DC Felton - Page 3

Starting a theatre company is no easy feat, but for a theatre to be around for 50 years is something worth celebrating. You can celebrate 50 years with Des Moines Metro Opera this summer, which just opened up its 50th season with two spectacular productions. The season opened up a sold-out run of The Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess' with Simon Estes in his farewell performance. I've heard excellent things about the production. The opera continued its opening weekend with 'The Voice' finalist John Holiday in Benjamin Britten's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' based on the Shakespeare play by the same name.

What did our critic think of Calendar Girls at Des Monies Playhouse? The people in our lives have a significant impact on us, and sometimes we don’t know their impact on us until they are gone. How we reflect on them can sometimes lead us to do extraordinary things. “Calendar Girls,” which opened on June 3 at Des Moines Playhouse, asks us to reflect on how we remember the people in our lives and what we do to commemorate their memory.

What did our critic think of Cry it Out at Ankeny Community Theatre? Over the last few years of doing reviews, I've had the pleasure of seeing some true gems in our theatre community that are just outside of Des Moines. While these theatres may not have the budget of some of the Des Moines theatres, the heart and creativity they bring is just as strong. One example of this is Ankeny Community Theatre's production of 'Cry it Out' by Molly Smith Metzler, which opened on June 3. Thanks to some of the creative choices they've made with this show, it has stuck with me since seeing it. As I think more about the show, I've found myself appreciating the creativity even more.

One of the great things about theatre is the stories it allows us to tell. It doesn't seem like it would work when you first hear the story 'Hamilton' and how it is being told. The show has proved that wrong since 2015 since it took New York and then the country by storm. When it first came to Des Moines in 2018, it sold out within just a few hours. 'Hamilton' made its triumphant return to Des Moines on May 17 for another limited run through June 5. While tickets are still available, the nightly audiences have been packed.

Some of the best moments are when a small decision significantly impacts our lives. One of the great parts of being in theatre is how it can tap into those small decisions and deliver a show that can touch on the impact of those decisions. Tallgrass Theatre Company's production of 'Tiny Beautiful Things' touches on how what seems like a small or insignificant moment can make a lasting impact on the people around us and ourselves. This production is based on the book by Chery Strayed and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos. The original production at the famous Public Theatre in New York was co-conceived by Marshall Heyman, Thomas Kail, and Nia Vardalos.

With theatre coming back, one of the most exciting parts is seeing new shows hit the stage that were developed entirely or in part during the pandemic. Seeing a new play even more exciting is when a local playwright writes it. So when Iowa Stage announced they would be doing the world premiere of 'Girls Weekend 2: The Bachelorette Party' by Iowa playwright Karen Scheffer, I knew Des Moines audiences would be in for something special. I didn't realize that this show would provide the laughter audiences have been needing.

Growing up, one of my favorite movies to rent from our local library was about a strong girl named Pippi Longstocking, which was short for Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Efraim's Daughter Longstocking. So when Des Moines Playhouse announced it would be part of their 2021-2022 season, I was excited to see how they would bring this production to the stage. Their production had surprises sprinkled throughout that will spark the imagination of everyone in the audience.

Stories can be told in many ways. Sometimes they are told verbally from person to person. Other times, such as in a show, they can be told in the pieces of set being used or through other technical elements. Ankeny Community Theatre is stretching its storytelling muscles with its current production of 'Aura,' which opened on April 1.

On March 14, 2020, after only two performances, Des Moines Playhouse made the difficult decision to postpone their spring production of “Singin’ In the Rain.” At the time, they didn’t realize that COVID-19 would force them to cancel their show. I was fortunate enough to attend the second performance of their glorious production. Two years later, “Singin In The Rain” returned to the Playhouse stage on March 25, with many of the same cast and production team from two years before. So I was excited to be able to return to this glorious production on March 30 as they kicked off their second week of performances.

As actors, designers, directors, we can't help but find a little of ourselves in the work we do. It's what makes theatre so special. We open our hearts for people to see, live. Now imagine, if you will, that you are a playwright. Imagine writing something so personal that you refuse to have it published before your death. That is precisely what playwright Eugene O'Neil did with his play 'Long Day's Journey into Night.' Last weekend, the show opened as part of Iowa Stage Theatre Company's 2021/2022 season after a delay due to Omicron. The heart put into this production by everyone involved makes this a show you will be thinking about long after it closes.

