Theatre program presents beloved musical, “Meet Me in St. Louis”

This week marks the opening of the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance’s fall production of the beloved musical, “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Performances will be held Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. in the Casino Theatre.

Based on the classic 1944 MGM film, “Meet Me in St. Louis” follows the Smith family in the months leading up to the 1904 World’s Fair. The story takes the audience on a journey through touching scenes by screenwriter Hugh Wheeler and songs by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, that have become classics. All of the stage performers are Salve Regina students, and Salve students work across all aspects of the production.

All members of the University community, as well as the general public, are invited to attend. Tickets are $20 for adults; $18 for Salve faculty, staff and seniors; $15 for children 12 and under; and free for Salve Regina students with an ID. To purchase tickets, go here.

The continued importance of the production

The world’s fairs movement captivated audiences for nearly a century before the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, offering a spectacular escape from the realities of industrial change and, later, the Great Depression. These fairs introduced new technologies and provided comfort during uncertain times. While less frequent today, world fairs continue to address global issues, shifting from confronting colonialism to tackling modern environmental crises.

Amidst global turmoil, such as World War I and World War II, the fairs were put on hold, and audiences turned to media for escapism. It was during this time that Sally Benson’s nostalgic vignettes about life in St. Louis were published, capturing the hearts of a war-weary public. These stories, which would later become the novel “Meet Me in St. Louis,” quickly made their way to the big screen, offering a comforting, idyllic portrayal of family life that resonated deeply with 1940s audiences.

Salve actors portraying the Smith family.

From its debut as a novel to the film and 1989 stage production, “Meet Me in St. Louis” has remained a timeless classic. Just as it soothed audiences of the 1940s, this heartwarming story continues to provide respite from the stresses of today – whether it’s a hectic workday or the tensions of the approaching election.

“The majesty and excitement of ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ stands as a beacon of how the stories we tell let us escape the ones we live,” said Morgan Vreeland ’27, theatre major and the production’s dramaturg.

A feeling of community

This production will highlight the warmth and kindness of a close-knit community and the feeling of family. “It’s something we all need right now,” said Ali Angelone, the show’s guest director and choreographer. A Bristol, Rhode Island resident, Angelone has sought to evoke the sense of joy in community around annual holidays. The musical highlights Halloween and Christmas, and culminates with the grand World’s Fair.

“I grew up going to a Fourth of July parade every year and now bring my children,” shared Angelone. “The sense of community and family that special events in a town can create – this is what I’d like audiences to feel.”

While the feeling of community comes through the production, it is also bursting at the seams behind the curtains, with Salve students taking on costume design, music, lighting and more.

Canevari ’25 programming the lights for the production.

Isabella Canevari ’25, a psychology major, is leading the lighting design, while Lauryn Boone ’26, a theatre major, serves as the head stage manager. This year, students from the course THE- 337 Costume and Props Design, taught by professional costume designer Sydney Hawes, are managing the show’s wardrobe in collaboration with a professional theater rental company.

Additionally, Reed Duncan ’25, a dance major, along with exchange student Tsukiho Orisaka, are dance captains – assisting the choreographer with perfecting the show’s dances. Vreeland has also contributed by researching the history of the production and creating a gallery display for the audience to explore during the performances.

Clang, Clang, Clang went the…RIPTA?

You can’t have a production of “Meet Me in St. Louis” without the iconic “The Trolley Song.” Through a collaboration with the Rhode Island Transit Authority, riders lucky enough to find themselves on the Route 67 trolley in Newport, Rhode Island, Oct. 23 from 4:30-5:30 p.m., will catch a sneak peek into the show.

Tickets are on sale here.