DC Felton - Page 7

One of the great things about children's theatre is that it brings some of our favorite stories from growing up to life on the stage. This also sparks children's imagination to dig into the books they are based on. Des Moines Playhouse is sparking the imagination of this generation and encouraging them to read with their nearly sold-out production of 'Charlotte's Web.'

I love seeing in the arts when a company takes a classic work and reimagines it for a modern audience. This often allows for more imaginative and innovative production that brings a brand new audience to your company. As they begin their 50th Season, Des Moines Metro Opera brings Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' to the Civic Center Stage with Des Moines Performing Arts. If this show is any indication of what's to come from the 50th Season for Des Moines Metro Opera, then audiences are in for a not to be missed treat this summer.

One of the best parts of seeing live theatre is sitting in a show and having it surprise you. Sometimes it can be from a performance in the show, or it could come from a fantastic technical element such as sets or lighting. Then other times, it could be how an amazing script comes to life. While all of those things are great, what makes a show memorable, is when they all come together to give the audience an experience they won't soon forget. Tallgrass Theatre Company's production of Laura Gundersen's 'The Revolutionists' does just that, mixing all the elements that leaves the audience talking long after the show closes. Lucky for you, this show is still playing through February 20, so you still have a chance if you haven't seen it.

While we may have had a few snowstorms this winter that has left us stuck in our houses, imagine if you were stuck on a train during a snowstorm. As you're stuck in the middle of nowhere on that train, a murder happens. If you can visualize this, then Des Moines Playhouse has the perfect play for you in their production of 'Agatha Christie's: Murder on the Orient Express' by Ken Ludwig, which is currently playing through Sunday, February 20.

Broadway is back at Des Moines Performing Arts. While this last fall we were treated got a glimpse into having the Willis Broadway Series this last fall with an engagement of 'The Bands Visit,' the series returned on February 8 with a hilarious production of 'Tootsie.' Like the title of the act 1 finale, you could say the opening of 'Tootsie' makes the return of the Willis Broadway Series 'Unstoppable,' with 6 shows and a concert scheduled between now and the end of August.

Growing up, there were two things I looked forward to being on TV each year, 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'The Sound of Music.' The latter of these movies has become a holiday tradition on TV each year, including the return of live musical productions. So when Des Moines Playhouse was looking for a family classic to stage for the 2021/2022 season, it's not a surprise they turned to one of America's favorite musicals for their holiday show. 'The Sound of Music' opened this last weekend, and I'm sure this production is going to become one of the Playhouses audience's favorite things.

A Theatre finds out that they will no longer be able to use the space they perform. As they are going into tech week for one of their final shows in their former home, a pandemic hit, causing the production to be shut down and ultimately canceled. Over the next year and a half, the community gets behind said theatre company and helps with raising funds, finding a new building, and building a new theatre in the space, and it is able to be opened right in time for the holidays.

If the first thing you think of at the holidays is people in the nursing homes, then Ankeny Community Theatre has the perfect holiday show for you in 'Geezers' by Tommy Lee Johnston. While the play may not occur during the Christmas holiday or be at a typical holiday location, this show has a message that is an excellent reminder as we go into the holiday season. It is a message of honoring those older than us by hearing their stories before their stories are gone forever.

In March 2020, as Iowa Stage was getting ready to open their production of 'The Cake,' they had to start delaying their production due to the first cases of Covid 19 in Iowa. When it became clear that it wasn't going to be staged anytime soon, they took the initiative to present an outdoor staged reading. While I couldn't attend that reading, I heard from many people how great it was. So I was thrilled when they announced that their return to the Stoner Theatre at Des Moines Performing arts was going to be 'The Cake' by Bekah Brunstetter. The production opened up on November 12 and was a fantastic reminder of what Iowa Stage does best, presenting a show that asks the audience to reflect on what they had just seen.

As kids, around the holidays, it was always fun to sing alternative lyrics to songs, especially Jingle Bells.  If you are like me, just hearing Jingle Bells puts you into the holiday spirit.  You can probably remember those alternative lyrics as well.  While this may be featured in Des Moines Playhouse's production of 'Junie B in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells,' the show quickly becomes a play for kids of all ages. Judging by the audience's reaction to the show, 'Junie B.' is the perfect way to kick off your holiday season.

