The Des Moines Community Playhouse Celebrates 100 Years In Song

The Des Moines Community Playhouse is approaching its 100th anniversary, and has already begun the celebration with a special performances each year leading up to the big day. On Feb. 16-17, the Playhouse will continue the trip down memory lane with "Countdown to 100: Musicals of the 2000s." The program celebrates Playhouse and Broadway musical theatre history. "Countdown to 100" is presented by Hubbell Realty Company with support from Workiva.

The 2000s on Broadway featured new musicals based on films such as "Hairspray," "Legally Blonde The Musical," "Shrek The Musical," "Mary Poppins," "The Producers," and "Monty Python's Spamalot." The Playhouse produced these shows as well as revivals of favorites such as "Cabaret," "Hello, Dolly!," "Chicago," and "Grease."

The cast for the evening features past and present Playhouse performers including Tricia Arvanis, Dani Boal, Blake Clyde, Douglas Cochrane, Tina Haase Findlay, Rachel Forney, Jackson Gabby, Gina Gedler, Lenny Houts, Katy Merriman, Mark Morrison, Charlie Reese, Maxwell Schaeffer, Jackie Schmillen, Joe Tish, and Savannah Trotter. The Master of Ceremonies is Steve Berry.

The celebration begins at 6:30 PM on Friday, Feb. 16, with hors d'oeuvres and drinks, followed by the musical revue at 7:30 PM. The revue will be repeated at 7:30 PM on Saturday, Feb. 17. The Playhouse lobby will be transformed into a piano lounge following each performance.

Tickets are available online at dmplayhouse.com and at the Playhouse ticket office, 515-277-6261. Patron and sponsor packages are available by contacting Chris Andersen, Playhouse director of philanthropy, at 515-974-5370.

The Playhouse is one of the oldest and largest community theatres in the US. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage.

To purchase tickets, visit dmplayhouse.com or call 515-277-6261
Des Moines Community Playhouse Ticket Office, 831 42nd St., Des Moines, IA 50312