The Muny Endowment

We encourage Muny creative teams to dream big in order to bring you as many “only at The Muny” moments as we possibly can each summer. Unfortunately, we are often forced to sacrifice innovation due to budget constraints. Things like more well-known actors, larger ensembles, pyrotechnics, flying and other elaborate onstage effects are regularly not possible. In addition, stage technology and production innovation evolve rapidly. As the Artistic Innovation and Production Enhancement Fund grows, we hope even more “only at The Muny” moments will be possible!

The Muny’s Crawford Taylor Education Initiative offers 10 programs to thousands of students. Through these programs, The Muny works with educators to bring musical theater directly into their classrooms, offers a range of opportunities for young performers and provides unique training and mentorship for those interested in theater production. In addition, The Muny also serves as a producing partner for The St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards. Beyond specific performance or technical theater training, participants also learn teamwork, collaboration, listening skills, discipline, focus and so much more.

Whether it is a new roof, office equipment, concession facilities and equipment, seat repairs or technological upgrades, the often-unnoticed projects can be some of the most vital to The Muny’s operation. Ensuring that Muny facilities are safe, efficient and attractive for patrons, artists and staff requires constant attention and investment. The Facilities Maintenance and Improvement Fund is an investment in The Muny campus, structures and critical behind-the-scenes infrastructure.

The Operational sustainability funds allow The Muny to achieve one of our fundamental missions: accessibility. In addition to 1,500 free seats every night, we provide tickets to hundreds of social service organizations as well. Each summer, more than 100,000 people attend The Muny at no cost. In addition, the Operational Sustainability Fund is The Muny’s rainy day fund—in our case, literally and figuratively. For instance, in 2015 and 2016, we had seven rainouts representing $600,000 in losses. This fund helps protect, and grow, the business of theater, while also making Muny magic possible.