We have another great weekend of 13 The Broadway Musical ahead!

You know the classic ‘new kid on the playground’ story… when his parents get divorced and he’s forced to move from New York to a small town in Indiana on the eve of his Bar Mitzvah, Evan Goldman just wants to make friends and survive the school year. Easier said than done!  With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, “13″ is a hilarious, grown-up musical for all ages about discovering that cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it.  Pop / Rock. Rated PG.

Bonus: please join us at 1:30 pm on May 26th for a special pre-show discussion with Cantor Linda Shivers of Tifereth Israel Synagogue about the Jewish tradition of Bar mitzvah and Bat mitzvah.

13 is a production by Des Moines Onstage in conjunction with the Des Moines Social Club featuring 18 middle and high school youth from several Des Moines Metro Schools, as well as 12 students and faculty from Drake University’s Musical Theater Department.

“13″ – The Broadway Musical!
Friday & Saturday, May 24 & 25 at 7pm
Sunday, May 26 at 2pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$15 Adults/ $10 Kids tickets available at midwestix.com

These three one-act plays are unblinking portraits of the evils that are abroad in everyday life; each is distinguished by the raw and yet lyrical intensity that has become Neil Labute’s signature. In Medea Redux, a woman tells of her complex and ultimately tragic relationship with her junior high-school English teacher. In Iphigenia in Orem, a Utah businessman confides in a stranger in a Las Vegas hotel room, confessing to an especially chilling crime. In A Gaggle of Saints, a young Mormon couple separately recount the violent events of an anniversary weekend in New York City.

The wonderful Neil LaBute is no stranger to great theater and film, writing a variety of other works, as well. For theater, he created Fat Pig and Shape of Things. In film, he created Your Friends and Neighbors, Nurse Betty, In the Company of Men, and Possession. StageWest Theater Company has also recently featured Labute’s work to great acclaim. bash: latterday plays is no exception to LaBute’s excellent canon of work.

Directors:
Ron Gilbert, Yvette Hermann, Marnie Strate

Cast:
Medea: Kellie Kramer

A Gaggle of Saints: Emily Stavneak, Sam Bates Norum

Iphigenia in Orem: Jonathan DeLima

Dates:
June 13-16, Thurs.-Sat. at 7:30pm, Sun. at 2:00pm
June 19-23, Wed.-Sat. at 7:30pm, Sun. at 2:00pm

Location:
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines

Tickets:
$20 for evening shows or $14 for Sunday matinees viaMidwestix

Wednesday, June 19 is Dice Night. Get tickets at the door for whatever price rolls on a twenty-sided dice!

Buy Tickets

RSVP via Facebook ]]> http://desmoinessocialclub.org/announcing-bash-latterday-plays-june-13-23/feed/ 0 http://desmoinessocialclub.org/the-focus-on-art-in-des-moines/ http://desmoinessocialclub.org/the-focus-on-art-in-des-moines/#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 16:10:30 +0000 dmsc http://desmoinessocialclub.org/?p=8590 READ MORE>]]> There is a grassroots arts movement in Des Moines and people are starting to take notice. Des Moines isn’t just corn, insurance and banking. It’s a city that is on the cusp of a revolution and the art scene is a big part of that movement. From pop-up art galleries to live painting and collaborative work sessions to multiple artist showcases, events are shaking up the Des Moines art scene and exposing this creative culture to a wider audience.

We are making strides to highlight the art community in Des Moines. In addition to construction projects at the firehouse, we are featuring a bundle of art events in May as a way to provide artists around the region an opportunity to present their work, including Art in Motion, Afternoon Art, Art Friends Afternoon Delight, and PedalArt

These events are a perfect example of the focus on art in Des Moines at a grassroots level, artists and creatives coming together to collaborate and showcase all Des Moines has to offer. We look forward to being able to feature even more events like these in the firehouse next year. – Matt McIver.

Art in Motion
Friday, May 10 at 7pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$5 suggested donation

Join us for the second annual Art in Motion, a night of ping pong and art! Check out painted skateboard decks, live painting by local artists, art-tastic ping pong tables, and much more. Subsect Skate Shop will feature a skate film and Ichi Bike will be joining too with custom bikes you’ve gotta see. Watch professional table tennis players slug it out for King Pong glory in an eight-man tournament and test your own skills on special tables painted by local artists. Get ready to be wow’d by Los Angeles professional table tennis player and actor, Adam Bobrow. As our host for the night, Adam will be announcing the games and playing. You can even take a shot at returning a serve from him for $5. First person to achieve this feat will get a sweet prize!

Afternoon Art
Saturday, May 11 at 3pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$10 per child

Your kids will have an engaging, creative experience! The theme of this Saturday program changes monthly, and every session culminates with a cool project you can take home, like a wearable collage, garden décor or a musical instrument. Designed for kids age 5-9. $10 per child.

Art Friends Afternoon Delight
Saturday, May 25 1-4 pm
Crane Artist Lofts, 1440 Walnut St., Des Moines
$5

Join Art Beacon and the Des Moines Social Club for the latest iteration of ART FRIENDS, an open workshop and studio for artists of all levels. This month’s event will include zine-making, figure drawing with clothed models (and a chance to model for other artists), and a show and tell of works in progress by anyone who would like to share. Show up when you can, stay for as long as you would like.

PedalArt
Friday, May 31 from 7-10pm, Saturday, June 1 from 10am-3pm, Sunday, June 2 from 12pm-3pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
Free

Come view original artwork from 30 local and regional artists, all focused on a bicycle theme. The art showing will happen May 31-June 2 with a special free opening party reception on Friday, May 31 from 7-10pm. All artwork will be available for purchase to take home for $30 each, with an edition of 30 prints per artist. Make sure to get to the opening reception early, because prints always sell out! This event is free and open to the public.

The Des Moines Social Club works to provide opportunities for artists from around the region to present their work, and is committed to showcasing creatives to the Des Moines community.

The Revolver Comedy Revue
Every Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Gas Lamp, 1501 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Free
https://www.facebook.com/RevolverComedyRevue

About Anything Improv
Anything Improv was launched by former Second City faculty member Josh Chamberlin and his wife Stephanie, a Des Moines native, in hopes of bringing Chicago-style Improv Comedy opportunities to Des Moines. It was established in 2010 and in that time has been entertaining and training some of the most prestigious corporate clients in Iowa like Aviva USA, Belin McCormick, Businessolver, and Iowa Student Loan. http://anythingimprov.com

About Josh Chamberlin
Prior to founding Anything Improv, Josh Chamberlin has taught at the world famous Second City and performed professionally with Second City Communications, the Improv Olympic Chicago resident company the Deltones, and has been a guest improviser on the Second City Mainstage. A regional winner of NBC Universal’s TV show, World Cup Comedy, Josh Chamberlin has taught and performed Improv Comedy all across the United States.

DMSC has many more events planned for the coming year including theater productions, social events, literary programs, art openings, and much more. Visit DesMoinesSocialClub.org for more information.

DMSC Learning – Creative Classes for Adults
“Creating a community-charged connectedness through the arts is a main priority for the Des Moines Social Club. We want to create a space where your child or grandma can learn to play music or produce a play with a group of peers for the first time,” artistic director Matt McIver said. “DMSC should be a space where people of all ages find a way to express themselves creatively.”

Circus Arts
Sundays from 3:30-4:30pm, April 14 – May 26
Ananta Yoga Studios, 2815 Beaver Ave.
$50 per student for the series

Want to learn amazing new skills and invigorate your fitness routine? Circus classes are the ideal addition to your fitness plan. Perfect for adults of all ages and fitness levels, circus is not only a fun way to stay fit, it’s a great way to improve body balance, strength, flexibility, and coordination. Your body and mind will get a work out! We will explore several varieties of circus props and apparatus from juggling, to hula hopping, acrobatic and even aerial fabric! No experience is necessary, simply a curiosity for all things circus

String ‘Em Up! Old-Time Music Hangout
Saturday, April 27 and Saturday, May 25 from 2-4pm
4th Street Theater, 212 4th St., Des Moines
$7

Join Flying Pig Fiddle & Banjo for a slow jam romp in the living tradition of southern Appalachian Old-time string band music. Bring your fiddle, 5-string banjo, guitar, mandolin or lap dulcimer, dancing shoes, or home made/found rhythm instruments. All ages are welcome. Basic knowledge of string and rhythm instruments needed. Ability to read sheet music or tab are not necessary but curiosity, enthusiasm and inclination toward silliness and high spirits are!

Systema Russian Martial Arts
Every Sunday from 11am-1pm
Ananta Yoga Studios, 2815 Beaver Ave.
$10 for drop-ins or $30 for the month

Systema is a Russian martial art. It is designed to be highly adaptive and practical, training using drills and sparring. It focuses mainly on controlling the six body levers (elbows, neck, knees, waist, ankles, and shoulders) through pressure point application, striking and weapon applications.

DMSC Kids – Engaging Children in the Arts
“Providing young minds the opportunity to explore the arts is an important initiative for the Des Moines Social Club,” says operations manager, Julie Betts. “Events, educational opportunities, and activities like Play in a Day, Girls Rock, Simple Songs Simple Feelings, and Dance Baby Dance are ways we can give creative outlets for children and young adults in Des Moines. We look forward to continuing to expand DMSC Kids in the future.”

Simple Songs Simple Feelings
Fridays from 11-11:40am, April 12-May 17
4th Street Theater, 212 4th St., Des Moines
$10 per parent/child, $5 per additional person

Simple Songs Simple Feelings is a child and family based music program created by Kat Darling. Guided in a group setting, children are able to become aware of their own abilities, giving them the opportunity to lose self-consciousness. Dancing, singing & playing allows kids to freely express themselves creatively. The program is 30-40 minutes long and is for children ages 2-6. Kat sings original children’s music as well as traditional sings-a-long songs. Visit facebook.com/simplesongssimplefeelings or email katdarling@thehighcrest.com for more information.

Girls Rock! Des Moines
July 9-18
Hubbell Elementary School
$425, partial and full scholarships are available

Girls Rock! Des Moines is a two-week summer day camp for girls to receive instrumental instruction, form bands, and write songs to be performed at the GR!DSM showcase. The new program for girls 10-16 years old is set for July 9-18. Girls 17-18 still enrolled in high school are eligible to participate in the Counselors in Training program. Online registration is now open.

This new program provides girls an opportunity to collaborate creatively in an environment of mutual respect and positive self-expression. The camp aims to build self-esteem through music creation and performance, while encouraging social change and the development of life skills. Girls Rock! Des Moines offers girls across Iowa an opportunity to feel creative and empowered.

Register, donate and learn more at girlsrockdsm.com.

Parents Night Out
Fridays, June 7, July 12 and August 9 from 5:30pm-10:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St.
$30 for one child, $10 for each additional child

Looking for more than just a babysitter? Go out on the town while your kids (ages 3-12) enjoy an evening at the Des Moines Social Club with entertainment, activities and food. Activities are geared towards age groups in attendance, and will include dance, drama and storytelling. Children will also create a project to take home. Parents can take advantage of a 10 percent discount at on site restaurant, Gramercy.

Contact Julie at jbetts@desmoinessocialclub.org or 515-288-3672 to register. One-week advance registration is required.

Play in a Day
Wednesdays, June 26, July 31 and August 7 from 9:00am-4:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St.
$75 for individual workshops, $200 for all three

Play in a Day is an exciting, performance-based day-long workshop for 5-9 year-olds to explore stories through drama, music and movement. The program is based on based on myths, legends and fairytales from around the world. A cultural ambassador from CultureAll will share stories, geography, and history from around the world. Each child will design and create an item of costume or a puppet. The workshop will end with a performance for families and friends packed with actions, movements and sounds. Play in a Day workshops can be also be available for school groups or birthday parties.

Contact Julie at jbetts@desmoinessocialclub.org or 515-288-3672 to register.

Afternoon Art
Saturdays May 11 and June 8 from 3:00-5:00pm
$10 per child

Your kids will have an engaging, creative experience while parents have some time to themselves. The theme of this Saturday program changes monthly, and every session culminates with a cool project you can take home, like a wearable collage, garden décor or a musical instrument. $10 per child, designed for kids 5 to 9.

Dance Baby Dance
One Saturday per month from 10:00am-12:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St.
$5/person or $12/family, Children under 1 are FREE! Advance registration is not required.

You come, you dance, you play, you laugh. Participate in group activities or do your own thing. Go to the lobby and take a breather from the action, maybe read some books. Come back in, dance it out.

Special guests performances begin at 11:00 and lasts about 30 minutes. Just right for all attention spans. What? Your kid doesn’t sit still? No problem. Group activities will be geared toward crowd in attendance including activities for older kids like limbo and group dances AND for younger kids like follow the leader and freeze dance.

Last night was an amazing event. So many faces who have helped make this possible sitting all together. Des Moines is helping unlock the secret of the creative community we have, and putting us on the cultural map. The Firehouse is your space, so keep thinking of ideas to fill it.

Now we need your help to make this work. It’s pretty simple, and you get some cool stuff. Please consider a pledge of $10, $20 or $50 a month to our Socialite Drive - all proceeds support DMSC programming for events like the Bash, Fireball, Food for Thought, Theater Season, King Pong, Team Trivia, Open Circus and many others. See the details below.

Let’s do this. Support DMSC now by making a sustaining pledge. Check out this t-shirt. You know you want it.

- Zack

Socialite Drive
Make your pledge now at desmoinessocialclub.org/get-involved/donate.

$10/month
- Ticket to the Fireball
- 10% off on all DMSC programming
- Name on lobby scrolling contributor screen

$20/month
- Ticket to The Bash
- Ticket the Fireball
- DMSC Firehouse t-shirt
- 15% off on all DMSC programming
- Name on lobby scrolling contributor screen

$50/month
- VIP Ticket to The Bash
- VIP Ticket to The Fireball
- Season Tickets to DMSC Theater Co.
- DMSC Firehouse t-shirt
- 20% off on all DMSC programming
- Permanent Name on Yellow Brick Road path in Courtyard

The Socialite Drive lasts for one calendar year from your pledge date. Your gift automatically renews, but you can stop at anytime after one year.
  

Food for Thought
Thursday, April 4, 2013 from 5:00pm-9:00pm
Des Moines Social Club Courtyard at the Firehouse, 900 Mulberry St.
http://desmoinessocialclub.org/events/food-for-thought

Get a sneak peek of the firehouse at Food for Thought, an annual fundraising party, presented by Adventureland and Beal | Derkenne Construction. Help the Des Moines Social Club celebrate the first party at their new home before construction begins in April. Food for Thought features two parties in the courtyard, music by Cashes Rivers, DJ 810, The River Monks, & Jordan Mayland, guided firehouse tours, slide down the fire pole, paint a collaborative mural, and more. Special news about the firehouse will be released at the event.

- Formal Dinner – $100/person, $1,000/Table, $1,700/VIP Table. Includes a three-course meal and wine pairings. Tables seat 10.
- BBQ & Brews Party – $20/person. Includes free BBQ and beer. – SOLD OUT

Page to Stage
Monday, April 8 at 7:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
Free
https://www.facebook.com/events/521437077902215/ 

Page to Stage is the Des Moines Social Club’s monthly play reading series. Generally the first Wednesday of the month we present a staged reading of a new play—either brand new, an obscure old find, or something new to Des Moines.

