DC Felton

This weekend, the newest national tour of Meredith Wilson's 'The Music Man' is stopping at Des Moines Performing Arts. Judging from the audience reaction, this production works its magic in a way no anvil salesman will be able to stop.

As Tallgrass Theatre Company announced their 2025/2027 season, I was thrilled to see how some of the programs they have offered have continued to grow and become staples of their season. When you hear what they have coming up, I'm sure it will excite you, too.

This last season, a new theatre company emerged and made audiences 'squeamish' wih their first production. About Time Theatre Company is back for another season and has recently announced the three productions that will be part of its 2026 season. If the thought and time that went into their first production, then audiences are in for another thrilling season.

It's hard to believe it’s already March.  We’ve had so many great theatrical opportunities this year, and this month is going to be no exception.

Des Moines has a thriving arts community.  One of the amazing organizations that is making this community thrive is Ballet Des Moines. I had the opportunity to attend their performance of “Nothing Holds Still” this last weekend. The show featured world-premiere dances and collaborations with other community artists.  If all of their shows are as beautiful as this one, I have a feeling I’ll be seeing more of them.

Watching Tony's every year, I always look forward to the performances and seeing what each show decides to showcase. In 2024, I was captivated by the performance of 'The Outsiders' and looked forward to seeing it live. What was that moment? I'll share more on that later, but after seeing the show in New York last spring, I am thrilled that Des Moines audiences will have the opportunity to see 'The Outsiders' through Sunday as part of the Willis Broadway Series at Des Moines Performing Arts.

It's always fun seeing what a theatre you have worked for announces for its new season. This last season, I had the honor of directing CAP Theatre's production of 'Beetlejuice Junior.' During that time, they were starting to dream about what their next season could be. So I was excited to attend their announcement party on January 10 to see what their dream for the next season would be. One of the exciting parts of this announcement is that CAP is celebrating its 20th season at its current location, with its biggest season yet! If the students in attendance respond positively, this will be a fantastic season.

One of the exciting parts of the year is when theatres start announcing their new seasons. It's such a thrill finding out which shows will be included, and if you ever get to attend an announcement party, you can feel the room fill with excitement. Iowa Stage announced its 2026 season at the end of 2025. While I wasn't able to attend the announcement party, I was still full of excitement as I anticipated the shows they would include in their season.

What did our critOne thing you know for sure going into a Temple Comedy Series show at Des Moines Performing Arts is that you are going to have a good time. It could be a one-person show, a small musical, or even a comedic magic show. So when they announced they were bringing back 'The Naked Magicians' as part of the Temple Comedy Series this year, I knew the show had to be more than what it appeared to be. The show returns for a limited 5-show engagement through Valentine's Day, and with limited seating left, you need to get your tickets ASAP.ic think of THE NAKED MAGICIANS at Des Moines Performing Arts?

February is going to be an exciting month for Des Moines Performing Arts, as not one, but two Tony Award winners for best musical make their debut on the Civic Center stage. They are opening the month with a week-long run of the 2023 winner for Best Musical, 'Kimberly Akimbo.' If the lead-up activities, like turning their stage into a 90's dance club and a roller skating night, are any indication of how great this show is, then Des Moines Audiences are in for a treat.

It's time to look ahead to another month of theatre in Des Moines. While January may have been slow, February isn't wasting any time with 10 productions opening and 3 shows holding auditions, inviting everyone to be part of our vibrant arts community.

Every once in a while, a show finds its own path. The US national tour of 'Six' is making its second stop in Des Moines this week at Des Moines Performing Arts, and almost 10 years later, the show still has the same level of excitement it did then.

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.