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Well, we made it. We’re finally tilting into spring and summer. Maybe you saw the declaration on Facebook: The sun set at 7:30 p.m. last weekend and won’t set before 7 p.m. until the end of October. I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t hit the “like” button hard enough.
So how do you want to spend these longer days? Scroll down to see more than 80 promising options from now through the end of June, including a few Broadway musicals, a LEGO convention, another visit from Willie Nelson, and the downtown farmers market, which reopens in exactly 34 days. This spring also marks the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby and the 114th Drake Relays.
Ready? … Set? … GO!
Michael Morain
dsm editor
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In the title role of "Salome," soprano Sara Gartland will perform the famous "Dance of the Seven Veils" with the Des Moines Metro Opera. (Photo: Ben Easter/DMMO)
THEATER & DANCE
D.M. Metro Opera unveils eclectic summer season
There are plenty of good reasons to see one of the Des Moines Metro Opera’s shows this summer in Indianola. It’s a rare chance to watch international artists up close and personal in the 470-seat, bowl-shaped auditorium at Simpson College’s Blank Performing Arts Center.
It’s not too early to buy tickets. Most shows sell out, thanks in part to the company’s national reputation. Fans fly in every year from all over the country to see operas that are rarely performed elsewhere.
This summer's festival season offers four productions on the main stage — up from the usual three — that are just about as diverse as four shows can be:
“The Barber of Seville” (June 28-July 20) tells the tale of a smooth-talking barber (Fiiiiigaro! Figaro! Figarofigarofigaro!) as he helps a friend rescue a lovely lady from the clutches of her skeezy old guardian. Bonus: You’ll recognize the Rossini tunes from Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.
“Salome” (June 29-July 19) reimagines the Biblical story of John the Baptist, with a focus on the princess who called for his beheading. The score by Richard Strauss caused a ruckus at its 1905 premiere and set the stage for even bolder music in the 20th century.
“Pelléas et Mélisande” (July 6-21) follows a prince who falls in love with a mysterious young woman, who in turn falls for the prince’s half-brother. Debussy’s 1902 score shimmers with impressionistic melodies and harmonies that are rarely heard in opera.
“American Apollo” (July 13-19), in its world premiere, tells the recently discovered story of the painter John Singer Sargent and his intimate relationship with a Boston elevator operator, Thomas McKeller. The new work was composed by Damien Geter, with a libretto by Lila Palmer.
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“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” April 5-21. “You’ve Got a Friend,” “One Fine Day,” “Natural Woman” — hear all these hits and more in the Des Moines Playhouse show about the prolific singer-songwriter.
“Mean Girls,” April 11. Beware: The national tour of the musical about high school hierarchy takes the stage — and no prisoners — at Stephens Auditorium in Ames.
Comedy XPeriment, April 19-20 and May 17-18. The local improv group has been keeping things fresh for 17 years now. Catch 'em again at the Des Moines Civic Center’s Stoner Theater.
“The Good Doctor,” April 19-May 5: Tallgrass Theatre Co. presents an unusual mashup, a series of short plays that Neil Simon based on classics by Anton Chekhov.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” April 26-28. Ballet Des Moines tells the Shakespearean fairy tale, set to the classic score by Felix Mendelssohn, at Hoyt Sherman Place.
“MJ,” April 30-May 5. The Tony-winning musical about Michael Jackson’s 1992 “Dangerous World Tour” has a tour of its own, which includes a weeklong stay at the Des Moines Civic Center. The musical was written by two-time Pulitzer winner Lynn Nottage (“Ruined,” “Sweat”) and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon.
The Improvised Shakespeare Co., April 30-May 5. With little more than a suggestion from the audience (and years of improv training), the Chicago-based company creates a fresh Shakespearean play every time they hit the stage at the Temple for Performing Arts.
"Who’s Live Anyway?" May 5-6. Quick-thinking comedians visit Hoyt Sherman Place to play a few of the improv games that became famous on the long-running TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
“Chicago,” May 14. The national tour of the musical about a murder and its sensational media aftermath brings the old razzle-dazzle to Stephens Auditorium in Ames.