Dance Baby Dance
Saturday, April 6 from 10:00am-12:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$5/person or $12/family, Children under 1 are FREE!
https://www.facebook.com/DMSCkids

You come, you dance, you play, you laugh. Participate in group activities or do your own thing. Go to the lobby and take a breather from the action, maybe read some books. Come back in, dance it out.

Special guest or activity starts at 11:00 and lasts about 30 minutes. Just right for all attention spans. What? Your kid doesn’t sit still? No problem. Group activities will be geared toward crowd in attendance including activities for older kids like limbo and group dances AND for younger kids like follow the leader and freeze dance.

Story Mob
Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines
$5
https://www.facebook.com/events/499915646711986/ 

Des Moines creatives come together for at the Des Moines Social Club for the quarterly, Story Mob. Join us to share your story for a chance to win or just come to listen to a mob of Des Moines storytellers!

Everyone is invited to come tell a five-minute story surrounding a particular prop. Listeners rate stories with the first prize winner receiving $100 and second place wins $50. Story Mob is a partnership between CULTUREALL, Chad Cox, Hillyard Industries and Des Moines Social Club.

April Story Mob Prop: Umbrella. Attendees are asked to bring umbrellas to be donated to local charities.

Simple Songs Simple Feelings
Fridays at 10am from April 12-May 17
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
http://www.facebook.com/simplesongssimplefeelings

Simple Songs Simple Feelings is a child and family based music program created by Kat Darling. Guided in a group setting, children are able to become aware of their own abilities, giving them the opportunity to lose self-consciousness. Dancing, singing & playing allows kids to freely express themselves creatively. The program is 30-40 minutes long and is for children ages 2-6.

Rex Manning Day
Friday, April 19 at 9:30pm
Vaudeville Mews, 212 4th Street, Des Moines
$5
https://www.facebook.com/events/508597812537471/ 

Join the Des Moines Social Club and Hill Vintage and Knits for a night dedicated to all the things you loved / hoped you’d forget about the 90′s. Featuring ’90s cover sets by: Anna Gebhardt, Jordan Mayland, Kevin the Robot, Derek Lambert, and others; and a ’90s-only DJ set by Is Home Is. $5 at the door, free orange m&ms all night.

RTI Presents THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
April 19 – May 5 (April 19, 20, 25-27, May 2-4 at 7:30pm and April 21, 28, May 5 at 2:00pm)
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St.
$7-$22 at midwestix.com
http://www.rtiowa.com/?p=2013

Repertory Theater of Iowa presents That Championship Season. A 2011 Broadway revival, this 1973 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner is a powerful portrait of morally bankrupt men reliving their glory days as high-school basketball champions. We discover that none of their lives have turned out as they had hoped. These middle-aged “champions” are haunted by broken dreams and disillusionment. And in one explosive, often hilarious evening, their illusions are stripped away and they are left facing the unvarnished truth.

Weekly Programming
Team Trivia
Every Tuesday at 7:30pm
Gas Lamp, 1501 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Free
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Trivia/118047861600673

Show off your knowledge of stuff! Des Moines Social Club’s Team Trivia is every Tuesday night at 7:30pm at the Gas Lamp. Bring a team of 2-6 people for great drink specials and 8 rounds of trivia! Rounds contain 5 questions with links hinting at each previous question’s answer. Also, occasional theme rounds to spice things up! Each weekly winner gets to pick the first category for the next week’s trivia as well as bragging rights. Monthly winners receive fabulous prizes!

King Pong
Every Tuesday, 7:00pm-10:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$5 suggested donation
https://www.facebook.com/pages/KING-PONG/100555193353479

Come play table tennis with all skill levels, have fun, meet new people and win (or lose) at one of the best sports in the world at the DMSC. Tuesdays from 7-10pm. Open play from 7-8:30pm. The league tournament starts at (or right around) 8:30pm. You don’t have to be a member of the league to play in the tournament! $5 suggested donation.

Open Circus
Every Thursday, 9:00pm-12:00am
4th Street Theater, 214 4th St., Des Moines
Free
https://www.facebook.com/OpenCircus

Open Circus is Des Moines’ Open Variety Show that provides anyone wanting to perform a stage and a mic. This is a place for expression, creativity and experimentation. Bring your guitar, drums, voice, words… comedy, drama, poetry, rock, world beat… bring yourself, and share whatever it is you’re best in sharing. A weekly artist or two will be featured to start out and push the night along, along with a rotating crew of improvised comedy performers to keep the laughs rolling all night. Come one come all, grab a seat, a beer, a mic and get a glimpse of the up-and-coming talent in Des Moines.

Systema: Russian Martial Art
Every Sunday at 11:30am
Antana Yoga Studio, 2815 Beaver Ave, Des Moines
$10

Systema is a Russian martial art. It is designed to be highly adaptive and practical, training using drills and sparring. It focuses mainly on controlling the six body levers (elbows, neck, knees, waist, ankles, and shoulders) through pressure point application, striking and weapon applications.

Volunteer Opportunities
View volunteer opportunities with the Des Moines Social Club at http://dmsc.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer.

Below is some general information about the event – while these answers are by no means comprehensive to the questions you may have, we tried to cover frequently asked information. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to email us.

Getting there:
This year’s dinner is being held at our future location, the building at 900 Mulberry Street that was until recently Fire Station Number One. The building is on the corner of 9th and Mulberry. When you arrive, please enter through the front door, which is directly on the corner of the two streets. From there, you will be directed to the appropriate place, either for the formal dinner or the BBQ.

Getting your ticket:
If you purchased a ticket on Midwestix, you can check in with your last name. If you are attending as someone’s guest, you should give the name they said would be holding the reservation. Sometimes that is your name, or it could be the name of the company or your host. If you need to pay for your formal dinner ticket (previous reservations only) we accept check, cash, credit and Dwolla.

Parking:
The Wells Fargo parking garage directly east of the firehouse will be free after 5:00 p.m. The entrance to this parking garage is on Mulberry Street, between 8th and 9th Streets. Additionally, metered street parking is available on many of the streets surrounding theFirehouse, and the meters do not need to be filled past 6:00 p.m. Please do not park in the West End Architectural Salvage lot directly south of the building.

Schedule:
For those attending the formal dinner, that will be served at 6:00 p.m. Drinks will be available prior to the dinner. For the BBQ, food is on a first-come, first-served basis, but don’t worry if you have to come late – we’ve ordered a lot.

The entertainment will look like this:
5:00 – 5:30 Jordan Mayland
5:30 – 5:45 Team Trivia with Marnie Strate and Dan Sherman
5:45 – 6:30 The River Monks
6:30 – 7:00 Speeches / programming review featuring poet Michael Tabor, Story What? with Steve King, and a selection of music from The Last Five Years with Kellie Kramer.
7:00 – 7:45 Cashes Rivers
7:45 – 9:00 DJ 810

Suggested Attire:
Social Club events have always been and will continue to be open for all to enjoy, regardless of attire. That being said, for those attending the formal dinner, the suggested attire is business formal.

See you on Thursday!

Storytellers are given a score by a panel of three judges consisting of one audience member, one celebrity judge, and one permanent judge. The storyteller with the highest score is awarded $100 in cash. Storytellers must also raise mob support. The mob (general audience) scores the storyteller on a blank sheet of paper which they wad up and throw onto the stage. At the end of the evening, the storyteller with the greatest mob support (as determined by three random scores) is awarded $50 in cash.

Audience members are asked to listen and participate in the scoring process. They are also encouraged to tell a story, but telling a story is not a requirement.

Story Mob is held at the Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street. Admission is $5. Attendees are encouraged to bring the story props to be donated to a charity of the month.

2013 Dates
Tuesday, April 9th (7:00-9:00PM) Story Mob 2.1
Selected Story Prop: Umbrella

Thursday, June 27th (7:00-9:00PM) Story Mob 2.2
Selected Story Prop: Children’s Book

Thursday, August 22 (7:00-9:00PM) Story Mob 2.3
Selected Story Prop: Backpack

Thursday, November 21st (7:00-9:00PM) Story Mob 2.4
Selected Story Prop: Blanket

The Dumb Waiter and The Bald Soprano are two classic one-act plays that I have lived with for over 12 years. These shows deal with the issue of communication – our fears surrounding it and our misunderstanding of the ability to even communicate in the first place. Both plays helped launch the Absurdist Theater Movement of the 1960′s which paved the way for much of modern playwriting. Today’s writers like Tony Kushner, Tom Stoppard, David Mamet, Tracy Letts, Martin McDonough and many others formed their styles largely due to the work of our two writers here – Harold Pinter and Eugene Ionesco.

Enough with the history lesson – these two plays rock. They are a lot of fun, and certainly different from anything you may have seen before on our stages. This is the selfish reason I work for DMSC – it gives me a platform to produce my artwork just like it does for all of you. Come out and see the show, and support our wonderful cast and crew – and of course – come see what I made. It’s not too shabby.

We open tonight. Be there!
Z

http://desmoinessocialclub.org/the-bald-sopranothe-dumb-waiter

Showings
Thurs. 3/21 – 7:30pm – Dice Night
Fri. 3/22 – 7:30pm – College Night
Sat. 3/23 – 7:30pm
Sun. 3/24 – 2pm & 7:30pm
Wed. 3/27 – 7:30pm – Dice Night
Thurs. 3/28 – 7:30pm
Fri. 3/29 – 7:30pm
Sat. 3/30 – 7:30pm
Sun. 3/31 – 2:00pm

Tickets
$20 for evening shows
$14 for Sunday shows
Advance tickets – Midwestix

Director/Producer
Zachary Mannheimer (Director/Producer) Directed Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom (2012/Kirkwood), Americana Absurdum (4th St. 2008/DMSC 2010), R.U.R. (DMSC 2009), Gaggle of Saints (DMSC 2009), Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (DMSC 2010), The Lonesome West (Mooncoin Entertainment 2010), Directed/Co-Wrote Party Discipline: A Political Transformation Seminar (NYC 2006 at The Ohio Theatre, 2007 at the AAWW), Karel Capek’s The White Plague and co-produced The UnConvention (NYC 2004), Jesse Alick’s Sleep Awake (NYC 2003), John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger (NYC 2002), Eugene Ionesco’s Victims of Duty (NYC 2001, 2002 OOBR Award for Overall Excellence), Set Design for John Patrick Shanley’s The Big Funk (NYC 2003), Producer of Mac Wellman’s 7 Blowjobs (NYC 2005) and Co-Wrote and Directed Burt Reynolds’ Amazing Napalm Powered Oven and Other Paid Programming for 2001 NYC Fringe Festival. Zachary is the Founding Artistic Director of The Subjective Theatre Company (NYC) and currently serves as Executive Director of The Des Moines Social Club. He is also a co-owner of Proof Restaurant. He wishes to thank his lovely wife Sarah, daughter Mira and son Benjamin.

The Dumb Waiter
Scott Siepker (Gus) is the host of the Emmy nominated Iowa Outdoors on Iowa Public Television and is an adjunct professor of acting at Drake University. Scott got his acting start on stage at Iowa State University, where he received his bachelor of science in psychology. Scott has gone on to act in dozens of plays, commercials, and miscellaneous live events. In 2012, Scott was the star of the Webby Honoree viral video Iowa Nice, which was produced by the film company he is a founding member of, Iowa Filmmakers, along with Paul D. Benedict and Brendan Dunphy. With the follow ups Cyclone Nice and Hawkeye Nice, ESPN took note and now Scott can been seen twice a week on College Football Daily during the football season.

Brendan Dunphy (Ben) is known for his penchant for serious drama. By the time he finished producing The Martin McDonagh Project (Mooncoin Entertainment: 2009 – 2012), DSM Magazine dubbed him “The Dark Knight of Theater.” He has also earned the title of “Best Actor” by the Iowa Motion Picture Association. He has been on a hiatus from theater to focus on film and music, but he has returned to the stage because of a particular gravitation to this script and to his colleagues, Siepker and Mannheimer. They have been waiting to showcase this play for years. Recently, Brendan has been hosting television shows for the Science Channel and the BBC. Stay tuned for current and upcoming film projects from Iowa Filmmakers, which he produces along with Paul Benedict and Scott Siepker.

The Bald Soprano
Joe Smith (Mr. Smith) StageWest – The Seafarer (Mr. Lockhart), Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde (Mr. Gill) Des Moines Playhouse – The 39 Steps (Clown 1); Tuck Everlasting (The Stranger), The Hobbit (Fili), Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid (Father), The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later (Various), Grinnell College (2009) – As You Like It (Adam), Drama Workshop – The Bald Soprano (Mr. Smith), Sunrise at Campobello (Louis Howe), Frank Burnette Productions – The Zoo Story (Peter). Milligan/Mercati Productions – The Stone Naked Women (Reverend Angell). Frequent participant in play readings for StageWest’s Scriptease and the Des Moines Playhouse’s reading series. Education: B.A. English Literature, Middlebury College.

Mary Bricker (Mrs. Smith) is thrilled to be playing Mrs. Smith opposite the “real” Mr. Smith, real-life husband Joe. Joe and Mary played these roles together in 2004, in a production for the Drama Workshop, and are eager to reprise them with this amazing cast. Mary has recently appeared on the Des Moines Social Club stage, in last fall’s 44 Plays for 44 Presidents and last year in Mooncoin Production’s The Cripple of Inishmaan. She has performed on many local stages, including the Des Moines Playhouse (Hello, Dolly!, Thoroughly Modern Millie); Stagewest (Steve Martin’s The Underpants; Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage); Drama Workshop (Sunrise at Campobello; The Importance of Being Earnest, and of course The Bald Soprano); Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre (How I became a Pirate, The Hobbit). Mary was also an original cast member of the Robert John Ford musical UTOPIA, and originated the role of Zerelda James in The Totally True, Completely Fictional Story of the Mother of Jesse James by Des Moines Playwright Cynthia Mercati. Variety is the spice of Mary’s theatrical life: she also frequently participates in various film and commercial projects, and even enjoys working “the other side” as a stage manager and assistant director. Viva la Theatre!

Eric Lee (Mr. Martin) is a Des Moines native. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre from the University of Evansville, in Indiana. He has split the last ten years between here and Chicago. In Chicago, he has appeared with Tinfish Theatre, Easy Street Players, Halcyon Theatre, and was most recently seen in New Leaf Theatre’s production of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia. In Des Moines, he has recently appeared in Completeness and Still Life, with the Des Moines Playhouse, and in Fat Pig,for StageWest. Eric is delighted to be back in Des Moines and to be jumping back into a theatre scene that just keeps getting more vibrant, though he will still take every opportunity to tell you how much he misses the food in Chicago, whether you want to hear about it or not.

