Learn More about the History of the Stage Door Canteen
Bette Davis served the desserts. Marlene Dietrich and Lauren Bacall danced the night away. Red Skelton told the jokes and Bing Crosby crooned. The place was the Stage Door Canteen and the guests were the steady stream of GIs headed off to war. Many were leaving home for the first time and the Canteen offered a welcome opportunity to forget their anxieties—if only for a time—with entertainment, fellowship, and a little American spirit.
The National WWII Museum in New Orleans honors this memorable wartime tradition in our very own BB's Stage Door Canteen, an exciting entertainment destination.
BB's Stage Door Canteen presents a wonderful series of unique entertainment, showcasing the songs, style, stars, and spirit of this incomparable era. Enjoy evening and matinee performances by headliner acts, signature musical productions, big bands, dancing, the Victory Belles vocal trio, and more! It's all at BB's Stage Door Canteen!
Per current City of New Orleans guidelines, Museum visitors are not required to wear masks or provide proof of vaccination. However, the CDC strongly encourages unvaccinated individuals to continue wearing a mask when indoors.
For more information or to book tickets by phone, please call 504-528-1943.
The Victory Belles
Matinee Luncheons: September 28 | October 12 & 19 | November 2, 16, 23 & 28
Vignette: October 8 & 29 | November 6 & 26
The Victory Belles are a delightful vocal trio performing the music of the 1940s, serenading audiences at The National WWII Museum and across the globe.
Wartime Piano Happy Hour
September 30 | October *7 & 28 | November 4 & *18
After your Museum visit, join us in BB’s Stage Door Canteen for a casual instrumental performance of wartime piano music! Tap along to favorites like “Sentimental Journey” and “I’ll Be Seeing You” and learn how these tunes coincided with significant events of the war. Beverages can be purchased at the bar in the American Sector Restaurant.
*The following dates will be held in the Patriots Circle Lounge at the Higgins Hotel:
October 7 | November 18
Dine & Dance with the Victory Swing Orchestra
The National WWII Museum's own Victory Swing Orchestra celebrates the great big bands of the WWII era. This amazing ensemble of talented New Orleans musicians will have you In the Mood to dance the night away!
2022: October 8
2023: January 21, April 15, May 13, June 10
Bette Davis: Larger Than Life
October 21, 22, & 23
Actress and playwright, Jessica Sherr, powerfully channels Bette Davis’ fight against the male-dominated studio system.
Dinner with a Curator: "Seven Invasions for a Bottle:" Beer and the US Navy
Tuesday, October 25
In a unique collaboration between New Orleans brewery Urban South and The National WWII Museum, Curator and Restoration Manager Josh Schick and Research Historian Kali Martin will be joined by Urban South’s Director of Brewing Operations, Alex Flores.
Teddy Bear Tea
December 3, 10, and 17
Teddy Bear Tea is the perfect holiday experience to share with children and grandchildren—delicious food and sweet treats, lively music from the Victory Belles, and a special visit with Santa!
Louisiana Christmas Day
Matinee Luncheons run Mondays through Fridays & Sundays from December 2–23
Spend the holidays Louisiana style as the Victory Belles take us on a musical tour from the raucous Cajun bayous to the splendors of caroling in Jackson Square! Celebrate the holidays at BB’s Stage Door Canteen, and hear your favorite yuletide tunes like “Have A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Christmastime in New Orleans,” and “White Christmas.”
COMING SOON IN 2023:
Fly
Weekends, January 27 – February 10
Fly tells the story of four WWII servicemen in the 332nd Fighter Group of the US Army Air Force as they train in Tuskegee, Alabama. Using their training experience as a microcosm of race relations in America, the play illustrates how these men fought racism at home while battling fascism overseas. Dynamic videography, special effects, and dance make this a powerful multisensory experience. Directed by Tommye Myrick of Voices in the Dark Repertory Theatre with an all-local cast.
One Night with Billie & Ella
Select Wednesday Matinees, March 1 – June 21
Banter, jokes, jazz, and blues abound when music legends Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald get together. These two icon musicians are elegantly portrayed by New Orleans' own Kathleen Moore and Chloé Marie Johnson respectively, and backed by the talented Victory Trio. Enjoy classic hits like “Give Me the Simple Life,” “God Bless the Child,” “Stormy Weather,” and more from music royalty!
