Give Back Des Moines

On Tuesday, May 18 in conjunction with the opening night of South Pacific, you can support Give Back Des Moines by helping the Civic Center gather basic necessities to support local adults, children and families in need.

All items collected will benefit more than 30 local non-profit service agencies and Give Back Des Moines partners.

Look for Give Back Des Moines collection boxes throughout the Civic Center lobbies on Tuesday, May 18 during opening night of South Pacific. Items needed for collection include:

Laundry detergent, diapers, cleaning supplies, shampoo/conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotion, razors, paper towels, facial tissues, toilet paper, baby wipes, towels, dish soap, washcloths, school supplies, non-perishable breakfast foods/snacks.

Give Back Des Moines is a community campaign created, organized and executed by the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute Class of 2009-2010. Give Back Des Moines will culminate in a day of community giving, education and celebration on May 22, 2010 at the Downtown Farmer’s Market and Principal Park. For more information, visit www.givebackdsm.com.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY sizzles in Des Moines

Review: Civic Center’s ‘August: Osage County’ puts fun in dysfunction
“…gains steam from ove act to the next…”
Read the full review from Newton Daily News

Review: “One of the best shows I’ve seen in years.”
“…some of the best stage actors in the business plying their craft in an edgy and fiercely funny dark comedy…”
Watch the full review from KCCI

Review: ‘August’ is smart, funny, moving - authentic family
“The play is spectacular. It’s smart and moving and surprisingly funny.“
Read the full preview story from The Des Moines Register

Preview: ‘August’ at the Civic Center finds comedy in tragedy
“It deals with some of our biggest problems - alcohol, drugs, poverty, racism - but in a way that’s funny…”
Read the full preview story from The Des Moines Register

Preview: ‘August: Osage County’: Estelle Parsons plays cruel drug addict mother in play
“She’s feisty; she’s pugnacious; she’s a lean, mean, pill-popping machine.”
Read the full preview story from The Ames Tribune

Temple Concerts

The Civic Center announced LIVE AT THE TEMPLE, a new concert series, will be the newest addition to the Prairie Meadows Temple Theater Series. New orders for the $125 four-concert package are on sale now.

Organizers call this series of concerts “Your music. Up close.” because of the intimate setting the Temple Theater provides. Most notably, LIVE AT THE TEMPLE will provide a unique and dynamic line-up of world-class performing artists and songwriters in folk, jazz, blues, pop, alternative, country and rock in a unique listening experience allowing the audience to see eye-to-eye with the performer.

The LIVE AT THE TEMPLE concerts features:
BRUCE ROBISON - Thursday, March 25, 2010
THE HOLMES BROTHERS - Saturday, May 1, 2010
CARRIE RODRIGUEZ and JIM LAUDERDALE - Saturday, May 15, 2010
GREG BROWN - Saturday, June 5, 2010

MORE INFO

Chelesvig named to Broadway League's Exec Committee

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines is well represented in Broadway circles, thanks to the recent election of Jeff Chelesvig, Civic Center President & CEO, to the Executive Committee of The Broadway League. As the national trade association for the Broadway industry, The Broadway League represents theater owners and operators, producers, managers, and presenters of Broadway productions in over 150 cities and 250 venues throughout the United States.

“The Broadway League is extremely pleased to have Jeff Chelesvig, a respected member of the national theater community, on our Executive Committee,” said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. “Jeff is an innovative presenter, and his experience and standing in the Broadway industry make him an invaluable part of our organization.” Chelesvig is also a long-standing co-chair for The League’s Road Presenters/Intra-Industry committee, one of only seven standing committees of The League.

The League’s Executive Committee is comprised of 26 Broadway producers, theater owners, and presenters from New York and across the country. In his role on the committee, Chelesvig will help the organization achieve its mission of fostering increased interest in Broadway theater and supporting the creation of profitable theatrical productions.

In addition to being a member of The League, Chelesvig - who recently celebrated his 15th anniversary with the Civic Center - is also Iowa’s only voter for the Tony Awards and is a member of the Independent Presenters Network. Chelesvig previously served on The League’s Executive Committee in 2001 and three times has served as co-chair for The Broadway League’s annual Spring Road Conference.

