DES MOINES

by DC Felton - May 11, 2025

On Tuesday, '& Juliet' opened, and the show is a new type of Jukebox musical.  One where the story comes first, and the music is an enhancement of the story. See here for the review! ...

by DC Felton - March 02, 2025

Stories are not just narratives, they are powerful tools that shape our understanding of the world. They can be about the legacy a person leaves, they can excite us about what is to come, or they can help us process the events in our lives. But most importantly, stories leave us with questions, spar...

by DC Felton - January 31, 2025

It's a rare sight to see a giant inflatable ear of corn in the lobby of Des Moines Performing Arts, or to be offered a show-themed drink. But when a musical about corn comes to Iowa, it's time to pull out all the stops. This is exactly what they've done for 'Shucked,' which premiered Tuesday night a...

by DC Felton - December 09, 2024

This season with Des Moines Performing Arts is full of 'Razzle Dazzle.' One of the things I'm excited about this season with Willis Broadway Series is that they are presenting not one but two shows that came out of the City Center Encore Series in NYC. The first is 'Chicago: The Musical,' which is c...

by DC Felton - October 20, 2024

'Great, Scott!' Des Moines Performing Arts is opening another season of fantastic shows coming directly from Broadway.  One exciting thing about this season is that all six shows in the season ticket package are in the first year of their national tours. Their 2024/2025 season kicks off with the Law...

by DC Felton - August 30, 2024

Another season comes to a close at Des Moines Performing Arts, and they are going out with a big spectacle. On Tuesday, the tour of 'Moulin Rouge' opened at the Civic Center for a two-week run.  Having seen the show in New York in the summer of 2022, I was looking forward to seeing this show again a...

by DC Felton - May 02, 2024

What did our critic If you 'Wanna be Startin' Something,' then check out Des Moines Performing Arts; not only did they recently announce their 2024/2025 season, but they are not stopping there.  This week, they are bringing the hottest show of the 2021/2022 Broadway Season.  'MJ: The Musical' opened...

by DC Felton - March 15, 2024

Hey Des Moines, here she is. A new production of 'Funny Girl' opened on Tuesday evening. When you think of the show 'Funny Girl,' one of the first things you probably think of is the person you saw bringing Fannie Brice to life on stage. For the show to work, you need someone who can deliver an icon...

by DC Felton - March 04, 2024

Over the years, since Des Moines Performing Arts started bringing productions to the Temple Theatre, there have been a few staple productions. One of those staples centers around Dixie Longate, a woman from Mobile, Alabama, who happens to sell Tupperware. While she has returned multiple times to sel...

by DC Felton - March 02, 2024

One of the great things about the Des Moines Performing Arts Broadway series is that it not only introduces us to new productions in their season, but there are also a few shows you can purchase as an add-on that have stood the test of time. This week, they are bringing the musical 'Les Miserables' ...