(Some content courtesy: bestthingsia.com)
The 10 Best Places for Live Theater in Iowa!
Whether you are aiming for more of an intimate experience in
the community theater, or you want to catch the latest and greatest
touring Broadway plays, Iowa has just the ticket for you. To explore the
many different avenues that live theater can take you, a good place to
begin looking for your next favorite show is by checking out these 10
best places for live theater in Iowa.
The Old Creamery Theatre in the historic Amana Colonies of
Iowa has been providing the surrounding community and beyond with live,
professional theatre performances since 1971, and within their cozy,
300-seat auditorium, there's no bad seat in the house. Featuring a long
list of dedicated performances and special shows, the Old Creamery
Theatre has something on stage for the whole family to enjoy, and with
the Amana Colonies surrounding this community staple, the fun doesn’t
have to stop at the end of the stage.
While the Des Moines Community Playhouse on 42nd Street in
Des Moines is perhaps the most catering, kid-friendly theatre space in
the nation, don’t be fooled if the adult in you finds something to enjoy
at the Des Moines Playhouse as well. Featuring the best children’s
theater performances money can buy, the Des Moines Playhouse also
features nationally-touring Broadway performances, adult-orientated
productions and monthly workshops to bring your children to or take part
in yourself.
For a rich taste of the Iowa City culture, the Riverside
Theatre located on South Gilbert Street is an intimate venue with a list
of performances you’ll see in few other spaces. Featuring local theatre
productions, the Riverside Theatre is a resident professional theater
with seats for just over 100 people, providing more of a personal feel
to the rotating shows found on stage. Operating for over 30 years,
Riverside Theatre sets the bar high on professional, local theatre
productions, and through all those years of experience, the Riverside
Theatre guarantees a live performance that you are going to enjoy.
Located just blocks from the Paramount Theatre in downtown
Cedar Rapids, Theatre Cedar Rapids is another big venue dedicated
solely to live theatre arts, or more specifically, community theatre
arts. That’s because not only can you catch the latest performances of
local and touring plays and shows at Theatre Cedar Rapids, but with an
active mission of community involvement, Theatre Cedar Rapids encourages
the community to come take part in the fun. Whether it’s backstage,
front of house or in the spotlight, the Theatre Cedar Rapids relies on
the community to enjoy and participate in all of their performances.
The StageWest Theatre Company has been providing
cutting-edge, local performances to the Des Moines community since 1996,
and as of recently, you can catch their social commentary and engaging
performances in the Kum & Go Theater, located within the Des Moines
Social Club on Mulberry Street. You’ll find something you’ll never see
elsewhere with the StageWest Theatre Company, and that is members of the
community sharing a unique story with everyone in the audience of this
cozy performance space. Check it out yourself, and be part of the story
with StageWest Theatre Company.
One of the main destinations in the Quad Cities for
performing arts, the Adler Theatre of Davenport brings to town the
latest and greatest Broadway performances and touring acts. Featuring
musicals, symphonies and fun shows for the whole family, the Adler
Theatre provides a comfortable atmosphere to enjoy professional shows
throughout the year in their beautifully restored theater. Whether it’s a
monthly outing or a once-a-year special event, make sure to find the
time to catch a live performance and great time at the Adler Theatre in
Cedar Rapids.
The Mason City Community Theatre is a great place to
either catch a live show or be a part of the magic that puts on one.
Welcoming all levels of actors and stagehands, even if you’re not
interested in being a part of the action, the Mason City Community
Theatre has enough shows and live performances to keep you engaged in
your seat the entire year. If you do want to be a part of the action
that happens outside of the aisles, all you have to do is show up and
express your interest, because the community that makes the Mason City
Theatre what it is, they will be happy to have the extra hand.
The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, located on Walnut
Street, is Iowa’s premier venue for nationally touring Broadway
performances and other intimate live theater productions. Featuring the
latest and greatest performances, a trip to the Des Moines Civic Center
is a real treat for theatre goers of all ages, and with a wide variety
of performances happening throughout the year, don’t be surprised by the
many times you will enjoy catching a show at the Civic Center.
A cultural staple of Iowa City and the surrounding
University of Iowa, the Englert Theatre is a historic, renovated
building that houses some of the most culturally significant
performances in the city and state. With heavy ties to the literary and
cultural scene found in Iowa City, the Englert Theatre hosts a wide
variety of live theater performances, from acoustic music sets to
stand-up comedians, and a whole host of other unique live acts and
appearances, the Englert Theatre in Iowa City is sure to keep you on the
edge of your seat for many shows to come.
Built amongst all the extravagance of the 1920s, the
Paramount Theatre on Third Avenue in Cedar Rapids is not only listed on
the National Register of Historic Places, but is also treats audience
members to the most current cultural performances of our present times.
Once a decadent motion picture movie theater, this renovated live
performance space is an enchanting place to catch Broadway musicals,
nationally touring musical acts and all sorts of live theater
performances to keep you entertained throughout the year.
