DC Felton

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.

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.