Laryssa Husiak (Mrs. Martin) is a recent transplant to Des Moines from New York City and is elated to make her debut with the Des Moines Social Club Theatre Company. She is an actor, writer and performance artist and member of the Obie Award-winning theater company Two-Headed Calf. Laryssa is currently developing an original show about tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King entitled She Is King, which she hopes to perform in Des Moines this year. Laryssa is a graduate of NYU’s Experimental Theater Wing and holds a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University. www.laryssahusiak.com

Micheal Davenport (Fire Chief) most recently was seen as Sheldrake, in The Des Moines Playhouse production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard; Mr. Daldry in Stage West’s production of In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play; as Friar Laurence in Iowa Shakespeare’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Additionally he appeared as Vice Principal Panch in the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for Stage West, where 5 years earlier he wowed audiences as the late-Richard Nixon, in the musical Judy’s Scary Little Christmas. A favorite among local audiences, Micheal credits more than 15 years in association with The Des Moines Playhouse where most notably he received critical-praise and audience affection as the quick-change artist, Clown, in The 39 Steps and previously as the tyrannical mogul David Sarnoff in The Farnsworth Invention. Other notable Playhouse roles have included Georges in Don’t Dress For Dinner; murderous critic Darrel Grady in the musical Curtains; as inept deer hunter Reuben Soady in Jeff Daniel’s Escanaba In Da’Moonlight; among several others. Mr. Davenport attended Grand View University studying both Secondary Education and Creative and Performing Arts. Mr. Davenport also has credits with Stray Dog Theatre Chicago and received much training at Chicago’s Improv-Olympic and Second City. He has appeared in several radio and television commercials, in addition to performing in film and web-series such as I Think My Mom’s Trying to Kill Me with Ron Lester and Iowa Filmmaker’s Marooned and Animal Justice League. Additionally Mr. Davenport has served as a “Richard Nixon” consultant, heavily quoted by NPR’s John Moe for the book Conservatize Me. His acting influences are Lee J. Cobb, Richard Burton, Brian Dennehy, Anthony Hopkins, and Nathan Lane. In addition to acting Mr. Davenport is a free-lance Learning and Development training consultant.

KtMarie Scarcello (Mary) made her theatrical debut as Bunny 3 (Park Ave Elementary 1994). Dozens of charters and a degree in Theatre (UNI 2008) find her running lines with husband, Sean, and dogs (Atlas, Bagheera). KtMarie’s current favorite role is Una from Black Bird (DMSC 2010). She last performed as Rebecca in MethLab (DMSC 2012) and Sylvia in The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? (Tallgrass Theatre 2012).

Crew
Allison Smith (Assistant Director) has been involved in all aspects of theater since childhood. Her love of the art led her to pursue her BA in theatre at Simpson College and move to New York right after graduation. In NYC, she worked as a stage manager, director and producer. With the DMSC Theatre Company, Allison started the monthly play reading series, Page to Stage. She collaborated on the writing team for DMSC Theatre Company’s first Co-Lab, The Mother Davis Project in which she also acted. She directed Jim Coppoc’s Manhattan Beatitude and was recently pulled from the audience to appear onstage in a one-time performance of Chester A. Arthur in the recent 44 Plays for 44 Presidents. Additionally she was the co-coordinator for the DMSC Arts Camp for children last summer.

Elizabeth Riordan (Stage Manager) is delighted to be working on such amusing shows with the Des Moines Social club. She graduated Augustana College with a degree in Anthropology and Theater Arts, and is glad the Social Club is making her use one of her majors. Recently, she has stage managed Cripple of Innishman, Meth Lab, and recently 44 Plays for 44 Presidents with DMSC Theatre Company. She also recently worked with RTI’s production of A Christmas Carol and just finished stage managing Des Moines Onstage’s production of Meet Me in St. Louis. Thank you to everyone for the laughs.

John Graham (Dialect Coach) is currently an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Drake University. John has worked as an actor, a director, and a vocal coach across the US, Canada, Asia, and Europe. Credits include work with the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, La MaMa Umbria, the Cincinnati Opera, San Francisco Stage Company, and the Michael Chekhov Association. Locally, he has worked with StageWest, the Des Moines Playhouse, and Repertory Theatre of Iowa. John is an associate editor for the International Dialects of English Archives.

Clay Daggett (Set and Lighting Designer) will be graduating from Simpson College in April. This is his first design with Des Moines Social Club Theatre Company and he is very thankful for the opportunity to work on this production. He plans to move to Des Moines after graduation to design lights and sets with the various theatre companies around the city. He hopes to eventually attend graduate school for theatrical design. Design credits: Fame Jr., Des Moines Playhouse, Little House Christmas at Plum Creek, Des Moines Playhouse, and Festival of Short Plays, Simpson College.

Jill Frank (Costume Designer) has 12 years experience in theater costuming and extensive film wardrobe work since 2008. This is her sixth production with Des Moines Social Club. Jill is obsessed with sewing, knitting, and dirty vodka martinis. Her favorite theater production experiences include: The Cripple of Inishmaan (DMSC, 2012), The Last Five Years (DMSC, 2013), The Sound of Music (2008), The Importance of Being Earnest (2011), and Steel Magnolias (2009). “I am blessed to be working with such talented, inspired people!”

Ryan Schmitz (Sound Designer) a music lover and graduate of Simpson College, has had the opportunity to enjoy numerous roles in the theatre community. He enjoyed performing in several shows with Vertigo Theatre Factory and working backstage for Rochester Civic Theatre, in Rochester, MN. Then as Stage Manager/Tech/Performer with the Queens Players, All Stars Project, and Theater For the New City while living in New York City. Now, back in Des Moines, he has the pleasure of doing tech work with both the Des Moines Social Club Theatre Company and Tallgrass Theatre Company. He is very excited to be working with such amazing talent here in Iowa!

Food for Thought on April 4 (limited tickets on sale today at 3:15pm via Midwestix) is your only chance to see the firehouse before construction begins. It’s our first party in the space and it’s not going to be any old dinner. No no. In typical DSMC fashion, we’re combining two parties into one to kill the idea that Des Moines is a high school and only certain people socialize with certain people. We’re all in this together, and no better way to celebrate that than to break bread and kegs together. We’ve got the keys to do it.

Come unlock the madness that is about to begin.

-Zack

Click here to buy tickets for $20/$100 to Food for Thought.

desmoinessocialclub.org/food-for-thought

Zachary Manneheimer, executive director for the Des Moines Social Club says, “Mickey has chosen to come back to Des Moines instead of moving onto a larger city, in order to help make our city recognized as a major cultural scene. I sure wish there were more Mickey’s out there, and I’m really happy with the one we have. Watch out Des Moines – he’s taking over!”

Introduction from Mickey…
As the newest member of the Social Club staff, I’d like to introduce myself and hopefully start a dialogue with anyone reading this post. I’m 21 years old, originally from Des Moines (and by that I mean Waukee, but I try to keep that on the down low), but I have spent the past three and a half years living and studying in St. Paul, Minnesota at Macalester College. Moving back to Des Moines after school struck a lot of my friends as an odd choice, but I truly believe Des Moines is at a crucial moment right now in its development as a city. Being home during the summer and working with 80/35 and the Arts Festival, I talked to people who have been working to better the arts scene here for years, and most if not all of them believe that the current movement to foster creativity in the city is the strongest that has ever happened. I’m sick of people telling me that they want to move away and eventually “settle” in Des Moines, and it’s become my goal to help create a scene where my moving back right after school to live here is no longer an exception to the rule.

When not working at the Club, I’m busy making music under the name Is Home Is. Call me / email me / find me at a show some time and introduce yourself, tell me about an event you want to see in Des Moines, then plan it and make it happen with me. I’m excited for what the future holds for this city.

You can get in touch with Mickey at yes.mickeydavis@gmail.com.

The Bald Soprano/The Dumb Waiter
March 21-24, Thurs.-Sat. at 7:30pm, Sun. at 2:00pm and 7:30pm
March 27-31, Wed.-Sat. at 7:30pm, Sun. at 2:00pm
$20 for evening shows or $14 for Sun. shows via Midwestix
Wed., March 27 is Dice Night. Get tickets at the door for whatever price rolls on a pair of dice!
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
http://www.facebook.com/events/456039127777050
The Bald Soprano/The Dumb Waiter, two one-act plays performed in tandem, directed by Zachary Mannheimer.

In The Bald Soprano, Eugene Lonesco throws together a cast of characters including the quintessential British middle-class family the Smiths, their guests the Martins, their maid Mary, and a fire chief determined to extinguish all fires — including their hearths. It’s an archetypical absurdist tale and Lonesco displays his profound take on the problems inherent in modern communication.

In Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter, one of Off-Broadway’s most successful entries, this mysterious and moody study in suspense concerns two professional killers who wait apprehensively in a grubby, windowless basement room for word of their next macabre assignment.

Des Moines Onstage Children’s Theater Presents Meet Me in St. Louis
March 1-3, Fri.-Sat. at 7pm, Sun. at 2pm
March 8-10, Fri.-Sat. at 7pm, Sun. at 2pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$15 adults/$10 kids via Midwestix

Meet Me in St. Louis is a partnership with the Des Moines Onstage Children’s Theater. It’s rare for a play to capture truly a special moment in time, a particular moment in the lives of some real people. What makes Meet Me in St. Louis so exceptional is not only that it does this so beautifully but that it’s done with fun, excitement, and some broad comedy scenes that often stop the show with laughter! Four attractive sisters are all blazing with excitement over the wonderful World’s Fair that is about to open right there in St. Louis.

Page to Stage: Evolving Iowa
Wednesday, March 6 at 6:30pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
Free
http://www.facebook.com/events/485286894867937

Page to Stage is the Des Moines Social Club’s monthly play reading series. Generally the first Wednesday of the month we present a staged reading of a new play—either brand new, an obscure old find, or something new to Des Moines. The March Page to Stage is featuring “Evolving Iowa” – an Original Play by Bob Filippone.

About Evolving Iowa: Two households, both alike in dignity… Deep in the heart of “flyover country,” young lovers come together, but their relationship threatens to rip apart their families and community. Sarah and Gabe are schoolmates, but they might as well have come from different worlds. When they find each other, they also find an explosive clash of generations, of religious views, and of social values. “Evolving Iowa” explores the turmoil that hides beneath the surface of politeness in the land of casseroles and pheasant hunting. Will love triumph, or will fear and tradition lead to tragedy?

Dance Baby Dance featuring Ballet Des Moines
Saturday, March 9 from 10:00am-12:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$5/person or $12/family, Children under 1 are FREE!
https://www.facebook.com/events/550125691687016
https://www.facebook.com/DMSCkids

You come, you dance, you play, you laugh. Participate in group activities or do your own thing. Go to the lobby and take a breather from the action, maybe read some books. Come back in, dance it out.

Ballet Des Moines will perform at 11:00. What? Your kid doesn’t sit still? No problem. Group activities will be geared toward crowd in attendance including activities for older kids like limbo and group dances AND for younger kids like follow the leader and freeze dance.

A Celebration of Irish Culture through Music, Stories and Poetry
Saturday, March 16 from 7:30-9:30pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$12 advance / $15 at the door

CULTUREALL presents Four Shillings Short in Concert at the Des Moines Social Club for a night of music, stories and poetry in Celebration of Ireland. The Celtic/Folk/World music duo Four Shillings Short, play over thirty instruments from around the world and sing in English, Irish, Spanish and Sankrit. This band plays at over 150 concerts a year. They traverse the US and other countries on an annual basis. They have been seen formerly in Des Moines at the Iowa State Historical Museum and at Ritual Cafe. Christy Martin and Aodh Og OTuana will delight the audience with their songs, stories and poems.

Art Friends Zine Zowee (Afternoon Delight)
Saturday, March 30 from 1:00pm-4:00pm
Crane Artist Lofts, 1440 Walnut St., Des Moines
$5

Art Beacon and Des Moines Social Club present Art Friends Zine Zowee (Afternoon Delight). Come make zines with your friends and fellow creatives. A ZINE is an open format miniature book that could include but is not limited to: images, lists, poetry, songs, drawings, photographs, collage, ideas, storyboards, comic relief, or propaganda. Our zine suitcase will be at the event and you will have the opportunity to take zines by others in exchange for your own. Trading and collaboration are also recommended. Add to the collective visual culture in Des Moines and beyond!
Weekly Programming
Team Trivia
Every Tuesday at 7:30pm
Gas Lamp, 1501 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Free

Show off your knowledge of stuff! Des Moines Social Club’s Team Trivia is every Tuesday night at 7:30pm at the Gas Lamp. Bring a team of 2-6 people for great drink specials and 8 rounds of trivia! Rounds contain 5 questions with links hinting at each previous question’s answer. Also, occasional theme rounds to spice things up! Each weekly winner gets to pick the first category for the next week’s trivia as well as bragging rights. Monthly winners receive fabulous prizes! Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Trivia/118047861600673.

King Pong
Every Tuesday, 7:00pm-10:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$5 suggested donation

Come play table tennis with all skill levels, have fun, meet new people and win (or lose) at one of the best sports in the world at the DMSC. Tuesdays from 7-10pm. Open play from 7-8:30pm. The league tournament starts at (or right around) 8:30pm. You don’t have to be a member of the league to play in the tournament! $5 suggested donation. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/pages/KING-PONG/100555193353479.

Open Circus
Every Thursday, 9:00pm-12:00am
4th Street Theater, 214 4th St., Des Moines
Free

Des Moines’ best open mic night! The Des Moines Social Club hosts Open Circus every Thursday night from 9pm-12am at the 4th Street Theater. Open Circus is a place for expression and creativity. Bring your guitar, your drums, your voice, your words… comedy, drama, poetry, rock, world beat… bring yourself, and share whatever it is you’re best in sharing. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/OpenCircus.

Systema: Russian Martial Art
Every Saturday at 10:30am
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$10

Systema is a Russian martial art. It is designed to be highly adaptive and practical, training using drills and sparring. It focuses mainly on controlling the six body levers (elbows, neck, knees, waist, ankles, and shoulders) through pressure point application, striking and weapon applications.

Volunteer Opportunities
View volunteer opportunities with the Des Moines Social Club at http://dmsc.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer.

The Bald Soprano by Eugene Ionesco, the foremost playwright of the Theater of the Absurd genre, throws together a cast of characters including the quintessential British middle-class family the Smiths, their guests the Martins, their maid Mary, and a fire chief determined to extinguish all fires — including their hearths. It’s an archetypical absurdist tale and Ionesco displays his profound take on the problems inherent in modern communication. The Bald Soprano, written in 1950, is one of the most performed plays in France. The DMSC Theater Co.’s interpretation of the play will also explore the use of social media as a communication medium in today’s society.

The Dumb Waiter is one of Off-Broadway’s most successful productions. This mysterious and moody study in suspense concerns two professional killers who wait apprehensively in a grubby, windowless basement room for word of their next macabre assignment. Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter wrote The Dumb Waiter in 1957. The play has seen many famous actors take lead roles in the production, including John Travolta and Jason Issacs.

