Grease
The American Gothic Performing Arts Festival closes its 2026 season with Grease, a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey....
Des Moines Theatre Shows
Find Des Moines shows near you including musicals, plays, comedies, tours, family shows & more.
Ring of Fire
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Tyler Childers
Country powerhouse Tyler Childers is gearing up for a tumultuous summer season! Get set for an astounding run of shows as the neotraditional country powerhouse...
King Roger
When an enigmatic Shepherd from the East arrives at the Christian court of King Roger, his presence disrupts the court’s established values and view of the...
Polyglot Theatre's Bees
Bees is a hands-on participatory experience in which children become part of the performance, transforming into bees as they play alongside three human-sized Bee performers....
Post Malone & Jelly Roll
The state of Iowa will experience its largest ever live event during 2026. Post Malone and Jelly Roll deliver The BIG ASS Stadium Tour Part...
Of Mice and Men
Steinbeck’s timeless novella Of Mice and Men becomes a superbly crafted opera of great beauty and power. George and Lennie are two migrant ranch workers who dream...
Tosca
Returning to our stage for the first time in 17 years, Tosca features Puccini’s most memorable melodies and romantic orchestrations. The opera diva Floria Tosca steadfastly lives for art...
Fast and Hilarious Comedy Jam
Known for his fearless, quick-witted comedy style, Shang Forbes has entertained audiences nationwide with appearances on HBO, BET, Comedy Central, and Def Comedy Jam. Celebrated...
Storytime Under the Green Umbrella
Des Moines Performing Arts education partners lead a playful sharing of songs and stories for toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary-aged youth accompanied by their caregivers....
Dance Fitness with Tony Zika
Tony Zika leads outdoor dance fitness sessions featuring MixxedFit, a people-inspired fitness program that combines explosive dance moves with body weight toning while focusing on...
Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms & Spin Doctors
Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors set out on their Summer Tour 2026 and they hit the beautiful Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park...
Wicked
Winner of over 50 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, WICKED is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long...
Domino Effect by Ingrid Ingrid
Domino Effect fills Cowles Commons with oversized luminous dominoes, each humming with its own musical atmosphere, inviting attendees to push them over and set off...
Come From Away
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....
BoDeans
BoDeans are an acclaimed American roots rock band formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin in the early 1980s, built around the songwriting and distinctive voice of founding...
Spamalot
In 2005, Spamalot won the Tony Award for best musical comedy. Lovingly ripped off from the classic film "Monty Python and The Holy Grail," this...
Zac Brown Band
It’s time for country music’s pride to conquer both love and fear! This 2026, Zac Brown Band is going on an extensive Love & Fear...
Junie B Jones in Boo… and I Mean It
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...
Maybe Happy Ending
Inside a one-room apartment in the heart of Seoul, Oliver lives a happily quiet life listening to jazz records and caring for his favorite plant....
Latest Des Moines Reviews
Review: CINDERELLA at Ballet Des Moines
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
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.…
Review: MEREDITH WILSON'S 'THE MUSIC MAN' at Des Moines Performing Arts
This weekend, the newest national tour of Meredith Wilson's 'The Music Man' is stopping at Des Moines Performing Arts. Judging from the audience reaction, this production works its magic in a way no anvil salesman will be able to stop.…
Preview: SEASON PREVIEW About Time Theatre
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
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
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…
Review: THE NAKED MAGICIANS at Des Moines Performing Arts
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
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
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
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…
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Zac Brown Band Casey's Center (11/20-11/20) |
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Finding Nemo Jr Des Moines Playhouse (8/13-8/16) |
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King Roger Blank Performing Arts Center (7/04-7/17) |
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Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress Des Moines Playhouse (1/08-1/24) |
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The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors Des Moines Playhouse (5/07-5/23) |
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Legally Blonde Des Moines Playhouse (7/10-7/26) |
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Mean Girls Des Moines Playhouse (7/09-7/25) |
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Annie Des Moines Playhouse (12/04-12/27) |
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Les Misérables Des Moines Playhouse (4/09-5/02) |
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Fast and Hilarious Comedy Jam Adler Theatre (7/25-7/25) |