Fall Arts & Entertainment- Theater
8/21/2013Perhaps no more eclectic line-up exists in central Iowa than in the realm of the performing arts. Theatres big and small, professional and amateur, continue to offer Iowans an array of entertainment rich with culture and guaranteed to leave lasting memories. Whether the story is told through song, motion, comedy or humility — on a grandiose amphitheater platform, a school’s fine arts department stage or in a corner of a bar or coffee shop — guests of all types are sure to find themselves called from the cozy cushions of their couches for a night to never forget, an evening that’s truly everlasting in one’s mind and worthy of a ticket-stub souvenir for the scrap book.
We once again bring you a list as comprehensive as can be achieved, but we in no way claim to have gotten them all. New productions pop up and pass through all the time. But this list will get you started and give you a glimpse of the unique gift bestowed upon the Des Moines area from the creativity, imaginations and talents of devoted people who put their all into each show.
DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS
The Civic Center of Des Moines/Stoner Theater/Temple Theater/Cowles Commons
221 Walnut St., www.desmoinesperformingarts.org
Sept. 14-15 — From Russia With Ilya (Des Moines Symphony)
Sept. 18 — One-time performance by “The Voice” finalist Chris Mann (Temple Theater)
Sept. 27-28 — Matthew Bourne’s “Sleeping Beauty,” a gothic romance
Sept. 27-Oct. 13 — “Next to Normal” (Stage West)
Oct. 4 — Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
Oct. 5 — Comedian Ron White’s “A Little Unprofessional” (Civic Center)
Oct. 19-20 — Scottish Fansay and Rosenkavalier (Des Moines Symphony)
Oct. 30-Nov. 10 — “Wicked,” the untold story of the witches of Oz Broadway musical
Nov. 7-8 — “Thomas and the Library Lady” (Applause Series, grades K-6)
Nov. 16-17 — Beyond the Score: Planets and Other Worlds (Des Moines Symphony)
Dec. 10-15 — Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” (Willis Broadway Series)
Dec. 4-29 — “Dixie’s Tupperware Party” (Temple Comedy Series)
Jan. 10 — “Clybourne Park” (Stage West)
Jan. 11 — “Firebird” – (Wellmark Family Series)
Jan. 17 — “Alonzo King Lines Ballet” (The Dance Series and the Applause Series, grades 4-12)
Jan. 24-25 — “Green Day’s American Idiot”
Jan. 27-29 — “Paige in Full” (Applause Series, grades 7-12)
DES MOINES COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE
831 42nd St., www.dmplayhouse.com
Sept. 6-29 — “Fiddler on the Roof” (Main Stage)
Sept. 14-15 — “The Laramie Project” (Main Stage)
Oct. 18-Nov. 3 — “Red” (Main Stage)
Nov. 8-Dec. 1 — “Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.” (Children’s Theatre)
Dec. 6-29 — “Peter Pan” (Main Stage and Children’s Theatre)
Jan. 17-Feb. 2 — “The Hundred Dresses” (Children’s Theatre)
Jan. 31-Feb. 16 — “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (Main Stage)
DES MOINES SOCIAL CLUB
400 Walnut St., www.desmoinessocialclub.org
Ongoing events
Open Circus — an open mic of music, comedy and fine arts performances at the Java Joes Fourth Street Theater, 214 Fourth St., every Thursday at 9 p.m.
Systema — a Russian martial arts display at the Ananta Yoga Studio every Sunday at 11 a.m.
The Revolver Comedy Revue — Anything Improv’s night of improvisational comedy, every Monday at 7 p.m. at the Gas Lamp, 1501 Grand Ave.
Page2Stage — rehearsed play readings at Java Joes Fourth Street Theater, 214 Fourth St., at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of every month.
Aug. 22 — “School Bag or Back Pack” (Story Mob series involving the audience), 7 p.m.
Nov. 21 — “Warm Blanket” (Story Mob series involving the audience), 7 p.m.
TALLGRASS THEATRE COMPANY
Rex Mathis Auditorium, 1401 Vine St., www.tallgrasstheatre.org
Nov. 1-16 — “The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon
Jan. 31-Feb. 15 — “True West” by Sam Shepard
THE REPERTORY THEATER OF IOWA
Sept. 13-29 — “The Importance of Being Earnest,” at the Des Moines Social Club’s Kirkwood Theatre
HOYT SHERMAN PLACE
1501 Woodland Ave., www.hoytsherman.org
Oct. 19 — Comedian Drew Carey, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26 — “The Bob and Tom Comedy Show” featuring Bob and Tom, Chick McGee and Kristi Lee
BALLET DES MOINES
Oct. 11-13 — Ballet Des Moines Triple Bill — “Celestial,” at Hoyt Sherman Place
Dec. 12-15 — World Famous Ballet — “The Nutcracker,” at Hoyt Sherman Place
DRAKE UNIVERSITY THEATRE ARTS
Sept. 5 — “Drake Meets Horowitz!” (at Civic Center of Des Moines)
Sept. 21 — Movies on Stage
Oct. 3-6 — “If We Were Birds”
Oct. 26-27 — Student Theatre Showcase
Nov. 15 — “Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
SIMPSON COLLEGE THEATRE
Oct. 24-27 — “Lysistrata Jones”
Nov. 22-23 — “The Women of Lockerbie” (in conjunction with the 17th annual High School Theatre Festival on Nov. 25)
AMES COMMUNITY THEATER
120 Abraham Drive, Ames, www.actorsinc.org
Sept. 20-29 — “Play It Again, Sam”
Nov. 29-Dec. 15 — “Free To Be… You and Me”
Jan. 31-Feb. 9 — “Boeing, Boeing”
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY THEATRE
Sept. 27-29, Oct. 4-6 — “The Seagull”
Nov. 1-3, 8-10 — “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
Dec. 6-8, 13-15 — “Romeo and Juliet”
IOWA STATE CENTER
Sept. 27 — Iowa State University Symphony (recommended age: grades 4-12)
Oct. 4 — “Johnny Appleseed” (recommended age: grades K-5)
Oct. 17 — “Straight No Chaser”
Oct. 18 — An Evening with Bill Cosby
Oct. 24 — “Memphis the Musical”
Oct. 25 — Gabriel Iglesias
Nov. 1 — “The Three Little Pigs” (recommended age: grades K-5)
Nov. 2 — “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County”
Nov. 3 — “Masters of the Fiddle”
Nov. 5 — Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
Nov. 17 — Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Nov. 18-19 — “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini in Fisher Theater (recommended for grades 9-12)
Jan. 26 — The Moscow Festival Ballet’s “Cinderella”
Jan. 28 — “The Addams Family – The Musical”
Jan. 30 — “Junie B. Jones” (recommended for grades K-5) CV