Stifel Theatre
{{Short description|Civic performing arts building in St. Louis, Missouri}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{coord|38.6277|-90.2019|type:landmark_region:US-MO_dim:5km|display=title}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Stifel Theatre
| image = File:Stifel Theatre, Market Street, St. Louis, MO.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_alt =
| caption = Facade of venue, 2023
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_caption=
| former names = Municipal Opera House {{small|(1934–1943)}}
Kiel Opera House {{small|(1943–2010)}}
Peabody Opera House {{small|(2010–18)}}
| address = 1400 Market St
St. Louis, MO 63103-2609
| location = Downtown West
| country =
| designation =
| coordinates =
| architect = LaBeaume & Klein{{cite web |url=http://www.eco-absence.org/stl/kiel/ |title=.0Kiel Opera House |website=Ecology of Absence |date=August 25, 2006 |access-date=October 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060217234251/http://www.eco-absence.org/stl/kiel/ |archive-date=February 17, 2006}}
| builder =
| owner = SLB Acquisition Holdings
| tenant =
| operator =
| capacity = 3,100
| screens =
| type =
| broke_ground = August 1932
| opened = {{Start date|1934|04|21}}{{cite web |url=http://www.peabodyoperahouse.com/about-us/history |title=History |date=March 2013 |access-date=January 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312043223/http://www.peabodyoperahouse.com/about-us/history |archive-date=March 12, 2013 |website=Peabody Opera House}}
| yearsactive =
| rebuilt = 2009-11
| reopened = {{Start date|2011|10|01}}
| closed = {{Start date|1991|05|07}}—{{End date|2011|09|30}}
| demolished =
| othernames =
| production =
| currentuse =
| cost = $1 million
{{small|(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|1000000|1932}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}}
| parking =
| publictransit = {{rint|bus|1}} MetroBus
{{rint|light rail|1}} {{RouteBox|Red|Red Line (St. Louis MetroLink)|red|white|bold=}} {{RouteBox|Blue|Blue Line (St. Louis MetroLink)|blue|white|bold=}}
At Civic Center
| website = {{URL|http://www.stifeltheatre.com|Venue Website}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Kiel Opera House
| embed = yes
| nrhp_type =
| added = February 11, 2000
| area = {{convert|6.4|acre}}
| refnum = 00000016{{NRISref|version=2010a}}
}}
}}
The Stifel Theatre (originally known as the Municipal Opera House and formerly the Kiel Opera House and Peabody Opera House) is a civic performing arts building located in St. Louis, Missouri.
About the venue
Founded as the "Kiel Opera House" (in honor of former St. Louis Mayor Henry Kiel), opened in 1934 as a part of the "Municipal Auditorium and Opera House". The theatre operated until 1991, when it and the adjacent Kiel Auditorium were closed so the auditorium could be demolished and replaced by the Kiel Center, now known as Enterprise Center. When the auditorium was slated for demolition, the local consortium who owned the St. Louis Blues, Kiel Center's main tenant, promised to rehabilitate the opera house as well.{{cite web |url=http://www.builtstlouis.net/opera.html |title=Crumbling Landmarks: The Kiel Opera House |website=Built St. Louis |date=January 15, 2007 |access-date=October 2, 2011}} Neither that group nor the Bill Laurie family who bought the Blues in 1998, however, renovated the building, instead claiming that they had fulfilled their financial obligations.
