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DMPA Impacts Iowa

Arts That Strengthen Community

Your support of Des Moines Performing Arts does more than bring performances to the stage. It helps educate students, strengthen our community, expand arts access and creates a lasting impact across Iowa.

MAKE A GIFT TODAY

Thank you for taking a moment to learn more about the impact of Des Moines Performing Arts. Every gift helps create opportunities for people across our community to connect with music, theater, dance and one another. Your support helps ensure the arts remain accessible, relevant and vibrant for generations to come.

DMPA’s impact goes far beyond the stage

Your Support in Action

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Serving Iowans at Every Stage: DMPA Expands Arts Access for Pre-K Students
News

Serving Iowans at Every Stage: DMPA Expands Arts Access for Pre-K Students

At Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA), we believe the arts are how communities connect, reflect and grow – and that it’s never too early or too late for those experiences. As a complete home for the arts, DMPA serves Iowans at every stage of life, from pre-K students discovering live performance for the first time to seniors continuing to find meaning and connection through the arts.

March 24, 2026
DMPA Welcomes Students and Educators from Across the State for an Afternoon of Arts, Connection and Creativity
News

DMPA Welcomes Students and Educators from Across the State for an Afternoon of Arts, Connection and Creativity

Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) proudly hosted 130 middle school students – from Meredith Middle School in Des Moines, West Branch Middle School in West Branch and East Union in Afton – for an immersive afternoon of workshops, performance and collaboration. This community initiative, inspired by the national tour of The Outsiders’ Stay Gold Project, highlighted the musical’s messages around resilience, identity and finding your place in the world.

March 5, 2026
Applauding 30 Years of DMPA’s Applause Series
News

Applauding 30 Years of DMPA’s Applause Series

The 2025-26 season marks the 30th anniversary of DMPA’s Applause Series, which engages over 35,000 students from pre-K through high school annually.

February 2, 2026
A Year of Standing Ovations: Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Ahead
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A Year of Standing Ovations: Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Ahead

What a year it has been! We welcomed more than 346,000 guests to 365 unforgettable performances – from Broadway blockbusters that had audiences singing all the way home, to intimate concerts that turned ordinary evenings into cherished memories. And as we bid a heartfelt farewell to longtime President and CEO Jeff Chelsvig, we reflected on his incredible legacy of making the arts accessible to all.

December 22, 2025
women in yellow dress dancing by marigold flowers
News

SUGAR SKULL! and Local Events Shine Light on Día de los Muertos

SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure will be at the Des Moines Civic Center on Saturday, Nov. 8 as part of the Wellmark Family Series. Prepare for the show with a list of local Day of the Dead events and activities!

October 21, 2025
The image shows three people, two women and one man, standing in what appears to be a lecture hall or auditorium. The man is gesturing and pointing, while the two women are listening and observing him. The background features rows of seats and a stage or platform.
News

Students Shine with DMPA Technical Outreach

The Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards (IHSMTA) showcase happens just once a year, but the preparation leading up to that moment on the big stage is months in the making. This summer, Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) partnered with five Iowa high schools to maximize the lighting and sound technology already available in their auditoriums.

September 9, 2025
DMPA Helps Launch Initiative Supporting New Youth and Family Theater Works
News

DMPA Helps Launch Initiative Supporting New Youth and Family Theater Works

Des Moines Performing Arts has joined a new national initiative — the TYA Tour Development Collective — to support the creation of original theatrical works for youth and family audiences. Alongside eight other presenting organizations, DMPA is helping fund artists and companies developing shows with the potential to tour nationally.

July 9, 2025
Des Moines Performing Arts Impact
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Learn More About Our Impact

Applause Series

Applause Series

DMPA's Applause Series brings world-class performing artists and diverse art forms to Des Moines Performing Arts' stages for one-hour matinee performances for school audiences. Each performance connects to in-class curriculum, providing the perfect opportunity to learn about and through the arts.
Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards

Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards

The Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards celebrate the talent and dedication of students involved in high school musicals across the state. Through professional workshops, adjudicated reviews, and a culminating Awards Showcase at the Des Moines Civic Center, the program fosters growth, skill development, and community support for young performers and technical artists alike.
Camps

Camps

Des Moines Performing Arts offers camps where young people of all levels explore their creativity, build confidence, and learn from theater professionals. With programs for grades 1 through college, students gain hands-on experience in the performing arts while creating lasting memories.
Free Outdoor Family Events

Free Outdoor Family Events

Get ready for another exciting season of free outdoor family events in the Des Moines Metro! We're thrilled to present another season full of captivating shows and activities set amidst some of the Des Moines area's parks and outdoor venues.

Community Engagement

Community Engagement

Experience the performing arts on a whole new level. Special opportunities bring ticket holders and theater professionals together for a behind-the-scenes look at production details.
Educator Development

Educator Development

Experts in arts-integration strategies provide educators with the tools and support to transform their classrooms. Through interactive workshops, demonstration teaching, and arts coaching, educators discover new ways to reach students with diverse learning styles.

Make an Impact

DONORS LIKE YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY! Your support helps ensure that children, students, and adults across the state have the opportunity to experience live theater and the performing arts. Your continued support helps remove financial and physical barriers so that everyone can access the transformative power of the arts. Together, we are creating a legacy of accessibility, opening doors for all to engage, enjoy, and be inspired.

Join us for an upcoming event!

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Votes for Women Book Club

Monday, April 13 · 6 p.m. Des Moines Civic Center

Doodle Pop

Wellmark Family Series
Saturday, Apr. 18, 2026 • 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Temple Theater
Masterworks 6

HOPE – COPLAND & GERSHWIN

Des Moines Symphony
Apr. 18-19, 2026 Des Moines Civic Center

Billy Nation: Tribute to Billy Joel

Sunday April 19, 2026 · 3 p.m. Temple Theater
Erika Woolsey: Marine Biologist

Diving the Great Barrier Reef

National Geographic Live
Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026 - 6:30 p.m. Des Moines Civic Center
Vibrant, abstract shapes and patterns in a gradient of warm and cool colors, creating a visually striking and dynamic composition.

Pride Storytellers: Black & Proud

Capital City Pride Speaker Series
April 23, 2026 - 6:30 p.m. Temple Theater