Greetings, Cultural Adventurers:
5/5/2026
From Iowa’s cultural epicenter, Mainframe Studios at 900 Keosauqua Way in Des Moines, Iowa comes your Listener-supported Community Voice, the Award-Winning indie radio station,
KFMG-LP 98.9 FM (streaming simultaneously at www.kfmg.org), bringing you music, literature & cultural content.
Quote of the Week –
“Curiosity is the beginning of wisdom.” – François Sagan (1935-2004), a French playwright, novelist, and screenwriter. Sagan was known for works with strong romantic themes involving wealthy and disillusioned bourgeois characters. Her best-known novel was her first, Bonjour Tristesse, which was written when she was a teenager.
Newsletter content:
I. Iowa Flash Buzz – Iowa/Greater Des Moines cultural news of the week;
II. Guests on this week’s show;
III. Performance Arts (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);
IV. Visual Arts (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);
V. Auditions and other engagement opportunities (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);
VI. Planning ahead;
VII. Author events (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);
I. Iowa Flash Buzz –
One day only – Wed May 6. Hoyt Sherman Place is a multi-faceted cultural gem in Iowa, offering an appealing array of cultural adventurism. From its legacy art gallery to its stately historic landmark home of its namesake to its nationally recognized diverse performance hall programming, their community outreach and education programming often doesn’t receive as much attention. Listen as Anna Cramer, Development Director, shares some details about their forthcoming S.T.A.G.E. Project Festival May 6. Free and open to the public; experience six local schools present their shows.
https://hoytsherman.org/event/project-s-t-a-g-e-festival-2026/
Open this Fri May 8. The Kate Goldman Family Series at the Des Moines Playhouse brings a joyous, heart-touching musical to the stage with Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical. May 8-24, 2026.https://dmplayhouse.com/events/polkadots-2025/
Des Moines Symphony. Season Finale Courage – Alpine Symphony. May 9-10. https://dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/season-finale-courage-alpine-symphony/
The Ingersoll. Jim Brickman. May 9 (2 shows). https://www.theingersoll.com/events/2025/jim-brickman
Broadway is coming to CAP Theatre!
Barrett Wilbert Weed – Veronica from Heathers and Janice from Mean Girls – will be joining us on Friday, May 8, for a workshop and cabaret! You can be a part of this incredible event in a number of ways: students can participate in the workshop with Barrett Wilbert Weed from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and anyone can attend the cabaret-style performance by the Broadway star from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Both events with Barrett Wilbert Weed on May 8 will take place at Fleur Cinema at 4545 Fleur Drive in Des Moines.
Rehearsals prior to May 8 will take place at CAP Theatre at 201 First Avenue in Altoona.
The student events are open to students in grades 6 through 12.
The following tickets are available for this event:
- $200: Audition-based acceptance into a 1-on-1 workshop with Barrett Wilbert Weed. Available to 14 students.
- $100: Attend and observe the workshop, rehearse and perform a group number, and have a group photo taken with all students and Barrett Wilbert Weed. Available to 30 students.
- $50: Educators, directors and designers, join the workshop and group photo.
- $25: Attend the Cabaret with Barrett Wilbert Weed, including the performances by our students
General admission tickets will go on sale Monday, April 27, at 9 a.m.
For more detailed information on the events and what each level of ticket provides, see this explainer.
To submit an application and audition to be one of our 14 intensive students with Barrett Wilbert Weed, complete this form.
Any questions about this event, including about tickets or how to submit an application and audition, should be emailed to education@captheatre.org.
Beaverdale Books – Nick Narigon. Montuga: The Sphere of Trivandré, Tue May 5, 6:30 PM.
https://beaverdalebooks.com/event/meet-the-author-nick-narigon/
Tallgrass Theatre Company. Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday. Thru May 10. https://tallgrasstheatre.org/tickets/
Des Moines Symphony – Season Finale: Alpine Symphony, May 9, 7:30 PM / May 10, 2:30 PM. The Season Finale celebrates R. Strauss’s monumental storytelling, from the Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare to the cinematic grandeur of An Alpine Symphony. Amaryn Olmeda returns for Mendelssohn’s gorgeous Violin Concerto.
https://dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/season-finale-courage-alpine-symphony/
II. This week’s guests on The Culture Buzz –
11:00 AM – Glen Dickinson has been researching Des Moines history of his west side neighborhood. A recent project is creating a short documentary about Ingersoll Park, an amusement park located at the end of the trolley line that ran to it. Fascinating history. His previous work explored the history of his Waterbury Neighborhood.
