Posted June 04, 2025in Center Stage
Thanks to its strategic development, Des Moines Performing Arts is able to accommodate the needs of Broadway’s biggest national touring shows. “Hamilton” is such a show and returns after its inaugural three-week run in 2018 for an eagerly anticipated two-week run in June. A tradition of being able to
Read More →
Posted April 30, 2025in Center Stage
Periodically, new stage tribes form, answering the calls of their muses. They want to offer new perspectives in central Iowa’s performing scene. Some previous names that float through the memory ether include Two Rivers Acting Company, Shakespeare on the Loose, Central Iowa Repertory Theatre, Open Door Rep and Kata Klysmic.
Read More →
Posted April 02, 2025in Center Stage
“Hadestown” anchors a stellar lineup of April stage offerings for theatre patrons looking to experience locally sourced stage work to an eight-time Tony Award-winning Broadway national touring production. Feast time for live performing arts. “Hadestown,” with music, lyrics and book by Anaïs Mitchell, tells a version of the ancient Greek
Read More →
Posted March 05, 2025in Center Stage
Their change was to align their season with their fiscal year, but it provided a showcase opportunity for Iowa Stage Theatre Company (ISTC). As a legacy theatre company, Iowa Stage embraces its histories with StageWest, Drama Workshop, Central Iowa Repertory Theatre, and Repertory Theatre of Iowa. It pays its actors
Read More →
Posted February 05, 2025in Center Stage
It’s simple performing arts math. Pi r2 may determine the area of a circle, but “Pi,” the stellar award-winning theatrical experience, is bringing a prelude of anticipation when the “Life of Pi” national tour makes a week-long stop at Des Moines Performing Arts beginning Feb. 25. Based on Yann Martel’s
Read More →
Posted January 01, 2025in Center Stage
While most performing arts presenters take a well-deserved post-holiday break, there still are some shows beckoning January audiences. This is also a great time to add an enticing resolution to your list: Consider how to become involved in an upcoming stage production. The backbone of central Iowa’s vibrant performing arts
Read More →
Posted December 04, 2024in Center Stage
Buckle up for a month of diverse, engaging cultural adventurism. December offers a true cornucopia of performing arts. A Disney musical, a classic musical, an iconic comedic voice re-envisioned, and a new adaptation of the seasonal Dickensian delight, plus concerts galore, fill the monthly finale for 2024 with a beckoning
Read More →
Posted November 06, 2024in Center Stage
November is filled with excellent opportunities for shared live performing art experiences for cross generations. Bringing children and youth to a show geared toward their age. If variety is the spice of life, this month offers an enticing cultural buffet sure to satisfy the appetites of young and old alike.
Read More →
Posted October 02, 2024in Center Stage
Iowa Stage Theatre Company (ISTC) will produce Jen Silverman’s play, “Witch,” this month. This bit of news holds a wealth of appeal, as ISTC will produce this compelling play dedicated to its new seasonal thematic concept format with 2024 dedicated to “inspire, enlighten and entertain” around a common theme —
Read More →
Posted September 04, 2024in Center Stage
As the month begins, the final Broadway chords of the North American Tour of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” continue to reverberate from its signature two-week run at Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA). This heralds a most appealing 2024-2025 Willis Broadway Series that includes such gems as “Back to the Future:
Read More →
