Des Moines Theatre Newsroom

Explore the intimate and candid photos of John Lennon taken by May Pang during his 'LOST WEEKEND' era. Join us at Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona for a two-day exhibition and get a glimpse into Lennon's personal life. Don't miss this opportunity to see and purchase these limited-edition photographs.

Bluebeard's Castle comes to Des Moines Metro Opera in 2024. Performances run July 1-22, 2024.

SALOME comes to Des Moines Metro Opera in 2024. Performances run June 29, July 7, 13, 19. The opera is written by Richard Strauss, Oscar Wilde and Hedwig Lachmann.

The Barber Of Seville comes to Des Moines Metro Opera in summer 2024. Written by Gioachino Rossini and Cesare Sterbini, the performances will run June 28, 30, July 5, 14, 16, 20 at Blank Performing Arts Center.

The Falling and the Rising centers around a strong female hero known only as “Soldier”. After sending a video message home on the eve of her daughter’s thirteenth birthday, the Soldier is severely wounded by a roadside IED. Doctors quickly place her in an induced coma to help minimize the extensive trauma to her brain. The Soldier must now make an arduous journey towards both healing and home. 

Being involved in theatre takes both the audience and those on stage and backstage on a journey with each show. With each show, the journey is different. The best journeys are when the show leaves a little something with you that you carry with you for the rest of your life. One show has taken me on what so far has been a 17-year journey. That show is 'The Drowsy Chaperone.'

City Circle Theatre Company presents Disney's High School Musical: On Stage! at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) July 14–16 & 21–23, 2023. 

Des Moines Metro Opera’s complete repertory for the company’s 2024 Festival Season has been revealed.

Jukebox Saturday Night celebrates America’s Swing Era, performing the greatest hits as recorded by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Lunceford, Harry James, Artie Shaw, Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, Bunny Berigan, Count Basie and more! Vocal selections will include songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Bob Eberly, Helen O’Connell, Rosemary Clooney, and other vocal idols.

City Circle Theatre Company presents Disney’s High School Musical: On Stage! at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) July 14–16 & 21–23, 2023. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 PM and the Sunday matinees are at 2 PM.

Young Footliters Youth Theatre will present a production of Disney’s Frozen Jr. at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) June 23–25, 2023.

Dear Broadwayworld Reader. This week is going to be a good week. That is because 'Dear Evan Hansen' is back in Des Moines through June 11. In 2019, Des Moines Performing Arts brought the first national tour of 'Dear Evan Hansen' early in its run. So it's fitting that it is returning to Des Moines this week as one of its final stops before the tour closes in July. Another reason it's a fitting way to wind up its tour is that as part of the Independent Producers Network, Des Moines Performing Arts has invested in the show's Broadway, National Tour, and London productions. If you've seen the show in the past, or even the movie, after seeing it on opening night in Des Moines, I can say with certainty 'Dear Evan Hansen' is worth revisiting.

Native Gardens is now playing at Des Moines Playhouse. Performances run June 2-18.

The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra returns to the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts Thursday, June 8 at 7:00 PM.

What did our Some artists are remembered for being one-hit wonders, while others are known for producing hit after hit. In either case, we are left with the legacy of their music. When you think of Tina Turner, you think of all the hit songs she is known for. The legacy her music still has can be seen on stage at Des Moines Performing Arts as they opened 'Tina: The Tina Turner Musical' as part of their current Broadway Series.  critic think of TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL at Des Moines Performing Arts?

Every once and a while, when a new season is announced, I find a show in the lineup that I can help but anticipate seeing. For me, that happened when Iowa Stage announced they would be doing 'A Bright New Boise' as part of their 2023 season. It wasn't a show I was familiar with, but it was a plot I was going to be able to relate to. That was due to the show taking place at a Hobby Lobby. I have not worked for Hobby Lobby, but I did work retail for a few years, so going in, I was excited to see another look at the retail working experience. What I got was so much more.

Native Gardens comes to Des Moines Playhouse in June. Performances run June 2-18.

Mary Poppins comes to Coralville Center for the Performing Arts in December. The world's best-loved, practically perfect nanny takes the stage in a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical adventure!

City Circle Theatre Company presents Dancing at Lughnasa at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) May 5–7 and 12–14. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 PM and the Sunday matinees are at 2 PM.

In 1957 after a 91-performance Off-Broadway run, a Broadway transfer was planned for Alice Childress' 'Trouble in Mind.' The transfer was halted when Childress refused to soften the themes of racism in the play. Had it premiered, it would have been the first play by an African American female. That honor eventually went to Lorraine Hansberry's 'A Raisin in the Sun.'  'Trouble in Mind' finally made its Broadway debut on November 18, 2021. Almost 18 months later, you can see the amazing play here in Des Moines as it kicks off Iowa Stage's 2023 season.

The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts has announce two practically perfect season line-ups for 2023–2024!

City Circle Theatre Company presents Dancing at Lughnasa at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) May 5–7 and 12–14. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 PM and the Sunday matinees are at 2 PM.

September 14, 2021, is a day I will never forget.  After an 18-month break due to Covid, Broadway reopened.  Something special happened that morning.  On Good Morning America, there was a special performance from 'The Lion King' that had the cast in places around New York City, awakening the city and Broadway, leading to the cast gathering in Time Square, all during a performance of the opening song 'Circle of Life.' After an eight-year break in Des Moines, you can finally experience the breathtaking opening of 'The Lion King' again during its multi-week run at Des Moines Performing Arts.  Iowa is happy to have the show back again if the audience is any indication.

Everybody say yeah! It's that time of year when multiple productions start opening after spending the colder winter months inside. For the spring, Des Moines Playhouse has opened its production of "Kinky Boots." While the musical is fun and had the audience on their feet at the end, the show's message couldn't be more timely.

In March 0f 2020, Des Moines Performing Arts announced it was bringing the musical '1776' as part of its 2020/2021 Broadway Series. At the time, the production was billed as a pre-Broadway run. What we didn't know at the time was that it would be almost three years before the show was finally able to make it to Des Moines. Going into the opening night performance, I hoped the production would be worth the wait, but I wasn't prepared for the fantastic production I saw on stage.