These two productions will highlight the tremendous talent of Des Moines’ local theater scene. They are directed by Des Moines Social Club executive director, Zachary Mannheimer and feature a stunning cast of actors: Scott Siepker (Iowa Nice Guy), Brendan Dunphy (The McDonagh Project, Science Channel’s Insects in the City), Joe Smith, Mary Bricker (44 Plays for 44 Presidents), Eric Lee, Laryssa Husiak, KT Marie Scarcello, and Michael Davenport.

A special dice night will be held on Wednesday, March 27 at 7:30pm. Buy tickets at the door for whatever price rolls on a 20-sided dice! The DMSC Theater Co. is also adding a new performance time on Sunday, March 24 at 7:30pm.

DMSC Theater Co. Presents The Bald Soprano/The Dumb Waiter

Director – Zachary Mannheimer

Actors, The Bald Soprano – Joe Smith (Mr. Smith), Mary Bricker (Mrs. Smith), Eric Lee (Mr. Martin), Laryssa Husiak (Mrs. Martin), KT Marie Scarcello (Mary the Maid), Michael Davenport (Fire Chief)

Actors, The Dumb Waiter Actors – Brendan Dunphy (Ben), Scott Siepker (Gus)

March 21-24, Thurs.-Sat. at 7:30pm, Sun. at 2:00pm and 7:30pm and March 27-31, Wed.-Sat. at 7:30pm, Sun. at 2:00pm

Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines

$20 for evening shows or $14 for Sunday matinees via Midwestix.  Wed., March 27 is Dice Night. Get tickets at the door for whatever price rolls on a twenty-sided dice!

RSVP via Facebook

GR!DSM provides girls an opportunity to collaborate creatively in an environment of mutual respect and positive self-expression. The camp aims to build self-esteem through music creation and performance, while encouraging social change and the development of life skills. GR!DSM offers girls across Iowa an opportunity to feel creative and empowered.

Campers will be instructed in their choice of voice, guitar, bass, keyboards, DJing, or drums, and participate in music workshops such as recording, sound engineering, and music art. No previous music experience is required. Local and touring musicians will perform for the campers daily and participate in a wide range of non-musical workshops that aim to build self-confidence and encourage creativity, personal exploration, and growth.

The program is seeking to partner with area music stores to provide instruments for campers without access to instruments. Need based scholarships camp fees will be available. The scholarship application is available on the GR!DSM website.

The Des Moines Social Club works to create creative learning opportunities for kids of all ages. Learn more about DMSC Learning programs at http://desmoinessocialclub.org.

http://girlsrockdsm.com

https://www.facebook.com/GirlsRockDesMoines

Food for Thought, an annual dinner to support the Des Moines Social Club, will feature two party options for attendees: a formal dinner with a three-course meal and wine pairings, or a BBQ & Brews Party with free food and drink. An elevated stage will connect both parties, featuring music by Cashes Rivers, The River Monks, and Jordan Mayland, as well as a showcase of Des Moines Social Club programming including poetry, interactive storytelling, trivia, and a selection from a recent musical production. Both events will kick off at 5:00pm and converge together for a dance party with DJ 810 at 7:45pm.

Attendees will have the first chance to get guided tours of the firehouse before construction begins in April. Supporters that make a donation to the firehouse will get to slide down the fire pole, paint a collaborative mural, and knock down a wall that will become part of the future theater. Special news regarding the firehouse will also be released at the event.

Food for Thought is a night to get a preview snapshot of what’s to come at the firehouse. The Des Moines Social Club’s new home at the downtown firehouse will serve as a space that utilizes the arts as a catalyst to create unprecedented community engagement. The firehouse will be historically preserved with renovations to convert the space to a creative environment for all of Des Moines to enjoy. The firehouse will feature thought-provoking theater, creative classes for all ages, collaborative workspace for non-profits, forward-thinking restaurants and bars, premier art galleries, and much more. After five years of searching for a permanent home, the perfect space has been found at one of the most unique buildings in the city.

A special thanks to Food for Thought presenting sponsor, Adventureland.

Formal Dinner
$100/person, $1,000/table or $1700/VIP table (advance purchase only)
Includes a three-course meal by Chef of the Year, Sean Wilson and wine pairings by Sommelier Zachary Mannheimer. VIP tables include bottles of champagne and priority seating. Tables (seat 10 people) may be reserved by contacting Julie at jbetts@desmoinessocialclub.org or 515-288-3672.

BBQ & Brews Party
$20/person
Includes free BBQ and beer

RSVP to the Facebook Event.

Dance Baby Dance is a monthly event held at the Des Moines Social Club that features a special guest performance as well as group activities geared toward the crowd in attendance. The event features activities for older kids like limbo and group dances and follow-the-leader and freeze dance for younger kids.

The Des Moines Social Club is working to provide creative learning opportunities for kids of all ages. Follow DMSC Kids at http://www.facebook.com/DMSCkids and http://www.twitter.com/DMSCkids for updates on activities surrounding arts & culture for kids in Des Moines.

What: Dance Baby Dance featuring Ballet Des Moines
When: Saturday, March 16 from 10am-12pm
Where: Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
Admission: $5/person or $12/family, with free admission for children under 1
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/550125691687016

Q: Do you want to do more musicals?
A: Definitely! We want to keep our eyes open and not limit ourselves to one or two genres.

Q: What are you hoping to gain from this project?
A: Bring in people who enjoy musicals and may not have ever been to the Social Club before. We wanted to gain the experience of mounting a musical and challenging ourselves both technically and artistically.

Q: What has been the biggest challenge with doing a musical?
A: Balancing the sound, we have a space where it is tricky to have a live band with actors singing.

Q: Why have live band versus recorded music?
A: Aside from the script calling for a live band when people come to a musical they want live music. Our band is made up of terrific musicians!

Q: Why is there a separate music director (Ben Hagen)?
A: You need to have a separate director and music director. It is imperative to have one person working on staging and character and another person on the music and band. The music director was the first person hired on the project. Ben (Hagen) is the BEST music director in town.

Catch the final weekend of The Last Five Years!

What: DMSC Theater Co. Presents The Last Five Years
When: Feb. 7-17, Thur.-Sat. at 7:30pm, Sun. at 2pm
Where: Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St.
Admission: $20 for evening shows or $14 for Sunday matinees via Midwestix or at the door
Facebook Event

UNDERBUSTED: Tripp Thru OZ
Friday, February 1 and Saturday, February 2, Doors: 8:00pm, Show: 9:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines
$15 general, $35 VIP via Midwestix
https://www.facebook.com/events/309010495877298

The Des Moines Social Club and The Iowa School of Burlesque presents… UNDERBUSTED: Tripp Thru OZ, a psychedelic-ious burlesque romp down the Yellow Brick Road!

Starring: Phoenix L’Amour, Leo LaFlash, Maddie Moiselle, Mae the Force, Gin Appropriate, and Madame X. Featuring: SinDee Hoo Hoo and The 8th Deadly Sin from St. Louis! Special musical guest: Surgery.

Dance Baby Dance
Saturday, February 2 from 10:00am – 12:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines
$5/person or $12/family, Children under 1 are FREE!
https://www.facebook.com/events/142367149252405
https://www.facebook.com/DMSCkids

You come, you dance, you play, you laugh. Participate in group activities or do your own thing. Go to the lobby and take a breather from the action, maybe read some books. Come back in, dance it out.

Special guest or activity starts at 11:00 and lasts about 30 minutes. Just right for all attention spans. What? Your kid doesn’t sit still? No problem. Group activities will be geared toward crowd in attendance including activities for older kids like limbo and group dances AND for younger kids like follow the leader and freeze dance.

DMSC Theater Co. Presents The Last Five Years
Feb. 7-10, Thurs.-Sat. at 7:30pm, Sun. at 2pm
Feb. 13-17, Wed.-Sat. at 7:30pm, Sun. at 2pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines
$20 for evening shows or $14 for Sun. matinees via Midwestix.
Wed., Feb. 13 is Dice Night. Get tickets at the door for whatever price rolls on a pair of dice!

https://www.facebook.com/events/123659124460160/

The DMSC Theater Co. presents their first musical, The Last Five Years. An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The show’s unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.

Page to Stage featuring Fences
Wednesday, February 13 at 6:30pm
Location TBA
Free
https://www.facebook.com/events/542120255807593

Page to Stage is the Des Moines Social Club’s monthly play reading series. We present a staged reading of a new play—either brand new, an obscure old find, or something new to Des Moines. Always Free.

The February Page to Stage will feature August Wilson’s masterpiece, Fences. Fences is the most performed and most accessible of August Wilson’s 10 play 20th Century cycle, exploring African-American identity in each decade of the past century. Ken-Matt Martin will direct what looks to be an all-star cast.

The Acoustic Nomad Tour featuring Mathis Grey, John Fellman and Patrick Woods
Monday, February 18 at 8pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines
$5
https://www.facebook.com/events/546140405417631

DMSC Presents The Acoustic Nomad Tour. Mathis Grey, John Fellman and Patrick Woods have banded together to share their unique progression of acoustic styles on a cross-country tour from Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Napa, California – and back. From Mathis Grey’s dulcet mix of tender vocals, intricate rhythm and beat-box to John Fellman’s fingerstyle, guitar-percussion and instrumental overtones and the virtuosic talent of acoustic soloist, Patrick Woods, every show is sure to be a musical journey and delight to the ears.

DMSC Presents offers opportunities for artists from around the region to present their work, both in performance and visual arts.

Story Mob 1.5
Thursday, February 21 at 7:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines
$5
https://www.facebook.com/StoryMob

Des Moines creatives come together for Story Mob 1.5 at the Des Moines Social Club. Join us to share your story for a chance to win or just come to listen to a mob of Des Moines storytellers!

Story Mob is like a Flash Mob. A mob of people gather, and a story breaks out. 5…minute stories 4…times per year 3…guest judges 2…cash prizes 1…story prop. You have 5‐minutes; the stage is yours! The prop will serve as the story theme during the Open Mob (open mic) session. Storytellers are encouraged to interpret the theme, however, all stories will be judged on their ability to incorporate the Story Prop into either non‐fiction or fiction format.

Tell your story and win! $100 First Prize (judges award), $50 Second Prize (based on Mob support).

Weekly Programming
Team Trivia
Every Tuesday at 7:30pm
Gas Lamp, 1501 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Free

Show off your knowledge of stuff! Des Moines Social Club’s Team Trivia is every Tuesday night at 7:30pm at the Gas Lamp. Bring a team of 2-6 people for great drink specials and 8 rounds of trivia! Rounds contain 5 questions with links hinting at each previous question’s answer. Also, occasional theme rounds to spice things up! Each weekly winner gets to pick the first category for the next week’s trivia as well as bragging rights. Monthly winners receive fabulous prizes! Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Trivia/118047861600673.

King Pong
Every Tuesday, 7:00pm-10:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$5 suggested donation

Come play table tennis with all skill levels, have fun, meet new people and win (or lose) at one of the best sports in the world at the DMSC. Tuesdays from 7-10pm. Open play from 7-8:30pm. The league tournament starts at (or right around) 8:30pm. You don’t have to be a member of the league to play in the tournament! $5 suggested donation. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/pages/KING-PONG/100555193353479.

Open Circus
Every Thursday, 9:00pm-12:00am
4th Street Theater, 214 4th St., Des Moines
Free

Des Moines’ best open mic night! The Des Moines Social Club hosts Open Circus every Thursday night from 9pm-12am at the 4th Street Theater. Open Circus is a place for expression and creativity. Bring your guitar, your drums, your voice, your words… comedy, drama, poetry, rock, world beat… bring yourself, and share whatever it is you’re best in sharing. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/OpenCircus.

Systema: Russian Martial Art
Every Saturday at 10:30am
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$10

Systema is a Russian martial art. It is designed to be highly adaptive and practical, training using drills and sparring. It focuses mainly on controlling the six body levers (elbows, neck, knees, waist, ankles, and shoulders) through pressure point application, striking and weapon applications.

Artists: PedalArt Des Moines 2013
PedalArt Des Moines is announcing a call for artists for our 2013 bicycle poster art show at the Des Moines Social Club. PedalArt Des Moines is a local show of bicycle-inspired poster artwork that introduces people to talented local artists and sends them home with affordable, original works of art. Submissions are due February 23. Get details at http://desmoinessocialclub.org/news/call-for-artists-pedalart-des-moines-2013.

Writers: The Modern Dickens Project
Any writer is challenged each month to continue the current story being told by The Modern Dickens Project. Chapter by chapter, month by month, for twelve months, resulting in a collective thirteen chapter novel. Submissions for Chapter 3 are due February 21. Learn more about The Modern Dickens Project at http://desmoinessocialclub.org/programming/modern-dickens-project.

Musicians, Photographers, and Videographers: Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau is looking for local music, photos and videos for a new television ad promoting Des Moines. Music submissions are due January 29. Photos and videos are due February 8. Get details at http://www.catchdesmoines.com/catchyourselffamous.

Artists: Urbandale Public Library
The Urbandale Public Library is opening an Art Gallery in March. The display space is limited to two dimensional work right now but display cases are on the wish list. The gallery has over 120 running feet of hanging space with new lighting and security. It is located at the front of the library surrounded by the public meeting rooms. This is a very high traffic area. Their plan is to have shows last a month to six weeks. These can be group shows or individual shows of artists from the metro and surrounding area. If you would like to be consider for display in this new gallery, please send your name, address, e-mail, web site or several images of your work to: Julie McCullough, julie@magicthreads.comhttp://magicthreads.com by Feb 1st.

Dancers: Des Moines Performing Arts
Des Moines Performing Arts provides unique training opportunities for local artists of all ages. Guest Broadway artists, professional dancers, and other performing arts professionals lead interactive master classes and workshops typically only available in much larger cities such as New York. View theupcoming classes and workshops. Registrations are now open. Space is limited.

Writers: Spoilage Literary Magazine
Writers rejoice! A new literary endeavor is taking shape in Des Moines: Spoilage literary magazine invites all interested persons to submit works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and cartooning to be considered for publication in its inaugural issue, scheduled for release in April 2013. The submission deadline for the inaugural issue is February 1, 2013. Submissions and inquiries can be directed to the editors at SpoilageDSM@gmail.com. Find more information at https://www.facebook.com/SpoilageDSM/info.

WHAT: PedalArt Des Moines 2013 Bicycle Poster Show
WHEN: Last weekend of May 2013
WHERE: Des Moines Social Club

PedalArt Des Moines is announcing a call for artists for our 2013 bicycle poster art show. PedalArt Des Moines is a local show of bicycle-inspired poster artwork that introduces people to talented local artists and sends them home with affordable, original works of art.

PedalArt Des Moines 2013 will feature posters created by local artists from our great state of Iowa. We are excited to continue to present this completely local event, and are looking forward to our 2013 show. Admission is always free, and posters are priced to let everybody take home at least one. We are using creativity to change how people look at and think about bicycles, and grow the cycling and art communities.