The Peking Acrobats, May 18. The dexterous, gravity-defying acrobats tumble, juggle, somersault and perform other gravity-defying feats in the Des Moines Performing Arts Family Series at the Des Moines Civic Center.
“The Play That Goes Wrong,” May 31-June 16. Former Des Moines Playhouse executive director John Viars returns from his new home in Texas to direct the farcical, disastrous, wackadoodle — pick your adjective — murder mystery in the theater that now bears his name.
“The Melancholy Play,” June 7-16. Iowa Stage Theatre visits the Des Moines Civic Center’s Stoner Theater to tell playwright Sarah Ruhl’s tale of an ordinary bank teller who becomes suddenly, inexplicably happy. And things get weird. And her hairdresser turns into an almond.
“Ants,” June 12-15. Human-sized ants use sound and body language to find giant breadcrumbs in this interactive, educational show for all ages that Des Moines Performing Arts presents outdoors in Des Moines, Polk City, Johnston, Grimes and Urbandale.
“Camelot,” June 13-15. The Tallgrass Theatre Company revives the catchy, clever 1960 musical about King Arthur, Guenevere and the Knights of the Round Table at the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater in West Des Moines.
Stomp, June 20-23 (postponed from January — remember that blizzard?). The innovative percussion-dance group returns to make some noise at the Des Moines Civic Center.
“The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body,” June 22-July 7. The Pyramid Theatre Company presents a new play by Lisa B. Thompson at the Des Moines Civic Center's Stoner Theater, billed as a "choreopoem" that offers a spiritual mixed tape, praise dance, self-help book and collective diary of prayers, lies and love songs for Black women and girls.
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This image comes from a 2017 single-channel digital video called “... our states of emergence see us looking for an inner shore to meet the coming surge and then …” by the artist Deborah Jack, born 1970. (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
Art Center forecasts a stormy exhibition
When the double-whammy hurricanes Irma and Maria howled through the Caribbean within two weeks of each other in 2017, the Des Moines Art Center curator Mia Laufer recalled the childhood trips she took every summer to see her grandmother in Puerto Rico. In the years since, climate change has stretched the Atlantic hurricane season to a full six months, from June 1 through Nov. 30, with storms that start faster, churn harder and wreak more havoc than ever before.
So how has that influenced everyday life across the Caribbean’s 700-some islands? How are folks grappling with the worrisome “new normal” in places where the aftermath of each new storm lays bare the messy legacies of colonialism and political corruption?
To find out, Laufer has assembled an array of contemporary Caribbean artwork — a painting on a FEMA tarp, a small ship assembled from scraps — for an exhibition called “Hurricane Season” from June 8 through Sept. 22.
It’s the storm before the calm: “Caribbean Dreams,” a show of still-life photos by the Jamaican-born artist Samantha Box opens Oct. 12.
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“Small Pleasures: Tiny Art from the Permanent Collection,” through July 26. The exhibition at Iowa State’s Brunnier Art Museum runs the gamut, from an itty-bitty Roman bronze of Hercules (essentially, one of Ken’s ancient ancestors), to miniature Chinese ceramics, to a small painting of a single cloud. Bonus: The well-known Iowa artist Tilly Woodward leads an April 7 gallery talk about her minutely detailed paintings in the show. Registration is free and encouraged.
“States of Becoming,” through May 12. The Des Moines Art Center’s wide-ranging exhibition focuses on relocation, resettlement and assimilation in work by 17 contemporary artists who either immigrated to the United States themselves or were born to first-generation immigrants from a dozen African countries, plus tiny Trinidad and Tobago.
“Not One Without Water,” through May 20. This show, also at the Grinnell College Museum of Art, borrows its title from W.H. Auden’s poem “First Things First” and draws from the museum’s permanent collection to explore the nature of water.
“Rick Miller Retrospective: 1955-2024,” April 29-June 21. The local artist and longtime art teacher presents a solo show, subtitled "Finding My Voice," at the Polk County Heritage Gallery.
“Fountain of the Four Seasons” tour, May 5. Iowa historian Jerome Thompson discusses the latest efforts to conserve Christian Petersen’s iconic fountain at Iowa State University. After the on-site talk, walk to Morrill Hall to pick up seeds to plant at home.
