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!
For more information or to book tickets by phone, please call 504-528-1943.
If you would like to be seated with someone that is not included in your order, please contact us at least three hours before the event.
Stage Door Idol
Auditions: June
Preliminary Rounds: July
Finale: August
Join us in BB's Stage Door Canteen as singers vie to become the next Stage Door Idol!
The Victory Belles Illuminate the Night
Join our signature vocal trio the Victory Belles for an evening of 1940s tunes paired with our state-of-the-art outdoor sound and light show, Expressions of America.
8:00 p.m. Victory Belles | 8:30 p.m. Expressions of America
Pricing: $20.00
Dinner with a Curator
Dinner with a Curator is an evening of dinner and history hosted by The American Sector Restaurant & Bar culinary team and The National WWII Museum professionals.
Dine & Dance with the Victory Swing Orchestra
The National WWII Museum's own Victory Swing Orchestra celebrates the big bands of the WWII era.
The Victory Belles Matinee Luncheon
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.
11:45 a.m. Seating | 12:45 p.m. Showtime (1-hour performance)
Pricing: $55.00 Nonmembers | $52.00 Members | View Menu
Enjoy a delicious buffet style luncheon then tap your toes to a one hour show from the charming Victory Belles.
Wartime Piano Happy Hour
Next Show: October 18
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
After your Museum visit, join us for a live instrumental showcase of wartime piano music! Guests of all ages can tap along to favorites like “Sentimental Journey” and “I’ll Be Seeing You” and learn how these tunes coincided with significant events of World War II.
Show Only
The Victory Belles Vignette
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.
1:00 p.m. showtime (A 30-minute show with many of your favorite popular and patriotic 1940s tunes.)
Show Only
Pricing: $22.00 Nonmembers | $19.00 Members
The Victory Belles Illuminate the Night
Join our signature vocal trio the Victory Belles for an evening of 1940s tunes paired with our state-of-the-art outdoor sound and light show, Expressions of America.
8:00 p.m. Victory Belles | 8:30 p.m. Expressions of America
Pricing: $20.00
The Victory Belles Ring in the Season
Celebrate the holidays at BB’s Stage Door Canteen with a brand-new show from the Victory Belles and the Victory Six Band!
Pricing: Members: $65 | Nonmembers: $68 | Show Only: $22 | For group rates, call 504-528-1943.
Teddy Bear Tea
Share the perfect holiday experience with your little ones, and make memories they’ll treasure for years to come!
Pricing: Members: $77 | Nonmembers: $80
Dates and Times: Morning Tea Seating: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (December 7, 14, and 21) | Afternoon Tea Seating: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (December 14 and 21)
The Rat Pack Now
Experience the music, style, comedy, and camaraderie of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.—the Rat Pack—at this world-class tribute show!
Pricing: Members: $42 | Nonmembers: $45 | For group rates, call 504-528-1943.
For more information or to book tickets by phone, please call 504-528-1943.
If you would like to be seated with someone that is not included in your order, please contact us at least three hours before the event.
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 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 will offer up-close looks at WWII macro-artifacts, including the Museum’s patrol torpedo boat, PT-305, which returned to campus in 2022. The Pavilion also houses the STEM Innovation Gallery, a vibrant educational space for students and teachers alike that shows how science, technology, engineering, and math contributed—and advanced—in World War II.
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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.