11:16 AM – Open this Fri May 8. The Kate Goldman Family Series at the Des Moines Playhouse brings a joyous, heart-touching musical to the stage with Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical. Listen as cast members Kodä Scott and Alicia Kodä Scott, the talented daughter-mother duo, lead a lively discussion about this show’s wonderful appeal. May 8-24, 2026.
“The Kate Goldman Family Series at the Des Moines Playhouse is Iowa’s greatest cross-generational gateway to performing arts, introducing many first-timers to the joy of live theatre, while allowing older generations to rekindle their inner child fires. Literature-based, these shows have sparked countless memory-building interactions through the years. The KGFS is a legacy tradition.” – The Culture Buzz
https://dmplayhouse.com/events/polkadots-2025/
11:30 AM – Matt Grace bares his soul in his captivating journey of recovery in God Doesn’t Relapse: Sex, Drugs, and the Life that Almost Killed Me. Listen as Matt shares intimate glimpses into this exceptional memoir.
“Raw and unflinching in his candor, Matt Grace brings an unforgettable memoir to us with God Doesn’t Relapse: Sex, Drugs, and the Life that Almost Killed Me.”
– The Culture Buzz
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11:44 AM – Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart is D. Earl Johnston’s thought-provoking analysis identifying the treasure trove of emotions humans cope with. Listen as Doug shares glimpses into the years of developing this identification resource that will benefit those seeking clarity in the array of emotions we all must cope with.
“Choosing Emotions is a great resource for finding how the greatest minds in history have approached and handled emotional problems in their lives.”
– Joseph J. Hessel, MD, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Phoenix
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12:00 PM – Free final concert of the season on Mother’s Day, May 10, 2 PM. The Des Moines Community Orchestra wraps its 50th with fantastic flair under the direction of Kara Mather, the third candidate to lead the orchestra next season. Kara is joined by Dr. Kevin Allemagne as they share the celebratory selections of this “Mozart and Motherhood” concert. Free and open to the public at the Staplin Fine Arts Center at Valley High School.
“With impassioned commitment anchored by a legacy tradition, the Des Moines Community Orchestra proves that performance excellence can be achieved by musicians from all walks of life, connected by their common bond of excelling at their craft.”– The Culture Buzz
https://www.desmoinescommunityorchestra.org/
12:11 PM – With a special perspective honoring the true people who built the Empire State Building, Glenn Kurtz tells stories about these workers who risked their lives to create one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers. Men at Work: The Empire State Building and the Untold Story of the Craftsmen Who Built It shines a well-deserved spotlight on the men who actually built it.
“Delving into census data, immigration and union records, contemporary newspaper accounts and the personal recollections of their descendants, Kurtz illuminates Hine’s images in new ways, conjuring backstories of men who, as he puts it, “until now, have been used solely as the embodiments of generalities and abstract ideals.”
—Catherine Slessor, The Guardian (Dec. 1, 2025)
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12:26 PM – Timothy David Mack is the penname of the father-son duo David & Kevin McNeill who created with All the Tea in China, a swashbuckling, irresistible adventure that will transport readers into a realm of adrenaline-rushing escapades. Listen as these two share insights into this story and how their creativity manifested itself.