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Renée Elise Goldsberry headlines a symphony concert April 27 at the Des Moines Civic Center.
MUSIC
Schuyler sister to sing sky high with D.M. Symphony
If there’s ever a “Hamilton” spinoff, let’s agree to call it “Angelica.” No doubt, the eldest Schuyler sister could have pulled off the revolution with more flair and less fuss if she’d only been allowed in the room where it happened.
She was portrayed on Broadway by another dynamo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, who won a Tony for originating the role in “Hamilton” and will perform with the Des Moines Symphony on April 27 at the Des Moines Civic Center. The set list includes a few tunes from the musical, as well as other hits like “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and a medley from “Rent.”
In other A. Ham news, “Hamilton” will return to Des Moines June 3-15, 2025, as an add-on to the recently announced Willis Broadway Series presented by Des Moines Performing Arts. Tickets are currently on sale for season-ticket holders and groups of at least 10.
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Fall Out Boy, April 3. The suburban Chicago punks who gave the world “Dance, Dance” and “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” visit Wells Fargo Arena with Jimmy Eat World, Hot Mulligan and CARR.
Chanticleer, April 5. The award-winning “orchestra of voices” sings classical, jazz, gospel, pop and plenty more at Stephens Auditorium in Ames.
John Mellencamp, April 5. More than 40 years after recording his first big hits, including “Hurts So Good” and “Jack and Diane,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s current tour visits the Des Moines Civic Center to showcase his latest album, “Orpheus Descending.”
Martha Redbone, April 12. The storytelling songwriter draws on her Black and Indigenous heritage to serve up some bluesy, folksy, gospel gumbo at the Temple for Performing Arts.
Candlelight Concerts: A Taylor Swift Tribute, April 13. The Listeso String Quartet enters a new era with these renditions of Swift songs like “Love Story” and “I Knew You Were Trouble.”
Des Moines Symphony: Dance Beats, April 13-14. The BRKFST Dance Co. joins the orchestra to bust out some moves for Beethoven’s nearly 200-year-old Grand Fugue at the Des Moines Civic Center. Before and after: music from Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty” and Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
AJR, April 16. Three brothers — Adam, Jack and Ryan Met — who started busking in New York’s Central Park hit the big-time in 2013 with “I’m Ready,” which sampled SpongeBob SquarePants, followed by “Weak,” “Bang!” and “World’s Smallest Violin.” Catch them at Wells Fargo Arena.
Billy Nation: A Tribute to Billy Joel, April 18. Adam Shapiro fronts a six-piece band to perform some of the Piano Man’s greatest hits at the Temple for Performing Arts.
Kane Brown, April 18. The country-pop star who attracted a following on social media before releasing his first two successful albums, “Chapter 1” and “Experiment,” brings his “In the Air” tour to Wells Fargo Arena.
Gladys Knight, April 21. The Empress of Soul and 10-time Grammy-winner returns to Des Moines with her decades-spanning discography.
Joe Satriani & Steve Vai, April 25. Take note, shred heads: The world-famous electric guitar virtuosos are joining forces for the “Satch-Vai Tour” that visits the Des Moines Civic Center.
Zach Bryan, April 25-26. The Grammy-winning country star’s “Quittin’ Time” tour whose recent hits “Heading South” and “Something in the Orange” topped charts worldwide performs at Wells Fargo Arena with the Middle East and Levi Turner.
David Foster and Katharine McPhee, April 30. The Grammy-winning Canadian producer and his wife, the American singer/actor, visit Hoyt Sherman Place to perform some of their biggest hits and share anecdotes about their creation. Foster has written and produced Celine Dion’s “The Power of Love,” Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up," and Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” from “The Bodyguard," among many others.
Des Moines Choral Society, May 4. The choir and a chamber orchestra present their annual masterworks program in the splendor of St. Ambrose Cathedral.
Napoleon Douglas, May 4. The local singer anchors two nights at Noce in May, first with Broadway tunes and then with the Nate Sparks Big Band on May 25.
The Summer Concert Series at Jasper Winery kicks off May 9 with a performance from Americana band Brother Trucker. The free events continue every Thursday through Aug. 1. (Remember to bring your own lawn chair!)
