Don't miss Broadway musicals, big concerts and comedians in Des Moines

Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register
·8 min read
Did you see "Hadestown" while it was in Des Moines?
Did you see "Hadestown" while it was in Des Moines?

Hi, Des Moines. It's your friendly neighborhood entertainment editor Susan, back to give you the dish on all thing fun in Des Moines. My special requests for future Des Moines concerts include Roxy Music and Pearl Jam. RIP Taylor Hawkins. Great drummer, cool guy, and died too soon.

Welcome to Off Hours, your free weekly newsletter from the Des Moines Register highlighting fun things to do in the city. Let's celebrate the return of live theater and concerts in Des Moines.

The Deal

Here's the deal: On a recent Saturday, I was driving into downtown Des Moines when I saw a massive line of traffic, kind of unusual for Des Moines in early spring. After I dropped off a friend, I saw where everyone was going — to hell, so to speak. They were headed to a matinee production of “Hadestown,” the touring Broadway musical delayed by the pandemic and finally taking the stage at the Des Moines Civic Center.

I went to “Hadestown,” the retelling of the Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice, and King Hades and his wife Persephone. And boy, did it feel good to have shows return to Des Moines. I almost cried tears of happiness when I saw a full house giving the cast and crew a standing ovation on opening night of the show.

In the Broadway smash "Hadestown," the tale of Eurydice and Orpheus is reimagined with a New Orleans-style sound.
In the Broadway smash "Hadestown," the tale of Eurydice and Orpheus is reimagined with a New Orleans-style sound.

This pandemic really kicked venues that carry theater and concerts in the butt. Aside from shutting down in March 2020, the pandemic put hundreds of actors out of work, waiting for a time when it felt safer to sit side-by-side in a theater and shout and applaud. Concerts postponed from 2020 to 2022, although it did mean that Sir Elton John got to celebrate the day after his 75th birthday in Des Moines with a killer show at Wells Fargo Arena last Saturday night.

The hard-working staff at the Des Moines Civic Center, Hoyt Sherman Place, Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines Community Playhouse, Wooly's, xBk, Gaslamp and every other theater big and small across the country also found themselves out of work. Many of these venues were the first to close and last to reopen.

How many times do you get to see Sir Elton John in Des Moines?
How many times do you get to see Sir Elton John in Des Moines?

So my message is this: If you care about live theater or concerts, go out and support them by buying a ticket, attending a show and giving the loudest applause possible. Money and thanks are some of the best ways to pay back these venues and artists.

Of course, we are still in the midst of a pandemic, so wear a mask if you feel safer, or try attending a show at the Des Moines Community Playhouse virtually. In the end, it all works out.

In the meantime, follow our outstanding entertainment reporter Isaac Hamlet as he captures these shows, finds the Iowa connection, and tells you what to expect next in Des Moines.

My Top Three Types of Shows to See This Spring

If this show doesn't make you want to sing in the rain, nothing will. Bonus: Perfect for April.
If this show doesn't make you want to sing in the rain, nothing will. Bonus: Perfect for April.

1. Theater: I am probably the only person in the newsroom who does not have the lyrics to the Broadway musical “Hamilton” committed to memory, so I plan to see Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr and the Schuyler sisters again when it returns to the Des Moines Civic Center on May 17. Head to the Des Moines Community Playhouse for “Singin’ in the Rain” through April 10, followed by “Pippi Longstocking” April 22 through May 8.

Chelsea Handler's love life is a lot like mine, only messier.
Chelsea Handler's love life is a lot like mine, only messier.

2. Comedians: I love Chelsea Handler’s books so seeing her in person at the Des Moines Civic Center on April 15 is a must. Kathleen Madigan performs at Hoyt Sherman Place on April 22 on her "Do You Have Any Ranch?" tour, and Chelcie Lynn brings her character Tammy to the venue on June 11. And looking forward to May, comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short arrive with "You Won't Believe What They Look Like Today!" at the Des Moines Civic Center. I saw them perform in Las Vegas in 2018 and the show was hilarious.

3. Concerts: Alternative rockers Shinedown come to Wells Fargo Arena on April 12, followed by pop star Justin Bieber on April 24. Rainbow Kitten Surprise plays Hoyt Sherman Place on April 12. Maybe the Righteous Brothers will help me get back that lovin’ feeling on April 30.

What shows are you going to see this spring? Hit me up with your favorites at sstapleton@gannett.com.

Eat This/Drink That

Some of the works from Donnie and Mark Wahlberg. I love "The Departed," "Sixth Sense," "Boogie Nights" and "The Lovely Bones."
Some of the works from Donnie and Mark Wahlberg. I love "The Departed," "Sixth Sense," "Boogie Nights" and "The Lovely Bones."

O.F.D. burger: $15.49 — I think my favorite thing about Wahlburgers is looking at the wooden cutouts hanging from the ceiling and seeing all the movies brothers Mark and Donnie Wahlberg appeared in over the years. Some of my favorites include “Sixth Sense,” “Boogie Nights” and “The Departed.” I picked up some takeout from the West Des Moines location and went with the O.F.D. (originally from Dorchester) burger with two beef patties topped with Swiss cheese, bacon, sautéed mushrooms and tomato jam.