Civic Center ranks 17th in Ticket Sales

Surpassing theaters in the Midwest and around the world, the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines recently ranked 17th in the Jan. 11, 2010 edition of Pollstar magazine’s annual list of the top 100 worldwide theater venues. The #17 position - based on 2009 ticket sales of 208,645 - puts the Civic Center ahead of all other Midwest theaters in the ranking, including St. Louis’ Fabulous Fox Theatre (#23), Chicago’s Chicago Theatre (#28) and Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre (#38).

“This ranking is a testament to the remarkable support Iowans have for professional theater,” said Jeff Chelesvig, Civic Center President and CEO. “Thanks to their patronage, the CivicCenter outranked theaters in cities with much higher populations - including London, England;Dublin, Ireland; and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.”

The Civic Center’s 2009 lineup included Broadway hits such as WICKED, SPRING AWAKENING and LEGALLY BLONDE, special events such as the Smart Talk Connected Conversations and sell-out concerts like James Taylor and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. Shows on the 2010 schedule include DISNEY’S THE LION KING (now playing), JERSEY BOYS, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S SOUTH PACIFIC.

Mexico City’s Auditorio Nacional theater ranked first in Pollstar’s annual listing, followed by New York City’s Radio City Music Hall in second place and Atlanta’s Fox Theatre in third place.

The Lion King roars in Des Moines

Preview: THE LION KING returns to the Civic Center
“Mufasa, Simba and Scar all coming to the Civic Center…”
Watch the full preview on KCCI (8) CBS

Preview: DISNEY’S THE LION KING ROARS INTO DES MOINES
“After four years roaming the wilds of North America, ‘The Lion King’ has returned to Des Moines.”
Read Michael Morain’s full preview from Des Moines Register

Review: LION KING ROARS TO SPLENDOR IN DES MOINES
“Every aspect of Disney’s THE LION KING is touched by genius”
Read the full review from Cedar Rapids Gazette

Review: LION KING AT CIVIC CENTER
“You really need to experience it!”
Watch the full review on KCCI (8) CBS

Review: LION KING BLENDS PUPPETRY, MAJESTY
“I was moved to tears.”
Read the full review from Ames Tribune

Double Your Gift, Double Your Impact!

In partnership with the Willis Auto Campus, the Civic Center is excited to announce the return of the Willis Lexus Drive for Kids! Willis Lexus will match all donations made to Civic Center Education programs during the 2009-2010 season. Over the last two years, the Willis Lexus Drive for Kids has helped raise more than $80,000 for Civic Center Education programs, and with your support, that impact can continue.

Your gift will help thousands of elementary and middle school students visit the Civic Center via the Applause! Series, where students from throughout Iowa attend curriculum-based programming at only $1 each. Broadway workshops, master classes, residency programs and school partnerships introduce even more young people to the Civic Center experience, providing a unique extension of classroom learning unlike any other.

Please support Applause! and all Civic Center Education programs by making a gift to the 2009-2010 Willis Lexus Drive for Kids. Double your gift and double your impact by leaving a lasting impression on the lives of young people.

Make your gift today!

Watch our exclusive Willis Lexus Drive for Kids video clip on YouTube!

Join Sister and support Toys for Tots!

RENT triumphantly returns to Des Moines

Review: A decade after its premiere, best of ‘Rent’ still rings true
“The bohemians are back and they still can’t pay the bills. But at least they can sing and dance…”
Read the full review from The Des Moines Register

RENT is back!
“Timeless piece of musical theater!”
Watch Steve Berry’s review on KCCI (8) CBS

Jersey Boys tickets on sale to Members Nov. 16

Single tickets to Jersey Boys go on sale to Civic Center Members Monday, Nov. 16. Make sure you get the best available seats by becoming a Civic Center Member. Membership starts at just $75 and provides you with a full year of membership benefits.

Member tickets go on sale on Nov. 16 at 7 a.m. at CivicCenter.org and at 10 a.m. via phones and the ticket office. All ordering methods will have equal access to available ticket inventory.

Become a Civic Center Member today to make sure you’ll be first in line for Jersey Boys tickets.