Jackie Schmillen News

The Falling and the Rising centers around a strong female hero known only as “Soldier”. After sending a video message home on the eve of her daughter’s thirteenth birthday, the Soldier is severely wounded by a roadside IED. Doctors quickly place her in an induced coma to help minimize the extensive trauma to her brain. The Soldier must now make an arduous journey towards both healing and home. 

On March 14, when I was sitting at Des Moines Playhouse watching their production of 'Singin' in the Rain,' I had no idea what was about to come. Iowa had just had its first case of Covid19 just a few short weeks prior. That evening an email came out that the production was being postponed. What came next was a nightmare, fifteen months without seeing a live show in a theatre. The Playhouse has been able to find a way to make live performances work this last year, but I needed to be comfortable going to the theatre.

Join The Des Moines Playhouse for the 2020 Dionysos Awards at 7:00 PM on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. This year's awards are virtual, with a video available on The Playhouse's website, YouTube channel, and Facebook page.

What do you get when you cross a classic holiday movie with the Oscar, Tony, and Grammy award-winning team of Pasek and Paul? You get ”A Christmas Story: The Musicalal” playing as this year's holiday classic at Des Moines Playhouse. While this may be the second version of ”A Christmas Story” opening this weekend, this review will not be a comparison of the two.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents the family holiday classic, A Christmas Story, The Musical, Dec. 6-23, 2019. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, or at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St. A Christmas Story, The Musical is sponsored by Corteva Agriscience.

Join the Des Moines Community Playhouse for the 2018-19 Dionysos Awards on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018. The Dionysos Awards celebrates the contributions of more than 750 individuals, giving 55,000 hours annually as actors, backstage crews, and guest services volunteers.  

Seven local theater companies took home trophies in 20 categories from this year's Cloris Awards ceremony Sunday night at Hoyt Sherman Place.

Seven local theater companies took home trophies in 20 categories from this year's Cloris Awards ceremony Sunday night at Hoyt Sherman Place.

Founded in 2015, the Cloris Awards celebrate excellence in theatre in Greater Des Moines. The annual awards program brings together the theatre community and the public to celebrate their work and enhance the visibility of locally-produced theatre. The 2017-2018 season featured 43 productions by 12 participating companies.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse is approaching its 100th anniversary, and has already begun the celebration with a special performances each year leading up to the big day. On Feb. 16-17, the Playhouse will continue the trip down memory lane with 'Countdown to 100: Musicals of the 2000s.' The program celebrates Playhouse and Broadway musical theatre history. 'Countdown to 100' is presented by Hubbell Realty Company with support from Workiva.

It is somewhat of an unspoken rule in community theatre that if it's Disney, it sells. This magic word, in combination with the team that made the Cloris Award-sweeping Young Frankenstein last summer, ought to make the Playhouse's production a surefire hit. Luckily, the math adds up for the Playhouse even if the production lacks cohesion at times and is not the best musical adaptation Disney has created.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse production of 'Disney's the Little Mermaid,' will be presented Dec. 1-23, 2017. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, or at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St. 'Disney's The Little Mermaid' is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse held the 2017 Dionysos Awards on Sunday, July 23. The theatre honored 21 backstage, front-of-house, and education volunteers, and announced 10 acting award winners.

Join the Des Moines Community Playhouse for the 2016-17 Dionysos Awards on Sunday, July 23. The Dionysos Awards celebrates the contributions of more than 1,700 individuals, giving 77,000 hours annually as actors, backstage crews, and front-of-house volunteers.  

The Des Moines Community Playhouse is approaching its 100th anniversary, and is starting the celebration early with a special fundraising performance to be held each year leading up to the big day.

It is a known fact that any cold heart can be warmed by a seven foot mute monster in tap shoes singing Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz". If you happen to be a fan of Mel Brooks' film Young Frankenstein, you already know this. But, if you happen to be like me and have never seen the iconic film, you need to go see The Des Moines Playhouse's production of Young Frankenstein immediately.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents "The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein,' Mar. 17-Apr. 9. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, or at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St.

Join the Des Moines Community Playhouse for the 2015-16 Dionysos Awards on Sunday, July 24. The Dionysos Awards celebrates the contributions of more than 1,700 individuals, giving 77,000 hours annually as actors and backstage and front-of-house volunteers.     The evening will begin with a social event at 5:30 PM.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse is approaching its 100th anniversary, and is starting the celebration early with a special performance to be held each year leading up to the big day. Today and tomorrow, Mar. 4-5, the Playhouse will begin the trip down memory lane with 'Countdown to 100: A Musical Revue of the '60s and '70s.'

The Des Moines Community Playhouse is approaching its 100th anniversary, and is starting the celebration early with a special performance to be held each year leading up to the big day. On Mar. 4-5, the Playhouse will begin the trip down memory lane with 'Countdown to 100: A Musical Revue of the '60s and '70s.'