By Jared Curtis
jared@dmcityview.com

Compiled from various sources

‘Spring Awakening’ presented by Drake University and StageWest

Civic Center’s Stoner Theater, 221 Walnut St., May 17-6

http://www.stagewestiowa.com

The winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, “Spring Awakening” explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood through an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and rock-and-roll. Admission is $25.

‘The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?’ presented by Tallgrass Theater Company

Rex Mathes Auditorium, 1401 Vine St. West Des Moines, May 4-5, 12-13

http://www.tallgrasstheatre.org

Winner of a Tony Award for Best Play, “The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?” follows Martin, the envy of every man thanks to his hugely successful career, fulfilling marriage and well-adjusted teenage son. But after his 50th birthday, he confesses a love affair that confounds him and shocks his family. Unwilling to give up the Martin they love, his family presses on. Admission is $15.

‘Sylvia’ presented by Tallgrass Theater Company

Rex Mathes Auditorium, 1401 Vine St. West Des Moines, May 5-6, 11-12

http://www.tallgrasstheatre.org

In this modern romantic comedy, Greg and Kate have just moved to Manhattan after 22 years of raising their child in the suburbs. One day, Greg brings home a dog he finds in the park bearing only the name Sylvia on her nametag. A street-smart mixture of lab and poodle, Sylvia becomes a major bone of contention between husband and wife. Their marriage is put in serious jeopardy until — after a series of hilarious and touching complications — Greg and Kate learn to compromise, and Sylvia becomes a valued part of their lives. Admission is $15.

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley’ presented by The Des Moines Playhouse

Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre, 831 42nd St., May 4-20

http://www.dmplayhouse.com

Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, everyday, normal 10-year-old. But Stanley has a problem: His life is too normal, and he daydreams of traveling the world, doing something no one’s ever done before. One night, the bulletin board on the wall above Stanley’s bed comes loose and falls right on top of him. The next morning he wakes and realizes he is flat. In hopes that he will become a 3D boy again, Stanley puts himself in a big envelope and travels the world, as a human letter, and has an adventure of a lifetime. Admission is $12-$15.

‘The Improvised Shakespeare Company’ presented by Civic Center Civic Center’s Temple Theater, 10th St. and Locust St., May 9-20

http://www.civiccenter.org

Based on one audience suggestion, The Improvised Shakespeare Company creates a fully improvised play in Elizabethan style offering an evening of off-the-cuff comedy using the language and themes of William Shakespeare. Every show is different and could be filled with power struggles, star-crossed lovers, sprites, kings, queens, princesses, sword-play, rhyming couplets, asides, insults, persons in disguise and all that we’ve come to expect from Shakespeare’s pen. Nothing is planned-out, rehearsed or written, causing each play to be completely improvised. Admission is $23.50.

‘Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles’ presented by the Civic Center

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, 221 Walnut St., May 15-16

http://www.civiccenter.org

“Rain,” the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, returns to the Civic Center for two performances. “Rain” performs the full range of The Beatles’ discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. Together longer than the Fab Four, “Rain” has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. Admission is $17.50 to $72.50. CV