The Stage is Set: An Inside Look at Des Moines‘ Booming Theater Scene in 2026

As the capital and largest city in Iowa, Des Moines has seen remarkable growth in its artistic and cultural landscape over the past decade. Specifically within the performing arts, Des Moines is increasingly gaining recognition as an emergent theater city featuring a thriving ecosystem of talented actors, committed educators, state-of-the-art venues, and hard-working theater professionals.

In 2024, Des Moines‘ theater community shows no signs of slowing down. Let‘s take a closer look at some of the key developments cementing Des Moines status as Iowa‘s theatrical hub:

Long-Standing Institutions Anchor the Local Theater Scene

While Des Moines enjoys an influx of new talent and organizations, several long-standing institutions continue to anchor the local theater landscape in 2024:

Des Moines Community Playhouse

Founded in 1919, the Des Moines Community Playhouse is not only Iowa‘s oldest and largest community theater, but also one of the most respected in the country. After celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019, the Playhouse continues to operate at full strength with an average season consisting of 10-12 productions that get viewed by over 110,000 people each year.

Beyond its mainstage shows, the Playhouse offers theatre education programs for over 1,400 students annually. With tuition assistance, accessible facilities, and sensory-friendly performances, the Playhouse strives to make theatre accessible to both students and audiences of all backgrounds.

Iowa Stage Theatre Company

Another stalwart of the Des Moines theater scene is the Iowa Stage Theatre Company. Established in 1975, Iowa Stage has called the Stoner Studio Theatre in downtown Des Moines its permanent home after renovating the historical fire station in 1990.

While staying committed to showcasing classic plays and musicals, Iowa Stage is also focused on developing new works – having worked with over 40 playwrights to produce original scripts over the past decade. This dedication recently earned Iowa Stage the "Innovation in Theatre" Award at the 2023 Iowa Governor‘s Awards for the Arts and Culture.

Class Act Productions

Since its founding in 2010, Class Act Productions has earned praise for its high-quality musicals and dedication to providing performance opportunities for artists of all ages and skill levels. In 2022, Class Act expanded to a new 30,000 square-foot facility housing three theaters along with expanded education, rehearsal and office space. For its 2024 season, Class Act has announced an ambitious lineup featuring both intimate black box productions along with large-scale shows at its new MainStage theater.

Surge in Theater Companies Reflects Growing Scene

Alongside these established organizations, Des Moines has seen a boom in new theatre companies cementing the city as an attractive environment for theatrical artists.

The Growing Stage is a noteworthy example – founded in 2021 by former members of the Iowa Stage Theatre Company, this professional equity theater company produces an adventurous mix of contemporary and classical works with an emphasis on developing local talent. After receiving critical acclaim for its first three seasons, The Growing Stage is prepping a move to its own 130-seat theater set to open in 2025.

Another newcomer making waves is B-Side Productions, focused exclusively on producing the work of Black playwrights along with casting Black actors in lead roles. Since their founding in 2020, B-Side has tackled important societal topics while bringing fresh perspectives to the Des Moines theater community.

These recent additions have theater professionals optimistic about the range of opportunities for local artists as well as the quality and variety of theatrical offerings attracting strong audiences.

Exceptional College Programs Cultivate Young Artists

Des Moines also benefits greatly from exceptional theater programs at local colleges and universities preparing talented young actors, directors, playwrights and set designers:

Drake University

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Musical Theater
• Selective program focused on building skills in acting, singing and dance
• Graduates have signed with talent agencies and been cast in Broadway, touring theater productions and TV shows

Grand View University

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theater Arts
• Emphasis on contemporary theater education including areas like directing, playwriting and production
• State-of-the-art facilities featuring a 150-seat flexible theater, movement studio, design studio and more

Iowa State University

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Performing Arts
• Students take rigorous courses across theater, music and dance disciplines
• Mainstage shows produced in collaboration with ISU‘s theater fraternity allow for ample performance opportunities

Not only do these programs equip students with valuable skills and experience, but many decide to stay in Des Moines after graduation – thus benefiting the local theater ecosystem with an influx of young talent.

Surge in Theater Companies Reflects Growing Scene

Cementing itself as Iowa‘s theater hub, Des Moines offers no shortage of venues for performances of all scopes and sizes:

Des Moines Civic Center
The city‘s largest performing arts center boasts three theaters ranging from intimate black box spaces to the lavish 2,744-seat Des Moines Performing Arts Hall hosting Broadway tours amongst other large-scale events.

Temple Theater
This historic 1,500-seat venue first opened in 1927 hosts concerts and touring productions within its visually stunning neoclassical architectural interior.

Stoner Studio Theater
Managed by the Iowa Stage Theatre Company, this 228-seat theater resides in a former firehouse meticulously renovated to accommodate theater performances, rehearsals and classes.

Franklin Junior High
Built in 1926, this school-turned-theater provides a more cozy setting at just 160 seats and is the resident performance venue for Tallgrass Theatre Company.

Noce Jazz Cabaret
Intimate performance space where guests can enjoy food and drinks while watching anything from stand-up comedy to indie theater shows.

Hoyt Sherman Auditorium
This 1,250-seat theater first opened in 1923 and today hosts concerts, dance performances, IMAX films, guest speakers and more.

As described above, major building expansions at both the Des Moines Community Playhouse and Class Act Productions in recent years have also added state-of-the-art theaters to the city‘s portfolio.

Final Take: Room to Grow

While firmly establishing itself as Iowa‘s top hub for theater arts and culture, insiders believe Des Moines still has room for growth to take its scene to the next level. Areas cited for improvement include more public funding and financial support for the arts along with even greater involvement from the corporate/business community.

However, with a committed base of talent and passionate theater professionals focused on elevating the city‘s reputation in the broader arts world, Des Moines‘ future certainly looks bright. The high quality productions, breadth of opportunities for artists and welcoming spirit of collaboration across the theater community position Des Moines well for further expansion of its burgeoning theater scene.