Skip to main content
Shop Merch Add a Show Listing
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

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 71–80

Leaving Iowa

Leaving Iowa

Feb 19 – Mar 21, 2021

An outlandish take on the classic family road trip, Leaving Iowa is the story of writer Don who returns home to find a final resting place for his fathers ashes. When he discovers his grandmothers house is now a grocery store, Don travels across Iowa searching for a proper...

Stuart Little Video On Demand

Stuart Little Video On Demand

Mar 5 – Mar 21, 2021

Stuart Little is a mouse born into a family of humans. Shy and thoughtful, Stuart is also a lover of adventure. When his friend, the bird Margalo, disappears, this heroic mouse travels in search of her. The Playhouse will offer a video-on-demand of Stuart Little Mar. 5-7 and...

Leaving Iowa -Video On Demand

Leaving Iowa -Video On Demand

Feb 26 – Mar 14, 2021

Leaving Iowa is a postcard to anyone who has ever taken a family road trip. The Playhouse will provide the opening night recording as video-on-demand, Feb. 26-28 and Mar. 12-14, 2021. Also available: Opening Night Livestream, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021 and Live performances...

Stuart Little

Stuart Little

Feb 26 – Mar 14, 2021

Stuart Little is a mouse born into a family of humans. Shy and thoughtful, Stuart is also a lover of adventure. When his friend, the bird Margalo, disappears, this heroic mouse travels in search of her. Stuart Little and Leaving Iowa run alternating weeks. Stuart Little...

Stuart Little Opening Night Livestream

Stuart Little Opening Night Livestream

Feb 26

Stuart Little is a mouse born into a family of humans. Shy and thoughtful, Stuart is also a lover of adventure. When his friend, the bird Margalo, disappears, this heroic mouse travels in search of her. The livestream begins on opening night, Feb. 26th at 7:00 PM. The Playhouse...

Leaving Iowa Opening Night Stream

Leaving Iowa Opening Night Stream

Feb 19

Leaving Iowa is a postcard to anyone who has ever taken a family road trip. The livestream is opening night, Feb. 19th, at 7:30 PM. The Playhouse will also provide the opening night recording as a video-on-demand, Feb. 26-28 and Mar. 12-14, 2021. Leaving Iowa and Stuart Little...

Playhouse on the Air Presents: Miracle on 34th Street

Playhouse on the Air Presents: Miracle on 34th Street

Dec 4 – Dec 20, 2020

This December, audiences will enter a 1940s radio studio where a radio host, sound effects artists, and a star-studded acting company perform the holiday classic, Miracle on 34th Street. Young Susan Walker has been raised by her well-meaning mother, Doris, not to believe in...

I and You

I and You

Oct 16 – Nov 15, 2020

Anthony (Clifton Antoine) arrives unexpectedly at classmate Caroline's (Natalie Grote) door bearing a beat-up copy of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass with an urgent assignment from their English teacher. Homebound due to illness, Caroline hasn't been to school in months. She is...

Weekend Comedy

Weekend Comedy

Oct 9 – Nov 8, 2020

Weekend Comedy finds a middle-aged couple (Sean Kanuso, Gina Gedler) and a young couple (Tiffany Liechty, Jobe Fee) accidentally renting the same cottage for a three-day weekend. After the couples decide to share the cottage, a clash of generations ensues. Jeanne and Sam Bobrick...

Singin' in the Rain

Singin' in the Rain

Mar 13 – Apr 5, 2020

What a Glorious Feeling!Silent movies are out. Talkies are in! Unfortunately for famed movie star Don Lockwood, his leading ladys comically harsh and squeaky voice is ill-suited for the switch. When their next film is converted into a talking picture, the studio must bring in...

BroadwayWorld TV


Britten’s BILLY BUDD in Des Moines Britten’s BILLY BUDD
Blank Performing Arts Center (7/10-7/10)
Broadway 2026-27 5-show in Des Moines Broadway 2026-27 5-show
Adler Theatre (6/24-6/24)
Les Misérables in Des Moines Les Misérables
Des Moines Playhouse (4/09-5/02)
Broadway At The Adler 2026-27 Season in Des Moines Broadway At The Adler 2026-27 Season
Adler Theatre (1/28-1/28)
Britten’s BILLY BUDD in Des Moines Britten’s BILLY BUDD
Blank Performing Arts Center (7/23-7/23)
Annie in Des Moines Annie
Des Moines Playhouse (12/04-12/27)
Offenbach’s THE TALES OF HOFFMANN in Des Moines Offenbach’s THE TALES OF HOFFMANN
Blank Performing Arts Center (7/09-7/09)
Mean Girls in Des Moines Mean Girls
Des Moines Playhouse (7/09-7/25)
Mamma Mia! in Des Moines Mamma Mia!
Civic Center Of Greater Des Moines (5/04-5/09)
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress in Des Moines Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress
Des Moines Playhouse (1/08-1/24)