News: Education
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News
Des Moines Performing Arts Uplifts New Artistic Work for Young Audiences
As a founding member of the Collective, DMPA collaborates with presenting organizations across the country to bring fresh, imaginative storytelling to life and ensure these works reach audiences nationwide. Since its launch in 2025, the Collective has grown significantly, reflecting a shared commitment among arts organizations to prioritize programming designed specifically for younger audiences.
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Celebrating Iowa’s Rising Stars: Two Students Earn Top Honors at 2026 IHSMTA Showcase
After an unforgettable evening celebrating the very best of Iowa high school musical theater, Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s highly sought-after Triple Threat Awards. Wrigley Mancha of Davenport Central High School and Peyton Haacke of Southeast Polk High School were honored at the 2026 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards (IHSMTA) Showcase presented by EMC Insurance – and will go on to represent Iowa on a national stage next month.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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News
A Royally Memorable Costume Look-in
Seventy high school students who’ve participated in DMPA’s Access Broadway program and the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards had the chance to go behind the scenes of SIX, getting an up-close look at the queens’ dazzling, bold and heavily studded costumes.
