New theatre company debuts
4/30/2025
Kim Haymes as Sharon in “Squeamish” opening May. Photo credit: About Time Theatre Company
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. Some companies are dormant; others are etched in the sands of time.
There are several factors that pulse strongly in the new company, About Time Theatre Company, that should catch audiences’ attention while raising more than just a few eyebrows.
New theatre company debuts
About Time is a band of seven arts veterans, many transplants from other parts of America. Their efforts may be a perfect performing arts storm when it comes to exceptional talent, cutting-edge theatre and cultural adventurism. Their company and board consist of Kim Haymes (president), Michael Ladell Harris (treasurer), Nick Strickland, Marnie Strait, Dan Haymes, Josh Visnapuu and Maggie Jane.
“(We) moved here from the Chicago market where I’d done a lot of theatre, including companies I felt weren’t doing things the right way,” Kim Haymes said. “I really wanted to do something that I knew we could do the right way. Everyone agreed on the structure and the way we should run things, and to a level of standards that we will operate under.”
Haymes continued that they want “more interactive theatre, immersive theatre. Things that aren’t happening in Des Moines. We want to present riskier choices. People in Chicago (think) ‘Don’t be worried, don’t be discouraged. Just do the art.’ Maybe it doesn’t appeal to everybody, but that’s OK.”
About Time’s first show is “Squeamish” by Aaron Mark, a one-woman show. Kim Haymes will fill this role, with Harris directing. She is a five-time Cloris Awards nominee, three-time winner. Their performance venue is The Haunt, a small speakeasy within the Slaughterhouse Haunted House attraction in downtown Des Moines. In partnership with its owner, Ian Miller, who produces the successful Slaughterhouse franchise, this location creates a unique and intimate performance arts experience.
Haymes commented about how a recent visit to Minneapolis revealed that speakeasys are popular venues for performing arts.
“The number of speakeasys was amazing. Speakeasys are hot. We’re excited about mixing a specialty blended cocktail with a show.”
Harris added, “What we’re focused on is eventually having seasons and doing really interesting theatre. We’re not against doing other things, too. With Nick (Strickland), we may do short film. We may do poetry slams. We’re open to everything. No theatre company in town is going to be doing this play, especially in the location we’re doing it.”
Add another unique qualifying trait to this thespian septet is that they are all parents to children under the age of 6. As Harris added, “God help us.”
Two major companies announce next seasons
The 2025-26 Signature Series season at The Playhouse opens with “Bright Star,” a new musical about finding love once lost with music by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell (New Bohemians). The season continues with the blockbuster family musical “Disney’s Frozen”; the longest running mystery of all time, “Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap”; the Gershwin song and dance filled “Crazy for You”; the backstage farce, “Noises Off”; and the hit Broadway musical, “Legally Blonde.” www.dmplayhouse.com/john-viars-mainstage
Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) announced the six shows that make up the Season Ticket Package for the 2025-26 Willis Broadway Series. This includes: “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical,” “The Notebook,” “Kimberly Akimbo,” “The Outsiders,” “Suffs” and “Wicked.” The season features Tony Award Winners for Best Musical in “Kimberly Akimbo” (2023) and “The Outsiders” (2024). The add-ons include “Les Misérables,” “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” “SIX,” “Meredith Willson’s The Music Man,” and a special collaboration — “The Wizard of Oz in Concert”
with the Des Moines Symphony.
www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/whats-on/series/willis-broadway-series ♦
John Busbee is a creative project developer, critic, playwright, author, producer and media professional. He has produced his weekly show, The Culture Buzz, on KFMG since 2007.
