play Ensign Nellie Forbush in Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific. Szot, who debuted at The Muny last year, will co-star as Emile de Becque, and longtime Muny favorite Leavel returns after eight years to play Katie Connelly in Meet Me In St. Louis.

Why it matters

The Muny, one of the largest outdoor musical theaters in the country, is known for bringing together both established and up-and-coming Broadway talent for its summer productions. The announcement of these four high-profile stars joining the 108th season lineup underscores The Muny's continued status as a premier destination for musical theater in the Midwest.

The details

Kind, Louderman, Leavel, and Szot will headline four of The Muny's seven productions this summer. Kind will make his Muny debut as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, while Louderman, a St. Louis native, will play Ensign Nellie Forbush in Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific. Szot, who made his Muny debut last summer in Evita, will co-star as Emile de Becque opposite Louderman. Longtime Muny favorite Leavel returns after eight years to play Katie Connelly in Meet Me In St. Louis.

  • The Muny's 108th season runs from June through August 2026.
  • Hairspray will run from June 15-21.
  • Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific will run from July 6-12.
  • Meet Me In St. Louis will run from August 6-13.

The players

The Muny

One of the largest outdoor musical theaters in the country, located in St. Louis' Forest Park and known for bringing together Broadway talent for its summer productions.

Richard Kind

A Tony Award-nominated actor making his Muny debut as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray.

Taylor Louderman

A Tony-nominated actress and St. Louis native playing Ensign Nellie Forbush in Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific.

Beth Leavel

A Tony Award-winning actress and longtime Muny favorite returning to play Katie Connelly in Meet Me In St. Louis.

Paulo Szot

A Tony Award winner co-starring as Emile de Becque in Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, after making his Muny debut last summer in Evita.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Bringing together new and old friends is at the heart of what makes The Muny so special, and we're thrilled to welcome these four incredible artists to our stage. I can't wait for our audience to see who else is meeting us in St. Louis this summer.”

— Mike Isaacson, Muny Artistic Director & Executive Producer

What’s next

Additional casting for The Muny's 108th season will be announced in the coming months.

The takeaway

The Muny's ability to attract top Broadway talent underscores its status as a premier destination for musical theater in the Midwest, offering audiences a chance to see world-class performers in an iconic outdoor setting.