Concerts Return to The Muny! John Legend Stars in ‘A Night of Songs and Stories’ With SLSO

ST. LOUIS — The Muny is renowned for producing exceptional musical theatre, but the Forest Park institution, in collaboration with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, revives a beloved Muny tradition in 2024 by presenting its first live concert in more than 30 years — a one-night-only show starring Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner John Legend. 

The Muny presents John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories With the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. Sept. 7. The concert on the iconic James S. McDonnell Stage will be Legend’s first performance with the world-class SLSO. 

The once-in-a-lifetime performance will feature intimate reimaginings of Legend’s greatest hits (“All of Me,” “Ordinary People,” “Tonight”), unexpected stories from his life and career, and selections from his most recent release, LEGEND (“Nervous,” “Wonder Woman”). 

“We have been eager but deliberate in recent years about finding the right opportunity to bring live concerts back to The Muny, and the alignment of John Legend with one of the best orchestras in the world, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, feels like the perfect opening for this next chapter,” said Muny President & CEO Kwofe Coleman. “Generations of St. Louisans have memories of seeing legendary music acts on our magnificent stage, and I am excited to deliver this bit of nostalgia to our community at the end of our 2024 summer season.” 

For years, live concerts in the offseason were common at The Muny. The last one was by the Moody Blues and Kansas on Aug. 29, 1991. Other notable artists who have performed on the Muny stage include Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, Sting, Barry Manilow, Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers and Hank Williams Jr.

Legend is a critically acclaimed, multiplatinum musician who has won 12 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award and three Emmy Awards. He has released nine albums and is currently a coach on NBC’s The Voice. Legend’s last St. Louis show was in 2017.

Beyond his music career, Legend is a co-founder of Get Lifted Film Co., a production company that has developed projects with major networks including ABC, NBC, FOX, HBO, Showtime, Netflix and FX, alongside co-founders Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius. Get Lifted has partnered with Zando to form Get Lifted Books, which builds upon Get Lifted Film Co.’s mission of spotlighting stories from dynamic creatives. In 2023, Legend launched Loved01, a unisex skincare brand designed for melanin-rich skin. As an activist, Legend launched FREEAMERICA in 2015 to change the conversation surrounding criminal justice policies and to end mass incarceration.

“We are thrilled to partner with The Muny and the incredible John Legend for this truly not-to-be-missed performance,” said SLSO President & CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard. “This concert highlights the best St. Louis has to offer — the remarkable talents of our musicians on one of the most celebrated musical theatre stages in the country. This collaboration with The Muny is another milestone in our treasured partnership and elevates our shared vision of providing unique artistic experiences for the community.”

Tickets for John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories With the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra are $75-$300 and go on sale at 9 a.m. CT May 20 at metrotix.com. Muny and SLSO subscribers can access an exclusive presale that runs from 9 a.m. May 17 to 9 p.m. May 19 CT. MetroTix is the only authorized vendor of Muny tickets.

The Muny also will offer tickets for its famous “free seats,” available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Details will be announced.

“Eliminating barriers to entry is at the core of our mission, and our free seats have been a part of the Muny experience since our inception,” Coleman said. “Nothing brings St. Louisans together quite like The Muny, and we’re proud to continue this tradition, allowing more members of our community to experience what will be a truly unforgettable evening. We’re also hopeful that concertgoers who have never experienced musical theatre at The Muny will be inspired to visit us again for another show.”

The 106th season at The Muny includes Les Misérables (June 17-23), Dreamgirls (June 27-July 3), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (July 8-16), Fiddler on the Roof (July 19-25), Waitress (July 30-Aug. 5), In the Heights (Aug. 9-15) and Anything Goes (Aug. 19-25). Muny season tickets are on sale through June 14, and subscribers receive priority access to special events such as John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories With the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

For ticket information and to learn more, visit muny.org/johnlegend. 

The Muny’s mission is to enrich lives by producing exceptional musical theatre, accessible to all, while continuing its remarkable tradition in Forest Park. As the nation’s oldest, largest outdoor musical theatre, we welcome more than 350,000 theatregoers each summer for seven world-class productions. Now celebrating 106 seasons in St. Louis, The Muny remains one of the premier institutions in musical theatre. For more information, visit muny.org.

Celebrated as one of today’s most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 145th year with the 2024/2025 season and its sixth with Stéphane Denève, the Joseph and Emily Rauh Pulitzer Music Director. Widely considered one of the leading American orchestras, the Grammy Award-winning SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact and community collaborations — all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music. For more information, visit slso.org.