Main Street Music Hall is once again bringing family-friendly entertainment back to the Lake of the Ozarks, thanks to the efforts of Mary DeMichele. DeMichele, along with Tim Williams and Will Runyon, are co-founders of the nonprofit Dragon Lake Productions. DeMichele serves as the Executive Director.
DeMichele formed the nonprofit this past September after recognizing an opportunity to give local talent a true home on a local stage. “There’s no other professional stage at the Lake for local performers to perform,” she explained. “Our schools have incredible programs, but once students graduate, there isn’t a local place for them to continue performing. We wanted to change that.”
Armed with an impressive background in theater and training, DeMichele is striving to bring quality entertainment for both local residents and visitors. While working as a history teacher in Jersey City, she started a performing arts program there where none existed. She focused her attention on performing arts, studying all facets of it over multiple years.
She taught and performed throughout New York City and New Jersey, founded an arts integration company, published books and research on the brain benefits of improv, and speaks and trains nationally, including a TEDx talk. For the past decade, she has performed and directed at the Lake, including her role as Mayhem Marnie on the Jolly Rogers pirate ship.
Co-founder Tim Williams is a multi-talented creative professional utilizing his degree in Film and Television to write, produce, perform, and edit digital video projects and theatrical stage productions. He has performed in numerous productions with the Lake Area Performing Arts Guild (LAPAG) which produced plays and musicals for decades before going dark in the early 2000’s. Tim continues to write, produce, and perform annually throughout the Lake area. He is the well-known Captain Scalawag in Captain Scalawag’s Treasure Hunt Show at Jolly Charters.
Lake native Will Runyon Jr. is an artist, performer, entrepreneur, and long-time supporter/booster of creative culture in the area. He has over a decade of regional stage experience and is currently pursuing a number of exciting filmmaking opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally!
Together they, along with Summer and Victor Young, have started to revitalize the venue for professional touring shows, local performers, and top-flight entertainment the entire family can enjoy.
“For decades, this theater has been a gathering place for the Lake community,” they explained. “Our mission is to update the venue, keep ticket prices affordable, and ensure future generations experience the magic of live performance.” The relaunch of Main Street Music Hall aims to create a vibrant arts and entertainment center for audiences of all ages.
Recent shows have included comedian Karen Morgan, the Travis Powell Elvis Tribute, and The Best of Motown and More. Holiday programming featured Captain Scalawag’s Enchanted Christmas Carol, written by Williams and directed by DeMichele, along with the return of the beloved Christmas on Main Street, which delighted audiences for more than 30 years.
“We want people to seek out what’s happening at Main Street,” DeMichele said. The 2026 season will run from March through December and feature comedians, bands, and theatrical performances. The theater offers group rates, discounts for seniors, veterans, kids, and teens, and reasonably priced concessions. “The Lake area is full of incredible talent, and we’re building a place where it can be seen, supported, and celebrated,” she added.
Main Street Music Hall
For almost 40 years this 1000 seat Victorian style venue has been the stage for an experience in tradition. The cozy, intimate atmosphere provides the perfect platform for everything from comedians, to musicians, to theatrical performances. It stands as the last remaining theater from a bygone era, when live shows and bustling stages filled the Lake of the Ozarks with laughter, music, and community spirit.
Live entertainment at the Lake of the Ozarks began with Lee Mace, who launched the area’s first major show venue, the Lee Mace Opry, in 1953. It was located where Harbor Freight now stands.
In the decades that followed, several other entertainment venues emerged across the Lake area. What is now Wicked Willie’s was once home to the Missouri Opry; the Harley-Davidson dealership previously housed Denny Hilton’s Country Shindig; and the building now occupied by Osage Hills Church was originally Mark Sexton’s Starworld Showroom. Alan and Judy Blair built and opened the Main Street Opry in 1987, changing its name to Main Street Music Hall in 1994.
Under the new management of Dragon Lake Productions, the restoration of the theatre includes critical updates to sound, lighting, and projection systems in addition to bringing quality touring and local acts to the stage.
If you would like more information on upcoming shows, donation and sponsorship, volunteer opportunities, or you are interested in more information about joining their talent roster visit:
www.MainStreetAtTheLake.com
Main Street Music Hall is located in The Landing at 1048 Main Street in Osage Beach
