DC Felton - Page 5

Throughout the history of theatre, the art form has adapted to its current times. In 2020 it was forced to adapt again due to Covid 19. Each theatre company has found its own unique way to adapt. This last summer, Iowa Stage did a one-night reading of a play called 'The Cake,' performed at Des Moines Playhouse's parking lot. Since then, they have adapted by doing a play via zoom and now are adapting again. On March 5, Iowa Stage opened their most recent production for the 2020-2021 virtual season, 'Bright Half Life' by Tanya Barfield.

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.

You have a voice. You have a story. The life experiences you have, continue to add to your story. As your story continues, how often do you take the time to hear another person's story? How often do you take the time to listen to a person's story who is a different race than you? On Thursday, February 25, I had that opportunity when Two Steps from the Left Productions, with production assistance from Des Moines Playhouse, presented 'nature of the dream,' a devised theatre piece that uplifts voices and stories regarding Black identity in Iowa.

Sometimes, one of the hardest things we can do take the time to reflect. Taking that time to reminisce can sometimes lead to a fresh perspective for us. A few nights ago, one of my theatre friends Mariah Kerns took the time to reflect on the last year. She shared on Facebook, regarding her and her husband, 'The last 'normal' thing we did before voluntarily going into quarantine on March 15, 2020, was see a live show. Last night, nearly a year later, we went to see another.' The show she referred to was Des Moines Playhouse's preview of 'Leaving Iowa,' which I streamed on opening night, February 19. Since this viewing, the show's performances have been suspended for two weeks due to Covid 19.

This has been a strange year. It started with so many theatrical opportunities in the Des Moines area. Unfortunately that all changed on March 14 when theatres across the state started closing their current shows early and having to cancel the rest of their seasons due to Covid 19. This has led to financial hardships for theatres across the country. 

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.

One of the surprising parts of this pandemic is that we have been able to take the time to step back and think about what impacts our lives. Sometimes it may be a person, other times it may be an event or show that we attend. Not being able to sit in a theatre the last few months has allowed me to sit back and think about the different theatre companies I have been able to see over the last year and a half and what makes them unique. One of those theatres is Iowa Stage. I’ve missed going to their shows and leaving the show challenged by what was being said in the show. So I was excited to hear that they were doing a one week run of “Tuesday’s with Morrie,” and it was being done as a virtual production.

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. 

On March 14, I had the pleasure to see and review Des Moines Playhouse's fantastic production of 'Singing in the Rain.' What I didn't know at the time, was that the theatre community was getting ready to shut down due to COVID-19, or that the performance I was seeing was going to be the productions closing performance. After a summer of Drive-in theatre, the Playhouse has decided to bring their first production back inside to the John Viars Theatre. 'Weekend Comedy' by Jeanne Bobrick and Sam Bobrick opened on October 9 to a live and streaming audience, and it was just the dose of laughter everyone needed.

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.

Last week Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) and Iowa Public Broadcasting Service started the 2020 Virtual Opera season with a stunning airing of 'Manon.' The decision to go virtual this season was due to the continuing COVID crisis. They continue their summer season this week with their 2018 production of Antonin Dvořák's 'Rusalka,' which I had the opportunity to usher during the 2018 season.

Opera companies worldwide have found themselves canceling their seasons, including Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO).  The difference with DMMO is that they have had an Emmy winning partnership with Iowa Public Television, now called Iowa Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), coming together to give you the best seats in the house with a virtual season, starting June 28 with their Emmy-winning MANON by Massenet.  

Recently, the term intermission has taken on a new meaning in the theatre community.  While we usually use it as a term to signify a break in a show, we have recently modified it to a break in theatre productions due to COVID19. While we may not be able to gather as a theatre community to sit in a theatre for a show, some theatres are getting creative in how they present shows this summer.  One of them is Des Moines Playhouse.  I attended a dress rehearsal of their socially distanced production of 'Love Letters,' which opens on June 12.

If you have been joining us on Broadwayworld the last few weeks, we have been highlighting artists in different productions that have been postponed or cancelled. This week we are starting a new series that talks with members of the boards of local Des Moines Theatres to see the effects of COVID19. We are excited to have spoken with Ankeny Community Theatre President-Elect Cheryl Clark, the difficult decisions they had to make with their productions, as well as an exciting new opportunity they have recently announced.

One of the first productions we heard was being delayed was Iowa Stage's production of 'The Cake.' This week I reached out to 'The Cake' cast member Kim Haymes to hear her experience with the production's closing.

We continue our artist spotlight series with Abena Imhotep from Des Moines Young Artists' Theatres' production of 'The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe,' which was to open on April 10 and had performances continue through today, April 26.

We continue our artist spotlight series with Kyle Bochart from Des Moines Playhouse's production of 'Singin' in the Rain,' which opened on March 13 and had performances suspended after their performance on March 14.

We continue our artist spotlight series with Allison Bollinger from Tallgrass Theatre Company's production of 'Wonder of the World' by David Lindsay-Abaire, which was getting ready to open on March 27.  The production was canceled with the plan to present it another season

Theatres across the United States have closed their doors due to the arrival of COVID-19. These closures include local theatres in Des Moines and the surrounding communities. Part of our goal with Broadwayworld is to promote and support our regional theatres. How do we do this with all theatres closed?

Over the last few weeks, theatres across the United States have closed their doors due to the arrival of COVID-19.  These closures include local theatres in Des Moines and the surrounding communities.  Part of our goal with Broadwayworld is to promote and support our regional theatres.  How do we do this with all theatres closed?