Alyssa Allgood, May 10. The jazz singer and bandleader swings in from Chicago to release a new album at Noce.
Cake, May 11. The free-wheeling party kicks off this summer’s Field Daze series at the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park.
Des Moines Symphony, May 11-12. The orchestra wraps up its indoor season at the Des Moines Civic Center with Beethoven’s 200-year-old Ninth Symphony, with help from 150 local voices for the “Ode to Joy.”
Des Moines Community Orchestra, May 12. The orchestra presents a free, all-Spanish program with help from the Heart of Iowa Classical Guitar Society at Drake University’s Harmon Fine Arts Center.
“The Secret Agency,” May 16-17. The Grammy-winning “family funk phenomenon” known as Secret Agent 23 Skidoo combines hip-hop and science fiction into an imaginative show for all ages. His shows at Water Works Park and Riverview Park kick off the free outdoor series Des Moines Performing Arts presents this summer across the metro.
Greenbelt Music Festival, May 17-18. This year’s indoor-outdoor shindig at the Horizon Events Center on the Clive Greenbelt Trail features Umphrey’s McGee, Railroad Earth, the Yonder Mountain String Band and plenty more.
Chicago, May 18. The rock band, not the musical, visits the Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee. They formed in 1967 and are still going strong, with a 2020 Grammy for lifetime achievement.
Damani Phillips with Mitch Towne and Ernie Adams, May 18. Ever heard a saxophone, drum and organ trio? Now’s your chance! Head to Noce for some sweet hot beats.
Steve Berry & Gina Gedler, May 24. We’d go see these two at Noce just to bask in their charisma. The fact that they’re singing catchy Burt Bacharach tunes, well, that’s just icing on the cake.
George Strait, Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town, May 25. The country legends visit Jack Trice Stadium in Ames for fans of new country, old country and all the country in between.
Willie Nelson, May 25. The one-of-a-kind Texas legend returns to Water Works Park for a Field Daze concert at the Lauridsen Amphitheater.
Los Tigres del Norte, June 1. The legendary Latin band with six Grammys and a half-dozen Latin Grammys brings their signature sound to the Des Moines Civic Center.
T-Pain, June 4. The rapper and producer will perform songs from his 2023 album of covers. (Turns out, his golden voice never really needed the auto-tune he made famous.)
The Ruckus, June 7-8. The country music festival that started in 2009 at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds is moving this year to Adventureland with headliners Chris Young and Jake Owen. Bonus: Tickets include admission to the amusement and water parks.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, June 11. The duo struck gold with their 2007 album “Raise the Roof” and have been winning over fans ever since. Catch them in the Field Daze series at Water Works Park.
Samara Joy, June 13. The young jazz singer with three recent Grammy Awards, including the 2023 honor for Best New Artist, visits Hoyt Sherman Place.
Des Moines Gamer Symphony Orchestra, June 23. Power up! The local ensemble plays some of the best music from video games in a free concert at Urbandale High School.
The Pixies and Modest Mouse, June 23. Both alt-rock bands with roots in the ’90s team up for a show at the Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee.
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James Patterson, April 10. The bestselling author headlines the Des Moines Public Library’s annual AViD series with a visit to the Scottish Rite Consistory, where he’ll discuss one of his latest books, “The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians.”
Middle of the Map Tattoo Convention, April 12-14. During the fourth annual expo at the Iowa Events Center, some of the country’s most skilled tattoo artists will compete for best-in-show honors by inking original designs right on site. (There’s nothing like a deadline to get the old blood flowing.) The live contests may be the event’s most dramatic attraction, but visitors of all ages can stop by to enjoy live music, painting demonstrations, vendor displays and more.
Eat | Drink | Architecture, April 14. These docent-led walking tours highlight architecturally significant buildings throughout the downtown core, Court Avenue District, East Village and Market District.
Poetry Palooza, April 19-20. After last year’s successful revival, the annual festival during National Poetry Month heads to Grand View University with readings, spoken-word slams and more.
