DC Felton - Page 5

One of the things I've grown to appreciate about Des Moines Performing Arts is their willingness to bring revivals as part of the Willis Broadway Series. Their commitment to revivals has brought some of my favorite productions over the last few seasons. What is so great about revivals is many times, they take a new look at classic material. It could be focusing on an element of the show that wasn't focused on before. At other times it could be looking at the show through an understanding of current events. Tuesday night, Des Moines Performing Arts brought the national tour of 'Fiddler on the Roof,' the 2016 Tony-nominated revival to the stage, and it couldn't have arrived at a better time.

We all long for friendship, and they get us through some of the most challenging times in our lives. Carousel Theatre of Indianola explores the relationships we build with our friends through their revival production of Robert Harling's 'Steel Magnolias.'

After announcing it as part of its 2019-2020 season, Des Moines Performing Arts is finally able to bring another of its pre- covid shows to the stage. This time is the return of the raunchy but amusing 'The Book of Mormon.' In its fourth stop on its new tour, the show took to the Civic Center stage on October 7, and those in attendance were happy to welcome the tour to Des Moines.

WEvery so often, a partnership in theatre can produce some fantastic results. One of those partnerships can be seen between Ankeny Community Theatre and playwright Tommy Lee Johnston. Last season they included two of his shows, 'Geezers' and 'Aura.' Over the season, Tommy Lee Johnston came to see both plays they produced. This led to something theatre companies and those involved dream about, the opportunity to produce a world premiere play. This last weekend Ankeny Community Theatre produced the World Premiere of Tommy Lee Johnston's new play 'Borrowed Beats.'

Everyone has a memory of the first musical they were in or saw. For me, it was either 'Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella,' if i remember correctly, at a local high school. For others, their first memories with musical theatre come through local productions of 'Guys and Dolls.' Des Moines Playhouse is opening its 104th season with a bright and colorful production of 'Guys and Dolls' that brings a new take for those who already have memories of the show while introducing it to a new generation of people to the show for the first time.

Before the Pandemic, one of the shows I was looking forward to seeing was Iowa Stage's production of 'Sweat' by Lynn Nottage. At that time, the excitement for me was being able to see a Pulitzer Prize-winning play. I didn't realize how powerful and impactful the play would be for me. I didn't realize how I would see my family members on stage in words being said by each of the characters. While the play was delayed multiple times due to Covid, it couldn't be more timely today.

Des Moines Metro Opera recently brought its 50th Anniversary season to a close, and they saved a special treat for their audiences. For the 2024 season, they are commissioning a full-length opera of AMERICAN APOLLO. As a treat to those in attendance this season, they offered the opportunity to see the current 30-minute version of the opera AMERICAN APOLLO. This presentation was also able to be used to workshop the show and how it could be expanded.

When an organization reaches a milestone like 50 years, it can be easy to look back at everything that brought you to that milestone. While Des Moines Metro Opera's productions of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and PORGY AND BESS do that, they are also looking at the future with the world premiere production of A THOUSAND ACRES. If this production indicates what Des Moines Metro Opera has planned for the future, then I'm sure we will see them around for another 50 years and more.

In March 2020, just a few weeks before 'My Fair Lady' was supposed to play at Des Moines Performing Arts, the Covid 19 pandemic hit Iowa, causing the Des Moines leg of the tour to be postponed. After an almost two-and-a-half-year delay, the show has finally made its way to the Civic Center Stage. After attending opening night on August 2, I can only say this 'loverly' production has been well worth the wait.

Starting a theatre company is no easy feat, but for a theatre to be around for 50 years is something worth celebrating. You can celebrate 50 years with Des Moines Metro Opera this summer, which just opened up its 50th season with two spectacular productions. The season opened up a sold-out run of The Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess' with Simon Estes in his farewell performance. I've heard excellent things about the production. The opera continued its opening weekend with 'The Voice' finalist John Holiday in Benjamin Britten's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' based on the Shakespeare play by the same name.

