Posted September 03, 2025in Center Stage
As summer slips into fall, central Iowa will be offering two distinctly different, yet delightfully appealing, shows set back in time. The 1920s and the 1940s America are the settings for “Bright Star” while the late 1930s provides the historic backdrop for “Blithe Spirit.” This one-two theatrical punch of a
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Posted August 06, 2025in Center Stage
From the Des Moines Community Playhouse, continually producing work since 1919, to the About Time Theatre Company, just launched this year, participating theatre companies in the Bravo Greater Des Moines footprint gather for a shared celebration of their previous year’s work. The Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Arts Awards reaches
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Posted July 02, 2025in Center Stage
The Des Moines Playhouse has developed a strong tradition of a summer musical, adding a roster of collegiate talent home for the summer to their shows. Their summer musical tradition continues with “Waitress,” the multiple 2016 Tony Award nominee in a year when it was up against a rich pool
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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