Denny Reagan sits inside a prop car on the back lot of The Muny. The UMSL alumnus has worked at the outdoor musical theater for 47 years. (Photo by August Jennewein)

Dennis “Denny” Reagan is passionate. He began working at The Muny in 1968 as a summer hire. His role at the outdoor theater in St. Louis’ Forest Park expanded to year-round in 1976. Since he became a full-time employee, he has missed only one evening performance – Aug. 7, 1981, when his brother got married.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 1974, and now serves as president and chief executive officer of The Muny, America’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theater.

Reagan, who is featured in the June/July 2015 issue of Catholic St. Louis, began his career at The Muny as a trash picker, moved on to go-fer, stagehand and a number of other jobs before he was named to his current position in 1991.

“I’ve been working at The Muny for 47 years, and it’s always wonderful to see what The Muny does for the St. Louis community,” he told Catholic St. Louis. “Being a small part of providing that for St. Louis is pretty special.”

The full interview with Reagan can be viewed here on page 26.