The Muni celebrates 75 years | Summerguide

People arrive early with their picnics and bottles of wine, setting everything out on blankets or at picnic tables, enjoying a summer evening before the opening of a play at the Springfield Municipal Opera near Lake Springfield. This summer marks the 75th year that the Muni has been wowing audiences with tremendous performances. Casts have been rehearsing almost every night for the upcoming season’s shows: Something Rotten, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Shrek.

The Muni has gone from folding chairs for seats to permanent chairs; from tents for dressing rooms to backstage buildings; from sets built and trucked from 10 miles away to large areas on site; from grass to paved walkways, and from two shows a summer to four.

“Upgrades are constant,” says Steve Kaplan, a longtime supporter of Muni as an actor, director and current trustee.

In 1950, the nonprofit Springfield Muni Opera Association was formed with a 60-year lease for a site near Lake Springfield at the cost of $1 a year to the city. A wooden stage was built in the middle of a field. All expected success, but in case of financial problems, pledges of $200 were solicited.

Two shows highlighted the season: The Merry Widow and Lady Be Good. Musicians agreed to play for a reduced rate, and on July 19, 1950, with 2,700 people sitting on folding chairs, The Merry Widow opened. Tickets ranged from $1 to $1.80. Buses transported people from downtown for 25 cents.

Even with full houses and excited patrons, though, the season ended with a loss. By 1955, with losses of $30,000, volunteers attempted to keep some performances going. But, in 1963 and 1964, when fires destroyed the structure, the Muni closed.

With hopes for a rebirth, a challenge came to put on Bye Bye Birdie at Douglas Park and, if successful, Muni could come out of the ashes. A building fund was established, donations from many poured in, and it was decided that each season must open in the black. By 1965, the Muni was able to rebuild its facility and return to the lake site.

Talk to anyone about their involvement with Muni and you’ll hear great stories, which often become legend. One that almost everyone repeats is the time the full cast was onstage and the lead singer got lost. The orchestra director called out, “Start at bar 90.” Then there was silence. He yelled out, “Don’t you know where bar 90 is?” and in unison, the cast shouted, “No!”

Kim Klickna started playing percussion in the orchestra during the 1960s while in high school and later continued playing and also directing the orchestra for plays such as Big River, Les Miserables and more. He remembers the biggest showstopper that happened in the 1960s.

“An actress finished her solo and the audience wouldn’t stop clapping; the clapping went on and on. The director stopped the show and asked the actress to sing the song again,” Klickna said. He also recalls a singer in Les Mis who ended on a beautiful, high, loud note. “When he cut off the note, you could hear the sound bouncing up the hill throughout the area.”

Stephan Kaplan, a frequent Muni director and performer, said Les Mis is the biggest performance he has directed.

“It is a huge musical, requiring a lot of people. When I was asked to direct it, I said only if I get all the musicians I need.” He did. Being a director means a year-long commitment, and Kaplan said, “I always loved it.”

Performers also remember the bugs – Kaplan had to get through a musical number after a bug flew into his throat. Linda Schneider was to hold a pose with arms extended, spotlight on her as she walked down some steps. Just then a mosquito landed on her forehead; the entire time she slowly was walk down the steps she could feel the “mosquito drilling into my head.”

Performers remember funny incidents. During a scene in Oliver, Kaplan was supposed to be hit by his stage wife, Laurie O’Brien, with a broom. She missed and overcompensated, sending Kaplan onto the stage, coat over his head, wig askew and seeing stars.

Mary Beth Maloney, who started with Muni in 1971 as a prompter backstage, remembers when she was acting in Annie Get Your Gun.

“I had been warning everyone that the stage was wet and to be careful. Then, it was time for me to go out on stage, and I fell flat on my face.” Maloney has participated in 27 shows in various capacities – singing in choruses, playing parts, helping with sets, serving as assistant director and serving on the board. She has been a trustee since 2018.

Randy Ragan serves as the chair of the trustees. He explains, “The board of managers includes 20 people who serve four-year terms, plus eight trustees, appointed for their lifetime. The board is responsible for putting on four shows a season; the trustees are charged with ensuring the organization remains viable for years to come.”

Memories stand out. Kaplan said, “I remember when we were doing On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, and it rained almost every night.” One of the hottest seasons was in 1999 during Goodbye Girl. “We were 40 minutes into the show when we had a total wash out and had to quit. Then the next day it was 100 degrees and stayed that way every night.”

Jay Edgecomb volunteered many years running the lighting system. He remembers the difficulty of rigging up lights and fixing problems – all on an open tower.

“Things were often make-it-up-as-you-go. It is amazing the quality of entertainment we produced.  The singers and musicians have been wonderful, and it was our job to be sure they were seen and heard,” he said.

Plans are underway for a 75th celebration after the season is over. And, more improvements are planned.

Ragan said, “We have made many changes in the past 10 years – adding buildings backstage, putting in a concession area for the actors and crew, changing ticketing to an online service and replacing slick walkways with concrete. We hope to air condition the concession stand soon.”

The people involved with Muni have given many, many years to the work, which is all volunteer. All say it is an organization that is well-run and presents great performances with talented people including set designers, musicians, stage crew, actors and actresses.

The Muni is located at 815 East Lake Shore Drive. The 2025 schedule of shows is: Something Rotten (May 30-June 1, June 4-7), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (June 20-22, 25-28), Oklahoma (July 11-13, 16-19), Shrek (Aug. 1-3, 6-9). See more details at themuni.org.

Cinda Ackerman Klickna is a frequent contributor to Illinois Times and has spent many fun times seeing performances at Muni.