We visited the DSM Civic Center in early May for a matinee performance of MJ: The Musical. It was…read moreabsolutely fantastic. One of the best musicals I've seen in the last 5 years. The choreography, the singing, the set design, the costumes. I could go on and on. I have a family member who is a broadway series season ticket holder. He generously gave us his seats - smack dab in the center of the second row. Wow! The seats were great, but the challenge was when I got up to use the restroom during intermission. I agree with another reviewer who stated there aren't enough ladies rooms. For hundreds of women who need to sit down during a 20 minute break, it's tricky. The capacity of the restrooms isn't great, but if the venue ever underwent a renovation, my first suggestion would be to create a center aisle. There is none. God forbid you're stuck in the middle of any row and you need to get up during the performance. Yikes. First I'd do something about the center aisle, then think about the restrooms. I'd rather be late getting back to my seat after intermission than have to make everyone cringe while I get up in the middle of the show. The Civic Center is conveniently located downtown. We stayed across the street at The Surety. Splash seafood restaurant is on the corner (several others within walking distance), and the parking ramps are walkable too. There was even a really neat art installation across the street near the water fountains. A bunch of musical, light-up see saws. My husband and I had a great time. We're from the Iowa City area and I tend to be drawn more to what's showing in DSM rather than Cedar Rapids. It's not the most exciting drive across the state, but it's the worst. Recommend!!

I am thrilled with my decision to get season tickets this year. The productions have all been…read moreamazing. I only wish there were more ladies rooms. There is no way to go and get back during intermission so I must strategically calculate my liquid intake before a show. The seats are a little cozy but I understand trying to get as many patrons in as possible. I will definitely renew my subscription next season!

I really enjoy the space in this theater. It brings the show right up and close to the audience…read more In spite of the smaller scope they have a great setup. With multiple layers on the performance area they allow many parts to be played out in different ways for the audience while maintaining separation for the locations. The seating is rather hard and tightly spaced which can be a bit uncomfortable if the show lasts over an hour and has no intermission. I thought their ability to use such a space in such a great way was terrific. The lights and sound worked really well.

I'm so excited that the Des Moines Social Club's Kum and Go Theater is open for business! Last…read morenight was my first experience in the Black Box Theater! It was awesome! I got to play a show with Har Mar Superstar and MAIDS! The place is 2nd to none, awesome video projection screen so I did not have to bring my own, Great sound system and the staff who I think were mostly volunteers were incredibly nice and professional! I got the opportunity to see some of the behind the scenes spots like the artist back stage green rooms and these were the best in town at any venue for sure! I'm super excited this is finally open as I hope to be attending many theater productions, and concerts here! Super excited when the weather warms up to enjoy a beer on the open roof as well! Also cool art by local legend Van Holmgren welcomes you to the theater! Great SPOT!

A show about faith, trust and pixie dust! The classic story from the side of Tinker Bell is a…read morehilarious romp for the whole family. The funny thing is Smee somehow steals the show. Chris does a fantastic job taking a fun character and turning him love able and relatable. Everyone on the cast was terrific! Our five year old was enthralled throughout. We love the autograph session after to meet the cast.

We recently attended Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thieve at the playhouse. The show is in the…read morebig theater. We ordered the tickets online before hand. Entry was easy with a quick scan of our QR code. The was a wide selection at the concession stand and the cast was great.

The Iowa Stage Theatre was a merger between to incredible local production companies The Repertory…read moreTheatre of Iowa and StageWest Theatre Co. They put on intimate productions at the Kum And Go Theater at the Des Moines Social Club. This past year they won multiple Cloris Awards, including Best Play, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress! They do everything from Shakespear to Tony Award winning more modern productions! Our city has a vast group of local theater talent, and this is a fantastic company if you are looking to catch a show!

From the owner: Iowa Stage Theatre Company presents Fun Home! The Tony-Winning musical of a young cartoonist coming…read moreout and discovering her father's secret life. Now through October 14th at the Des Moines Social Club!

What a fun place... it has not just comedy but bingo twice a month and various other events. They…read morehave craft cocktails and comfortable seating. The staff are 1st class and it is a great addition to the downtown area!

Intimate comedy club. Great that you can order right from the table on your phone. A fun selection…read moreof drinks. Will Be back!

Magic and Comedy Show at the Temple Theater, the comedian and the magician were both extremely…read moreentertaining. They did a great job interacting with the audience and really keep everyone in awe and laughter! All in all is was a really fun evening....

small theater, saw the twilight zone unscripted. Super talented cast. Challenging to pull off…read moretwilight zones off the cuff.

We attended this performance and it was lackluster. We expected to laugh and not one person the…read moreentire show laughed. I don't know if this was my fault or the performance. I always thought her column was true stuff that gapped but also made you laugh however this show didn't do much on the laughing/ironic side at all. It was just an hour long and it was far from getting your monies worth. The one woman show was impressive that she was able to do it all by herself. I don't think that it was the actors fault it fell short but the content.

Good vibes, I heard of the place and decided to check it out. I'm from Texas so always looking for…read moresomething to do, it was real cool..

really cool and laid back Blues Bar in east des moines. The people here are so friendly.. The…read moredrinks are cheap and very strong... and the live music is great. Whats also cool is the murals on the front and side of the building... there are also photos of all the legends that have played in the space throughout the years. When we were there they featured a live blues band that was directly from Mississippi. They sounded great. They played covers of many classics as well as original songs.