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Des Moines Playhouse

831 42nd St
Des Moines

Upcoming Shows

Come From Away

Sep 11 – Oct 4, 2026

A small town on the eastern Candian shore suddenly became an international refuge when 38 planes carrying 7,000 passengers were diverted on September 11, 2001. Unfazed, the people of Gander, Newfoundland, provided not only the essential comforts of food and shelter but a...

Junie B Jones in Boo… and I Mean It

Junie B Jones in Boo… and I Mean It

Nov 7 – Nov 29, 2026

Junie B. Jones is terrified of Halloween due to scary secrets told by a classmate. To combat her fear, she plans to create the scariest costume ever to "outscare" the monsters. She decides on a clown, but ultimately her efforts lead to a humorous, unexpected scare for her...

Annie

Annie

Dec 4 – Dec 27, 2026

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the...

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress

Jan 8 – Jan 24, 2027

Morris likes lots of things: doing puzzles, painting pictures, pretending to be an astronaut, and wearing a tangerine dress from his school’s dress-up box because it “reminds him of tigers, the sun, and his mother’s hair.” But some of his classmates think boys can’t wear dresses...

The Lifespan of a Fact

The Lifespan of a Fact

Feb 5 – Feb 28, 2027

Jim Fingal is a fresh-out-of-Harvard fact checker for a prominent but sinking New York magazine. John D’Agata is a talented writer with a transcendent essay about the suicide of a teenage boy that could save the magazine from collapse. When Jim is assigned to fact check...

Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical

Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical

Mar 5 – Mar 14, 2027

Anne Shirley is mistakenly sent to live with a plainspoken farmer and his spinster sister, who thought they were adopting a boy! She wins over the Cuthberts and all of Prince Edward Island with her irrepressible spirit and imagination — and wins over audiences with this warm...

Les Misérables

Les Misérables

Apr 9 – May 2, 2027

In nineteenth century France, Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a lifelong struggle for redemption as he is...

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors

May 7 – May 23, 2027

You’ve played the game. Now see and hear the legend of the three great warriors who started it all… Long ago there lived three fierce warriors. From the Kingdom of Backyard came Rock; from the Empire of Mom’s Home Office came Paper, and from a messy village in the Junk Drawer...

Amadeus

Amadeus

Jun 20, 2027

In the court of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, Antonio Salieri is the established composer. Enter the greatest musical genius of all time: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Salieri has given himself to God so that he might realize his sole ambition – to be a great composer. Mozart is a...

Mean Girls

Mean Girls

Jul 9 – Jul 25, 2027

Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized...

Review: KING ROGER at Des Moines Metro Opera

Review: KING ROGER at Des Moines Metro Opera

by DC Felton · July 9, 2026

This season, Des Moines Metro Opera is taking my favorite type of risk and doing an Opera that audiences might not be familiar with in their final, and most ambitious opera of the season, Karol Szymanowski's 'King Roger.'…

Review: OF MICE AND MEN at Des Moines Metro Opera

Review: OF MICE AND MEN at Des Moines Metro Opera

by DC Felton · July 2, 2026

As America celebrates is 250th birthday, 'Of Mice and Men' celebrates it and the 100th birthday of Carlise Floyd by revisiting this timeless story through a new lense.…

Review: TOSCA at Des Moines Metro Opera

Review: TOSCA at Des Moines Metro Opera

by DC Felton · June 29, 2026

Summer has officially started with Des Moine Metro Opera's phenomenal production of 'Tosca.' Find out about the show and why you shouldn't miss it.…

Review: CINDERELLA at Ballet Des Moines

Review: CINDERELLA at Ballet Des Moines

by DC Felton · May 21, 2026

What did our There is a magic that only happens when seeing a show live. Sometimes it comes from a special effect, and other times from the beauty of telling a story. When that magic happens, it becomes a memory that will last not till midnight, but for a lifetime.…

Review: SUFFS at Des Moines Performing Arts

Review: SUFFS at Des Moines Performing Arts

by DC Felton · May 1, 2026

In a time on Broadway where so many shows are based on familiar IP, it's refreshing to have a new story come to the stage. In 2022, Suffs opened on Broadway at the Public Theatre, and then kept marching to Broadway, and now it is marching across the US.…

Preview: SEASON PREVIEW About Time Theatre

Preview: SEASON PREVIEW About Time Theatre

by DC Felton · March 8, 2026

This last season, a new theatre company emerged and made audiences 'squeamish' wih their first production. About Time Theatre Company is back for another season and has recently announced the three productions that will be part of its 2026 season. If the thought and time that went into their first p…

Review: NOTHING HOLDS STILL at Ballet Des Moines

Review: NOTHING HOLDS STILL at Ballet Des Moines

by DC Felton · March 3, 2026

Des Moines has a thriving arts community.  One of the amazing organizations that is making this community thrive is Ballet Des Moines. I had the opportunity to attend their performance of “Nothing Holds Still” this last weekend. The show featured world-premiere dances and collaborations with ot…