Drake Relays, April 21-27. Pace yourselves. The week barely lets up between the half-marathon early on Sunday morning and the final 4x400-meter relay Saturday night. Early forecasts call for sleet. (Just kidding.)
Valley Junction Farmers Market, May 2. Running out of last year’s dusty old potatoes in the root cellar? Historic Valley Junction opens its Thursday evening farmers markets, with live music at the old depot at Railroad Park, through Sept. 26.
Cinco de Mayo, May 4. Head back to Valley Junction for the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration, which honors the neighborhood’s Latino history and growing diversity.
Downtown Farmers Market, May 4. Head downtown for a taste of spring and live music, starting the first Saturday in May.
Kentucky Derby, May 4. The “greatest two minutes in sports” marks its sesquicentennial this year. If you can’t make it to Churchill Downs, fasten your fancy hat and head out to Prairie Meadows, where the annual derby to-do has become a tradition in its own right. Enjoy a mint julep, live music, contests for the best hats and seersucker suits and, of course, a live broadcast of the main event in Louisville.
Safe Space Prom, May 4. LGBTQ+ students from local high schools can dance up a storm at the Des Moines Art Center, which is co-hosting the party with the Queer Youth Resource Center.
Market to Market Relay, May 11. Teams of runners cover the 75 miles, step by step, from Jefferson’s Mahanay Bell Tower to downtown Des Moines.
Brick Convention: A Lego Fan Event, May 11-12. If you’re looking for a “hands-on, minds-on” activity for builders of all ages, head to the MidAmerican Energy RecPlex in West Des Moines.
Cristina Mittermeier, May 13. The conservation photographer and 2018 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year takes a turn in Des Moines Performing Arts’ Explorer Series at the Des Moines Civic Center. She founded the nonprofit SeaLegacy to document ocean life and champion environmental causes around the world.
Valley Junction Arts Festival, May 19. The juried arts festival on Fifth Street in West Des Moines hosts more than 50 artists from Iowa and farther afield.
CelebrAsian, May 24-25. The city’s best-named festival (from the folks behind the annual Pho King Cook-Off) livens up Western Gateway Park with music, dancing, cultural exhibits and food. So. Much. Tasty. Food.
Decoration Day, May 25. Learn about the post-Civil War origins of Memorial Day during a ceremony and procession at Living History Farms.
Joyce Carol Oates, May 30. The National Book Award winner and five-time Pultizer finalist takes a turn in the annual AViD series of Authors Visiting in Des Moines at the Central Library. The bestselling romance writer Jasmine Guillory rounds out this year’s series on June 13.
Greek Food Fair, May 31-June 2. The Greek Orthodox Church of St. George hosts its annual celebration of Greek food and culture, complete with music and dancing. Opa!
Dam to DSM Half-Marathon, June 1. The 45-year-old race formerly known as Dam to Dam starts on the Saylorville Dam, where runners can see the 801 Grand skyscraper as a teeny-tiny spike on the horizon, and finishes in a well-earned party at Cowles Commons.
Iowa Craft Brew Festival, June 1. Beer. Cider. Food trucks. All at Water Works Park. Got the picture?
PrideFest, June 7-9. Capital City Pride’s flagship weekend takes over the East Village with music, dancing, drag royalty, a 5K run/walk/sashay and not one but two parades — one for people, another for fabulously dressed pets.
Emancipation Day, June 8. Explore a century of Black history in Iowa, from the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation through the 1960s Civil Rights movement, at Living History Farms.
Art Week Des Moines, June 9-15. The 10th annual celebration of local creativity features pop-up events and installations across the city. (Read more on page 30).
“Antiques Roadshow,” June 10. Producers from the popular PBS series visit Living History Farms to appraise antiques, artwork and any other odds and ends that you can dig out of your attic or garage. Guests can bring up to two items and receive free evaluations, plus a chance to appear on the show.
Bacoon Ride, June 15. The annual bacon-fueled bike ride on the Raccoon River Valley Trail is sort of like RAGBRAI, but with more bacon and fewer miles. What’s not to love?
Des Moines Arts Festival, June 28-30. Stroll around the Pappajohn Sculpture Park for a hit of inspiration from artists and musicians from across the country.
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