DC Felton - Page 8

Some people think everything happens in life for a reason. Others choose to relish all the great parts of life while others drown in the despair of the horrible things that happen in the world. Whatever your philosophy on life is, one thing you would never expect is to see that philosophy come to life on stage, and then be able to laugh at it. That's the beauty of Leonard Bernstein's Candide. It doesn't poke fun at our views, it asks us to take a deeper look at them. It's when we take a deeper look we can see the humor of it. That's what makes Candide the best of all possible shows to see at the present time. Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) opened their most recent production of Candide on June 29. The brightly colored sets and costumes as well as the extremely talented cast truly make this the best of all possible productions

In 2002, I was indirectly introduced to La Boheme. My introduction came when I was introduced to a musical that had come out and became a phenomenon on Broadway just 6 years earlier. The show quickly became a favorite musical of mine and showed me the impact that theatre can have on people. Since then I've seen Rent multiple times, but did not get the opportunity to see a production of La Boheme until Des Moines Metro Opera's production which opened on June 28. While it would be easy to talk about all the influences La Boheme had on Rent I going to do my best not to, and to focus on this breathtaking production.

If you are coming to read a review of The Cornley University Drama Society production for The Murder at Haversham Manor,' this is the wrong review. If you've heard of this theatre company, then it is probably because you've seen a show called, 'The Play That Goes Wrong,' which is playing at the Civic Center this week as the closing of Des Moines Performing Arts Willis Broadway Series.

Having Shakespeare done outside is something that is not new to Des Moines and the surrounding area. These productions have been thrilling for both the audience and people involved in the show. Getting to participate in a few outdoor Shakespeare productions was one of my favorite memories of college. I've also enjoyed getting the opportunity to watch a few as well. This idea formed a partnership with the Repertory Theatre of Iowa, now Iowa Stage, and The Salisbury House to do a show each summer on the grounds of the Salisbury House. I was excited last year when I heard that their partnership was going to stage an outdoor production of William Shakespeare's darkest tragedy's Macbeth.

As we remember the 75th anniversary of D-day, it is important to remember why D-Day was so important. When the allied forces invaded France, it was a turning point in World War II. When a little girl in hiding found out about the invasion, she had hope that she would one day be able to come out of hiding and live freely again. That little girl's name was Anne Frank. Ankeny Community Theatre is making sure her story is not forgotten with their current production of 'The Diary of Anne Frank.'

Have you ever taken the time to look back at the people who have influenced your life? What has those influences taught us? They teach us what to do and what not to do. Pyramid Theatre's production of "How I Learned What I Learned," which opened on June 8, ask us to do just that. But they ask in a unique way, by letting us look at a playwright telling the stories that influenced the plays he wrote. That playwright is one of America's most prolific playwrights, August Wilson.

Over the last few years, the Des Moines Symphony has done an amazing job of starting and growing a pops series. About a year and a half ago, the brought in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: In Concert. It was originally slated for two evening performances and had to be extended to a third performance as a matinee. This year they continued by bringing "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" in January and have added "Star Wars A New Hope: In Concert" to their growing list of films in concert. With "Star Wars" they again started with two performances and due to popularity had to have a third performance matinee. I attended the matinee performance on June 6 and found myself having just as much fun as I did with the "Harry Potter" concert.

As the theatre season starts coming to an end, I find myself reflecting on the amazing stories I have been able to see told on stage and the amazing theatre companies that are telling these stories. Going into the summer, there are a few theatre companies who tend to tell their stories exclusively during the summer months. Pyramid Theatre is one of those Theatres.

Coming into downtown Des Moines on June 3, I saw a parade of students in black heading towards the heart of downtown. Where were these students going? They were heading to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for the Iowa High School Musical Theatre Awards Showcase. An event that brings talented students from all corners of the state to celebrate the musicals they had put on through the year.

Growing up, I was fascinated with space. I loved looking up and learning about the stars. I still find myself occasionally looking up at the beauty of the stars. Watching Lauren Gunderson's 'Silent Sky' at the Des Moines Playhouse, reminded me of that fascination I had as a kid. The show did that by telling an amazing story, and accenting it with beautiful music and images.