PedalArt Des Moines Artist Agreement.pdf

• 30+ local Artists design and print posters
• Artists make 30 copies of every poster available for sale
• All posters sell for $30 each
• The event will take place throughout the last weekend in May 2013
• PedalArt takes a commission of poster sales (30%) artist takes the rest (70%)
• PedalArt is presented by the Des Moines Bicycle Collective

Submission Process:
- Please read through the PDF artist agreement.
- Please submit 3-5 jpg images (or electronic portfolio) of your work to Michelle@instinctgallery.com with the subject line ‘PedalArt Submission’.
- Please fill out artist agreement (attached) and submit along with artwork samples.
- All submissions must be received, through email, by Saturday February 23 to be considered.
- All artists will be notified if they have been selected for the PedalArt 2013 show by Monday, February 25, 2013.
- By submitting, all artists agree to create unique, original bicycle themed poster artwork for the 2013 show.

Any questions please direct to:
Michelle Holley / michelle@instinctgallery.com

The Last Five Years is an emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The show’s unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling the love story backwards, while Jamie, the man, shares the courtship story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.

“I’m thrilled to be directing DMSC Theater Co.’s first musical,” said Matthew McIver, artistic director of the Des Moines Social Club and DMSC Theater Co. “The Last Five Years is a gorgeous, hilarious look at heartbreak and intimacy. We’ve got two of the most exciting musical theater performers in town in Craig Petersen and Kellie Kramer, and Ben Hagen is seemingly everywhere as a music director and performer. I’m excited to be working with this team again, and looking forward to an amazing show.”

A special dice night will be held on Wednesday, February 13 at 7:30pm. Buy tickets at the door for whatever price rolls on a pair of dice!

DMSC Theater Co. Presents The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown
Director: Matthew McIver
Actors: Craig Peterson and Kellie Kramer
Music Director: Ben Hagen
When: February 7-17
Where: Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
Admission: $20 for evening shows or $14 for Sunday matinees via Midwestix, Wed., Feb. 13 is Dice Night! Get tickets at the door for whatever price rolls on a pair of dice.
Facebook Event

Thurs., Feb. 7 at 7:30pm
Fri., Feb. 8 at 7:30pm
Sat., Feb. 9 at 7:30pm
Sun., Feb. 10 at 2:00pm
Wed., Feb. 13 at 7:30pm – Dice Night!
Thurs., Feb. 14 at 7:30pm
Fri., Feb. 15 at 7:30pm
Sat., Feb. 16 at 7:30pm
Sun., Feb. 17 at 2:00pm

BUY TICKETS

Dance Baby Dance with Story What featuring Mike Draper
Saturday, January 12, 10:00am-12:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$5/person or $12/family, 1 year and under free
https://www.facebook.com/events/315164461932670/

We’re excited to announce that owner of Raygun and author of The Midwest: God’s Gift to Planet Earth, Mike Draper, will be joining us for a special session of Story What during Dance Baby Dance on Saturday, January 12. Come and be a part of creating a BRAND NEW STORY! Use your imagination to help our storyteller come up with characters and activities. Watch our illustrator, Mike Draper, draw the story as it grows.

We’ll also dance, play and laugh for Dance Baby Dance. Participate in group activities or do your own thing. Go to the lobby and take a breather from the action, maybe read some books. Come back in, dance it out.

RAW Des Moines Showcase
Friday, January 18 at 7:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines
$5
http://RAWartists.org/DesMoines

Join us Friday, January 18th for a special artistic display from RAW Des Moines 2012 Visual Artist of the Year, Meagan Tron, and RAW Des Moines 2012 Filmmaker of the Year, Cameron Downing. Check out the Tron Dolls, catch a short film, and share a couple drinks with friends. Celebrate local art and the beginning of the 2013 RAW Des Moines season. Doors will open at 7:00 PM with the film screening kicking off at 7:30 PM. Visual art displays will be presented by Meagan Tron throughout the evening. Admission is $5 at the door.

Auditions for The Bald Soprano/The Dumb Waiter
Sunday, January 20 from 10:30am – 12:30pm and Monday, January 21 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines

Audition for the DMSC Theater Co.’s production of The Bald Soprano/The Dumb Waiter by Eugene Ionesco and Harold Pinter, Two One-Act Plays Presented in Tandem on March 21-31, 2013.

In The Bald Soprano, Eugene Ionesco throws together a cast of characters including the quintessential British middle-class family the Smiths, their guests the Martins, their maid Mary, and a fire chief determined to extinguish all fires — including their hearths. It’s an archetypical absurdist tale and Ionesco displays his profound take on the problems inherent in modern communication.

In Harold Pinters The Dumb Waiter, one of Off-Broadway’s most successful entries, this mysterious and moody study in suspense concerns two professional killers who wait apprehensively in a grubby, windowless basement room for word of their next macabre assignment.

Art Friends (After Dark)
Saturday, January 26 from 8:00pm – 3:00am
Mars Café, 2318 University Avenue, Des Moines
$10
https://www.facebook.com/events/217488728388708

Art Beacon Des Moines and the Des Moines Social Club are joining forces to bring you an evening of drawing and friendship. Put a hold on your winter hibernation and come out to Mars Cafe for six hours of dedicated drawing time. Bring what you want to draw on and enjoy the company of others while you draw.

• Practice drawing the figure (clothed models this time).
• Spontaneous collaborative drawings may occur. Some large paper will be on tap.
• Make a zine! Print a small run and add it to the NEW traveling zine suitcase.

Cafe will sell us yummy food and beverages. Drink, eat and draw with your Art Friends all night long.

Open Circus Talent Show-offcase
Saturday, January 26 from 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines
$5 suggested donation
http://www.facebook.com/opencircus

Des Moines is full of talented folks! It’s time to show-off! Join us for the Des Moines Social Club’s Open Circus Talent Show-offcase featuring some of our favorite acts that have performed on the Open Circus stage in the last year. Don’t miss the weekly Open Circus, Des Moines’ best open mic night, every Thursday night at the 4th Street Theater.

Story Mob 1.4
Tuesday, January 29 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut Street, Des Moines
$5
https://www.facebook.com/events/452960871430972/

Des Moines creatives come together for Story Mob 1.4. at the Des Moines Social Club. Join us to share your story for a chance to win or just come to listen to a mob of Des Moines storytellers!

Story Mob is like a Flash Mob. A mob of people gather, and a story breaks out. 5…minute stories 4…times per year 3…guest judges 2…cash prizes 1…story prop. You have 5‐minutes; the stage is yours! The prop will serve as the story theme during the Open Mob (open mic) session. Storytellers are encouraged to interpret the theme, however, all stories will be judged on their ability to incorporate the Story Prop into either non‐fiction or fiction format.

Tell your story and win! $100 First Prize (judges award), $50 Second Prize (based on Mob support). Story Prop for 1.4 is Suitcase.

Weekly Programming
Team Trivia
Every Tuesday at 7:30pm
Gas Lamp, 1501 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Free

Show off your knowledge of stuff! Des Moines Social Club’s Team Trivia is every Tuesday night at 7:30pm at the Gas Lamp. Bring a team of 2-6 people for great drink specials and 8 rounds of trivia! Rounds contain 5 questions with links hinting at each previous question’s answer. Also, occasional theme rounds to spice things up! Each weekly winner gets to pick the first category for the next week’s trivia as well as bragging rights. Monthly winners receive fabulous prizes! Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Trivia/118047861600673.

King Pong
Every Tuesday, 7:00pm-10:00pm
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$5 suggested donation

Come play table tennis with all skill levels, have fun, meet new people and win (or lose) at one of the best sports in the world at the DMSC. Tuesdays from 7-10pm. Open play from 7-8:30pm. The league tournament starts at (or right around) 8:30pm. You don’t have to be a member of the league to play in the tournament! $5 suggested donation. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/pages/KING-PONG/100555193353479.

Open Circus
Every Thursday, 9:00pm-12:00am
4th Street Theater, 214 4th St., Des Moines
Free

Des Moines’ best open mic night! The Des Moines Social Club hosts Open Circus every Thursday night from 9pm-12am at the 4th Street Theater. Open Circus is a place for expression and creativity. Bring your guitar, your drums, your voice, your words… comedy, drama, poetry, rock, world beat… bring yourself, and share whatever it is you’re best in sharing. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/OpenCircus.

Systema: Russian Martial Art
Every Saturday at 10:30am
Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
$10

Systema is a Russian martial art. It is designed to be highly adaptive and practical, training using drills and sparring. It focuses mainly on controlling the six body levers (elbows, neck, knees, waist, ankles, and shoulders) through pressure point application, striking and weapon applications.

About the Des Moines Social Club
The Des Moines Social Club is a non-profit organization that delivers thought-provoking theater, creative classes for all ages, and supports and promotes local artists. Des Moines Social Club’s vision is to the build a premier arts institution that fosters the social change, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that revitalizes our city. They provide a creative environment that is necessary for the recruitment and retention of professional talent for the employers in Central Iowa, as well as a home for local artists of all disciplines to share and create their work. The Des Moines Social Club formed in 2007 and is currently located at 400 Walnut Street.

http://desmoinessocialclub.org
http://facebook.com/desmoinessocialclub
http://twitter.com/dmsocialclub
http://pinterest.com/dmsocialclub
http://instagram.com/dmsocialclub

The Modern Dickens Project

“Like the Des Moines Social Club, The Modern Dickens Project writing contest expands the range of artistic opportunities for undiscovered authors,” says The Modern Dickens Project co-founder and 2012 Des Moines Social Club board president Chris Draper. “Our first novel proves that this unconventional format can work. Our goal for 2013 is to start making it the go-to vehicle for aspiring authors.”

The Modern Dickens Project is a serial novel writing contest. The contest kicks off every December with a new chapter by a published author. By the 21st of each month, contestants submit entries for the next chapter of that year’s novel. On the 1st of each month, the winning entry is posted after light editing and the contest to win the next chapter starts again. The last publicly competed chapter will be submitted on August 21st. The final, ten-chapter novel will be available in time for the holidays.

“We have shortened and realigned the contest so it works better with our community,” comments Draper. “By releasing our opening chapter in December, we hope many people who are just coming off of NaNoWriMo will see the opportunity to showcase elements of their latest work.”

“It was an honor to write the first chapter,” says Chad Cox. “The opening chapter establishes a framework for submitting authors without handcuffing them to any specific characters or plot details. In the spirit of the project this novel, and its main character, will truly be defined by the community.”

“We are excited about the potential for the Modern Dickens Project to spark a wide range of new artistic endeavors, allowing local artists to take this community novel and turn it into micro-theater, plays, or visual art,” says Draper. “The Des Moines Social Club is about providing opportunities, which is why we are excited to bring The Modern Dickens Project under its roof.”

Read the first chapter Defining Darrell: Wounded written by Chad Cox.

Learn more at desmoinessocialclub.org/programming/modern-dickens-project. Follow The Modern Dickens Project on Facebook.

With five years of work behind us, the Des Moines Social Club has built a strong foundation for future success, and there can be no better indication of our progress than the accomplishments of the past year. We reached an important milestone in 2012 with the purchase of our permanent home at Fire Station No. 1. As we embark upon the renovation of this Des Moines landmark, this is just one of the many activities the Des Moines Social Club has undertaken over the past year.

We offered learning opportunities for all ages through programs including the summer Arts Camp for students in grades 5-8, Story What for preschoolers, and The Write Stuff: a playwriting workshop for adults. We launched the first annual Arts Catalyst Awards to recognize individuals who have created and sustained Central Iowa’s artistic landscape.

Serving local artists is a key part of our mission and in 2012 we worked to shine a light on them through Out Your Artist, Sensory Overload, Pedal Art, and Windows and Mirrors. We focused on creating community engagement with artists of all kinds by hosting regular events like Story Mob, to provide storytellers an opportunity to share their creativity, and musicians were provided a spotlight at our Jazz Lunch Series, Subjective Vaudeville, and Home for the Holidays. Des Moines theater lovers came together to produce thought-provoking productions at the Des Moines Social Club this year, including Meth Lab, Neighborhood 3, 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, and the All Metro Student Show.

From our weekly events — Team Trivia, Open Circus, and King Pong — to our big productions like Fireball at Simon Estes and the upcoming New Year’s Eve in Capital Square, The Bash — we’re working everyday to use the arts as a catalyst to create community engagement in Des Moines.

Please take a moment and give us a donation to help us finish 2012 stronger than ever! From $100 to $15 all contributions are helpful for us to move into 2013 and into the Firehouse!Thank you so much for helping to make Des Moines a culturally diverse and exciting place to live!

- Zachary Mannheimer

The Arts Catalyst Awards, a program of Des Moines Social Club, recognizes artists, arts advocates and arts educators/administrators who have created and sustained Central Iowa’s artistic landscape. We recognize that their investments in the arts result in substantial contributions to the culture of Iowa, the vibrancy of our communities, and art itself.

As members of the field, we are inviting you to nominate artists, arts advocates and arts educators/administrators working in Central Iowa whose work has inspired and sustained the arts community. Their vision, participation and support have deepened the Central Iowa artistic community and made opportunities for others.

Please take a moment to nominate someone who has made an impact on our artistic landscape for an Arts Catalyst 2012 Award. We are accepting nominations until August 20, 2012. Please download a  Nomination Form and email all nominations to jbetts@desmoinessocialclub.org. The inaugural Arts Catalyst Awards ceremony will take place October 2, 2012.
Examples of a nominee might be:

An artist who has redefined his/her field and continued to remain committed to their work and has paved the way for others. Honoring the merit and significance of a life dedicated to serious artistic exploration and growth.

An arts educator/administrator, through his/her vision has created a series, or a way of working, or provided opportunities that have significantly changed the way artists work and paved the way for others.

An arts advocate who has mentored others, provided financial and/or enthusiastic support to an individual, a program and/or organization. Showing inspired civic involvement and devotion to the arts, creating a legacy for Des Moines’ young philanthropists to aspire to.

message for you turns the Des Moines Social Club into a downtown drop box. Purchase a greeting card at DMSC for $10, or by contacting any staff member. Compose a message to a friend, then leave the card in a DMSC mail slot. Notify your friend that there is a message for you at DMSC. Messages can be retrieved during DMSC office hours, or during any event. It’s that easy!

Since each greeting card has a limited printing, this is truly more than a greeting card. It also serves as a gift of art. And it helps to support programming at DMSC. Wow! Look what a simple act of kindness can accomplish. This is so much more than AWESOME!

The featured September greeting card is brought to you by Ron Wagner. Stop at the DMSC to get your limited time only greeting card.

“We’re excited to bring such a diverse, adventurous lineup to Des Moines,” says Des Moines Social Club artistic director Matthew McIver. “44 Plays, first produced by the Neo-Futurists in Chicago, is being done across the country in this election year, and is a fast-paced riot. We will contribute a video of one of the 44 to a composite that will showcase the productions across the country.

