DES MOINES THEATER REVIEWS

Have you ever thought what would happen if a sitting President was unfit to serve in the White House? You probably just had an instant reaction to the questions based on your thoughts on our current administration. This review is not going to be a commentary on this or any other administration, but ...

If you were to look back on your childhood, one of the first books you probably read was a Dr. Seuss book. The books have become a rite of passage as the stories are passed down from generation to generation. In 2012, I had the pleasure to be involved in a production of a show and this weekend I got...

Suicide and mental illness are issues that people have a hard time discussing. When theatres take on one of these subjects, they have to ride a very thin line about how far they can push the subject and still be excepted by their audience. Each person's reaction can be very different. Ankeny Communi...

Just in time for Halloween, Tallgrass Theatre is opening its new season, which takes us from coast to coast, with a thrilling production that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Frederick Knott's a?oeWait Until Darka?? starts this season-long journey in a small apartment in New York. Each aspect...

Did you ever wish you could trade places with your parents for them to see what life is like? Or have you wished you could switch places with your child so they can see just how difficult being a child is? If you can say yes to either of those questions, then Des Moines Playhouse has a production fo...

It's that time of year when everyone starts doing the a?oeTime Warpa?? again. For most people, their introduction to the a?oeRocky Horror Showa?? is the cult classic 1975 movie. For the 4th year, Kata Klysmic Productions is doing a new production of a?oeThe Rocky Horror Show.a?? The audience in at...

Sometimes, it's fun to go back and take a look at a past time in our lives, especially if there were good memories from it. If someone were to ask you about a time in your life, you probably aren't going to say high school. When we do look back, many times it is to laugh about the memories we have. ...

Theatre companies always hope a show will do well, but every so often a show comes that exceeds their expectations, and eventually, they bring the show back. For Noce, known for bringing the best jazz artist to Des Moines, their show is a play ironically called a?oeSouvenira?? which is returning to ...

Revisiting the past can be difficult. Sometimes it's addressing an issue that has come up, while at other times it can be about coming to terms with events or actions from our past. In a?oeA Doll's House: Part 2a??, one of theatres most well know heroine's is doing just that. While a?oeA Doll's Hous...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if one of your family members that have passed on could come back and talk with you? What would they say? Ankeny Community Theatres production of a?oeMom's Gift,a?? which opened this weekend, asked the audience that very questions. The comedic and heartfe...

In 1879, a door slam was heard around the world when Henrik Ibsen's 'A Doll's House' concluded for the first time. While the play is known for its ending, Iowa Stage is using it to open two new beginning for them, the beginning of a new season, and the beginning of a new location. I feel that this a...

Growing up can be hard. We try to do everything we can to stop it. We try to change our appearance or even hold on to a memory. What makes it difficult, is when they are memories we don't want to, or can't let go of. Kimberly Belflower's 'Lost Girl,' currently playing at Des Moines Young Artists' Th...

Imagine finding out you have been living poor your whole life, only to find out you are part of the wealthiest family in your area. How far would you go to get your hands on part of that money? a?oeA Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder,a?? the first presentation of this season at Des Moines Playh...

While Ankeny Community Theatre (ACT) may be closing their 2018-2019 season, they are also opening the 2019-2020 Des Moines Theatre season. To pull this off you need a show that transcends time, as well as instantly recognizable.   They've tackled this challenge by staging William Shakespeare's �...

Becoming a teenager is a moment kids look up to. Growing up, we see teenagers as grown-up and cool, but we find out when we turn 13, that is all wrong. Des Moines Young Artist Theatre production of a?oe13,a?? with a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, ex...

What a week it has been for the city of Indianola. Des Moines Metro Opera closed their 2019 season, RAGBRAI has been through town, the county fair has started, and we are preparing for the National Balloon Classic. Yet there is another event in town that people will soon be talking about. Carousel...

One of the great things theatre can do is start a conversation on topics that may not be the most comfortable to talk about. Sometimes it prompts a conversation, and other times it leaves you to ponder what your thoughts are on an issue. In Iowa Stage's and Kingman Row Entertainment's joint produc...

Everyone can remember the first time they saw Annie. Maybe it was on stage, or maybe it is one of 3 film/tv versions that have come out. No matter when you first saw it, it probably became one of those shows that stays with you for a long time. The show's optimistic message is one that has stood the...

A new generation is taking over the Des Moines Playhouse! I'm not talking about a new artistic director, or the close of their 100th season. This generation can be seen on stage in DMP's production of Disney's 'Newsies: The Musical' which opened this weekend. I say a new generation because half, ...

Every so often, a production comes around that leaves you pondering about the show when it is done. For me, it's usually a jarring show that asks the audience to think about how we see things in the world, and if the way we see things can be adjusted or not. Des Moines Metro Opera's (DMMO) product...

Some people think everything happens in life for a reason. Others choose to relish all the great parts of life while others drown in the despair of the horrible things that happen in the world. Whatever your philosophy on life is, one thing you would never expect is to see that philosophy come to ...

In 2002, I was indirectly introduced to La Boheme. My introduction came when I was introduced to a musical that had come out and became a phenomenon on Broadway just 6 years earlier. The show quickly became a favorite musical of mine and showed me the impact that theatre can have on people. Since th...

If you are coming to read a review of The Cornley University Drama Society production for The Murder at Haversham Manor,' this is the wrong review. If you've heard of this theatre company, then it is probably because you've seen a show called, 'The Play That Goes Wrong,' which is playing at the Civ...

Having Shakespeare done outside is something that is not new to Des Moines and the surrounding area. These productions have been thrilling for both the audience and people involved in the show. Getting to participate in a few outdoor Shakespeare productions was one of my favorite memories of colle...

As we remember the 75th anniversary of D-day, it is important to remember why D-Day was so important. When the allied forces invaded France, it was a turning point in World War II. When a little girl in hiding found out about the invasion, she had hope that she would one day be able to come out of ...