Review: THE OUTSIDERS at Des Moines Performing Arts

Review: THE OUTSIDERS at Des Moines Performing Arts

by DC Felton · February 25, 2026

Watching Tony's every year, I always look forward to the performances and seeing what each show decides to showcase. In 2024, I was captivated by the performance of 'The Outsiders' and looked forward to seeing it live. What was that moment? I'll share more on that later, but after seeing the show in…

Past Shows

86 total · showing 11–20

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Nov 7 – Nov 29, 2025

The Des Moines Playhouse presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever November 7-29. The Herdman children appear to be the worst kids ever. They lie, they steal, and they curse. When the Herdmans hear the neighborhood church serves treats, they show up and volunteer for the lead...

Final Act Ensemble: Fright Night

Final Act Ensemble: Fright Night

Oct 21

Start the evening with a thrilling, full-moon fright with “The Curious Coed.” A young lady out for an evening stroll with her boyfriend falls witness to some spooky circumstances when the full moon rises. Next comes the classic tale of “The Monkey’s Paw” and the warning to be...

Bright Star

Bright Star

Sep 19 – Oct 5, 2025

The Des Moines Playhouse presents Bright Star September 19-October 5. Inspired by a true story, Billy Cane, who recently returned to the North Carolina from the front lines of World War II, dreams of becoming a writer. He meets editor Alice Murphy, who gives him hope by paying...

Penguin Project HONK JR

Penguin Project HONK JR

Aug 14 – Aug 17, 2025

Established in 2004, The Penguin Project has evolved into a national program that partners with local community theatres. It creates opportunities for young artists with special needs to participate onstage in theatre and share their creative talents. Young artists, ages 14-21...

Waitress

Waitress

Jul 11 – Jul 27, 2025

A waitress at Joe’s Diner, Jenna learns about a pie-baking contest that could change her life and offer the chance she needs to escape her husband. Based on the movie of the same name, Sarah Bareilles transformed this critical darling into an inspiring and uplifting musical as...

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

May 2 – May 18, 2025

There’s only one way out of Wonderland. Alice, a curious girl who plunges down a rabbit hole, travels through an unpredictable world where animals dress up and talk, food can make one a giant, and a corrupt Queen tries to get rid of anyone who crosses her. Based on the books by...

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

Mar 28 – Apr 13, 2025

Based on the popular book by Mo Willems, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical , is a silly story about young Trixie, who loses her Knuffle Bunny on a family trip to the laundromat. Will she find him, or will Knuffle Bunny be lost for good?

Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar

Mar 7 – Mar 23, 2025

Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of Jesus in the final days leading up to his crucifixion. Loosely based on the Gospels, Superstar focuses on the conflicts between Jesus, his disciples, the people of Israel, and the leadership of Rome. Told by his wavering disciple and...

Men on Boats

Men on Boats

Feb 7 – Mar 2, 2025

The year: 1869. The crew: a maniacally talkative youth, an old Civil War vet who doesn’t like people, an overexcited Brit, and a hunter who wears only beaver skins, to name just a few. Led by John Wesley Powell, a one-armed crazy-faced explorer with an excitable soul, this...

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Jan 17 – Feb 2, 2025

Middle school, ugh. It’s the worst. But Greg is determined not to be at the bottom of the popularity chart. Jeff Kinney’s much loved character takes center stage as Greg’s cartoon diary becomes a hilarious and heartfelt musical. Will Greg’s plans to become popular lead him to...

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Offenbach’s THE TALES OF HOFFMANN in Des Moines Offenbach’s THE TALES OF HOFFMANN
Blank Performing Arts Center (7/17-7/17)
Offenbach’s THE TALES OF HOFFMANN in Des Moines Offenbach’s THE TALES OF HOFFMANN
Blank Performing Arts Center (7/02-7/02)
Junie B Jones in Boo… and I Mean It in Des Moines Junie B Jones in Boo… and I Mean It
Des Moines Playhouse (11/07-11/29)
Zac Brown Band in Des Moines Zac Brown Band
Casey's Center (11/20-11/20)
Philip Glass’s ORPHÉE in Des Moines Philip Glass’s ORPHÉE
Blank Performing Arts Center (7/03-7/03)
Offenbach’s THE TALES OF HOFFMANN in Des Moines Offenbach’s THE TALES OF HOFFMANN
Blank Performing Arts Center (7/09-7/09)
Philip Glass’s ORPHÉE in Des Moines Philip Glass’s ORPHÉE
Blank Performing Arts Center (7/24-7/24)
Les Misérables in Des Moines Les Misérables
Des Moines Playhouse (4/09-5/02)
Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical in Des Moines Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical
Des Moines Playhouse (3/05-3/14)
Britten’s BILLY BUDD in Des Moines Britten’s BILLY BUDD
Blank Performing Arts Center (7/18-7/18)