DC Felton

Another year has closed, and theatre in Des Moines is getting ready to kick off the new year with several shows currently in rehearsals.

One of my favorite parts of the Holiday season is seeing classic stories brought to the stage. For many people, their first experience in theatre is a production of “The Nutcracker” or “A Christmas Carol.” This season, we get the opportunity to add a third story to that growing list. On Tuesday, December 16, the national tour of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” started a week-long run at Des Moines Performing Arts. While this show may be new to Des Moines audiences, the story is a classic that is sure to make your heart grow three sizes.

Stories can be one of the most powerful things in the world. We all have different reasons we share a story.  Sometimes it's to pass down a lesson we have learned.  Other times it's to remind us or someone we know about our story. 'The Notebook: The Musical,' which opened on Tuesday at Des Moines Performing Arts as part of the Willis Broadway Series, not only tells a beautiful story, but the way it is told is something I'm going to remember for a long time.

An epic musical is taking the stage this week as Des Moines Performing Arts gets ready for an epic change of its own. This week, it was announced that Monica Holt will take over as President and CEO of Des Moines Performing Arts, succeeding Jeff Chelsvig, who is retiring. A big thank you to Jeff Chelsvig for the work he has done over the years, introducing so many to the power of the performing arts. The epic tale taking the stage at Des Moines Performing Arts is none other than the return engagement of “Les Misérables.”

As one theatre season in Des Moines comes to a close, we can't help but feel the excitement for the next one that's about to start. As we look ahead, I want to bring our focus to what is happening locally in our theatre scene. 

Another season at Des Moines Performing Arts is coming to a close, and they have saved one of the best shows of the season to close it out. 

On Tuesday, '& Juliet' opened, and the show is a new type of Jukebox musical.  One where the story comes first, and the music is an enhancement of the story. See here for the review!

Stories are not just narratives, they are powerful tools that shape our understanding of the world. They can be about the legacy a person leaves, they can excite us about what is to come, or they can help us process the events in our lives. But most importantly, stories leave us with questions, sparking our curiosity and imagination.

It's a rare sight to see a giant inflatable ear of corn in the lobby of Des Moines Performing Arts, or to be offered a show-themed drink. But when a musical about corn comes to Iowa, it's time to pull out all the stops. This is exactly what they've done for 'Shucked,' which premiered Tuesday night at the Civic Center. I went in expecting a hilarious show about corn, and I got that. But I also left with a heartwarming story about community and family, a unique blend that's not to be missed.

This season with Des Moines Performing Arts is full of 'Razzle Dazzle.' One of the things I'm excited about this season with Willis Broadway Series is that they are presenting not one but two shows that came out of the City Center Encore Series in NYC. The first is 'Chicago: The Musical,' which is currently the longest-running show open on Broadway. While this production of the show may have opened in 1996, it still feels timely today.

'Great, Scott!' Des Moines Performing Arts is opening another season of fantastic shows coming directly from Broadway.  One exciting thing about this season is that all six shows in the season ticket package are in the first year of their national tours. Their 2024/2025 season kicks off with the Lawrence Olivier Award winning musical 'Back to the Future.' While the show won Best Musical in London, it didn't fare as well on Broadway.  While both productions are still running, the question I had coming into this was if the show would hit 88 miles per hour and be a hit or not.

Another season comes to a close at Des Moines Performing Arts, and they are going out with a big spectacle. On Tuesday, the tour of 'Moulin Rouge' opened at the Civic Center for a two-week run.  Having seen the show in New York in the summer of 2022, I was looking forward to seeing this show again and seeing how the show was reimagined for the tour. While I loved the impressiveness of the show on Broadway, I wondered if they could recapture that magic on the tour. Were they able to recapture that magic? Continue reading to find out.

What did our critic If you 'Wanna be Startin' Something,' then check out Des Moines Performing Arts; not only did they recently announce their 2024/2025 season, but they are not stopping there.  This week, they are bringing the hottest show of the 2021/2022 Broadway Season.  'MJ: The Musical' opened to a packed house on Tuesday night. From the moment the show started, the buzz continued growing, and there was an immediate standing ovation at the end of the show.  What was the buzz about?  think of MJ THE MUSICAL at Des Moines Performing Arts?

Hey Des Moines, here she is. A new production of 'Funny Girl' opened on Tuesday evening. When you think of the show 'Funny Girl,' one of the first things you probably think of is the person you saw bringing Fannie Brice to life on stage. For the show to work, you need someone who can deliver an iconic performance. That may be why it took nearly 60 years for the show to be revived on Broadway. Now, just short of 60 years, the revival's national tour is making a stop in Des Moines as part of the Willis Broadway Series. Judging from the audience response, there is a new iconic name that people will consider when thinking of 'Funny Girl.'

Over the years, since Des Moines Performing Arts started bringing productions to the Temple Theatre, there have been a few staple productions. One of those staples centers around Dixie Longate, a woman from Mobile, Alabama, who happens to sell Tupperware. While she has returned multiple times to sell Tupperware, I have not had the opportunity to see one of her performances. That changed this last week when I attended 'Dixie's Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull: and 16 Other Things I Learned while Drinking last Thursday' at the Temple Theatre. This engagement marks this show's second time has been at the Temple Theatre.

One of the great things about the Des Moines Performing Arts Broadway series is that it not only introduces us to new productions in their season, but there are also a few shows you can purchase as an add-on that have stood the test of time. This week, they are bringing the musical 'Les Miserables' back for its 9th engagement since 1989.

When Des Moines Performing Arts announces its new season, there is always a show or two I can't help but get excited about. This year, one of those shows for me was 'Company,' which is now playing through February 11.

After a cold start to the year, the fever to be able to vacation is already starting to set in. “ABBA” fever has hit Des Moines this last year. It started with concerts with the Des Moines Symphony and is continuing this week. On Tuesday night, the 25th anniversary tour of “Mamma Mia” opened at Des Moines Performing Arts for a week-long run. With the singing and dancing that came from the stage and the audience, how can you resist a trip to Donna’s Taverna and seeing “Mamma Mia?'

It’s been almost 40 years since the last time “The Wiz” was on Broadway, and the show is currently starting to “Ease on Down the Road” and going on a pre-Broadway national tour. While it’s not scheduled to open on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre until March 29, 2024, you can see it through December 17 at Des Moines Performing Arts.  If the reaction from the audience is any indication of how it will be received on Broadway, then the show, like Dorothy, is on a journey that will lead them… “Home.”

All you gotta do is say his name three times, and he will appear on the Civic Center stage. 'Beetlejuice: The Musical' has been summoned to Des Moines Performing Arts as the finale of the 2022-2023 Willis Broadway Series. You may be asking if 'Beetlejuice' is the perfect start to your spooky season. This show is one of the hottest tickets in the area, with limited seating still available. I attended opening night on October 3, and the audience was cheering from the show's start to the end.