“All the Tea in China should be a theme park ride. Timothy David Mack’s second novel launches at breakneck speed and dares you to hold on. I was whisked from the jungles of South America to the palaces of Imperial China, surviving a kidnapping, a pirate mutiny, and a fort collapsing under a barrage of cannon fire—all before part two. This is a novel that refuses to be put down and stays with you long after the last page. I was completely swept away—I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
—Maxie Paetro , #1 New York Times bestselling author
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12:40 PM – Opening May 14. The Roommate opens a new era of live theatre at the legacy performing hall, The Ingersoll. Listen as director Maxwell Schaeffer and the cast’s two stars, Kellie Kramer and Kristin Larson, share insights into this masterfully crafted script by Iowa-connected Jen Silverman. Add the complete evening allure of The Ingersoll – dinner and show – and the revival of dinner theatre in Des Moines has returned with a flourish never seen before.
“The region has been waiting for the return of The Ingersoll with eager anticipation, and the talented team of producers and managers do not disappoint. Savor the one-stop beauty of memory-making at its best.” – The Culture Buzz
https://www.theingersoll.com/events/2026/the-roommate
III. Performance Arts
1. Des Moines Playhouse – Kate Goldman Family Series. Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical. May 8-24. https://dmplayhouse.com/events/polkadots-2025/
2. Des Moines Performing Arts – Temple Theatre. Wellmark Family Series. Aesop Bops. May 9. https://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/whats-on/events/2025-26/family/aesops-bops
3. Tallgrass Theatre Company. Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday. Thru May 10. https://tallgrasstheatre.org/tickets/
4. Des Moines Symphony. Season Finale Courage – Alpine Symphony. May 9-10. https://dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/season-finale-courage-alpine-symphony/
5. The Ingersoll. Jim Brickman. May 9 (2 shows). https://www.theingersoll.com/events/2025/jim-brickman
6. Theatre Midwest at The Viking Theatre at Grand View University.Apples in Winter. May 14-16, 7:30 PM. www.theatremidwest.org
7. Des Moines Playhouse – Adventure Clubhouse with Chicken Little May 15 (3 shows). https://dmplayhouse.com/events/chicken-little/
8. Des Moines Performing Arts – Temple Theatre. Choir! Choir! Choir! Presents: We Will Choir You. May 15 (2 shows). https://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/whats-on/events/2025-26/choir-choir-choir
9. Broadway Cabaret. Music Theatre Reunions. Sat May 16, 5-8 PM.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1507612140786078
10. Ballet Des Moines. Cinderella. May 16-17. https://www.balletdesmoines.org/cinderella
11. Comedy Xperiment at Tallgrass Theatre Company. Comedy Improv. May 15-16. https://tallgrasstheatre.thundertix.com/events/236874
12. Tallgrass Theatre. Broadway Karaoke. May 23, 7 PM.
13. Iowa Stage Theatre Company. I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire. Jun 5-14. https://www.iowastage.org/im-gonna-marry-you-tobey-maguire
14. CAP Theatre. Alice in Wonderland Jr. Jun 5-14. https://www.captheatre.org/disneys-alice-in-wonderland-jr-june-2026/
15. About Time Theatre – in the Des Moines Playhouse Blackbox Theatre. Gutenberg: The Musical! Jun 19-28. https://abouttimetheatre.com/shows/
IV. Visual Arts – Exhibitions
Exhibitions –
· Des Moines Art Center. Iowa Artist 2026: Henry Payer, “Aagakiak Haciwi: We Live Opposite Each Other” Thru Jun17. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/art/exhibitions/henry-payer/
· Des Moines Art Center. Maria Lassig’s Animated Films, “Honey, You’re a Wonderfuill Model” thru May 17. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/art/exhibitions/maria-lassnig/
· Moberg Gallery. Siricasso Garcia “Smile Now, Cry Later.” May 15-17, 2026. https://moberggallery.com/exhibition/siricasso-garcia/Olson Larsen Galleries. “Inked” thru May 30. https://olsonlarsen.com/show/olson-larsen-galleries-inked
· Des Moines Art Center. Christine Rebet, “Sound of Time” thru Aug 23. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/art/exhibitions/christine-rebet/
· Des Moines Art Center. Artists Around a Table, “Artmaking and Merrymaking, 1927-1952” Apr 25-Aug 30. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/art/exhibitions/artists-around-a-table/
· Polk County Heritage Gallery. 2026 Iowa Exhibited May 7 thru early/mid Jul. https://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/up-next#iowa-exhibited-2026
1. Des Moines Art Center. 2 Re-connect with old favorites on exhibit from their permanent collection. Explore the constantly changing exhibits, from staff-curated to international, always ready to stimulate the imagination and senses. Always open (except holidays), always free.
