Des Moines Performing Arts’ series schedule of 2022-23 theater shows
Des Moines Performing Arts has announced the schedule for several of its series in the coming year.
Included below are the lineups for the Wellmark Family Series — which presents live performances aimed a youth — the Dance Series, the Prairie Meadows Temple Comedy Series and National Geographic Live programming.
More information on all of these listed performances can be found via desmoinesperformingarts.org.
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Family-friendly plays to see in Des Moines
‘Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical’
When: Nov. 5, 2022; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
The cast of the Hundred Acre Wood is coming to Des Moines with all the expected stuff and fluff for a musical adaptation telling a new story of Pooh Bear and friends.
The show promises to showcase familiar Winnie the Pooh tunes from the Sherman Brothers — songs like “A Rather Blustery Day” and “The Wonderful Things About Tiggers” — alongside newer pieces from A.A. Milne.
This show arrives to Des Moines following its New York premiere in 2021 and subsequent final Off-Broadway performance at Theatre Three at Theatre Row on Jan. 30.
Collision of Rhythm
When: Jan. 21, 2023; 11 a.m.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
If you like going to performances that make your toes tap, there’s no better show than this one to check out.
At the start of next year tap-dancer, Aaron Williams, and beatboxer, Bronkar Lee, will come to Des Moines as Collision of Rhythm, in which the duo creates a rhythm-centered experience with comedy, instrumentals and more.
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123 Andrés
When: March 4, 2023; 11 a.m.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
The next act is a multi-lingual music experience the whole family can enjoy when the Latin Grammy-winning husband-and-wife pair, Andrés and Christina, perform as 123 Andrés.
The duo has performed across the U.S., Panama and Mexico among other countries. The pair was nominated at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for their 2021 album “Actívate.”
Air Play
When: April 29, 2023; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
Like the aforementioned 123 Andrés, Air Play is the product of a husband-and-wife duo. In this case, it’s Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone who met at a circus in Afghanistan.
In Air Play, the performers use soaring fabrics, balloons that swallow people and airborne umbrellas to stun and amaze. This show is described as “part comedy, part sculpture, part circus, part theater.”
The couple has a background in physical performance and have been creating shows like this for more than a decade as the Acrobuffos.
‘In the Year of the Boar & Jackie Robinson’
When: Feb. 18, 2023; 11 a.m.
Where: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.
Based on the book of the same name by Bette Bao Lord, “In the Year of the Boar & Jackie Robinson” is a multi-media performance that tells the story of a young girl, Shirley, moving from China to America with her family in the mid-1900s.
Despite being the only kid in her class who doesn’t speak English, Shirley finds belonging in her new home as she falls in love with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
‘The Ugly Duckling’
When: April 1, 2023; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Where: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.
Another children’s tale adapted for live performance coming to Des Moines next year is the classic story of “The Ugly Ducking” by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen.
Parents will already know the story of the newborn fowl who is teased by the ducklings in the pond for being a particularly ugly duckling. The story follows this ugly ducking as he looks for belonging.
Dance shows for 2022-23
‘Sw!ng Out’
When: Oct. 1, 2022; 7:30 p.m.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
The upcoming DMPA Dance Series starts strong with this show from acclaimed choreographer Caleb Teicher, who uses the music of Eyal Vilner’s Big Band to accompany a Lindy Hop style of dance to life for audiences.
Teicher is known for working with world-famous talents such as Chris Celiz and Conrad Tao. Teicher has been featured in The New York Times, NPR and performed with Jon Batiste, the bandleader on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”
Last week on the Des Moines dance scene:‘Of Gravity and Light’ may be ‘the most ambitious collaborative work’ by Ballet Des Moines
Gibney Co.
When: Feb. 24, 2023; 7:30 p.m.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
The Gibney Co. is a group of performers who pride themselves on not only dance abilities but also their community-focused endeavors.
In this appearance, the collective of a dozen dancers will take the stage with choreography by Sonya Tayeh, who worked on the recent Broadway adaptation of “Moulin Rouge.” The score and live music for the show is done by The Bengsons, an indie-folk duo behind the Off-Broadway theatrical concert, “Hundred Days.”
Ronald K. Brown/Evidence
When: May 4, 2023; 7:30 p.m.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
Ronald K. Brown is a seasoned choreographer who is known for fusing African and Afro-Cuban dance styles in his work. Evidence is the Brooklyn, New York-based dance company founded by Brown in 1985 with an aim to reinforce the value of community in African American culture and to showcase traditional forms of African rhythms to audiences of all backgrounds.
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National Geographic Live
Rae Wynn-Grant ‘The Secret Life of Bears’
When: Jan. 31, 2023; 7:30 p.m.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
Rae Wynn-Grant is a conservation scientist and wildlife ecologist who specializes in how human presence in an area influences local large carnivores.
In her Des Moines appearance, Wynn-Grant will be discussing “The Secret Life of Bears,” in particular the North American black and grizzly bears and the parallels they have with East African lions, which have had interactions with local communities that proved problematic for conservation efforts.
Maureen Beck, ‘Improbable Ascent’
When: March 21, 2023; 7:30 p.m.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
Maureen Beck was named the 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for her achievements as a world champion para-climber.
Beck was born without her left hand but nonetheless fell in love with rock climbing. With her presentation of “Improbable Ascent,” Beck will discuss how she was able to reach the literal and figurative heights she’s achieved in her career so far.
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Anand Varma, ‘Invisible Wonders’
When: April 30, 2023; 6:30 p.m.
Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
Photographer Anand Varma is famed for documenting details that often fly beneath the notice of most, topics like the lifecycle of honeybees and the minutia of hummingbird behavior
With his presentation of “Invisible Wonders,” he will be magnifying the details that typically reside on the edge of human perception.
‘Dixie’s Tupperware Party’
When: Sept. 20 through Oct. 2; 2022
Where: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.
This isn’t the type of show where you raise the roof, it’s the kind where you break out the Tupperware.
“Dixie’s Tupperware Party” returns to Des Moines with Dixie Longate — the drag persona of comedian Kris Andersson — who promises to bring your grandma’s Tupperware party to the 21st century.
‘The Crown — Live!’
When: Oct. 25-30; 2022
Where: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.
If you’re a fan of the Netflix series “The Crown” and like a good laugh, this is almost certainly the show for you.
In the span of 80 minutes, two actors will affectionately riff on the story of how Elizabeth Windsor became Queen Elizabeth II. This comedy tells the story of Beth, an actress who was overlooked for the role of Queen Elizabeth; so she and her agent Stanley recreate the narrative of the Netflix show.
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‘Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation’
When: Jan 31-Feb. 5; 2023
Where: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.
Do you have “Frozen” committed to memory? Do the lyrics of “Phantom of the Opera” haunt your waking days? Then it might be worth seeing a new twist on those shows with this particular performance.
In “Forbidden Broadway,” more than 30 Broadway hits will be spoofed by a madcap cast, parodying everyone from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Lin-Manuel Miranda.
‘The Second City Swipes Right’
When: April 18-23; 2023
Where: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.
Whether you’re coming alone, with a friend, alongside a friend-with-benefits, or a romantic partner, “Second City Swipes Right” promises to give those gathered 90 minutes of laughter.
Over the course of the show, comedic performers will lampoon the ins and outs of love, dating and sex.
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Isaac Hamlet covers arts, entertainment and culture at the Des Moines Register. Reach him at ihamlet@gannett.com or 319-600-2124, follow him on Twitter @IsaacHamlet.