Tater tots and the O.F.D. burger from Wahlburgers, AKA takeout after a long week of work.
Tater tots and the O.F.D. burger from Wahlburgers, AKA takeout after a long week of work.

Get it: Wahlburgers has six locations in metro area. Note that the online menu rarely looks the same as the version in store, so order at the counter instead of online. Also, if you have kids, they can eat for free any day of the week when you order. The Wahlburgers I visited in West Des Moines at 7105 Mills Civic Parkway is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sadly, no Mark Wahlberg sightings, but there is a huge cutout version of him on the door at the entrance to satisfy your selfie needs.

The art is just as much fun as the beer at Kinship.
The art is just as much fun as the beer at Kinship.

Windy Wheat: $7 — If you haven’t been out to Kinship Brewing in Waukee, make the trip. On a recent Wednesday night, the dog park was packed, people filled the beer garden and drag bingo was about to start. Owner Zach Dobeck filled a niche missing in the community when he opened on what I call the Omaha side of Waukee in January 2021. The brewery sits on the Racoon River Valley Trail, so a stack of bikes hitched to the racks attracts riders. The Windy Wheat is one of those refreshing beers that you can drink pretty much any day with its hints of citrus and mild bitterness. I have much more to write about Kinship, so stay tuned for that.

Get it: Kinship Brewing sells its beers by the pour, with 5-, 11- and 20-ounce options, or a pitcher. Head inside to see the glorious 20-by-90-foot mural painted by Georgia artist Greg Mike. One-eyed fish, a nod to “The Simpsons,” and Sheba, a black-and-white image of a tiger roaring fill the front wall of the brewery. Mike included his “Live Life Loud” motto on the artwork as well. Head to 255 NW Sunrise Drive in Waukee every Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday from 2 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

OK, tell me about a celebrity you met in person. Some of my favorites have been Matthew McConaughey and Diane von Furstenberg. I never got the appeal of Mr. "All Right, All Right, All Right" until he flashed that megawatt smile at me and my knees buckled, thankfully after the interview. Tell me about your favorite celebrities you met in person at sstapleton@gannett.com.

48 Hours Off

San Jose Taiko brings thrilling percussion beats from Japan to Des Moines.
San Jose Taiko brings thrilling percussion beats from Japan to Des Moines.

Friday night — San Jose Taiko brings a showcase of Asian American music and choreographed drumming inspired by traditional Japanese percussion. It will get your heart racing. The group heads to the Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St., at 6:30 p.m., and tickets for the event range from $12 to $24. This promises to be a thriller.

Saturday night — The Des Moines Playhouse, 831 42 St., is bringing performances of the classic musical “Singin’ in the Rain” this weekend. The show, originally planned to be staged by the theater in 2020, tells the story of film star Don Lockwood falling in love with an aspiring actress, Kathy Selden, as the film industry transitions away from silent films. Saturday’s performance will be at 7:30 p.m. with tickets for the event ranging from $29 to $53. Tell me you want to grab an umbrella and lamp post after watching this gem.

Sunday afternoon — Reiman Gardens in Ames, 1407 University Blvd., will be celebrating the start of spring with its Spring Enchantment event through the entire month of April. The gardens will have 17 acres of flowers like tulips and hyacinths for visitors to explore with scavenger hunts and extended hours. And who knows, you might spot a tiger longwing along the way.

Hat tip to Isaac Hamlet for helping me out with 48 Hours Off this week. I would be lost without his vast knowledge of events in central Iowa.

Bathroom cleaning hacks

Mr. Clean MagicErasers and chopsticks are good to have on hand for cleaning.
Mr. Clean MagicErasers and chopsticks are good to have on hand for cleaning.

People liked my shutting down the kitchen cleaning tip so I thought I would throw out three cleaning tips for the bathroom.

1. If your showerhead seems clogged, put some vinegar in a baggie and secure it around the showerhead overnight. It removes all the grimy buildup.

2. Save those chopsticks when you order takeout. You can wrap a paper towel with cleaner around one to get into those nasty crevices around your faucet.

3. Mr. Clean MagicErasers are some of my favorite cleaning products. Use one to clean your hairbrush, especially if you have a lot of gel or mousse buildup at the base. Scrub, scrub, scrub and the buildup is gone. MagicErasers also work great on cleaning the walls of your shower.

Phoebe is really the boss around here.
Phoebe is really the boss around here.

Around Town

See ya at the theater!
See ya at the theater!

My Day Job

Hey, Des Moines. Thanks for reading. By day, I'm the entertainment editor at the Des Moines Register, and lately I've been tracking all things Jason Momoa, who was in town for a visit this week, and Ashton Kutcher. Both appeared on the red carpet at the Academy Awards last Sunday night. Were you watching?

I also wrote about the pop-up Diego Rodriguez-Negrete did with his mother Laura Rodriguez at Proof. If you missed it in March, look for it to return in April. I'm also ecstatic that Snookies Malt Shop reopened for the season with its new neon sign intact. And if you're a plan-ahead kind of person, buy your tickets to the shows coming to the Iowa State Fair this summer.

Next week, the entertainment team heads out together to try bouldering at Iowa Climbs. Have you done something interesting outside of work? I'd love to hear about it, and we are always looking for community members who want to guest write Off Hours. Just drop me a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Don't miss Broadway musicals, big concerts and comedians in Des Moines