The Arts

The Fox is St. Louis’s answer to FOMM (fear of missing musicals). Located just a short Metro ride (or a longish walk) from the medical campus, the Fox plays a mixture of off-Broadway musicals, including classics like Phantom of the Opera or Aladdin, and newer shows like Come From Away or Anastasia. It also hosts a variety of other productions and events. Single-show tickets are usually available for reasonable prices, but the best decision, especially for those seeking temporary respite from the medical school bubble, is to order a seven-show season ticket package. You might think you don’t have the time for it, but trust me, you do! There are no bad seats in the house, which is an incredibly funky and beautiful amalgam of architectural styles, and season tickets for the seven shows combined start at just $190. For those even remotely intrigued by the thought of sampling a musical every now and then, or for those with significant others trying to plan date nights, the package is the way to go.

Pro-tips for maximizing your experience include the following: have a delicious dinner beforehand at Vito’s (Italian) or the Fountain on Locust (old-timey soda fountain with homemade ice cream and chocolate malts); don’t forget that the Fox itself houses local ice cream (Clementine’s) and a bar, neither of which should be skipped; and make sure to chat with those sitting nearby once you’ve committed to buying tickets. A night at the Fox is a great way to explore the city and make some new friends in the process!

What do Scott Joplin, Chingy, Miles Davis, Chuck Berry, and Nelly have in common? They’re all from St. Louis! Some of the biggest names in blues, rock-and-roll, and hip-hop have called this city home, and because of their legacy, St. Louis has an awesome and diverse music scene. I’ve wandered into Mangia’s pizza parlor at 1:30 a.m. to find some truly talented jazz musicians jamming away. I’ve also seen the St. Louis Symphony perform at the historic Powell Hall.

If you’re a stadium concert-goer, most big-name acts hit St. Louis on their world tours. M1s have seen Drake, Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, Ed Sheeran, and more. If you’re an indie music lover, the Pageant and Blueberry Hill on the Delmar Loop and the Ready Room in the Grove neighborhood book really great mainstream and newer alternative artists.

Blues has historically been a big part of the music scene. St. Louis is home to the National Blues Museum, and bars and restaurants around St. Louis have lineups of local blues, jazz, and Americana artists. Broadway Oyster Bar is one of the most famous of these venues — it’s a New Orleans-style restaurant serving up Cajun food and hosting blues, reggae, and funk in one of the oldest buildings in St. Louis. And though it’s not my cup of tea, the RYSE Nightclub is known for its EDM lineups. Concert-going is also a great excuse to have fun and get to know your new classmates!

Step into beautiful Powell Hall, and you’ll feel like you’re stepping into the early 1900s. The symphony is always celebrating something, and you’ll find St. Louisans coming in all forms of dress to be swept away by Mendelssohn, Handel, or Elgar. What’s even better? The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra offers student nights throughout the semester, so you can get tickets for only $10! While on Grand Blvd., check out the Fabulous Fox Theatre and Jazz St. Louis, two other musical venues showcasing the artistic community of St. Louis.

Are you a fan of musical theater? Then St. Louis is the perfect place for you! St. Louis is home to the nation’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theater, the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre (est. 1917), affectionately known as The Muny. Every summer, The Muny produces seven musical theater productions, including classics such as The Wizard of Oz and West Side Story. With such incredible quality productions and its convenient location in Forest Park, The Muny draws huge crowds every night, easily filling their 11,000 seats. In addition, over 1,000 seats are available for free on a first-come, first-served basis. So, come and join the St. Louis summer tradition of enjoying a musical summer evening at The Muny!