https://desmoinesartcenter.org/
2. Brunnier Art Museum. Ames. 2 This is the flagship for the University Museums, a treasure trove of visual arts immersion on the Iowa State University campus, which includes the Christian Petersen Art Museum, The Farm House Museum, the Anderson Sculpture Garden and the Art on Campus Collection. https://www.museums.iastate.edu/visit/brunnier-art-museum
3. The Grinnell College Museum of Art. Grinnell. 2https://www.grinnell.edu/campus-life/arts-culture/museum
4. 2AU. West Des Moines. 1,2
5. Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Des Moines 2 I added this destination for its unique value as a “living gallery,” where the constantly changing floral exhibitions entice and delight.
https://www.dmbotanicalgarden.com/
6. Heritage Art Gallery. 2 Des Moines. http://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/
7. Hoyt Sherman Place Art Gallery. 2 Des Moines. https://hoytsherman.org/gallery/
8. IN Tandem Arts & Authors. 1,2 Des Moines. https://www.facebook.com/INTandemArtsAndAuthors/
9. Kavanaugh Art Gallery. West Des Moines. 1,2
10. Kunzler Studios. West Des Moines. 1,2 kunzlerstudios.com
11. Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design. Des Moines.
12. Moberg Gallery. Des Moines. 2
13. Olson-Larsen Galleries. West Des Moines.1,2
14. Polk County Heritage Gallery. Des Moines. 2
http://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/
15. Slow Down Coffee Shop. Des Moines. 2
https://www.theslowdowndsm.com/
16. Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure. Des Moines. 2 https://www.facebook.com/ZanzibarsCoffeeAdventure/
1Visit these galleries open during semi-annual Historic Valley Junction Gallery Nights.
2Check website for current exhibitions.
V. Auditions, Volunteer, and other Enhancement Opportunities –
“The Arts is a Contact Sport” (A Culture Buzz creed)
· Additional volunteer opportunities abound – now is a great time to explore how to find other ways to engage with Central Iowa theatre companies. Assistance is always welcome, from costume and set building, to ushering, to back stage crew, find a short-term commitment that will be immensely gratifying.
· AUDITIONS. Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre. Rent. Sat May 16, 9:30 AM-6:30 PM. Sun May 17, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM. Callbacks Sun May 17, 6:30 PM. https://www.dmyat.org/rent
· AUDITIONS. Des Moines Playhouse, Come From Away. Mon Jun 22, 6:30 PM. https://dmplayhouse.com/auditions/come-from-away/
· AUDITIONS. Iowa Stage Theatre Company. Register to receive first notice of upcoming auditions. https://www.iowastage.org/upcoming-audition
Check out these theatre companies to consider a wide range of engagement opportunities.
1. About Time Theatre Company. https://abouttimetheatre.com/shows/
2. Ankeny Community Theatre. https://www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com/audition.html
3. Carousel Theatre of Indianola. https://carouseltheatre.org/?page_id=344
4. Class Act Productions (CAP). http://www.captheatre.org/main/expect/
5. Des Moines Community Playhouse. https://www.dmplayhouse.com/audition-2/
6. Des Moines Performing Arts. https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/
7. Des Moines Young Artists Theatre.
8. Iowa Stage Theatre Company. https://www.iowastage.org/audition
9. Once in a While Productions. https://www.facebook.com/groups/6717224708342610/
10. Pyramid Theatre Company. http://pyramidtheatre.org/
11. Tallgrass Theatre Company. https://tallgrasstheatre.org/audition/
12. The Ingersoll. https://www.theingersoll.com/
13. Theatre Midwest. https://www.theatremidwest.org/
14. Urbandale Community Theatre. https://urbandaletheatre.com/get-involved/
VI. Planning ahead
Broadway Cabaret. Music Theatre Reunions. Sat May 16, 5-8 PM.