It’s that time of year again, when everyone gets into the spooky season for Halloween.  Some people like to go to scary or suspenseful movies, but what if you could experience this live as part of your Halloween plans.  Carousel Theatre of Indianola is giving their audiences that opportunity with their production of “And Then There Were None,’ by Agatha Christie. Their suspenseful production opened up on October 22 and runs right through Halloween on October 31.

While we've been stuck at home for the last year, Des Moines Playhouse has been working behind the scenes on something brand new. They have been chosen as part of the American Association of Community Theatre AACT New Play Festival. This opportunity has allowed them to produce the world premiere of 'Escaping the Labyrinth' by Thomas S. Hischak. While the journey around the world may be timeless, this production isn't and must close on October 24.

When the national tour of 'Anastasia' closed on March 1 at Des Moines Performing Arts, no one could have imagined it would be 19 months before another national tour of a Broadway show would hit the stage again at the Civic Center. 19 months. Who would have thought an intermission could last that long? On Tuesday, October 12, the stage was filled again with all the entrancing pieces that go into making a Broadway show when the national tour of 'The Band's Visit, which plays through October 17, 2021, opened.

If you've been sitting alone in your house this last year, it's time to head over to Des Moines Playhouse to hear the music play. On September 10, they opened up their first production since 2019, where they opened their full house for tickets. While you may think this would be a place to put a light and fun show to welcome back audiences, they've taken a risk and put up a colorful yet dark production of Kander and Ebb's 'Cabaret.' The risk pays off as it gives the audience a powerful show that reminds me of everything I love about theatre. A production that not only lets the audience feel but leaves them thinking as well.

It's been over a year since Carousel has been over a year since Carousel Theatre of Indianola has been able to welcome an audience. While Covid may have put live performances on hold, Carousel has adjusted and tried new things during the pandemic. Last fall, they held a Cabaret of musical theatre favorites and had a jazzy evening of love songs around Valentine's Day. This summer, they filmed all five shows that were part of the Writers Project they held during the pandemic. Now they are ready to open their doors again with '[Title of Show].' The show opened on August 13th and was the perfect show to welcome the musical theatre lovers in all of us back to the theatre.

In college while studying theatre, I was introduced to a new world, the world of children's theatre. While many shows in that world are based on well-known stories, once and a while you would see a play that tackled a topic that might be difficult to talk about, and present it on stage in a kid friendly way. When I heard 'Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical' was going to be performed at Des Moines Playhouse, I was very intrigued. From what I could see, this show wasn't based on a well-known book like many of the Kate Goldman Children's Theatre's shows. So I was intrigued as to what topic might be presented in this play.

One of the hardest parts of the last year with Covid was watching theatre after theatre canceling or postponing their summer shows and season. One of those theatres was Urbandale Community Theatre (UCT), who had announced a big summer production of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.' Thankfully, they were able to postpone the production to this summer. If you've been looking for a production to come back to the theatre with, then this fun and joyous production is just the right shoe for you.

Every once in a while, a show comes along that takes you completely by surprise. For me, this recently happened with Des Moines Metro Opera's one-night-only performance of FELLOW TRAVELERS at Hoyt Sherman Place.

If hotels rooms could tell stories, what stories might they tell? Would they be stories of love or heartbreak, or something completely different? If you've ever thought of those questions, or are looking for a fun, entertaining night of theatre, then Des Moines Playhouse's production of 'Plaza Suite' is the right show for you. On Friday, July 16, the show opened to a packed tent as part of the Playhouse's summer Tent series. And from the audience's reactions, this was just the comedy they needed this summer.

Des Moines Playhouse has found itself adapting to the current climate throughout the pandemic and is continuing to produce live theatre. Last summer, they offered a drive-in theatre. Throughout the year, they have provided live indoor productions to smaller houses and streams of their shows. This summer, they are adapting once again by taking a step back in time. Taking a cue from the traveling tent shows the during the first part of the 20th century, the Playhouse is presenting a summer tent series. The tent series opened up on July 9 with a production of John-Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz Godspell.