Celebrating a Remarkable 30-Years with Jeff Chelesvig

November marked the end of an era as we bid farewell to President & CEO, Jeff Chelesvig, who retired after three decades of leading DMPA.

Under his guidance, Jeff and the DMPA team:

• Welcomed 4 million guests to Broadway productions
• Hosted 10,000 performances across all DMPA venues
• Inspired 960,000 students and teachers through 860 Applause Series performances
• Grew the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards to one of the largest programs of its kind in the country, with over 100 schools participating each year
• Expanded DMPA programming, including nine DMPA series
• Reached audiences from all 99 counties in Iowa, drawing 350,000 guests annually

As Jeff steps into retirement, we celebrate his extraordinary contributions and the vibrant arts community he helped build. Please join us in thanking Jeff for his passion, leadership, and dedication to making the arts accessible and unforgettable for all.