ST. LOUIS — Back to the Future: The Musical has its destination set for St. Louis this fall, arriving at The Fabulous Fox on September 24 for a two-week engagement. While the musical is making its Fabulous Fox debut, the show’s run will be a homecoming for the beloved story with St. Louis roots.
“St. Louis – specifically University City – is the birthplace of Back to the Future,” said Bob Gale, a University City native and the creator of the Back to the Future film trilogy and stage musical. “It's where I got the original idea. … And, growing up, I went to the movies at the Fox Theater. So, the combination of all these things represents a lot of wonderful feelings, emotions and nostalgia for me.”
Gale developed the concept for the original film while visiting his parents in St. Louis during the summer of 1980. While paging through his father’s high school yearbook, Gale said he was surprised to see that his serious-looking father-to-be had been class president, leading him to wonder if he would have been friends with his father had they been classmates in 1940. This thought would eventually become the basis for the 1985 hit film and the eventual musical adaptation.
To bring the film to the stage, Gale has reunited with co-creator Robert Zemeckis and the film trilogy’s original composer Alan Silvestri. Beginning work in 2007, the creatives began a process that would eventually lead to the musical’s debut at Manchester Opera House in 2020 ahead of a transfer to London’s West End in 2021, where it would win the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2022. The musical opened on Broadway in 2023 and launched a national tour in 2024.
“This, for me, was probably the best creative experience I’ve ever had,” Gale said about the creation of the musical adaption. “The new songs are very infectious, the cast is absolutely incredible, and we've raised the bar with our technology: you really will believe the DeLorean goes 88 mph!”
In celebration of the musical’s debut in St. Louis and the city’s connection to the franchise, The Fabulous Fox announced several special partnerships with local St. Louis organizations, including the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Hi-Pointe Theatre.
“We are so excited to welcome Back to the Future: The Musical to The Fabulous Fox and to celebrate Bob Gale and the film’s St. Louis connection,” Fabulous Fox Publicity Manager Megan Ketcherside said.
On September 15, The Fabulous Fox and the Hi-Pointe Theatre will partner for a special presentation of the Back to the Future film. The event will feature a Q&A with Bob Gale as well as a VIP reception – all to benefit Cinema St. Louis.
On September 16, the Fabulous Fox will present Back to the Future: The Musical night at Busch Stadium. Guests purchasing a theme ticket will receive a Freddy McFly bobblehead inspired by the film and musical.
The Fabulous Fox will also be hosting a Fan Night on September 26, giving away limited-edition Fan Night posters to the first 400 guests that appear in Back to the Future-inspired costumes.
While Gale says he misses St. Louis and hometown favorites like Ted Drewes, toasted ravioli, and St. Louis-style pizza, he said he is looking forward to returning to the city for the show’s debut so he can share this story with the city that helped create it.
“It's an outstanding musical and fabulous entertainment,” Gale said. “We've been delighting audiences in London for over 3 years, on Broadway for over a year, and now it's time for St. Louis to get in on the fun.”
Back to the Future: The Musical will perform at the Fabulous Fox September 24-October 6. Tickets are available at www.fabulousfox.com.
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