The season finale for the Des Moines Symphony is always a bittersweet concert. Going into it, there is the joy of seeing the amount of time some of the symphony members have been involved, which this year included a musician celebrating their 50th season. It was also heartwarming seeing Maestro Joseph Giunta's family come and honor his 30th season with the symphony. Then there is the bittersweet part of the night where we say goodbye to musicians who are playing their last concerts with the symphony. My favorite part of the season finale is that it usually features some of the seasons best music, and the concert on May 18 was no different.

Over the last 5 years, Des Moines Symphony and Des Moines Performing Arts have come together to present a concert with one of Broadway's brightest stars. It has become a yearly tradition for me as well. Some of the past concerts have included Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, Kristin Chenoweth, and Leslie Odem Jr. This year for their collaboration, they gave the audience an extra treat with two artists, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Megan Hilty. They both gave amazing performances that I won't soon forget.

When Iowa Stage puts on a production, you can expect a few things going into the show, a strong production with some of the best actors in Des Moines, and a show that challenge the way you may think. The 2013 Pulitzer Prize winner 'Disgraced' by Ayad Akhtar is no different as it looks at issues such as Islamaphobia and the self-identity of Muslim Americans. In the post 9/11 world that we live in, these are very important but tough issues to look at. Shows like this that push the audience to think, are the shows that remind people why we get into theatre, and why it is so important.

As I start my 5th month of reviewing Des Moines Theatre, I can't help but think about how each theatre brings its own unique voice to Des Moines and the surrounding areas. With as many voices as there are, there are still more stories that can be told. A few months ago, I started hearing about a new theatre forming called Theatre Midwest. I was excited to see a new voice come to the Des Moines theatre scene. Last night, May 9th, they officially opened their first show, "The Friendly Hour" by Tom Jacobson.

The Second City is a premiere improv troupe from Chicago, and they are back in Des Moines for an all-new show. 'It's Not You, it's Me.-The Second City' opened on April 30 at The Temple Theatre as part of the Prairie Meadows Temple Comedy Series. I had the opportunity to go to the May 1 performance and found myself laughing from beginning to the end.

Another school year may be coming to an end, but school is just starting at Des Moines Performing Arts as “School of Rock: The Musical” opened up April 30 for a limited 1 week engagement as part of the Willis Broadway Series. This production is not to be missed, especially if you are wanting to introduce your children to the world of theatre. While the main characters in the show may be adults, it's the kids who are the stars of this show.

Risk is something that is important for theatre. If theatres never took risks, they never would be able to grow, or know what their audience is comfortable seeing. Ankeny Community Theatre is taking risks with their Studio series. For the final show of their 2018-2019 studio series, the presented 'Proof' by David Auburn. This show closed on 04/28/19 after a planned 1-week run.

It is always a jubilant evening when I get to see the Des Moines Symphony, and their most recent concert was no different. I had the pleasure of attending the Saturday evening performance of 'Simon Sings Porgy and Bess' and was treated to an evening of stunning music. One thing I appreciate about the Des Moines Symphony is the balance of repertoire with both familiar and new music, and this performance was no exception.

Are you looking for an enchanting evening out with your family? Look no farther than the Kate Goldman's Theatre production of 'Ella Enchanted.' I was fortunate enough to be able to take my friend's 5-year-old daughter to see the show, and the show didn't just enchant her, but it enchanted me as well. This is an example of children's theatre at its best. From the sets to the costumes, to the cast, Ella Enchanted will be an enchanting evening for the entire family.

One of the things I love about theatre is how it asks us to look at societal norms and challenge them. One of the ways theatre does that is by the people we see onstage. What we don't see is the people behind the stage. When you look behind the scenes, it is sad to see how few women there are designing for shows. Des Moines Young Artist is tackling that with their current production of 'Treasure Island.' They are doing the show with a full female production team. The result was a theatrical experience that those in attendance will remember for a long time.