Broadway shows coming to Des Moines include 'MJ,' 'Moulin Rouge,' 'The Wiz' and 'Funny Girl'
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Just as Des Moines Performing Arts gets ready for “1776” to take the stage at the Des Moines Civic Center, the organization celebrating its 45th anniversary shares its plans for the 2023-2024 Willis Broadway season.
The six shows on the docket are part of the season ticket package and represent a combined 23 Tony Awards. One won the 2021 Tony for Best Musical, while another earned the 2022 Tony for Best Revival of the Musical.
Three add-on performances are part of an optional package of shows performing at 221 Walnut St. in Des Moines. Season tickets for the 2023-’24 Willis Broadway Series are on sale now through desmoinesperformingarts.org, through the DMPA app, or by calling the box office.
Here’s a look at the shows coming to Des Moines.
'The Girl from the North Country'
When: Nov. 28 through Dec. 3
About the show: Take 20 legendary Bob Dylan songs and play them over a show about a group of travelers who meet in a guesthouse in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1934 for “The Girl from the North Country.” “All Along the Watchtower,” “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Slow Train Coming,” “Forever Young,” and “Hurricane” are among the songs showcased in this musical called “a Broadway revelation” by the Chicago Tribune.
This marks the second Broadway show to use Dylan’s songs. Twyla Tharp’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’” was first.
Published: 2017
Playwright: Conor McPherson
Composer: Bob Dylan
Lyricist: Bob Dylan
Awards: Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
Setting: Duluth, Minnesota, 1934
'The Wiz'
When: Dec. 12-17
About the show: This new production of “The Wiz” features a BiPOC team and plays 13 cities, including Des Moines, before hitting Broadway for the first time in 40 years. This twist on “The Wizard of Oz” brings some soul, gospel, rock and funk to Dorothy, the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow and Toto. The quest to find Emerald City includes jazz, ballet and modern dance along the Yellow Brick Road.
Originally published: 1974
Playwright: William F. BrownLyricists: Charlie Smalls, Luther Vandross, Zachary Walzer
Composers: Charlie Smalls, Timothy Graphenreed
Adapted from: "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"
Awards: Seven Tony Awards
'Company'
When: Feb. 6-11, 2024
About the show: The new production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s musical comedy “Company” focuses on Bobbie’s 35th birthday, where her friends ask when she’s going to get married, or find the right man, or start a family. It’s a time for Bobbie to discover that whatever her situation — married, single or just alive — can drive someone crazy.
Playwright: George Furth
Lyricist: Stephen Sondheim
First performance: April 26, 1970
Composer: Stephen Sondheim
Awards: Six Tony Awards
'Funny Girl'
When: March 12-17, 2024
About the show: This Broadway revival of “Funny Girl” is an ode to the theater, featuring Fannie Brice, a girl from New York’s Lower East Side who dreams of a life on the stage. Even though the world tells her it will never happen, she takes the stage and wins the hearts of fans. “Funny Girl” features classic songs such as “People,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”
The Broadway revival uses a revised book by Harvey Fierstein.
Composer: Jule Styne
First performance: March 26, 1964
Orchestrator: Ralph Burns
Playwright: Isobel Lennart
Lyricist: Bob Merrill
Awards: Eight Tony Award nominations
'MJ'
When: April 30-May 5, 2024
About the show: This new musical takes you back to Michael Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour in 1992, looking at the moves, the music, the creativity and the collaboration that made “MJ” a star. Consider this a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a star.
First performance: Feb. 1, 2022
Playwright: Lynn Nottage
Orchestrator: Jason Michael Webb
'Moulin Rouge! The Musical'
When: Aug. 20-Sept. 1, 2024
About the show: The glitz, glamour and grandeur of Paris comes to life in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” where aristocrats and bohemians alike play. The musical, set in the Montmartre Quarter during the Belle Epoque at the turn of the 20th century, tells the tale of composer Christian, who falls in love with cabaret actress Satine, the star of the Moulin Rouge.
First performance: July 10, 2018
Playwright: John Logan
Awards: Tony Award for Best Musical; Tony Award for Best Orchestrations
Basis: “Moulin Rouge!” by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce
Add-on shows
Though not built into the season pass, the following shows also head to Des Moines in the coming year.
'Stomp'
When: Jan. 12-14, 2024
About the show: Take everything from matchboxes sand wooden poles to brooms and garbage cans and make them into percussion instruments during “Stomp.” The eight-member crew makes an unforgettable experience for the audience. The show last performed in Des Moines in 2018.
Awards: Obie Award for Special Citations
Origin: Brighton, United Kingdom (1991)
'Mamma Mia!'
When: Jan. 23-28, 2024
About the show: The songs of the Swedish pop band ABBA envelope this production set on a Greek island. A daughter who is about to get married tries to find out the identity of her father in “Mamma Mia!” Her quest turns up three men from her mother’s past. Some of the songs performed include “Take a Chance on Me,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Money, Money, Money” and “Dancing Queen.”
Music: Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Lyrics: Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Book: Catherine Johnson
Basis: Songs by ABBA
Premiere: April 6, 1999, Prince Edward Theatre, London
'Les Misérables'
When: Feb. 27-March 3, 2024
About the show: What is still considered the most popular musical of all time, “Les Misérables” takes theater-goers to 19th century France, where Jean Valjean, a French peasant, served 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child. When Valjean decides to break his parole and start his life anew, a police inspector named Javert refuses to let him escape justice and pursues him to Paris. This rendition of Victor Hugo’s play features songs such as “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” and “Master of the House,” among others.
First performance: Oct. 8, 1985
Playwright: Victor Hugo
Composers: Claude-Michel Schönberg, John Cameron
Lyricists: Alain Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer, Jean-Marc Natel
Awards: Eight Tony Awards
How to get tickets
Location: 221 Walnut St., Des Moines
Contact: 515-246-2300 or desmoinesperformingarts.org
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines Broadway shows in 2023-24: 'MJ,' 'Moulin Rouge' and more
