DES MOINES THEATER REVIEWS

On March 14, I had the pleasure to see and review Des Moines Playhouse's fantastic production of 'Singing in the Rain.' What I didn't know at the time, was that the theatre community was getting ready to shut down due to COVID-19, or that the performance I was seeing was going to be the productions ...

Last week Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) and Iowa Public Broadcasting Service started the 2020 Virtual Opera season with a stunning airing of 'Manon.' The decision to go virtual this season was due to the continuing COVID crisis. They continue their summer season this week with their 2018 production ...

Opera companies worldwide have found themselves canceling their seasons, including Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO).  The difference with DMMO is that they have had an Emmy winning partnership with Iowa Public Television, now called Iowa Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), coming together to give you t...

Recently, the term intermission has taken on a new meaning in the theatre community.  While we usually use it as a term to signify a break in a show, we have recently modified it to a break in theatre productions due to COVID19. While we may not be able to gather as a theatre community to sit in a ...

As we head out of the winter season and into spring, there is one thing we know is coming, rain. This last weekend Des Moines Playhouse opened their production of 'Singin' In The Rain.' As their production opened this weekend, there was a giant storm cloud in the distance called COVID-19 that caused...

Loss. It's not easy for anyone to discuss. Everyone deals with loss in different ways. Carousel Theatre of Indianola is exploring the process of dealing with losing a loved one in their current production of Sarah Ruhl's 'Eurydice,' which opens on March 6. While the subject matter may be challeng...

Have you ever found yourself wrapped up in a rumor, and in the end, wasn't sure what was real or not? Or have you wanted something to happen so badly it feels as though it becomes a reality? This week Des Moines Performing Arts opened 'Anastasia' as part of the 2019-2020 Willis Broadway Series. This...

Do you believe in fairies? Or have you grown too old for that belief? Maybe a better question is, do you have a friend? Someone who believes in you, especially when you disagree with each other? Des Moines Playhouse's current production of 'Tinker Bell' by Patrick Flynn, uses everyone's favorite ...

A few years ago, on a cold winters night, Des Moines symphony brought an event to Des Moines that lead to a series of special engagements. This was the launch of the films in concert series that have brought the first two Harry Potter films, Star Wars: A New Hope, and Home Alone to Des Moines accom...

Have you ever gone to a show and thought about how much room there was on a stage? Some shows I go to, it seems like there is hardly any room for the actors to get around, and I leave impressed by all that they were able to do. Now imagine the stage at Des Moines Performing Arts. How many people ...

Becoming a teenager can be hard. It can be hard as they transition from wanting to be treated like a kid and wanting to be treated like an adult. These become the formative years where interest starts to form that will impact the career path they decide to go down in their lives. This weekend, Des...

It's that time of year in Iowa where we get stuck inside, either due to the cold weather or snow shutting things down. As we get stuck inside, there tends to be one thing missing, laughter. Ankeny Community Theatre is giving us that laughter in their current production of a?oeDon't Dress for Dinne...

Looking in the mirror can be hard.  At times we see the best side of us. At other times we see the worst.  One of the things we look at is our weight. We are either too skinny or too fat. It's time that we quit using labels do define who we are.  This is a challenge given to the audience who atte...

In 2017, I decided in preparation for hosting my first Tony Party to listen to the nominees for Best Musical and Revival. Listening to these shows introduced me to 'Come From Away,' which opened at Des Moines Performing Arts on January 28. As I listened to the fantastic music, I fell in love with '...

Looking for the light in the dark times we face can be very difficult. In 1942, a girl went into hiding with her family, along with another family, from the Nazi's who had invaded Holland. While in hiding the girl kept a diary of her experience, which after her death would become the most read boo...

It is that season again in Iowa. No, I'm talking about winter, I'm talking about caucus season. Candidates are coming to the state vying for something a?' one single nomination. Iowa Stage is taking a look at the candidates and the raucous caucus in their first offering of 2020, Robert Jason Ford's...

With the cold weather outside, do you long to escape to a warmer place? While you may not be able to escape someplace warm, Tallgrass Theatre Company is taking us to a warmer place in their season-long journey across America. Their current production of a?oeOther Desert Citiesa?? takes us to the sun...

When you hear of a musical turning 50 years old, many think of shows musicals from the golden age of Broadway. Now we are entering a new era were the blockbuster musicals, that have made Broadway what it is today, start celebrating their 50th anniversary. Des Moines Performing Arts is presenting the...

Has being home for winter break given your kids the blues? Are they in need of an adventure? Or do you need an escape? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then Kate Godman Children's Theatre's production of David Woods a?oeJames and the Giant Peacha?? is for you. This journey will tak...

It's that time of year where everyone is wondering when and If we are going to have a major snowstorm? And if so how much? Now take a moment and imagine there is a blizzard with white out conditions. This is what you hear as you enter into a?oeTheatre Midwesta?? production of a?oeBrilliant Traces...

Everyone loves a good ghost story. Usually, these stories have been reserved for around a campfire or Halloween. So why would someone tell a ghost story around the holidays? Iowa Stage is telling us this in their production, which opens today 'A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas.' While th...

What do you get when you cross a classic holiday movie with the Oscar, Tony, and Grammy award-winning team of Pasek and Paul? You get ”A Christmas Story: The Musicalal” playing as this year's holiday classic at Des Moines Playhouse. While this may be the second version of ”A Christmas Story”...

Opening two productions of a show in one weekend is rare in the Des Moines theatre scene. What makes this weekend special is that two productions based on the classic movie 'A Christmas Story' are opening this weekend. In this review, we are going to focus on the play version presented at Ankeny Com...

Our records. These tend to be something we keep to ourselves, but Pat Hazell is opening his records up for everyone to see. Des Moines Performing Arts host the World Premiere of 'Pat Hazell's Permanent Record' as the opening of the Prairie Meadows Temple Comedy Series. This comedic look at the diffe...

While Thanksgiving may be late this year, we are a little over a month away from the Christmas holiday. Des Moines Performing Arts is jumping into the holiday season. Tuesday evening, they opened the return engagement of 'Irving Berlin's White Christmas,' which runs through Sunday, November 24. Watc...