Katy Merriman News

The Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company present A Love Offering by Jonathan Norton, June 4-20, 2021. Tickets may be purchased online at and by phone at 515.277.6261. An opening night livestream and video-on-demand dates will also be offered

The Des Moines Playhouse will continue to present live theatre with two shows this spring, Some Enchanted Evening – The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Apr. 9-May 9, 2021, and, for families, The Velveteen Rabbit, Apr. 16-May 2, 2021. In-person performances will be presented in repertory, alternating shows by the week, in the John Viars Theatre.

Over the last year, there have been things we've all missed. I especially miss taking my friend's now seven-year-old daughter to see a children's show. Through the Playhouse's Friday Funday program, she was introduced to theatre, so I was excited to take her to a production at Kate Goldman's Children's Theatre. The first one we attended was 'Ella Enchanted,' which was a magical evening. So I was excited to see that the Playhouse was bringing back the Kate Goldman Children's series this winter, with their first show 'Stuart Little, by Joseph Robinette, based on the book by E.B. White, opening this last Friday.

nature of the dream, a devised film exploring Black identity in Iowa, will debut at 7:00 PM, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021.

Auditions for the musical revue Some Enchanted Evening will be held virtually with an audition video submission deadline of 6:00 PM, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. All auditions are open to the public; no one is pre-cast. Callbacks will be in person at the theatre by appointment only, Feb. 16-17, 2021.

Auditions for the family show The Velveteen Rabbit will be held virtually with an audition video submission deadline of 6:00 PM, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. All auditions are open to the public; no one is pre-cast. Callbacks will be in person at the theatre by appointment only, Feb. 16-17, 2021.

The Des Moines Playhouse follows its successful fall and holiday performances with two shows this winter, Leaving Iowa, Feb. 19-Mar. 21, 2021, and, for families, Stuart Little, Feb. 26-Mar. 14, 2021.

Auditions for Leaving Iowa will be held virtually with an audition video submission deadline of 6:00 PM, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. All auditions are open to the public; no one is pre-cast. Details about the video auditions are online at dmplayhouse.com/volunteer/audition.

The Playhouse will help ring in the new year with Party in a Box. The Playhouse Party in a Box has all the elements for fun: beverages, snacks, and noisemakers with options for families and for grown-ups. Party in a Box also includes entertainment with an on-demand concert available for viewing whenever your celebration takes place.

It’s that time of year again, a time when we gather at our local theatres to see our favorite stories come to life on the stage. While Covid may have impacted if and how we attend productions, Des Moines Playhouse is allowing us to see a show either in person or virtually with their holiday family classic, “Playhouse “On The Air” Presents: Miracle on 34th Street.” This production opened on December 4 and is now available to see in person or online.

The Des Moines Playhouse is seeking Black actors and artists for an upcoming filmed theatre project. Nature of the Dream is a devised, ensemble-based piece developed through film, art, and music. Through the use of multimedia, this project will affirm that Black Iowan stories matter. Black actors and artists, over age 18, in all mediums, of any gender are invited to share stories.  

The Des Moines Playhouse is seeking actors for Onyx Readings. Needs are for actors of color over age 18, any gender, with a majority of roles for Black actors.

The Des Moines Playhouse follows its successful fall season with a family holiday show, Playhouse on the Air Presents: Miracle on 34th Street, Dec. 4-20, 2020.

The Des Moines Playhouse follows its successful fall season with a family holiday show, Playhouse on the Air Presents: Miracle on 34th Street, Dec. 4-20, 2020. For those not ready to return inside the theatre building, The Playhouse is offering a livestream of opening night, Dec. 4, and on-demand viewing through Dec. 27.

The Des Moines Playhouse initiates its new program, Onyx Script Reading Series, at 6:30 PM, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. The series' first script is Widows by Gillian Flyn and Steve McQueen. The evening is free and open to everyone. The reading will be presented on Zoom. A link to join the reading will be posted on The Playhouse's website, dmplayhouse.com, and Facebook page.

Theatre takes us on a journey each time we see a show. Sometimes that journey is comical like “Weekend Comedy” which opened last weekend at the is currently running every other weekend. Other times it takes us on an emotional journey, like in “You and I” by Lauren Gunderson, which opened at Des Moines Playhouse Friday evening. 

Auditions for the holiday show, Playhouse on Air Presents: Miracle on 34th Street, will be held virtually with an audition video submission deadline of 6:00 PM, Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. All auditions are open to the public; no one is pre-cast.

The Des Moines Playhouse is welcoming audiences back into the theatre for two shows this fall, Weekend Comedy, Oct. 9-Nov. 8, 2020, and I and You, Oct. 16-Nov. 15, 2020. Weekend Comedy and I and You will be presented in repertory, alternating shows by the week.

What a year 2020 has been for the theatre community. At this time of year, we are usually celebrating the previous season and anxiously awaiting the first productions of a new season. Like so many theatre companies, Iowa Stage started the year of 2020 off strong with the debut of Robert John Forda??s latest musical a?oeAdore Us! Line.a?? As they were getting ready to start performances of a?oeThe Cake,a?? by Bekah Brunstetter, Iowa Stage found themselves having to postpone the show. What no one realized at the time, was the time it would take to be able to perform live again. Now Iowa Stage is looking at how to start providing theatrical opportunities to the community.

The Des Moines Playhouse safely presented four shows in its Live Theatre Drive-In this summer. Staged in the theatre's parking lot with audiences watching from their cars or lawn chairs and listening via FM radio, the shows were a hit with audiences. Starting Friday, Sept. 11, 2020 a?" what was scheduled to be opening night of The Playhouse's 102nd season a?" The Playhouse will stream two of the drive-in shows, Rounding Third and The Roommate online via Broadway On Demand.