Posted March 01, 2023in Center Stage
Most of us have had that moment of unintended personal accountability when our words are thrown back in our faces. It’s a very uncomfortable learning experience. So, what happens when a country has one of those moments? Such is the power of the reimagined musical, “1776.” Studying history can make
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Posted February 01, 2023in Center Stage
When two Iowa theatrical leaders join forces, it holds great promise as a “must-see” experience. Pyramid Theatre Company and the Des Moines Community Playhouse unite to present Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson.” This also marks the Des Moines return of Pyramid’s founding dynamo, Ken-Matt Martin,
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Posted January 04, 2023in Center Stage
Each new year holds the annual promise of allowing us to refresh ourselves and sally forth into another 365 days of adventures. Regardless of age, many find a special joy in witnessing the reaction of children to creative wonders. The world of theatre is an especially vibrant gateway to imagination
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Posted November 30, 2022in Center Stage
Take a break from shopping, work and school and let others entertain you for an evening or afternoon. Regional theatre companies are delivering gifts of memory-making live theatre: Des Moines Playhouse/Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre (“Cinderella”), Iowa Stage Theatre Company (“A Christmas Carol”), Tallgrass Theatre Company (“A Very Merry Tallgrass Holiday”),
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Posted November 02, 2022in Center Stage
November ushers in a two-month holiday season flood of performing arts opportunities for the cultural adventurer, beginning with Des Moines Performing Arts now operating at capacity with all of its stellar programming, from the Willis Broadway Series (“Come From Away”) to its Temple shows, as well as a wealth of
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Posted October 05, 2022in Center Stage
Central Iowa continues its strong upward trend when it comes to cultural enhancement through performing arts. The community, from patrons to corporations with a strong foundation of local support, helped central Iowa’s cultural scene remain solvent during the COVID years. The Symphony, the Opera, multiple theater companies, anchored by world-renowned
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Posted August 31, 2022in Center Stage
While fall’s Iowa landscape is rife with images of harvesting, theatre companies are now planting seeds for successful 2022-2023 seasons. With many an afterglow from a bevy of fine productions from last immersion from the pandemic doldrums, as exhibited by the array of exceptional nominees presented during this year’s Cloris
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Posted August 03, 2022in Center Stage
Central Iowa continues to celebrate a special Oscar-winning actress who continued to maintain a strong relationship with her hometown, Des Moines. Cloris Leachman departed this mortal stage in January of 2021, joining a celestial band of fellow performers and luminaries. One special legacy she left behind was her support and
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Posted July 06, 2022in Center Stage
Central Iowa has an exceptionally high “cultural quotient.” A constant bounty of productions, events and exhibitions await cultural adventurers. Occasionally, one organization elevates itself to a rare pinnacle of presentation and performance. This year, the Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) allows patrons to breathe deeply the rarified, golden air of
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Posted June 01, 2022in Center Stage
In an interesting pondering of name origins, tallgrass prairie “is capable of supporting significant biodiversity. Parts of the ecoregion are among the top ten ecoregions for reptiles, birds, butterflies, and tree species.” Tallgrass Theatre Company (TTC) draws from that description, having sunken its roots deep into the West Des Moines
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