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The Culture Buzz

Greetings, Cultural Catalysts:

6/12/2019

There is a diverse and appealing array of cultural indulgences awaiting the Cultural Adventurer in Central Iowa. Leave the personal devices behind and savor the rich offerings that performing arts, exhibitions and more offer. Sally forth and reward yourself.

Featured Cultural Offering:

Sun Jun 16th Iowa Blues Challenge Finals SUNDAY – JUN 16, 2019 @ 4:00PM. Des Moines Social Club, 900 Mulberry, DM. Eight bands competing to represent Iowa at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis! www.cibs.org 

More Cultural Considerations:

  1. Willy Wonka Jr is being presented through Jun 15 at Class Act Productions in Altoona. This abbreviated musical version of the popular children’s story is sure to delight the family. http://www.captheatre.org/main/2019wonka/
  2. Pyramid Theatre Company 2019 season continues this weekend in repertory with Jiréh Beon Holder’s Too Heavy for Your Pocket and August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned. This year’s season runs through Sun Jun 16. http://pyramidtheatre.org/
  3. The Diary of Anne Frank runs through Sun Jun 16 at Ankeny Community Theatre. This moving story based on the writings of a young girl in war-torn Europe, hiding from the Nazis, is not to be missed. http://www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com/2018-2019-season.html
  4. Silent Sky runs through Jun 16 at the Des Moines Playhouse. Lauren Gunderson’s 2015 play centers around the true story of the 19th-century astronomers. “Silent Sky” explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. Social progress, like scientific progress, can be hard to see when one is trapped among earthly complications. https://www.dmplayhouse.com/events/silent-sky
Auditions and Other Participation Opportunities:
  1. Limited Space | Art Week Opening Ceremony. Sat Jun 22, 6:30 PM at Curate on East Court Avenue. Art Show; 7:00 PM Welcome by David Safris; 9:00 PM #SomeWhereInDesMoines Photo Contest; 9:30 PM Dance Party featuring DJ RockPaperScissors and Lyndrum. https://www.facebook.com/events/819431168426730/
  2. Art Week DSM – celebrating its fifth year of presenting the best of local creatives, this week is filled with visual, performance, exhibition artists and more. https://artweekdesmoines.com/
  3. Citizen Diplomacy Summit: Global Effect, Local Impact. Iowa Sister States and the Iowa International Center are pleased to announce that they are joining forces to co-host the Citizen Diplomacy Summit: Global Effect, Local Impact, to be held on Wednesday, June 19th at DMACC Southridge Center from 7:45am – 1:00pm. The Citizen Diplomacy Summit is an opportunity for those committed to connecting people across the globe to come together for purposeful dialogue around challenges and triumphs of working with international communities. The Citizen Diplomacy Summit offers a chance for cities, educational institutions, organizations, business, citizens, and other interested parties the opportunity to connect on common issues as well as to nurture a supportive global community in Iowa. The event’s opening session will feature Teta Moehs, Deputy Director of the Office of International Visitors, Department of State. Ambassador Kenneth Quinn will lead the lunch keynote panel will include insights and experiences from abroad. During the summit, community leaders will headline volunteer and resource development discussions. Registration for the event and more information can be found at https://citizen-diplomacy2019.eventbrite.com 

Greater Des Moines Music Tip:

CNA - Stop HIV Iowa

This weekly tip is brought to you by Steve Vasquez of the Central Iowa Blues Society – www.cibs.org, for full calendar of live music in our region.

Music tips: International award winning Blues Troubadour, Kevin Burt Fri – Jun 14 @ 5:00PM at The Riverwalk Hub, 215 Water St, Des Moines, IA.

Worth the drive:

History Boy Theater in Jefferson opens Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein Fri Jun 7 – Sun Jun 16. Book a performance of his highly entertaining musical in historic Jefferson. Consider an overnight mini-vacation, and take in the quaint town square filled with restaurants, shops and more. This musical features a reprise performance in the lead role of Frederick Frankenstein by Charlie Reese, who won a Cloris Award for his performance in this role at the Des Moines Community Playhouse.

https://www.historyboytheatreco.com/young-frankenstein/ 

Greater Des Moines Independent Book Store Happenings:

The Culture Buzz shares many authors and their books with its audiences. We encourage you to visit your local independent book store regularly. The folks at these destination locations know books, and welcome the chance to help anyone connect with titles and subjects they seek. Check these sites, as their calendars are always filled with enticing activities and news.

  1. Beaverdale Books, Des Moines. http://www.beaverdalebooks.com/
  2. Plot Twist Bookstore, Ankeny. https://www.plottwistbookstore.com/
  3. Pageturners Bookstore, Indianola. http://www.pageturnersbookstore.com/
  4. Artisan Gallery 218, 218-5th Street, Historic Valley Junction, West Des Moines (select author events), http://www.artisangallery218.com/ 

Cultural Exploration Resources:

The Culture Buzz will begin including carefully vetted but comprehensive listings where you can do some advance online exploration before scheduling destinations in the region. These are two great websites to know about:

  1. Center Stage – John Busbee writes this Cityview monthly column. See what is happening on Central Iowa’s stages. Distributed throughout the region and available online. https://www.dmcityview.com/center-stage/2019/06/04/a-tribute-to-one-of-our-communitys-theatrical-finest/
  2. Art Beacon Des Moines is Central Iowa’s home for promoting the visual arts. Our calendar of events highlights exhibitions, art talks and calls for art. Subscribe to the Art Beacon Weekly, our online newsletter filled with links to the latest art happenings. Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. http://artbeacondesmoines.com/
  3. A Gentle Guide to Des Moines Theatre is Central Iowa’s source for knowing what productions by which companies are available when. In short, you can know what’s playing before it happens rather than after the fact. Timothy Rose created this site with its comprehensive theatre calendar for you, the cultural consumer. He includes articles and more, making this a worthy destination when curious about what’s happening in Central Iowa’s theatre scene. http://www.gentleguidedsm.com/

As always, I appreciate news and information from you out there in the cultural trenches and am ready and willing to pursue a story or interview to share with my audiences. ♦

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