Posted October 02, 2019in Center Stage
“Mean Girls” provides different twists to the familiar odd fish in an established hierarchal pool storyline. “Mean Girls” soon will spill onto the Des Moines Performing Arts stage like students packing the hallways at final bell. The Civic Center will be filled with a sensory, bombastic assault of music, comedy
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Posted September 04, 2019in Center Stage
September marks the start of Greater Des Moines’ 2019-2020 theater season. A promising array of musicals, comedies, family theater and drama await the cultural consumer. More than a dozen companies will present about 50 productions, beckoning patrons from near and far to join in the unique communal experience that only
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Posted July 31, 2019in Center Stage
The evening will include musical theatre performances, fun and an energetic mix of central Iowa’s lovers of the stage. Late summer of 2014, right when the 2014-2015 local theatre season was starting, a small group of advocates for the local theatre scene gathered. The subject was a community recognition awards
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Posted July 03, 2019in Center Stage
Newspaper tycoon Pulitzer versus paperboys in historically based musical The Des Moines Community Playhouse has developed a strong reputation for delivering lavish Broadway musicals. In this centennial year, it will roll out an eagerly anticipated one: “Disney’s Newsies The Broadway Musical.” This smash hit show, based on the 1992 film,
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Posted June 04, 2019in Center Stage
Theater legend Jeanne Hopson takes her final bow. The adage goes that it’s the “-” connecting a person’s birth and death that counts. Jeanne Marie (Ferris) Hopson’s “dash” was a super microchip filled with enough achievements and contributions to fill several lives. Her passing leaves a vibrant legacy in its
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Posted May 01, 2019in Center Stage
Iowa debut of poignant comedy begins this company’s journey. Written minutes from a women’s social club formed in rural South Dakota in 1934. A family connection to those notes. A writer who sees the theatrical magic to be drawn from those historical pages. Tom Jacobson is the writer, and “The
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Posted April 03, 2019in Center Stage
“Bridges” world premiere performer returns to Des Moines to star in multiple Tony Award-winning hit show. The shifting sands of a Broadway touring show will give Des Moines audiences the opportunity to welcome back a performer who was part of the world premiere of the Iowa-centric 2015 musical, “The Bridges
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Posted March 06, 2019in Center Stage
A creative and cultural incubator for the region’s top theatrical talent. This columnist believes in the power of importing new ideas, inspiration and collaborators to better build a strong Greater Des Moines community. One group that has exceled in this is Pyramid Theatre Company. Founded by Arkansas native and Drake
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Posted February 06, 2019in Center Stage
The show’s DNA explains its award-winning success. The holidays are behind us, and February continues the ramping up of indoors offerings so Central Iowans can experience the unique thrills of live theatre arts. Six-time Tony Winner graces Civic Center stage “Dear Evan Hansen” opens Feb. 5 for a week, part
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Posted January 02, 2019in Center Stage
Savor the wonderful nuances, modern relevance and lyrical wit imbued in “Ordinary Days” at the Rex Mathes auditorium. Mentioning musical theater to someone often evokes images of lavish costuming, intricate production numbers filling the stage and rafter-rattling musical numbers. The past few decades have ushered in a counter-appeal to the
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