Theatre is a form of storytelling. Sometimes a show tells a new story, and other times it takes a familiar one and gives it a new spin. 'Hadestown,' which opened on March 22 at Des Moines Performing Arts, does the latter in its retelling of the Greek story of Orpheus and Eurydice. The question going into this show is if it is a successful retelling. Based on attending opening night and the flood of responses I've seen on social media, not only is it successful, it's a production that you won't want to miss.

Every so often, a show comes out that asks its audience to take a look at something they may feel uncomfortable discussing. When care is taken, it can make for a powerful and thought-provoking production that evokes a dialogue to happen following the show. One of those shows is 'Next to Normal,' which tackles mental illness. The musical by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey is being presented in an intimate production with Carousel Theatre of Indianola.

One of the great things about children's theatre is that it brings some of our favorite stories from growing up to life on the stage. This also sparks children's imagination to dig into the books they are based on. Des Moines Playhouse is sparking the imagination of this generation and encouraging them to read with their nearly sold-out production of 'Charlotte's Web.'

I love seeing in the arts when a company takes a classic work and reimagines it for a modern audience. This often allows for more imaginative and innovative production that brings a brand new audience to your company. As they begin their 50th Season, Des Moines Metro Opera brings Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' to the Civic Center Stage with Des Moines Performing Arts. If this show is any indication of what's to come from the 50th Season for Des Moines Metro Opera, then audiences are in for a not to be missed treat this summer.

One of the best parts of seeing live theatre is sitting in a show and having it surprise you. Sometimes it can be from a performance in the show, or it could come from a fantastic technical element such as sets or lighting. Then other times, it could be how an amazing script comes to life. While all of those things are great, what makes a show memorable, is when they all come together to give the audience an experience they won't soon forget. Tallgrass Theatre Company's production of Laura Gundersen's 'The Revolutionists' does just that, mixing all the elements that leaves the audience talking long after the show closes. Lucky for you, this show is still playing through February 20, so you still have a chance if you haven't seen it.

While we may have had a few snowstorms this winter that has left us stuck in our houses, imagine if you were stuck on a train during a snowstorm. As you're stuck in the middle of nowhere on that train, a murder happens. If you can visualize this, then Des Moines Playhouse has the perfect play for you in their production of 'Agatha Christie's: Murder on the Orient Express' by Ken Ludwig, which is currently playing through Sunday, February 20.

Broadway is back at Des Moines Performing Arts. While this last fall we were treated got a glimpse into having the Willis Broadway Series this last fall with an engagement of 'The Bands Visit,' the series returned on February 8 with a hilarious production of 'Tootsie.' Like the title of the act 1 finale, you could say the opening of 'Tootsie' makes the return of the Willis Broadway Series 'Unstoppable,' with 6 shows and a concert scheduled between now and the end of August.

Growing up, there were two things I looked forward to being on TV each year, 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'The Sound of Music.' The latter of these movies has become a holiday tradition on TV each year, including the return of live musical productions. So when Des Moines Playhouse was looking for a family classic to stage for the 2021/2022 season, it's not a surprise they turned to one of America's favorite musicals for their holiday show. 'The Sound of Music' opened this last weekend, and I'm sure this production is going to become one of the Playhouses audience's favorite things.

A Theatre finds out that they will no longer be able to use the space they perform. As they are going into tech week for one of their final shows in their former home, a pandemic hit, causing the production to be shut down and ultimately canceled. Over the next year and a half, the community gets behind said theatre company and helps with raising funds, finding a new building, and building a new theatre in the space, and it is able to be opened right in time for the holidays.

If the first thing you think of at the holidays is people in the nursing homes, then Ankeny Community Theatre has the perfect holiday show for you in 'Geezers' by Tommy Lee Johnston. While the play may not occur during the Christmas holiday or be at a typical holiday location, this show has a message that is an excellent reminder as we go into the holiday season. It is a message of honoring those older than us by hearing their stories before their stories are gone forever.