DM Playhouse Counts Down to 100th Anniversary

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."

The program celebrates Playhouse and Broadway musical theatre history. "Countdown to 100" is presented by Hubbell Realty Company with support from Workiva, Business Record, Nationwide, Lana Jones Gould and Charlie Schafer, Dr. James and Mary Ellen Kimball, and Julie and Marshall Linn.

Broadway started a new era of theatre in the 1960s with shows like "Gigi," "Hello, Dolly!," "Cabaret," and the groundbreaking "Hair." "Countdown to 100" will feature songs from these shows, as well as from Playhouse musicals of that decade: "Kiss Me, Kate," "The King and I," and "Gypsy." Gina Gedler, a favorite with Playhouse audiences, will perform the legendary song "Don't Rain on My Parade" from "Funny Girl."

The 1970s brought Broadway shows that revolutionized the theatre, such as "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Ain't Misbehavin'," and "Company." In the '70s, the Playhouse produced "The Music Man," "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Sound of Music," "South Pacific," "A Little Night Music," "Camelot," and more. Steve Berry will reprise his showstopping number, "On The Street Where You Live," from "My Fair Lady." The iconic '70s musical, "A Chorus Line," and its hit song, "What I Did for Love," will be featured in "Countdown to 100" during a special tribute to Playhouse performers.

The cast for the evening features past and present Playhouse performers including Dani Boal, Edward Corpus, Gina Gedler, Tina Haase Findlay, Sarah Hinzman, Ann Kramer, Ken-Matt Martin, Mark Morrison, Maxwell Schaeffer, Jackie Schmillen and Wicker Van Orsdel. The Master of Ceremonies is Steve Berry.

The celebration begins at 6:00 PM on Friday, Mar. 4, with hors d'oeuvres and drinks, followed by the musical revue at 7:30 PM. The revue will be repeated at 7:30 PM on Saturday, Mar. 5. The Playhouse lobby will be transformed into a piano lounge following the performance both nights.

Tickets are available online at dmplayhouse.com and at the Playhouse ticket office, 515-277-6261. Patron and sponsor packages are available by contacting Nikki Syverson, Playhouse development director, at 515-974-5370.

The Playhouse is one of the oldest and largest community theaters in the US. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage.

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