Des Moines Performing Arts Theater Series Schedule 2022-2023

Des Moines Performing Arts has announced the schedule for several of its series for the coming year.

Below are lineups for the Wellmark Family Series – which features live performances aimed at young people – 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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Must-See Family Plays in Des Moines

“Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical”

When: November 5, 2022; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Or: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.

The cast of Hundred Acre Wood arrives in Des Moines with all the stuff and plushies expected for a musical adaptation telling a new story of Pooh Bear and his friends.

The show promises to feature familiar tunes from the Sherman Brothers’ Winnie the Pooh — songs like “A Rather Blustery Day” and “The Wonderful Things About Tiggers” — alongside newer tracks from AA Milne.

This show is coming to Des Moines after its New York premiere in 2021 and after final Off-Broadway performance at Theater Three in Theater Row on January 30.

Rhythm Collision

When: 21 Jan 2023; 11 a.m.

Or: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.

If you like to see shows that make you tap your feet, there is no better show than this one to discover.

Early next year, tap dancer Aaron Williams and beatboxer Bronkar Lee will come to Des Moines as Collision of Rhythm, in which the duo create a rhythm-centric experience with comedy, instrumentals and more.

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123 Andres

When: March 4, 2023; 11 a.m.

Or: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.

The next act is a multilingual musical experience the whole family can enjoy when Latin Grammy-winning husband and wife couple Andrés and Christina perform as 123 Andrés.

The duo has performed in the United States, Panama and Mexico, among other countries. The couple was nominated for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for their 2021 album “Activate.”

Aerial game

When: April 29, 2023; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Or: 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, performers use fabrics that fly, balloons that swallow people, and aerial umbrellas to stun and amaze. This show is described as “part comedy, part sculpture, part circus, part theatre”.

The pair have a background in physical performance and have been creating shows like this for over a decade under the name Acrobuffos.

“In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson”

When: February 18, 2023; 11 a.m.

Or: 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 multimedia performance that tells the story of a young girl, Shirley, leaving China for America with her family. in the mid 1900s.

Despite being the only child in her class who doesn’t speak English, Shirley finds her place 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.

Or: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.

Another children’s tale adapted for live performance in Des Moines next year is the classic story “The Ugly Ducking” by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen.

Parents already know the story of the newborn fowl being teased by the ducklings in the pond for being a particularly naughty duckling. The story follows this ugly duckling as he searches for his belonging.

Dance performances for 2022-23

‘Sw! ng Out’

Caleb Teicher & Company will perform in Des Moines in October.

When: 1 Oct 2022; 7:30 p.m.

Or: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.

The next DMPA dance series starts strong with this show from renowned choreographer Caleb Teicher, who uses the music of Eyal Vilner’s Big Band to bring a Lindy Hop style of dance to life for the audience.

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 of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”

Last week on the Des Moines dance scene:‘Of Gravity and Light’ is perhaps Ballet Des Moines’ ‘most ambitious collaborative work’

Gibney Co.

When: February 24, 2023; 7:30 p.m.

Or: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.

The Gibney Co. is a group of artists who take pride not only in their dance abilities, but also in their community-focused efforts.

During 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 show’s score and live music are by The Bengsons, an indie-folk duo behind the Off-Broadway theatrical concert, “Hundred Days.”

Ronald K. Brown/Proof

Evidence by Ronald K. Brown is performing in Des Moines in 2023.

When: May 4, 2023; 7:30 p.m.

Or: 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 the goal of building the value of community in African-American culture and introducing traditional forms of African rhythms to audiences from all walks of life.

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National Geographic Live

Rae Wynn-Grant “The Secret Life of Bears”

When: 31 Jan 2023; 7:30 p.m.

Or: 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 discuss “The Secret Lives of Bears,” specifically North American black and grizzly bears and the parallels they have with East African lions, who have had interactions with local communities that have proven problematic for conservation efforts.

Maureen Beck, “Improbable Ascent”

Maureen Beck in "Perplexed," the 2017 documentary about the mountaineer.

When: March 21, 2023; 7:30 p.m.

Or: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.

Maureen Beck has been named 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for her achievements as a world champion in para-climbing.

Beck was born without her left hand but fell in love with rock climbing nonetheless. With her presentation of “Improbable Ascent”, Beck will explain how she was able to achieve the literal and figurative heights she has reached in her career so far.

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Anand Varma, ‘Invisible Wonders’

Photographer Anand Varma

When: April 30, 2023; 6:30 p.m.

Or: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.

Photographer Anand Varma is famous for documenting details that often go unnoticed, topics like the life cycle of bees and the intricacy of hummingbird behavior

With his presentation of “Invisible Wonders”, he will magnify the details that usually reside at the edge of human perception.

‘Dixie’s Tupperware Party’

When: Sept. 20 to Oct. 2; 2022

Or: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.

It’s not the type of show where you raise the roof, it’s the type where you bust the Tupperware.

“Dixie’s Tupperware Party” returns to Des Moines with Dixie Longate — the drag character of comedian Kris Andersson — who promises to bring your grandma’s Tupperware party into the 21st century.

“The Crown – Live!”

When: 25-30 Oct; 2022

Or: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.

If you’re a fan of the Netflix series “The Crown” and love a good laugh, this is definitely the show for you.

In the space of 80 minutes, two actors tell with affection how Elizabeth Windsor became Queen Elizabeth II. This comedy tells the story of Beth, a forgotten actress for the role of Queen Elizabeth; she and her agent Stanley therefore recreate the narrative of the Netflix show.

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“Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation”

When: 31 Jan.-Feb. 5; 2023

Or: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.

Do you have “Frozen” in memory? Do the lyrics to “Phantom of the Opera” haunt your waking days? Then it might be worth seeing a new twist on these shows with this particular performance.

In “Forbidden Broadway,” more than 30 Broadway hits will be spoofed by a crazed cast, parodying everyone from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Lin-Manuel Miranda.

“The Second City Slides Right”

When: 18-23 April; 2023

Or: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St.

Whether you come alone, with a friend, alongside a friend on benefits, or a romantic partner, “Second City Swipes Right” promises to give 90 minutes of laughter to those gathered.

During the show, comedic artists will describe 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. Contact him at [email protected] or 319-600-2124, follow him on Twitter @IsaacHamlet.