“Two of the greatest pieces of absurdist theater are The Dumb Waiter and The Bald Soprano, which have been provoking audiences since their debuts and still retain a power to shock and surprise. And we could not be happier to collaborate with the incredibly talented Mr. Robert John Ford on his new play, My Dinner With Andrew, a chilling story of how he personally knew the serial killer Andrew Cunanan. It’s an incredible tale, and the writer of Caucus! and UtopIA is reimagining it for our current theater.“

44 Plays for 44 Presidents
by Andy Bayiates, Sean Benjamin, Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, Chloe Johnston, and Karen Weinberg
October 25 – November 4, 2012

A chronological, biographical survey of the lives and presidencies of each of the 44 men who have held the office so far. Their mistakes and successes are celebrated by a company of actors who take turns donning a star-spangled coat that symbolizes the presidency. Beginning with George Washington’s almost Eden-like perfection, the scenes shift frequently between the comic and the tragic, from Ben Franklin giving Thomas Jefferson a Borscht Belt-style roast, to the frank portrayal of William Henry Harrison’s life as an “Indian slayer,” and later the grim onset of the Civil War. Act II starts off the twentieth century with the assassination of William McKinley, moves through a Nixon-praising dance number, a George Bush Sr. mini-musical about dirty campaigning and arrives at a polarized America in both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama plays. Audience members consider their role in shaping the history they’ve just witnessed, as they are left to ponder where the presidency has gone since its fall from paradise…and where it will go next.

The Bald Soprano/The Dumb Waiter
by Eugene Ionesco and Harold Pinter, Two One-Act Plays Presented in Tandem
March 21-31, 2013

In The Bald Soprano, Eugene Ionesco throws together a cast of characters including the quintessential British middle-class family the Smiths, their guests the Martins, their maid Mary, and a fire chief determined to extinguish all fires — including their hearths. It’s an archetypical absurdist tale and Ionesco displays his profound take on the problems inherent in modern communication.

In Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter, one of Off-Broadway’s most successful entries, this mysterious and moody study in suspense concerns two professional killers who wait apprehensively in a grubby, windowless basement room for word of their next macabre assignment.

My Dinner With Andrew
by Robert John Ford
June 6-16, 2013

In 1997, Andrew Cunanan became the subject of one of the largest manhunts in U.S. history when he went on a cross-country killing spree that began in Minneapolis and ended with the broad-daylight slaying of iconic fashion designer Gianni Versace. For a period of ten months prior to the first murders, Iowa playwright Robert John Ford had nearly daily encounters with Cunanan, dubbed the “gay serial killer” by the press, at a San Diego dog park. Ford has long been reluctant to share his very personal story, but finally after 14 years, he has chronicled his private conversations with Cunanan in MY DINNER WITH ANDREW, a play that attempts to exorcise the memories that have weighed heavily on him for more than a decade. An earlier version was a hit at the Minnesota Fringe; Ford is completely re-imagining the story for this production.

Come party with us! Americana is featuring
Des Moines Social Club
for their Non-Profit Brunch program.

Date: Saturday, September 15, 2012
Time: Anytime between 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Americana will donate 10% of brunch proceeds to
Des Moines Social Club.

Join us and help
Zack Mannheimer, Executive Director,
and Matt McIver, Artistic Director,
celebrate their birthdays, with proceeds benefitting
Des Moines Social Club!

Tell your server you support Des Moines Social Club and
10% of your bill will be donated to the organization.

Thank you for supporting Des Moines Social Club!

RSVP via the Facebook Event

Presented in collaboration by
Des Moines Social Club
Salisbury House & Gardens
Central Iowa Shelter & Services

October 11, 2012 – National Coming Out Day

Observed all over the world on October 11^th since 1988, National Coming Out Day encourages those in the gay, lesbian and transgender community to “come out of the closet” and tell those closest to them their proud and honest truth about their sexual orientation.

Out Your Artist has been modeled after this event, and devised as a day for those who are ready to take the leap from being a “closeted artist” to an “outed artist”. 20 local artists will present their work in all artistic disciplines and mediums for the first time in a public setting. Additionally, the names of the artists will not be released prior to the event, so as to keep the artists a secret from those who know them best, until the right moment arrives.

You don’t have to have gone to art school to be an artist. You don’t have to be a professional painter, sculptor, or writer. Just as there is art all around us, there are artists all around us. From your boss, to your child, to those in our community who call the streets home, many are creating everyday, but not many are showcasing their creations. DMSC’s core belief is that everyone is an artist; everyone is inherently creative, sometimes you simply have to encourage people to recognize this fact. Out Your Artist has grown from these beliefs.

There will also be celebrity guests on hand – community leaders who you may not have known have an artistic streak in them. Audiences will be invited into Salisbury House and be able to take a self-guided tour of the artwork throughout the historic home. Live performances will take place every half-hour, and refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be available.

The goal of Out Your Artist is to show the community that there is a great deal of hidden talent here, and to encourage other “closeted artists” to come out and show the world their artistic passions. We will also pay homage to those observing National Coming Out Day and stand in solidarity as brave individuals come out of the closet.

Date: October 11, 2012
Location: Salisbury House & Gardens
Time: 5:30-8pm
Cost: $20 

Proceeds go to support local non-profits: Des Moines Social Club, Salisbury House & Gardens and Central Iowa Shelter & Services.

Get more information and download the artist application at http://desmoinessocialclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Out-Your-Artist-APP-2012.pdf
. 

Well, in Des Moines, Iowa, auditions are over!

The Des Moines Social Club’s production of 44 Plays for 44 Presidents (The Reagan Chapter) has been cast and the process of ‘playing’ is underway.

Introductions:

I am Adam Moeller, Director and amateur blogger for this exciting production.  I have been working in conjunction Des Moines Social Club (DMSC) on this project since March 2011.  When I approached them with this project their initial reaction could best be described as… well, by watching this video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCiY1y3uJ3o

Ok, maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement, but at some point we agreed to make this the first production of their 2012-2013 Season, coinciding with the 2012 election.

Let me introduce the players.  These five delightful people will be taking on the monumental task of filling the 158 roles presented over the course of the show.

Mary Bricker

Jim Morrill

Jessica Peters

Charlie Reese

and

Marnie Strate

This tangle of talent is guaranteed to inject all audiences with laugher, joy and education, just the way our forefathers did.

Join us on the journey.  It’s going to be EPONOMIC!

- Adam Moeller

Name: Justin Lossner
Employer: R&R Realty
Job Title: Commerical Real Estate Broker
Twitter Handle: @jrlossner

Q: How long have you been involved with the DMSC? What’s your role within the organization?
A: Have been involved with DMSC since it hit Des Moines. I joined Zach’s initial board and have been fortunate enough to watch DMSC morph and grow into the great organization it is today. I am currently serving on the development committee.

Q: Why are you a DMSC board member?
A: I firmly believe in the group’s mission to use the arts as a catalyst to create community engagement. DMSC has filled a void that was desperately missing in our changing City. It is exciting to watch more and more programs, events and shows come to life.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about living in Des Moines?
A: Des Moines is a unique location that offers a small City feel with a touch of Big-City culture. Commute times are short, cost of living is great and people are friendly.

Q: What’s the best thing about Des Moines’ arts, culture, and entertainment community?
A: The best part of Des Moines’ arts, culture and entertainment scene is the broad range of options that are available. On any given weekend you can catch a live band from almost any genre, walk through a unique art exhibit or view a live show. Even better, the community is growing with the help of DMSC.

Q: Tell us a bit about your personal involvement with the arts?
A: In my personal time I paint and write and have an ultimate goal of finishing a novel. I love getting influence from all of the incredibly talented artists in our community.

Q: What’s your favorite memory from a DMSC event?
A: My favorite DMSC event was the initial Subjective Circus. Many events have come close since, however this event opened the eyes of the City to see what was really missing in our community. In my opinion, this event was the birth of DMSC.

Q: What upcoming DMSC event are you most looking forward to attending?
A: I can’t wait to count down the new year (which is full of exciting this to come for DMSC) at this year’s annual BASH. The best NYE party in town!

Q: In what other ways are you involved in the Des Moines community?
A: I am on the nominating committee for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (Man and Woman of the Year Campaign). I often donate time to Habitat for Humanity and will be a member of the Des Moines Leadership Institute this fall. I also remain very active in many Commercial Real Estate boards and event committees.

Name: Jami Graves
Employer: The Integer Group
Job Title: Senior Account Planner / Insights, Strategy & Ideation
Twitter Handle: @jamigraves
Website/Blog: http://meandthemuse.tumblr.com

Q: How long have you been involved with the DMSC? What’s your role within the organization?
A: I’ve been involved since January 2010 when I joined the Board of Directors. Since mid-last year, I’ve served as the Marketing Chair and sat on the Executive Committee.

Q: Why are you a DMSC board member?
A: It was important for me to dedicate my time to a cause I believed in. Being a catalyst for arts within our community is where I feel I can best leverage my passion and talents.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about living in Des Moines?
A: The rituals I’ve developed within this city keep my soul alive — morning coffee hidden away at Zanzibar’s, Saturday mornings at the Farmer’s Market, the network of amazing creative individuals and a growing art and music scene will keep me here for years to come.

Q: What’s the best thing about Des Moines’ arts, culture, and entertainment community?
A: Being a part of the arts and culture community right now feels as though you’re in at ground zero. There is a tribe mentality at play in our community that emits an unprecedented energy — individuals putting forth blood, sweat and tears for what they believe in: art, writing, music, ballet… it’s special. And we shouldn’t take that passion for granted.

Q: Tell us a bit about your personal involvement with the arts?
A: I had my first “outing” as an artist during the Des Moines Social Club Out Your Artist event held in October of 2011. Four of my photographs hung on the walls of the Salisbury House. That served as catalyst for me to take responsibility for my medium and keep creating.

Q: What’s your favorite memory from a DMSC event?
A: DMSC put on an event last year on November 11 aptly named 11/11/11 that included 11 artists and 11 different mediums. It was an event held on a cold winter’s night in a vacant warehouse, but the community of individuals that came to celebrate art was exceptional. It wasn’t the biggest event, but it is one I remember feeling proud to be associated with.

Q: What upcoming DMSC event are you most looking forward to attending?
A: If you haven’t been to the Orchestrate Jazz Lunch Series, put it on your calendar for next Thursday, September 6 at the Des Moines Social Club from Noon to 1.

Q: In what other ways are you involved in the Des Moines community?
A: I’ve previously volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Everybody Wins Iowa and the Animal Rescue League. I’m an active attendee/participant at various arts & culture community events and do my best to introduce my young son to that rich and exciting culture as well.

Get tickets for Thursday, August 16
Get tickets for Friday, August 17
http://desmoinessocialclub.org/fireball

You can also purchase tickets at the door with cash or credit for $25. Remember, kids 12 & under are free!

View more photos and be amazed on the Des Moines Social Club Facebook page. 

In case you’ve missed it, here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store for Fireball. These videos are so spectacularly amazing that they spring from your computer screen. Just imagine the intense excitement of seeing this spectacle lit up against the Des Moines skyline.

Fireball in the news:

Thanks to Juice Magazine for this great article. Check out these other Fireball features from the Des Moines Register…

“The Social Club has featured fire performers at its multimedia circus events for several years but decided this year to turn up the heat with an all-fire show with flashier acts.” – Des Moines Register, Sunday A&E: Great balls of fire 

“Daredevil acrobatics — centered on blazing flames — are the highlight of Fireball.” – Des Moines Register, Fireball: The hottest ticket in town

Name: Adam Holt
Employer: Sparga
Job Title: Owner / Creative Director
Twitter Handle: @TheAdamHolt
Website/Blog: www.facebook.com/spargadesign

Q: How long have you been involved with the DMSC? What’s your role within the organization?
A: I’ve been on the board since 2010, but have been coming to events since they’ve started. I serve on the marketing committee and do a lot of design as well. Last year I redesigned the logo and am working on ongoing branding.

Q: Why are you a DMSC board member?
A: I think the Social Club is great because it serves such a wide variety of people. From kids to adults, to countless artistic disciplines. The staff at the Social Club have an eagerness and an open mind to constantly try new things.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about living in Des Moines?
A: I really love how tight knit the community is here. I grew up in Des Moines and never really felt people had a sense of pride about Des Moines, including myself for a long time. This has all changed and you can tell people are really excited and proud to live here, especially younger people. People are gung ho about improving their community. It’s crazy to see how different this town is in even the past 10 – 15 years.

Q: What’s the best thing about Des Moines’ arts, culture, and entertainment community?
A: There’s a great synergy between people on a lot of levels. From the people with money to the people with crazy ideas that want to make them a reality. It’s cool how everyone is working together for the better good of the city.

Q: Tell us a bit about your personal involvement with the arts?
A: Drawing was one of my favorite things to do growing up. My friend Tim Gass and I spent hours inventing new comic book characters when we were younger. I always excelled in art classes as well. I settled on studying graphic design at Iowa State because I thought it was a good opportunity have a career in a creative field. A few years after I graduated Tim and I formed Sparga as a music concert poster business. We’ve printed posters for shows at Vaudeville Mews, Hoyt Sherman and local bands. We’ve also done posters for the annual Art Crank bike poster show and Crossroads Entertainment Conference. I can’t draw worth a lick now, but it’s interesting to me to see how creative outlets can evolve over time.

Q: What’s your favorite memory from a DMSC event?
A: The recent Sensory Overload show was a blast. Seeing an abandoned school transformed into a huge art party was really cool and really well done. Seeing what artists and creative thinkers can do with an abandoned building and limited resources should be a great inspiration to everyone.

Q: What upcoming DMSC event are you most looking forward to attending?
A: The Fireball! Fire! Down by the river!

Q: In what other ways are you involved in the Des Moines community?
A: I’ve served on the Art Directors Association of Iowa board in the past. I’m also on the planning committee for Art Noir’s Pollock Ball coming October 19. One of my main goals with Sparga is to do design and branding work for startups, small businesses and other nonprofits in the Des Moines area.

1) Keywords from Flam Chen contract: fuel, everclear, ammunition, scaffolds, water, kerosene, flares. <— HOT!

2) Fire is cool.

3) Simon Estes in the summer is always a good time.

4) Your friends will be there.

5) Kids 12 & under are free.

6) See the heat for yourself in our Fireball photo album.

7) Tickets are only $25.

It’s true… early bird tickets have sold out! Don’t worry, there are still general admission passes available for $25 per day. Make it an extra special night by going VIP for $50.

Buy tickets for Thursday, August 16
Buy tickets for Friday, August 17

desmoinessocialclub.org/fireball
RSVP via the Facebook event

See you tonight at the Midwest Cage Championship at Hy-Vee Hall. Get all the details and tickets here.

Q. What does someone interested in pursuing martial arts or mixed martial arts as a career
need to know?

A. It’s not for everybody! Everyone wants to be a fighter till they get punched in the face! Don’t limit yourself to learning only one discipline. If you are serious you will dedicate the needed time to really learn all of the aspects of the game. Also it’s important to not get frustrated and realize it is going I take a lot of hard work dolling technique to really get good.

Q. Where did you get the nickname “The Fire”?

A. I have always been extremely driven and motivated as if there was a fire burning inside all the time.

Q. What are the benefits of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in relation to other forms of martial arts?

A. BJJ helps a person understand submissions and control of their opponent. These compliment all other aspects of MMA giving a solid foundation to start with.

