Katy Merriman News

Auditions for two fall 2020 shows at The Des Moines Playhouse, I and You and Weekend Comedy, will be held virtually with an audition video submission deadline of 6:00 PM, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020.

The Des Moines Playhouse is keeping theatre LIVE in Des Moines with a unique new initiative: Live Theatre Drive-in.

Summer is almost here! The Des Moines Community Playhouse is offering students from kindergarten through ninth grade seven different classes plus private coaching, all online, to fill the long summer days and keep minds active.

The Des Moines Playhouse is keeping theatre LIVE in Des Moines with a unique new initiative: Live Theatre Drive-in. Starting June 12 and continuing nearly every weekend through Aug. 15, The Playhouse will present three, two-person cast plays in its parking lot, with audiences remaining safely in their cars listening via a radio frequency.

Do you believe in fairies? Or have you grown too old for that belief? Maybe a better question is, do you have a friend? Someone who believes in you, especially when you disagree with each other? Des Moines Playhouse's current production of 'Tinker Bell' by Patrick Flynn, uses everyone's favorite fairy to tell a new but familiar story. She takes the audience on a journey that allows them to reflect on what it means to have a friend. Will this production have you believing in fairies, or friendship by the time you leave?

The Kate Goldman Children's Theatre at The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents Tinker Bell, Feb. 21-Mar. 8, 2020. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515.277.6261, or at The Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St. Tinker Bell is sponsored by Nationwide.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse's latest Teen Theatre Workshop, Auditions: Song Selection with Katy Merriman, will be held Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, 1:00-4:00 PM. The workshop is open to all interested teens in grades 7-12. Registration is $9 per person. Registrations may be made online at dmplayhouse.com.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse's latest Teen Theatre Workshop, Improv with Comedy Xperiment, will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, 1:00-4:00 PM. The workshop is open to all interested teens in grades 7-12. Registration is $9 per person. Registrations may be made online at dmplayhouse.com.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse's latest Teen Theatre Workshop, Improv with Nate Jorgensen, will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, 1:00-4:00 PM. The workshop is open to all interested teens in grades 7-12. Registration is $9 per person. Registrations may be made online at dmplayhouse.com.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse kicks off a season of monthly Teen Theatre Workshops, on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, 1:00-4:00 PM, with Playwriting with Karen Schaeffer. The workshop is open to all interested teens in grades 7-12. Registration is $9 per person. Registrations may be made online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-954-7685, or at the Playhouse, 831 42nd St.

Now in its 100th season of bringing excellence in entertainment and education to Central Iowa, the Des Moines Community Playhouse today announced its new artistic team. Katy Merriman has been named artistic director while John Viars will continue through the end of the year as artistic director emeritus.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse held the 2018 Dionysos Awards on Sunday, Oct. 14. The theatre honored 18 backstage, front-of-house, and education volunteers, and announced 10 acting award winners. The evening with a number from Billy Elliot The Musical, on stage now through Oct. 28.

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.  

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 Performance Academy presents a musical showcase Cabaret, Saturday, July 21, 2018. Shows are at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Due to renovations at the theatre, Performance Academy Cabaret will be performed at the Staplin Performing Arts Center at Valley High School, 3650 Woodland Ave., West Des Moines.Tickets are pay-what-you-can with proceeds going to the Playhouse's youth programming, and can be purchased at dmplayhouse.com or at the door.

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.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents 'Elephant & Piggie's 'We Are in a Play!' Jan. 5-21, 2018. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, or at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St. 'Elephant & Piggie's 'We Are in a Play!' is sponsored by Nationwide.

This production of The Music Man will lift your spirits and remind you of a great staple of American musical theatre, even if it does need some modern rewrites.

There's trouble in River City! Fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill (Brad D. Church) cons Iowa-stubborn citizens by convincing them to purchase instruments and uniforms for a boys' band. But his plans to skip town with the money are thwarted when he meets Marian (Katy Merriman), the librarian, and falls in love… first with her, and then with the town. 'The Music Man' is Meredith Willson's tribute to his home state, and one of the Playhouse's most-requested musicals.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents Meredith Willson's "The Music Man," July 14-Aug. 6, 2017. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, or at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St.