Review: THE NAKED MAGICIANS at Des Moines Performing Arts
by DC Felton - February 13, 2026
What did our critOne thing you know for sure going into a Temple Comedy Series show at Des Moines Performing Arts is that you are going to have a good time. It could be a one-person show, a small musical, or even a comedic magic show. So when they announced they were bringing back 'The Naked Magicia...
Review: KIMBERLY AKIMBO at Des Moines Performing Arts
by DC Felton - February 05, 2026
February is going to be an exciting month for Des Moines Performing Arts, as not one, but two Tony Award winners for best musical make their debut on the Civic Center stage. They are opening the month with a week-long run of the 2023 winner for Best Musical, 'Kimberly Akimbo.' If the lead-up activit...
Review: SIX at Des Moines Performing Arts
by DC Felton - January 16, 2026
Every once in a while, a show finds its own path. The US national tour of 'Six' is making its second stop in Des Moines this week at Des Moines Performing Arts, and almost 10 years later, the show still has the same level of excitement it did then....
Review: DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS at Des Moines Performing Arts
by DC Felton - December 20, 2025
One of my favorite parts of the Holiday season is seeing classic stories brought to the stage. For many people, their first experience in theatre is a production of “The Nutcracker” or “A Christmas Carol.” This season, we get the opportunity to add a third story to that growing list. On Tues...
Review: THE NOTEBOOK at Des Moines Performing Arts
by DC Felton - December 05, 2025
Stories can be one of the most powerful things in the world. We all have different reasons we share a story. Sometimes it's to pass down a lesson we have learned. Other times it's to remind us or someone we know about our story. 'The Notebook: The Musical,' which opened on Tuesday at Des Moines ...
Past Shows
The Emerald Earring
Apr 18 – May 4, 2025
A dark comedy was written by local playwright Justin Nostrala. The story is about a woman’s struggle between trying to support the institution of marriage...
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley
Nov 4 – Nov 20, 2022
A sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice set two years after the novel ends, MISS BENNET continues the story, only this time with bookish middle-sister Mary...
The Revolutionists
Feb 4 – Feb 20, 2022
The Revolutionists: A Comedy, A Quartet, A revolutionary Dream Fugue, A True Story by Lauren Gunderson is a play about four beautiful, badass women that...
The Bridges of Madison County: Concert Version
Jun 25 – Jun 26, 2021
In The Bridges of Madison County, Francesca Johnson, a woman who married an American soldier to flee war-ravaged Italy, looks forward to a rare four...
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