In June 2009, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted 25–1 to subsidize the renovation and reopening of the theatre under the direction of the Blues' new owners, Sports Capital Partners.{{cite news|url=http://www.scpworldwide.net/pdf/KielOperaHouseWinsFinalCityApproval.pdf |last=Logan |first=Tim |title=Kiel Opera House plan wins final city approval |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=June 6, 2009 |access-date=December 28, 2011 |via=SCP Worldwide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426075400/http://www.scpworldwide.net/pdf/KielOperaHouseWinsFinalCityApproval.pdf |archive-date=April 26, 2012}}{{cite news |last=Garrison |first=Chad |url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/06/board_of_aldermen_approve_subsidy_for_kiel_opera_house.php |title=Board of Aldermen Approve Subsidy for Kiel Opera House |date=June 5, 2009 |newspaper=Riverfront Times |location=St. Louis |access-date=October 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608060316/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/06/board_of_aldermen_approve_subsidy_for_kiel_opera_house.php |archive-date=June 8, 2009}} The subsidies were funded by municipal bonds and state/federal historic tax credits. On July 12, 2010, it was announced that the name was changing to the "Peabody Opera House", named after the company Peabody Energy.{{cite news |url=https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/features/new-life-for-st-louis-landmark/article_aa7adbcb-8e12-585e-ab30-8581301fff58.html |title=New Life For St. Louis Landmark |newspaper=Webster-Kirkwood Times |date=September 3, 2011 |access-date=October 2, 2011 |archive-url=http://www.freezepage.com/1552367774TUSATRTGZT?url=https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/features/new-life-for-st-louis-landmark/article_aa7adbcb-8e12-585e-ab30-8581301fff58.html |archive-date=March 12, 2019 |last1=Duggan |first1=Eileen P.}} The renovation lasted for fourteen months and included the construction of a new entrance for the building.{{cite news |url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/after-20-silent-years-life-returns-peabody-opera-house |title=After 20 silent years, life returns to the Peabody Opera House|date=September 30, 2011 |last1=Lippmann |first1=Rachel |website=KWMU News |access-date=October 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021215737/http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/after-20-silent-years-life-returns-peabody-opera-house |archive-date=October 21, 2011}}
On October 1, 2011, the Peabody Opera House opened for the first time since the $79 million renovation. The show featured personalities such as Jay Leno, Aretha Franklin, and Chuck Berry and was attended by a full house of 3,100.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Kevin C. |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/article_231f28ca-ed14-11e0-a548-001a4bcf6878.html |title=Peabody premiere lives up to its billing |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=September 19, 2011 |access-date=October 2, 2011}} Since its reopening, it has played host to a diverse variety of performing acts, including touring musicians, comedians, live theatre and dance, and social and political events. On July 16, 2018, it was announced that the building had entered into a 10-year naming rights agreement with Stifel Financial Corp. and would be renamed Stifel Theatre.{{cite web |url=https://fox2now.com/2018/07/16/peabody-opera-house-gets-new-name-stifel-theatre/ |title=Peabody Opera House gets new name – Stifel Theatre |last1=Held |first1=Kevin S. |date=July 16, 2018 |website=KTVI News |access-date=March 12, 2019}}
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
From 1934 until 1968, the Opera House was home to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. In April 1966, the Symphony's Board voted to purchase the St. Louis Theater on Grand Blvd. and began extensive renovations. The theater was renamed Powell Hall and remains the home of the SLSO. In 2023 the St. Louis Symphony returned to Stifel Theater for select concerts while Powell Hall goes through extensive renovations and additions.
Notable events
On June 20, 1965, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. with Johnny Carson as the emcee (subbing for Joey Bishop who was out with a bad back) performed their only televised concert together during the heyday of the Rat Pack. A closed-circuit broadcast done as a fundraiser for Dismas House (the first halfway house for ex-convicts). After being thought lost for thirty years, Paul Brownstein tracked down a print of the show that had been sitting in a closet in St. Louis. It has since been broadcast on Nick at Nite (in 1998) as part The Museum of Television & Radio Showcase series and released on DVD as part of the "Ultimate Rat Pack Collection: Live & Swingin'".
On July 11, 1978, The Rolling Stones performed one sold-out show at the theatre. Bill Graham was the tour promoter. The Stones used a stripped back, minimal stage presentation compared to previous tours with an emphasis solely on music and attitude rather than presenting a grandiose extravaganza. Because of the limited seating at such an excellent venue, fans who were unable to purchase tickets gathered outside the building before showtime in protest. A police force with dogs was needed to keep the peace.
References
{{Commons category-inline|Peabody Opera House}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Music venues of Missouri}}
{{St. Louis mci}}
{{St. Louis mtp}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Buildings and structures in St. Louis
Category:Music venues in St. Louis
Category:Opera houses in Missouri
Category:Concert halls in Missouri
Category:Performing arts centers in Missouri
Category:Tourist attractions in St. Louis
Category:Music venues completed in 1934