What did our critic think of Calendar Girls at Des Monies Playhouse? The people in our lives have a significant impact on us, and sometimes we don’t know their impact on us until they are gone. How we reflect on them can sometimes lead us to do extraordinary things. “Calendar Girls,” which opened on June 3 at Des Moines Playhouse, asks us to reflect on how we remember the people in our lives and what we do to commemorate their memory.

What did our critic think of Cry it Out at Ankeny Community Theatre? Over the last few years of doing reviews, I've had the pleasure of seeing some true gems in our theatre community that are just outside of Des Moines. While these theatres may not have the budget of some of the Des Moines theatres, the heart and creativity they bring is just as strong. One example of this is Ankeny Community Theatre's production of 'Cry it Out' by Molly Smith Metzler, which opened on June 3. Thanks to some of the creative choices they've made with this show, it has stuck with me since seeing it. As I think more about the show, I've found myself appreciating the creativity even more.

One of the great things about theatre is the stories it allows us to tell. It doesn't seem like it would work when you first hear the story 'Hamilton' and how it is being told. The show has proved that wrong since 2015 since it took New York and then the country by storm. When it first came to Des Moines in 2018, it sold out within just a few hours. 'Hamilton' made its triumphant return to Des Moines on May 17 for another limited run through June 5. While tickets are still available, the nightly audiences have been packed.

Some of the best moments are when a small decision significantly impacts our lives. One of the great parts of being in theatre is how it can tap into those small decisions and deliver a show that can touch on the impact of those decisions. Tallgrass Theatre Company's production of 'Tiny Beautiful Things' touches on how what seems like a small or insignificant moment can make a lasting impact on the people around us and ourselves. This production is based on the book by Chery Strayed and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos. The original production at the famous Public Theatre in New York was co-conceived by Marshall Heyman, Thomas Kail, and Nia Vardalos.

With theatre coming back, one of the most exciting parts is seeing new shows hit the stage that were developed entirely or in part during the pandemic. Seeing a new play even more exciting is when a local playwright writes it. So when Iowa Stage announced they would be doing the world premiere of 'Girls Weekend 2: The Bachelorette Party' by Iowa playwright Karen Scheffer, I knew Des Moines audiences would be in for something special. I didn't realize that this show would provide the laughter audiences have been needing.

Growing up, one of my favorite movies to rent from our local library was about a strong girl named Pippi Longstocking, which was short for Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Efraim's Daughter Longstocking. So when Des Moines Playhouse announced it would be part of their 2021-2022 season, I was excited to see how they would bring this production to the stage. Their production had surprises sprinkled throughout that will spark the imagination of everyone in the audience.

Stories can be told in many ways. Sometimes they are told verbally from person to person. Other times, such as in a show, they can be told in the pieces of set being used or through other technical elements. Ankeny Community Theatre is stretching its storytelling muscles with its current production of 'Aura,' which opened on April 1.

On March 14, 2020, after only two performances, Des Moines Playhouse made the difficult decision to postpone their spring production of “Singin’ In the Rain.” At the time, they didn’t realize that COVID-19 would force them to cancel their show. I was fortunate enough to attend the second performance of their glorious production. Two years later, “Singin In The Rain” returned to the Playhouse stage on March 25, with many of the same cast and production team from two years before. So I was excited to be able to return to this glorious production on March 30 as they kicked off their second week of performances.

As actors, designers, directors, we can't help but find a little of ourselves in the work we do. It's what makes theatre so special. We open our hearts for people to see, live. Now imagine, if you will, that you are a playwright. Imagine writing something so personal that you refuse to have it published before your death. That is precisely what playwright Eugene O'Neil did with his play 'Long Day's Journey into Night.' Last weekend, the show opened as part of Iowa Stage Theatre Company's 2021/2022 season after a delay due to Omicron. The heart put into this production by everyone involved makes this a show you will be thinking about long after it closes.

Theatre is a form of storytelling. Sometimes a show tells a new story, and other times it takes a familiar one and gives it a new spin. 'Hadestown,' which opened on March 22 at Des Moines Performing Arts, does the latter in its retelling of the Greek story of Orpheus and Eurydice. The question going into this show is if it is a successful retelling. Based on attending opening night and the flood of responses I've seen on social media, not only is it successful, it's a production that you won't want to miss.