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| Des Moines Civic Center | |
|---|---|
| Name | Des Moines Civic Center |
| Caption | Exterior of the Des Moines Civic Center |
| Address | 221 Walnut Street |
| City | Des Moines |
| State | Iowa |
| Country | United States |
| Owner | Polk County |
| Operator | Polk County |
| Capacity | 2,744 (main auditorium) |
| Opened | 1979 |
| Rebuilt | 2010 renovation |
| Architect | Charles Luckman Associates |
Des Moines Civic Center The Des Moines Civic Center is a performing arts venue in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, that hosts touring Broadway productions, ballet, opera, and concerts. Located near the Iowa State Capitol, the center has presented productions and artists associated with Broadway theatre, American Ballet Theatre, Metropolitan Opera, National Endowment for the Arts, and regional institutions such as the Iowa State University arts programs. The center functions as a cultural hub linking local organizations like the Des Moines Symphony, Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Arts Festival, and national touring companies including Broadway Across America.
Construction of the performing arts center was completed in the late 1970s as part of downtown redevelopment initiatives connected to projects by civic leaders and county officials from Polk County, Iowa. The building opened in 1979 during a period when municipal arenas and civic theaters nationwide were being built to house touring productions from Andrew Lloyd Webber shows to revivals endorsed by the Kennedy Center. The venue has been part of festival circuits with the Des Moines Arts Festival and has hosted residencies by companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and guest appearances by stars linked to Tony Awards winners. Major renovation projects in the early 21st century were influenced by trends exemplified by renovations of the Boston Opera House and the New Amsterdam Theatre, aiming to modernize backstage facilities and audience amenities while retaining links to regional presenters like the Des Moines Symphony and educational partners such as Drake University.
Designed by Charles Luckman Associates, the civic center reflects late-modernist theatrical architecture similar in era to venues like the Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The complex contains a principal auditorium with seating for over 2,700, a black box or secondary stage used for experimental work, rehearsal rooms, patron lobbies, and dressing rooms built to accommodate touring companies from institutions such as the Metropolitan Opera and touring orchestras associated with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Technical infrastructure supports fly systems, orchestra pits used by ensembles like the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra and lighting rigs comparable to those used by productions touring with Nederlander Organization and Shubert Organization. Lobby spaces are used for gallery installations in collaboration with the Des Moines Art Center and educational workshops tied to the Iowa Arts Council. Exterior siting places the center adjacent to municipal landmarks including the Iowa State Capitol and public plazas used for events like the Iowa State Fair outreach programming.
The venue presents a season that mixes Broadway theatre touring productions managed through partners such as Broadway Across America and resident-presented performances by local companies like Des Moines Metro Opera and Des Moines Symphony. Past touring engagements have included national tours of works tied to Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and musicals produced by Cameron Mackintosh. The center has hosted ballet companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and regional ballet engagements linked to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and American Ballet Theatre guest artists. Special engagements have featured speakers and performers connected to the United States Artists network, appearances by PBS-featured artists, and family programming tied to touring companies associated with Disney Theatrical Group. The center also screens film series and presents community events during festivals organized in partnership with Des Moines Arts Festival and education initiatives with Iowa State University.
Ownership and operational oversight rest with Polk County, Iowa, which contracts booking and front-of-house management to teams experienced with national presenters like the Nederlander Organization, Shubert Organization, and producers affiliated with Broadway Across America. Ticketing operations interface with national ticketing systems used by venues such as the Paramount Theatre (Boston) and employee training follows standards practiced at the Kennedy Center and municipal performing arts centers in cities like Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. The management maintains labor relations with unions such as the Actors' Equity Association, American Federation of Musicians, and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Fiscal planning aligns with funding practices used by performing arts centers supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and partnerships with philanthropic institutions including local foundations and corporate sponsors from the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
The center partners with educational institutions such as Drake University, Iowa State University, and Des Moines Public Schools to provide student matinees, artist residencies, and internship opportunities modeled after outreach programs at the Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center Education. Collaborations with the Iowa Arts Council and nonprofit presenters increase access for community organizations, minority arts groups, and youth ensembles associated with organizations like Young Audiences Arts for Learning. The venue contributes to downtown economic activity alongside cultural anchors such as the Des Moines Art Center, Science Center of Iowa, and hospitality venues promoted by the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Fundraising events have involved local cultural philanthropists and corporate partners typical of arts fundraising practised with institutions like the Des Moines Symphony.
Patron services include accessible seating complying with standards promoted by disability advocacy groups and practices similar to accessibility programs at Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The center is accessible by public transit routes operated by DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit), and is within walking distance of municipal parking and hospitality districts near the Iowa State Capitol and Principal Park. Box office hours, ADA services, and patron policies align with those used by comparable mid-sized touring houses such as the Paramount Theatre (Austin) and regional civic centers, and the venue works with community partners to provide discounted tickets for students and seniors in collaboration with organizations like YMCA and local school districts.
Category:Performing arts centers in Iowa Category:Theatres completed in 1979 Category:Buildings and structures in Des Moines, Iowa