Q. How has being from Des Moines affected your fighting career — for better or worse?

A. Being from DSM is great. We have a great group of guys with solid work ethic! It is always important to expand to other groups but DSM like anywhere else has an airport so it’s easy to take training trips.

Q. What is your most memorable moment from fighting in the UFC?

A. Submission of the night in London. What better way to enter!!

Q. What is the best thing about fighting for Midwest Cage Championship?

A. The promotion is run professionally and I have faith that they will alway do what they say. Some promotions I have fought for change rules the night of the fight and don’t attend to the details of even getting your music right. Mistakes like these don’t happen in the MCC cage. Well put together show from top to bottom!

Q. How did you find the will power to train so frequently at the start of your career?

A. This is simple. I loved the sport and wanted to compete. If you are looking for the will power to train you are not in the right profession.

Q. What do you professionally (or what have you done) other than fighting?

A. I have spent the rest of my professional career in finance at Wells Fargo.

Q. What initially drew you to martial arts?

A. Have always loved the arts and I started lessons at my first opportunity in life.

One of the athlete’s on Friday’s card is UFC  veteran Kevin “The Fire”  Burns.  DMSC sat down with Kevin to learn more about his growth as a fighter, his relationship with Des Moines, and his advice to others looking to make a life out of martial arts. Read the interview in its entirety via the DMSC blog. <will insert link once interview post is live>

Name: David Nelmark
Employer: Belin McCormick Law Firm
Job Title: Partner
Website/Blog: www.BelinMcCormick.com

Q: How long have you been involved with the DMSC? What’s your role within the organization?
A: I have been a Board member since January 2011.

Q: Why are you a DMSC board member?
A: If you look at anything new and exciting that happened on the cultural scene in Des Moines
in the last three years, there is a good chance DMSC had something to do with it. As a native of
central Iowa, I take pride in Des Moines and want to give back to an organization that gives so
much to the city.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about living in Des Moines?
A: It has almost everything you want in a bigger city with almost none of the headaches.

Q: What’s the best thing about Des Moines’ arts, culture, and entertainment community?
A: Accessibility. Here, you can not only go see a great show or purchase a great piece, you can
get to know the men and women behind the art.

Q: Tell us a bit about your personal involvement with the arts?
A: My wife and I met doing high school theatre and, while we no longer act, we still love going to
shows.

Q: What’s your favorite memory from a DMSC event?
A: Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom. Des Moines has never seen anything like it.

Q: What upcoming DMSC event are you most looking forward to attending?
A: Fireball.

Q: In what other ways are you involved in the Des Moines community?
A: My other primary non-profit work is for the American Mock Trial Association, which is based in West Des Moines, but runs college mock trial competitions across the country.

See the films! Premiere Screenings of all of the 2012 films will be screened for the public at the Fleur Cinema & Cafe (4545 Fleur Dr – DSM) on August 1 & 2, with two showings each night at 7 & 9:45 pm.

The best films judged by a panel of experts and audience favorites will be shown on August 16 at the Best of City Screening and Awards Celebration, also at the Fleur Cinema. Tickets are available now at midwestix.com or at the Fleur Box Office.

Premiere Screenings
Wednesday, August 1 and Thursday, August 2
7pm and 9:45pm
Fleur Cinema & Cafe, 4545 Fleur Drive, Des Moines
$10 per show/$15 for a combo ticket
Buy tickets via Midwestix

Best of City Screening and Awards Celebration
Thursday, August 16
7pm
Fleur Cinema & Cafe, 4545 Fleur Drive, Des Moines
$17.50
Buy tickets via Midwestix

Learn more about the 48 Hour Film Project Des Moines at 48hourfilm.com/en/desmoines and like them on Facebook at facebook.com/desmoines48.

The Des Moines Social Club presents concerts, theatrical productions and shows featuring homegrown talent from Des Moines. In keeping with our role as an incubator for local artists, musicians and creative types, we’d like to spotlight a few of the performers who have graced our stage.

Ben Gran is a stand-up comedian from Des Moines. He made his stand-up comedy debut at the Des Moines Social Club Kirkwood Theatre on March 9, 2012.

Ben’s comedy career started by posting jokes on Facebook with the goal of getting himself kicked off the site. “I hate Facebook,” said Ben, “so I decided to start writing alienating, off-putting jokes in the hopes that I would tick people off and they would unfriend me and I could quit.”

But instead, Ben’s Facebook humor took on a life of its own. “People started telling me how much they loved my jokes,” he said. “So I thought, well, what if I put on a show?”

Doing stand-up comedy is most people’s worst nightmare, but for Ben Gran it’s been a lifelong dream. “Back when I was in high school I used to memorize George Carlin routines,” said Ben. “I don’t even follow that much stand-up comedy, but I really respect the all-time greats like George Carlin, Bill Hicks and Mitch Hedberg. Why are all the great comedians dead?”

While Ben had experience acting in plays, performing improv and sketch comedy in college, and serving as a former speechwriter for Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, he had never done stand-up. But armed with dozens of jokes and an eerie sense of self-confidence, he booked the Social Club to host his comedic debut.

“I had no business doing stand-up comedy, but I had no choice – I was possessed and obsessed,” said Ben. “People were concerned about me, saying things like ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ and ‘Maybe you should do an open mic first,’ and ‘Maybe you should see a therapist.’ I was consumed with reckless, impulsive energy. I just had to do this.”

Ben describes the night of the show as “other than meeting my wife and becoming a father, one of the best nights of my life.”

Working from a strong fan base on Facebook, Ben sold 140 tickets to his debut performance. The Social Club was packed, standing room only. “People were sitting on the floor by the side of the stage,” Ben said. “My one regret is that we didn’t have enough chairs for everyone. I suppose that’s a good problem to have.”

In the months since his stand-up comedy debut, Ben Gran has been moving fast to do more with his comedy talents. He established a website, www.BenGranComedy.com, and has performed at comedy showcases in Omaha and New York City.

Ben’s next goal is to go on tour to other cities in Iowa and around the Midwest, booking his own venues and working from Facebook to build his own crowds.

“I’m still very new to comedy, but I think I’ve got a knack for it and I want to perform as often as possible in front of as many people as possible,” said Ben. “One of the great things about social media is you can create your own audience. I just want to keep writing jokes, getting in front of people and making people laugh. I’m in this for the long haul, and I’m grateful to the Des Moines Social Club for helping me get my start as a comedian.”

Want to watch Ben Gran’s March 9 performance? The show was recorded as a free 1-hour concert video, “Ben Gran Live at the Des Moines Social Club.”

Follow Ben Gran on Facebook at https://www.Facebook.com/BenGranComedy.

You may not know Flam Chen, but I’ve know them for over 12 years. I first produced the show you are going to see on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 2000 when they were part of the NYC International Fringe Festival. I had never seen anything like them before – trained professional dancers performing a complete, silent dance piece complete with fire. The show began by one of the members climbing the fire escape of a 5 story building and then breathing a giant flame once up there – so he held lighter fluid in his mouth the entire climb.

The show, called Rite ov Spring, is a play off of springtime animal ecosystems coming to life. Complete with stilt-walking, aerial apparatuses and fire spinning, Flam Chen weaves a tale in front of your eyes that is not only hot, but mystifying. I left feeling elated – I knew that I needed to see them again. Des Moines has never seen anything like this – you don’t want to miss this two-day event.

Des Moines Social Club presents Fireball
Thursday, August 16 and Friday, August 17, 2012, Doors: 7:30pm, Show: 8pm
Simon Estes Amphitheater, Robert D. Ray Dr. and Locust St., Des Moines
Early bird tickets: $15 per day (limited amount available) Buy early to save before the price goes up to $25
VIP tickets: $50 per day for VIP seating, two drink tickets & exclusive meet ‘n greet
Kids 12 & under are free!
ON SALE: Friday, July 20 at 10am at midwestix.com

RSVP and spread the word via the Facebook event 

desmoinessocialclub.org/fireball

Name: Chad Cox
Employer: Hillyard Des Moines
Job Title: General Manager
Twitter Handle: @cmichaelcox
Website/Blog: www.cmichaelcox.com

Q: How long have you been involved with the DMSC? What’s your role within the organization?
A: Two years – Board Director, Story Mob Host.

Q: Why are you a DMSC board member?
A: DMSC aligns with my own passion to facilitate community and provide opportunities for artists.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about living in Des Moines?
A: Unlimited access to endless possibilities.

Q: What’s the best thing about Des Moines’ arts, culture, and entertainment community?
A: The shared desire we have to improve our offering and impact our community.

Q: Tell us a bit about your personal involvement with the arts?
A: I am a published author, storyteller, photographer, and curator. (I produced two art exhibits this past year.) I am also a contributor to Art Beacon and the host of Story Mob. In addition to DMSC, I work closely with Metro Arts Alliance (I’m a former member of their Board of Directors) and ArtStop.

Q: What’s your favorite DMSC event memory?
A: My first memory of DMSC was helping them, along with my five year-old son, move out of the old building. We walked by a series of stage props, mutilated body parts including a decapitated head, and he asked me what they were. I told him they must have blown somebody up in one of the plays. He couldn’t figure out why anyone would have body parts lying around.

Q: What upcoming DMSC event are you most looking forward to attending?
A: As host, I’m really looking forward to Story Mob 1.3 on October 4th! Sharing a story is the fastest way to build connections in the community, and I can’t wait to hear what people have to share!

Q: In what other ways are you involved in the Des Moines community?
A: I am a former instructor at LSI Refugee Community Center, and continue as a volunteer with a focus upon helping people obtain employment. (I teach them job and interview skills.) I am also an active partner with CultureAll, Ruth Harbor, and Habitat for Humanity.

Consider this a virtual handshake with DMSC board member, Pete Jones!

Name: Pete Jones
Employer: Des Moines Register Media
Job Title: Digital Strategist
Twitter Handle: @dsmisnotboring
Website/Blog: www.desmoinesisnotboring.com

Q: How long have you been involved with the DMSC? What’s your role within the organization?
A: I’ve been involved since the inception of DMSC, although at differing levels. My initial involvement came during my stint on the Young Professionals Connection Board of Directors. Obviously, the mission of DMSC and YPC are very similar, thus we were involved with specific events like The Bash and held many of our own events there as well. This is my second year on the DMSC Board of Directors.

Q: Why are you a DMSC board member?
A: Because I believe DMSC is one of the best things that could happen to Des Moines. I very strongly believe in the mission of DMSC and value the organizations efforts.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about living in Des Moines?
A: Oh, where do I start? Well, just about everything. But, to pick a favorite, I am overwhelmed on nearly a daily basis by the passion our Young Professional demo brings to our city. Not just within YPC, but with DMSC, the Des Moines Music Coalition, Startup City, and really most of the fantastic organizations.

Q: What’s the best thing about Des Moines’ arts, culture, and entertainment community?
A: I think the Sculpture Garden is the best thing, it is truly an amazing addition to the city. A very close second is DMSC.

Q: Tell us a bit about your personal involvement with the arts?
A: I am not an artist, I actually have trouble drawing a stick figure. But, I very much enjoy the community that is growing.

Q: What’s your favorite event DMSC memory?
A: The first Subjective Circus. I worked the door for a few hours and was floored at the eclectic community that came to that initial event.

Q: What upcoming DMSC event are you most looking forward to attending?
A: The first event in the new Firehouse.

Q: In what other ways are you involved in the Des Moines community?
A: I am the creator and a contributing writer at desmoinesisnotboring.com.

In the Des Moines Social Club’s search for a permanent home, the Board of Directors recognized the need to strengthen and expand the management team through the hiring of a Managing Director. Carolyn Jenison will fill this roll for the organization, being responsible for the operations of the organization and staff.

Chris Draper, Chair of the Board for the Des Moines Social Club said, “Earlier this year, we identified Carolyn as an individual with the skills to take this organization to the next level. Watching as she elevated the presence and professionalism of One Iowa, we knew she was the perfect person to take us there”.

Zachary Mannheimer will continue as Executive Director and lead the capital campaign initiatives. “With Carolyn in place, I can concentrate on raising the money necessary to restore the firehouse and to expand our programming,” said Mannheimer.

Jenison’s previous positions include Executive Director of One Iowa, a statewide non-profit education and advocacy organization, President for the Iowa Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, freelance publicist and consultant for the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines.

About the Des Moines Social Club

The Des Moines Social Club is a non-profit organization that delivers thought-provoking theater, creative classes for all ages, and supports and promotes local artists.

Des Moines Social Club’s vision is to the build a premier arts institution that fosters the social change, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that revitalizes our city. They provide a creative environment that is necessary for the recruitment and retention of professional talent for the employers in Central Iowa, as well as a home for local artists of all disciplines to share and create their work. The Des Moines Social Club formed in 2007 and is currently located at 400 Walnut Street. Learn more at http://desmoinessocialclub.org.

Take a look at the Firehouse buzz on twitter:

We’ve also had a great number of responses on our petition site. If you haven’t signed the petition yet, do it now! Here’s some responses from Iowans about the role of the Des Moines Social Club on their lives 

And, be sure to read this awesome blog post by Dave Murphy, Don’t Treat Me Bad – Help the Des Moines Social Club Secure the Firehouse.

Max Wellman’s “Home for the Holidays” Concert Series, Masterclass receives support from Arts Midwest.

Des Moines Social Club has been selected to receive funding from Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest, generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from Iowa Arts Council.

Arts Midwest Touring Fund is a program of Arts Midwest that engages people in meaningful experiences with the fine arts of dance, music, theater, and other performing arts forms. Inter-state touring and the engagement of professional artists is central to the work of Arts Midwest.

Arts Midwest Executive Director David J. Fraher says, “Arts Midwest is proud to support Des Moines Social Club in their upcoming engagement of Max Wellman. In these economically trying times, arts events like this not only provide uplifting experiences for audiences, they also create meaningful jobs for those employed in the arts industry – thus amplifying the effectiveness of our funding.”

In December of 2012, Max Wellman will perform 6 concerts at the Des Moines Social Club, in addition to conducting a vocal jazz performance master class with Des Moines- area high school students, including those from buildings with high percentages of free- and reduced-lunch recipients. Students will perform a song of their choosing with Mr. Wellman’s band, and then be coached by Mr. Wellman to help them improve their vocal technique and performance skills.

About Arts Midwest: Based in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest is one of six nonprofit regional arts organizations in the United States. Its mission is to promote creativity, nurture cultural leadership, and engage people in meaningful arts experiences, bringing vitality to Midwest communities and enriching people’s lives. Since its establishment more than 25 years ago, Arts Midwest has been serving audiences, arts organizations, and artists throughout the nine states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and beyond.

About the National Endowment for the Arts: The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

For more information:
• About Des Moines Social Club: Please visit desmoinessocialclub.org.
• About Arts Midwest: Please visit www.artsmidwest.org.
Des Moines Social Club ∙ PO Box 93301 ∙ Des Moines, IA, 50393 ∙ (515)-288-3672
www.DesMoinesSocialClub.org

“Providing educational opportunities in the arts for young adults is a huge priority for the Des Moines Social Club,” said All-Metro Student Show director and producer Naima Nicholson. “Our all-student show offers an invaluable mentorship experience for high schoolers that really allows them to grow as artists and as people.”