Josephine Baker: From Creole Goddess to Siren of the Resistance
March 31 – April 2
New Orleans singer and entertainer Anaïs St. John brings her latest cabaret show to BB’s Stage Door Canteen. Through song and spoken word, Anaïs brings to life Josephine Baker’s extraordinary journey from humble beginnings in East St. Louis to the stages of Jazz Age Paris, from her wartime service in France and North Africa to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963.
Letters From Home
May 14 (Mother's Day Brunch Special)
As the official Louisiana stop of their 50-States Tour, Letters From Home will bring back the style of the USO with a high-energy performance featuring Erinn Dearth and Dan Beckmann! This duo has performed over 900 shows across the United States for veterans and their families and performed at the 75th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. The show is filled with singing, tap dancing, knee-slapping jokes and audience interaction that make up a spectacular performance geared towards uniting the nation through music.
For more information or to book tickets by phone, please call 504-528-1943.
Auditions & Employment Opportunities
Find out about audition information for future productions or learn more about employment opportunities at BB’s Stage Door Canteen.
The story of how Bob Hope gave levity and laughter to troops during one of the most brutal conflicts in human history is a crucial component of the history of the war—and a demonstration of how humanity can shine through in the darkest of times. The National WWII Museum is proud to have BB's Stage Door Canteen performances supported by the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation. If you are a veteran of any war, you may be eligible for free show only tickets to BB's Stage Door Canteen performances through our Tickets for Troops program. Please call our box office at 504-528-1943 for more information.
Now Playing: So Ready for Laughter
An 11-minute documentary, featured in the recent special exhibit dedicated to Bob Hope’s tireless efforts to entertain servicemembers during World War II, now plays continuously in BB’s Stage Door Canteen. Look for it on your next visit.
Supported by the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation.
The Original Stage Door Canteen
Where could a GI enjoy the best big bands, dance with the ladies, and rub elbows with the likes of Marlene Dietrich? Only at the Stage Door Canteen.
Victory Belles Birthday Serenade
Do you know a WWII veteran or Home Front worker who’s about to celebrate a birthday? Invite The National WWII Museum’s 1940s songbirds to the party!
Museum Campus
Solomon Victory Theater
Explore The Campus
Museum Campus Guide-
Louisiana Memorial Pavilion
The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion exhibits take visitors into the monumental efforts on the Home Front and to the beaches of Normandy—focusing on the thousands of men and women who made Allied victory in World War II possible.
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Campaigns of Courage
In a war where the terrain was as deadly as the enemy, this pavilion tells the story of American servicemembers abroad—and how they overcame unprecedented challenges on multiple fronts to win victory in World War II. In over 19,000 square feet of exhibit space, two extraordinary exhibitions bring visitors inside the epic story of the war in its most infamous settings, bringing to life jungles, beaches, mountains, and oceans in 19 immersive galleries.
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Solomon Victory Theater
The Solomon Victory Theater is home to Beyond All Boundaries, a 4D cinematic experience produced exclusively for The National WWII Museum by Tom Hanks—who narrates the film—and Phil Hettema.
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Hall of Democracy
The Hall of Democracy represents the center of the Museum’s expanding educational outreach initiatives—providing a space that will enable the institution to share its collections, oral histories, research, and expertise with audiences across the world.
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US Freedom Pavilion
In World War II—the war that changed the world—freedom hung in the balance. Americans answered the call to protect that freedom with 16 million men and women serving in uniform and an untold number of citizens of all ages doing their part on the Home Front. In US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, we honor their contributions.
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The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center
The official Hotel of The National WWII Museum, this stunning art-deco style property offers first-class accommodations, meeting spaces, and dining options providing a sophisticated lodging experience for guests.
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John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion
The John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion features glass exterior walls that allow the public a permanent, behind-the-scenes view of the restoration and preservation of priceless WWII artifacts. New to the pavilion is the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Innovation Gallery, which focuses on how problems were solved during World War II through ingenuity and innovation.
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Founders Plaza
Founders Plaza creates an impressive entryway to the Museum campus, safe passage for Museum guests, and a pleasant setting for rest and reflection as part of the visitor experience.
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Bollinger Canopy of Peace
The soaring Bollinger Canopy of Peace, set to stand 150 feet tall, will unify the Museum's diverse campus and establish the Museum as a fixture on the New Orleans skyline.
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Liberation Pavilion
Three building levels will explore the closing months of the war and immediate postwar years, concluding with an explanation of links to our lives today.
