Des Moines Performing Arts

Programs: Des moines performing arts presents the performing arts to iowa and the surrounding states. It is the presenter of major broadway and educational touring companies, performers and groups, and is the performing home of many local and regional groups, including the des moines symphony. The des moines civic center, stoner theater, cowles commons, and the temple theater at the temple for performing arts are all operated by dmpa. Since its opening in 1979, the des moines civic center has become the premier performing arts venue in iowa. Dmpa regularly features a broad range of activities from community events to major broadway tours and national and international performing artists. Dmpa is the presenter of the willis broadway series, one of the largest touring theatrical subscription programs in the country. In addition, dmpa presents the wellmark blue cross & blue shield family series, the dance series, the prairie meadows temple comedy series, the popular applause school matinee series, and the prairie meadows live at the temple concert series. There were 15,561 season ticket holders across all series this year. An important part of dmpa's mission is to provide the facilities at non-profit rates to area organizations. These events range from performances by local comedy groups in the stoner theater to the iowa military veterans band, ballet des moines, des moines symphony, and iowa dance theatre's nutcracker in the civic center.

education and community engagement programs are core to the des moines performing arts mission as a non-profit performing arts organization. More than 55,000 students and educators attend curriculum-connected school matinee performances at dmpa through the applause series annually - at a cost of only $1 per student. In addition, dmpa sends teaching artists into the schools to provide hands-on workshops and residencies in special opportunities that engage students directly in the creative process. And, through its partnership with the john f. Kennedy center, dmpa provides teachers with in-depth professional development on how to use the arts in their classrooms to better impact student learning. Guest lectures, q&as with company members, and other unique opportunities invite audience members to explore the inner workings of the performance. Dmpa also leverages its reputation of bringing the best of broadway, dance, and the performing arts to des moines to provide local artists with invaluable training opportunities. Master classes, workshops, and summer camps give aspiring artists the chance to increase their skills by working directly with those who know what it takes to succeed on the professional stage. Public program offerings include: summer theater camps for young artists, master classes for student and professional artists in the community, pre and post-show lectures and q&a events for audience members, lifelong learning opportunities, and theater tours. K-12 school program offerings include: applause series matinees for school audiences, professional development opportunities for educators on how to use the arts in their instruction, in-school arts workshops and residencies, and field trip collaborations with partnering cultural organizations.