2012 marks the third year of the All-Metro Student Show, with an impressive history already in the making. Marnie Strate originated the program in 2010 with her production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (DVDs available upon inquiry), and Yvette Zarod Herman last year staged Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-5.

“The All-Metro Student Show prides itself on the challenging, high-caliber material,” says Des Moines Social Club artistic director Matt McIver. “Many high school students might not otherwise be given an opportunity to produce and perform works like Caucasian Chalk Circle. This is an important program that provides students a truly special, out-of-the-ordinary experience.”

Being an all-student show, this play exists as a great learning experience for students to be mentored and learn more about theater. While high school students have ownership of the production overall, each aspect of putting on the play has an adult mentor to provide expertise and guidance. Nicholson oversees all students and mentors to make this a truly unique and rewarding experience for all.

Student participant, Tanner Wetzel says, “The All-Metro Show is a great experience. It allows students to get engaged in theatre and have opportunities that they wouldn’t have in their own schools. We get to learn about all aspects of theatre.”

Taking on roles as actors, voice and instrumental musicians, musical composers, set/light/costume/sound designers, make-up artists, house managers, ushers, backstage crewmembers— the theatre environment of the All-Metro Student Show breeds creativity and ingenuity. Don’t miss a great opportunity to see young, bright Des Moines minds at work!

Learn more at http://desmoinessocialclub.org/education.

The Social Club took on an entirely different meaning to me last October. I had sat with Zach a month prior furiously scribbly notes trying to keep up with his usual outpouring of event ideas. When he mentioned wanting to host an exhibit of never before seen artists I stopped scribbling. It took every nerve in my body to lift my head up from my pen and paper to say I wanted to be involved. And I wanted to be one of the artists. For years I’d struggled finding that breakthrough moment when I’d take responsibility for my creative talents and put myself out there.

Out Your Artist was held on a beautiful October day at the Salisbury House last fall. Nearly two hundred attendees passed through the gardens, up the stone staircase and onto the balcony where four of my pieces hung from the walls.

//

I would be remiss if I didn’t share that I have made more meaningful relationships during this year of my life through the Social Club than I think I may have in other years combined. DMSC has introduced me to the entrepreneurial spirit of Christian Renaud and Chris Draper, visionaries like Zach Mannheimer and Matt McIver, and at LEAST a dozen additional creative members of this community who like I, have been waiting for a place like this to call home.

I have never been more proud to say I live in Des Moines. And never has the lure of needing to move away to a larger city seemed so insignificant. I have the Des Moines Social Club to thank for that. So to the Club, I say thank you. To all of you who have helped make this a reality… thank you. And to those who will continue to: through the support of finding our permanent home in the Firehouse, by contributing your resources or supporting my continued artistic endeavors… thank you.

- DMSC Board Member, Jami Graves

Thanks to everyone that has been sharing information about the Firehouse! Here are a couple awesome blog posts, we think you should read. Let’s make this happen!

Don’t Treat Me Bad – Help Des Moines Social Club Secure the Firehouse - by Dave Murphy - But here is the most important thing about DMSC. I learned a lot about various art, but I mostly learned a lot about myself and what I was capable of. I still have a long way to go, but I wouldn’t be as far along now if it weren’t for them. I also have made life long friends and family. People that I know and love and trust. Even though I was the most novice person there, I was never excluded or made to feel stupid. I was encouraged and pushed and loved, in return. Zack Mannheimer always likes to tell about how he found Des Moines to be the best city for his vision. For me, it was his vision that helped me find Des Moines, or at least the Des Moines I never knew actually existed. This Des Moines, in turn, helped me find myself. I fell in love with my hometown, and it loves me back. And that is pretty awesome.This is why we need DMSC. We need it to help more people who don’t know what they’re looking for, but they know they’re looking for something. We need DMSC to help them find it. Read the full blog post.

Before the Sirens to Keep Des Moines COOL – by Shawn Harrington - The next steps to escalate a more vibrant city around us are not months or years away, they’re positioned to happen right now! The Des Moines Social Club has a major opportunity in the next few weeks to secure its long-term home if the City of Des Moines is ready to show that they are also on board.The Situation: The decision of whether or not DMSC gets the Firehouse is not up to you or me, it is in the hands of your elected city leaders.So now what? These city leaders need to know that we want this to happen, so we need to make noise and get their attention before the June 25th Council Meeting.Action Steps: As yesterday’s letter from Zach points to, it’s time to start posting, write letters to the editor, use your own social media and spread the word in the next 2 weeks.The fight for the Firehouse is real. Stay tuned in, we’ve got more plans heading your way next week. Its time to sound your siren people! Read the full blog post.

I was looking for a place that had a burgeoning art scene, a downtown that was revitalizing and a place that was struggling with brain drain.

I wanted a place where people could showcase their artwork in all forms. I wanted a place where you could have a drink and see a show without leaving the building. I wanted a place where people from all walks of life can socialize together. I wanted to use art as a catalyst to get Republicans and Democrats talking.

I wanted a place to throw a party with lots of fire. After 22 cities in 8 weeks, I chose Des Moines and moved here in September of 2007, a day after my 30th birthday. I didn’t know a single person in Iowa, and after a few months of hanging out and spreading the word, all of you helped me realize my dream of opening the Des Moines Social Club on March 6, 2009.

Now, 5 years, 2 buildings, over 700 events, burlesque on a bridge, belly dancers, ping pong matches, fire twirlers, clown theatre, wine tastings, warpaints, trivia nights, lesbian talk shows, cat concerts, Irish cannons, political rallies, barn dances and wrestling nights later, we find ourselves on the brink of solidifying our permanent home.

Guys – I need your help.

On June 14th we will be submitting a letter of intent to the Mayor and City Council to purchase the Firehouse on the corner of 9th and Mulberry streets. This purchase request will be on the City Council Meeting Agenda for June 25^th at the earliest, July 9^th at the latest.

Between now and then we will be sending out daily emails with fun facts about DMSC, our history, and where we are headed. This info is to arm you with data to tell the Mayor and City Council that Des Moines needs a permanent home for the DMSC.

Our plan for the Firehouse includes a theater, art gallery, classroom, shared non-profit office space, dive bar, restaurant, coffee shop, retail and more. Oh yeah – a sweet outdoor venue made out of shipping containers for our artists to mural on as well.

You have all been with me on this trip, and together we can make this happen. Watch for emails, tweets and Facebook posts – and then after the 14th, it will be time to make your voice heard. We’ll provide you more details on how to sound your siren soon. In the meantime, submit a letter to the editor to the Des Moines Register online or email letters@dmreg.com, so the City will hear us loud and clear.

Make sure they understand that arts and culture are important to economic development.

Thank you all for all of your hard work, dedication and love so we have a place to keep Des Moines #1 for Young Professionals, and to have walls for artists to scrawl, and everything in between. This is yours. Let’s do this.

Help put the Des Moines Social Club in the Firehouse. Welcome to the summer of FIRE….and help keep Des Moines COOL.

The Sirens will come calling soon…

Much love,
Z

Help me make this happen:
Write a letter to the editor
Retweet and repost DMSC facts
Tell your friends to join this campaign at facebook.com/DMSCFirehouse
Get ready… we’ll have more details on how to sound your siren next week

Presenting your Social Club Sirens…

Our mission at DMSC is to use the arts to build community, to bring together different groups of people. So for our first CoLab we developed a dramatic biography of Evelyn Davis, a beloved local activist. It brought a group of people to the DMSC who had never previously set foot there.

For our current project, we took a 360 degree look at the issue of meth in our society. We talked to users, dealers, law enforcement, lawyers, legislators and families. A diverse team swapped ideas and started sketching in characters and scenes. Stories began to emerge, and a team of four writers (artistic director Matt McIver, executive director Zachary Mannheimer, video designer Chris Peterson and composer Chris Ford) worked through to get a finished script.

The cast includes Ivy Elwell, Gloria Dei Filippone, Meghan Glennon, Jim Morrill, Rashad Nagi, Devin Preston, KT Marie Scarcello, James Serpento, and Alissa Tschetter-Siedschlaw. We’re tremendously excited to be able to bring this work out to the public, and hope to see you there and start a conversation about this important topic. The production will open on Thursday, June 14 and run through June 24 at the Des Moines Social Club. Tickets are available for purchase via Midwestix.

RSVP and spread the word via the Facebook event 

What: MethLab, presented by Locust Productions
When: June 14 – 24, Thurs., Fri., Sat. at 7:30pm and Sun. at 2:00pm
Where: Des Moines Social Club, 400 Walnut St., Des Moines
Admission: $14 (adult), $11 (student/senior)

We need your help to make our vision a reality. Make a pledge today.

Birdies for Charity provides a great outlet to show your support of the Des Moines Social Club. When you donate to Des Moines Social Club through Birdies for Charity, all gifts received, unless specified otherwise by you, will be split equally between general operating and capital campaign funds. ‘But what’s the difference?’ you may ask. Good question. General operating funds help support our programming and regular events (think Team Trivia, Locust Productions, etc.), and the capital campaign fund is money that will be used to help renovate our new headquarters. Still have questions?  Just contact Alexandra Tatge, director of development, at atatge@desmoinessocialclub.org.

Make a pledge to benefit the Des Moines Social Club today! Community spirit is the driving force on the links at The Principal Charity Classic, and central Iowans have a great opportunity to benefit area programs by raising additional funds through Birdies for Charity.

How it Works: Participants can either make a one-time flat donation (minimum $10), or a pledge of $0.02 or more for each birdie made by Champions Tour players during the 2012 Principal Charity Classic (June 1-3).

Just think of all the good your donation can do! It creates a space in which YOU and the Des Moines community can enjoy stellar programming. Can you see it now? A theater, classrooms, an art gallery, a nonprofit office co-working space, and a lounge/restaurant! A space for the arts. A space for you!

100% of the money you donate through the Principal Charity Classic’s Birdies for Charity will come to Des Moines Social Club. Support the Des Moines Social Club today by visiting principalcharityclassic.com/birdies-for-charity.php. Click on “Make a Pledge” and select the Des Moines Social Club as the charity receiving your support. Learn more at desmoinessocialclub.org/birdies-for-charity.

In The Write Stuff, participants will explore two fundamental concepts in dramatic writing: temporal chambering and writing for impact. They will have the opportunity to discuss these concepts with fellow participants and write original material. Emphasis will be placed on examples and tactics for implementation. Participants should bring materials to write by hand.

The workshop will be lead by two spectacular instructors: Kevin Kautzman and Deborah Yarchun. Both have won a generous amount of play-write awards. So, they certainly have a great deal of knowledge to share! There will be two parts to the workshop, which will include writing exercises, discussion-based lectures, and (optional) sharing at the end of the workshop. The emphasis of this workshop is placed on examples and implementation tactics.

Class size is limited to 15 members, so sign up today for $20 or $15 for students by emailing jbetts@desmoinessocialclub.org. Click here for more details about the workshop and don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity of enhancing your play-writing skills by working with achieved professionals.

Also, be sure to join us on at the Club on Wednesday, June 6 at 6pm for Page to Stage, our monthly play reading series. This time around we’ll be featuring the first midwest reading of Kevin Kautzman’s play If You Start A Fire [Be Prepared To Burn]. Kautzman is the winner of the Repertory Theatre of Iowa/Drama Workshop Alpha Prize, for his play Coyote, which was presented by RTI as a staged reading in February of 2012 at the Des Moines Social Club. Be there!

The Des Moines Social Club & Instinct Gallery Present
SENSORY OVERLOAD
Saturday, May 12
7pm – midnight
$5 suggested donation
Facebook Event
Artwork available for purchase
1350 E. Washington (Corner of E14th and Washington St)

Artists: Dan Welk – Jon Huffman – Rachel Buse – Shawk Palek - Michael Van Dyke – Chris Peterson – Van Holmgren - Anna Frederick – Ian Leckie -Jonathan Pearson - Sara Williams – Kjersten Lutz – Michelle Holley - Jessica Dunn – Brian Sauer – Holly Jensen - Jordan Weber – Michael Watson – Alexandra Bomhoff - Michael Blair and many more.

Performances: Trouble Lights – The Olsen Twinns - Rumble Seat Riot – Cover Grrls - Flying Eagles Acrobalance - Food Installations - and much more!

CoLab Project creates original pieces of theater around Iowa stories. Our first production was The Mother Davis Project, a dramatic biography of beloved local activist Evelyn Davis. We’re really excited to present our next project, MethLab. It takes a 360 look at the problem of meth in Iowa. There’s more information below. If you’re interested, come on down! Or email me on mwmciver@gmail.com.

Excelsior!
Matt

Locust Productions and the Des Moines Social Club present METHLAB: a CoLab project look at meth in Iowa

The Des Moines Social Club and Locust Productions present MethLab, an original play exploring the impact of meth in Iowa.

Based on extensive research by the Locust Productions CoLab team, MethLab follows three stories: a group of drug users in small-town Iowa, the local pharmacists struggling to stay afloat, and the drug company that supplies them.

The writing team consists of Chris Ford, Matthew McIver, Zachary Mannheimer and Chris Peterson. McIver will direct.

Auditions will be held Sunday, May 6th through Tuesday, May 8th from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Des Moines Social Club. There are roles for 4 women and 5 men.

The play runs June 14th-24th at the Des Moines Social Club, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 and Sundays at 2pm.

Don’t let the new name throw you–it’s the same funtastic event as the previous two years, only we’re partnering directly with the Bike Collective on producing it, rather than with the ArtCrank organization. But you can expect great posters (Michelle Holley, our fabulous curator, let me sneak a look and they’re great) and fun times.

Be there for the opening Friday, and come check out the first Farmer’s Market of the year on Saturday, which also happens to be the first Market Day. Farmer’s Market, Market Day and PedalArt all happening at the DMSC on Saturday–that’s a must-do nexus of coolness.

See you at the Club!

Excelsior,
Matt

I’m Matt McIver, the Artistic Director for DMSC, and I’ll be chiming in here occasionally, and introducing you to lots of other voices of folks who make this the greatest arts organization in the world, or at least in the Kirkwood building. So please do follow and fire off fabulous flights of fancy for future posts!

The Don’t-Miss this week is the Repertory Theatre of Iowa‘s acclaimed production of Tartuffe. Few things are funnier than French frauds, and this production is laugh-out-loud funny, with direction by Matt Foss in his RTI debut and a swingin’ sixties-ish setting by Jay Jagim. I’ll be there Friday at 7:30 and you should be sure to catch it then, or Saturday at 7:30 or Sunday’s 2pm matinee (because nothing says fun like theater in the daytime).

Thanks so much for your support, and to all the folks who give so much to help us be great in Des Moines. All the folks who came to our annual Food For Thought dinner, our Small Donor campaign Givers and all the folks who are giving to our Birdies for Charity drive at the Principal Charity Classic–you rock. (If you want to get in on the Birdies, click here.) The DSMC is what it is because amazing people like you create daily awesomeness.  Thanks for reading, and look for more updates soon!

Excelsior!
Matt