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.
Wartime Piano Happy Hour
May 27, 2022
June 10 & 24, 2022
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:
May 27 | June 10 & 24
Stage Door Idol
Attention, songbirds and superstars—the Stage Door Idol competition is back after a two-year break! Prepare 32 bars of a song originally written or recorded in the 1940s, and join us at BB's Stage Door Canteen to audition* for our 11th Stage Door Idol. Forty contestants will be selected to compete this summer for a $2,000 cash prize!
Hank Williams: The Lonesome Tour
May 13 – 22, 2022
Friday / Saturday Evenings and Sunday Matinees
Jason Petty brings Hank Williams's music and story to life in his one man show. Over the course of an intimate set, Jason plays acoustic guitar and tells the story of one of Country Music's greatest legends with wit, wisdom, and reflective humor.
Dinner with a Curator: The Fighting Comics of World War II
May 24, 2022
Join Assistant Curator Chase Tomlin as he presents The Fighting Comics of World War II. Learn how the burgeoning comic book industry engaged with and informed the American public on the eve of war, promoted and facilitated the war effort, and inspirited the fighting troops overseas.
We’ll Meet Again: A Tribute to the Blonde Bombshells of World War II
June 17 – 26, 2022
Friday / Saturday Evenings and Sunday Matinees
Join us for a tribute show honoring some of the best WWII songbirds—Betty Hutton, Doris Day, Dinah Shore, and more.
The Victory Belles
Matinee Luncheons: June 8
Show Only: May 21, 28 & 30 | June 4, 11 & 24
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.
KNOW BEFORE THE SHOW:
SOME PERFORMANCES CARRY INCREASED RISK
Please note that singing and instrumental music produced by wind instruments are still thought to be higher risk activities for COVID-19 spread. Older adults and people with certain medical conditions are at increased risk to become severely ill from COVID-19, and it is especially important for people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19—as well as those who live with them—to protect themselves from getting COVID-19.
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.
