A large audience seated in an outdoor amphitheater at night watches a performance on a brightly lit stage, surrounded by trees and illuminated vendor booths in the background.

Lionel Richie

Aug. 29 Our Summer Concert Finale

Promotional image for The Muny presents Lionel Richie, featuring Lionel Richie standing on the right. Event date and time: Saturday, August 29 at 8 p.m. Text is set against a dark background with colorful light streaks.

International music superstar Lionel Richie will headline The Muny’s annual summer-finale concert, continuing a storied tradition that returned to Forest Park in 2024. The Muny Presents Lionel Richie, a one-night-only concert event, is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29.

Richie is one of the most celebrated artists in music history, with a career spanning more than five decades. As a member of the iconic group Commodores and as a solo artist, Richie has sold more than 125 million albums worldwide and earned an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and four Grammy Awards. He has served as a judge on ABC’s American Idol since 2018.

Tickets

Tickets for The Muny Presents Lionel Richie are $75-$300 (VIP upgrades available) and go on sale at 9 a.m. CT May 18, exclusively at metrotix.com. Muny subscribers and Muny Guarantors can access an exclusive presale that begins at 9 a.m. CT May 11. Patrons who are eligible for the presale will receive details via email. 

Theater seating chart with sections labeled Box Seats ($300), Terrace A ($200), Terrace B ($125), and Terrace C ($75), showing different seat sections in front of a stage.

The Free Seats

Tickets for The Muny’s nearly 1,500 “free seats” at the rear of the theatre will be distributed via a digital drawing, which is open for registration now. Only one entry per person will be accepted; duplicate entries and disposable email addresses will be discarded. Limit two tickets per winner. Winners will be notified via email by May 15. There will be no walk-up access to the free seats for this event.

Tickets for The Muny Presents Lionel Richie are available exclusively at metrotix.com — not at the Muny Box Office. MetroTix is the only authorized vendor of Muny tickets.  

Our Tradition Continues

For years, live concerts were a staple at The Muny. After a break of more than three decades, concerts returned in 2024 with a show headlined by John Legend and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Diana Ross and Jon Batiste performed in 2025. Notable artists who performed in The Muny’s earlier concerts include Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, Sting, Barry Manilow, Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers and Hank Williams Jr. 

 

Event Sponsors

  • Steward Family Foundation

  • Butler’s Pantry

  • Rochelle & Louis Cella Family

  • Commerce Bank

  • Edward Jones

  • Interco Charitable Trust

  • Johnston Family Fund

  • Muny “Fan”

  • Powell Law Firm

  • RV Fund

  • Stephanie A. Schnuck & Matthew McAuley

  • Switch

  • Tarlton

Concert FAQs

For this special concert event, some policies and procedures will differ from the usual Muny experience. Here’s what you need to know.

+ Is this event included in a Muny subscription?

No, this concert is not part of the 108th Muny season of Broadway musicals. Muny season ticket holders who wish to attend must purchase a separate ticket for this event.

+ What about the Muny “free seats”?

Tickets for The Muny’s nearly 1,500 “free seats” at the rear of the theatre will be distributed via a digital drawing, which is open for registration now. Only one entry per person will be accepted; duplicate entries and disposable email addresses will be discarded. Limit two tickets per winner. Winners will be notified via email by May 15. There will be no walk-up access to the free seats for this event.

+ Where is parking available? 

Free parking is available in the Upper Muny Lot, Lower Muny Lot, Visitor Center Lot and on the streets surrounding The Muny. If you’re arriving via rideshare, the drop-off/pickup location is at Pagoda Circle and Theatre Drive, on the eastern edge of the Muny campus.

All parking lots at The Muny include accessible parking. These reserved spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis and require a state-issued hangtag or license plate. If there are no accessible spaces available, the lower lot may be used as a pickup and drop-off point for passengers who require assistance.

+ What time does the venue open?

Campus gates will open at 6 p.m., and the theatre opens at 7 p.m.

A valid ticket is required for entry through the security checkpoints at Steward Family Plaza (east), Purina Plaza (west) and Kooyumjian Family Plaza (upper).

+ When is showtime?

This concert begins at 8 p.m.

+ Are there metal detectors at the gates?

Our metal detection scanners allow a continuous stream of patrons to pass through security checkpoints without the delays typically associated with handheld wands. Bags, purses and coolers are subject to inspection.

A valid ticket is required for entry onto the Muny campus.

+ What items are prohibited?

Audio and/or visual recording equipment; professional-grade cameras and all video recorders; iPads or tablets; glass or cans; cans of spray paint or hairspray; weapons; fireworks; banners or flags; bootleg merchandise; pets; lawn chairs; hard-sided coolers; and outside alcohol are prohibited at The Muny for this event.

Bags, purses and coolers are subject to inspection.

+ What will seating be like?

The Muny has nearly 11,000 flip-down, stadium-style seats. A ticket is required for each guest, even for the free seats. Wheelchair-accessible seating is available at each price level.

+ Will food and drinks be available?

Yes, our concession stands along the east and west pergolas and on the upper plaza will be open. Available options include wine, beer, soft drinks, ice cream, popcorn, pretzels and other favorite Muny items. The Culver Pavilion Restaurant will not be open for this event.

+ Will the Culver Pavilion be open for preshow dining?

The Culver Pavilion Restaurant will not be open for this special event.

+ Is outside food allowed?

We invite you to picnic on the Muny grounds before the show, but no hard-sided coolers, outside alcohol, aluminum cans or lawn chairs may brought onto campus. No outside food may be brought into the theatre.

+ What payment options are accepted at the show?

All transactions at The Muny are cashless. We accept payment only by credit, debit or Muny gift card.

+ What accessibility services will be offered?

Wheelchair assistance will be available from accessible parking areas.

This performance will include American Sign Language interpretation.

Assistive listening devices will be available to borrow at no charge. Devices are located at select concession stands and at the souvenir stand located near Café One, on the lower east side of the theatre.

+ What is the rain/cancellation policy?

This is a one-night-only event. In the event of a cancellation due to weather or other circumstances, The Muny and the artist will work to reschedule at a later date. Ticket buyers will be notified, and refunds will be issued at point of purchase.

+ Is smoking allowed?

Smoking of any kind is prohibited in the theatre auditorium, ramps, pavilions, concessions, restrooms or gathering areas (including, but not limited to, all cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping and marijuana in any form for any purpose).