Event by Michael Howland and Calvin Johnson
St James Celebrations, 9774 G24 HWY, Indianola, Iowa
Duration: 3 hr
Public invited to this free performance event. Anyone on or off Facebook.
This show reunites musical theatre casts from years part to reprise their roles.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1507612140786078
Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation Presents “An Exploration of Baseball’s History in Iowa”
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation, in partnership with historian John Liepa and the Des Moines Civil War Roundtable, presents a special exhibit entitled An Exploration of Baseball’s History in Iowa on Wednesday, May 27. This exhibit is made possible by funding from Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for Humanities.
Noon to 5:00 PM – Visit the art gallery for a free special exhibition featuring baseball items from the 1850s to the present.
7:00 to 8:15 PM – John Liepa will give his presentation “Baseball’s Origins: The Civil War’s Role in Spreading the Game to Iowa.” This presentation is free and open to the public.
Des Moines Metro Opera. Picnic & Puccini is perfect for families, childcare centers
and daycares. Fri Jun 5 at 10 AM, Sat Jun 6 at 10 AM. Tickets are $15 per person or $12 per person for groups of 10 or more using code “Picnic2026”.
Purchase online at dmmo.org/picnic or call 515-209-3257.
VII. Between the covers – author/book events worth noting:
1. Beaverdale Books. Nick Narigon. Montuga: The Spheres of Trivandré. Tue May 5, 6:30 PM.
2. Beaverdale Books. Meet the authors: Jess Lourey, Erica Ruth Newbauer, Shannon Baker. Thu May 7, 12 Noon.
3. Beaverdale Books. Christina Edgar Olds. Everything Will Be Okay. Fri May 8, 6:30 PM.
4. Beaverdale Books at Franklin Event Center, Room 148. Book Launch. Suzanna C. de Baca. You Were Never Lost: Poems from the Tallgrass Prairie. Wed May 13, 6 PM.
5. AViD Author Series at Central Library. Shannon Chakraborty. The Tapestry of Fate, The Adventures of Amina Akl-Sirafi. Thu May 14, 7 PM.
6. Beaverdale Books. Barry Markovsky. Everyday Extraordinary: A Scientist Ponders a Lifetime of Magical, Bizaare, and Paranormal Experiences. Fri May 15, 6:30 PM.
7. Beaverdale Books. Tim Bascomb. The Boundless Game: Soccer Stories from Across the Street to Around the World. Tue May 19, 6:30 PM.
*Highlighted author names indicate interviews are in The Culture Buzz Archive Library.
Please visit: https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz
Greater Des Moines/Central Iowa Independent Book Stores:
The Culture Buzz encourages you to visit your local independent book store regularly. Check these sites, as their calendars are always filled with enticing activities and news.
1. Beaverdale Books, Des Moines.
http://www.beaverdalebooks.com/
2. Storyhouse Bookpub, Des Moines Historic East Village.
https://storyhousebookpub.com/
3. The Little Book, Des Moines (Highland Park District).
https://www.thelittlebookdsm.com/
4. Shelf Love DSM, Des Moines (Drake Neighborhood).
5. Nos Books, Des Moines (Drake Neighborhood). https://www.nosbookstore.com/
6. Reading in Public Bookstore + Café, Historic Valley Junction.
7. Indie Authors Book Expo, https://iabe515.wordpress.com/
8. Pageturners Bookstore, Indianola.
http://www.pageturnersbookstore.com/
9. Dog-eared Books, Ames.
https://dogearedbooksames.com/
10. Read a Book Nook, Marshalltown.
https://read-a-book-nook.business.site/
11. Book Vault, Oskaloosa.
https://bookvault.indielite.org/
12. Pella Books, Pella.
13. Prairie Lights Books & Cafe, Iowa City.
https://www.prairielights.com/
Thank you for your cultural adventurism,
John Busbee for The Culture Buzz
