BWW Review: SOME ENCHANTED EVENING:THE SONGS OF RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN at Des Moines Playhouse
When Des Moines Playhouse closed their production of 'Singin' in the Rain' last year, no one could have imagined what would follow. A year without a musical performance on the stage. This meant that the big productions they had planned for Summer, Fall, and Winter had to be canceled. That changed on Friday, April 9, when they opened their spring production of 'Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein.'
Des Moines Playhouse Presents SOME ENCHANTED EVENING and THE VELVETEEN RABBIT
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.
BWW Review: LOVE LETTERS at Des Moines Playhouse: A Welcome Journey
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.
DM Playhouse Presents THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Nov. 2-25, 2018. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, or at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is sponsored by Nationwide.
DM Playhouse Announces 2018 Dionysos Awards Recipients
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.
Des Moines Community Playhouse Celebrates With The Dionysos Awards
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.
2018 Cloris Leachman Awards Nominees Announced
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.
BWW Review: RAGTIME at The Des Moines Playhouse
From Harry Houdini, to baseball, to Booker T. Washington, to the American Dream, Des Moines Playhouse's production of Ragtime covers a lot of ground - ten years to be exact. In presenting an encyclopedic glance of these ten years from 1902 - 1912, the musical, with book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Stephen Flaherty, slowly becomes a big ball of dense nostalgia with glimpses of heart every now and then. But that seems to be a bigger problem with the intent of the show to nicely wrap up ten years of history in under three hours rather than The Des Moines Playhouse's production. Yes, The Des Moines Playhouse's production (directed by John W. Viars) is grand, beautiful, heartfelt and absolutely delicious to listen to, which makes it an excellent season closer for the company as they head into their 100th season and a renovated theatre.
Des Moines Playhouse's Announces 99th Season Finale: RAGTIME
The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents 'Ragtime,' Apr. 6-29, 2018. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, or at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St. 'Ragtime' is sponsored by Des Moines Radio Group.
The Des Moines Community Playhouse Celebrates 100 Years In Song
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.
BWW Review: GUYS & DOLLS at Urbandale Community Theatre
Although Urbandale Community Theatre's dedication to producing classic shows may be safer than putting on contemporary pieces, a classic must be done in a fresh way in order to convince the audience that the show must be seen. This production remains fresh enough to receive that seal of approval and entertains in spite of certain scenes that slow down the action. I will say that I wish Urbandale Community Theatre would sometimes be riskier in its selection of show, but Guys & Dolls convinces me enough that classics are here to stay.
BWW Previews: GUYS AND DOLLS at Urbandale Community Theatre
For the past two decades, Urbandale Community Theatre has been entertaining the local community with an annual summer musical theatre production. This tradition continues this year with a new production of Guys and Dolls running July 21 - 30, 2017. Guys and Dolls, the 1950 Frank Loesser production that has been a staple of American musical theatre since its debut, also continues Urbandale Community Theatre's tradition of utilizing a volunteer cast, crew, and orchestra in combination with a professional production team to create a polished theatrical experience that reaches all areas of the Urbandale community.