DMPA Conversations

Join Suffs Director Leigh Silverman in conversation with Des Moines Performing Arts President and CEO Monica Holt. They discuss the process of creating the musical, the continuously relevant message, and more.

Join The Music Man choreographer Joshua Bergasse in conversation with Des Moines Performing Arts President and CEO Monica Holt. They discuss the iconic music, bringing the production to Iowa, and more.

Join The Outsiders choreographers Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman in conversation with Des Moines Performing Arts President and CEO Monica Holt. The brothers discuss working together, using bodies in motion to tell the iconic story, and more.

Join  Kimberly Akimbo  book and lyric writer David Lindsay-Abaire in conversation with Des Moines Performing Arts President and CEO Monica Holt. Lindsay-Abaire discusses the creation of the Tony Award–winning musical, its journey to Broadway, and why its story continues to resonate with audiences.

Join new DMPA President and CEO Monica Holt in a conversation with recording artist Ingrid Michaelson, writer of the music & lyrics for the musical The Notebook. They discuss the inspiration for the songs, the well-known story, and more!

Join Ken Davenport as he chats with DMPA President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig about how A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical went from concept to stage production and much more.

Join PARADE Composer and Lyricist Jason Robert Brown in conversation with Des Moines Performing Arts President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig. Brown recounts the development of this production’s sweeping score which won him a Tony Award in 1999. He talks about its award-winning 2023 return to Broadway and its relevance on tour now in 2025. 

Join HAMILTON Choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler in conversation with Des Moines Performing Arts President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig as he shares personal stories about what it took to get the choreography just right for this ground-breaking blockbuster. This three-time Tony Award-winning dance genius takes us back to where it all began.

Join & JULIET Associate Director Susanna Wolk in conversation with Des Moines Performing Arts President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig as she explains what it’s like taking one of Broadway’s most popular shows from New York to national tour. Wolk describes the larger-than-life fun and the empowering message behind this playful retelling of Juliet’s story.

Join director and choreographer of the stage adaptation of  The Remember Balloons , Dominic Moore-Dunson, in conversation with Des Moines Performing Arts Director of Education, Karoline Myers. Moore-Dunson talks about bringing this popular children’s book about memory loss to the stage as well as the developmental residency that DMPA supported.  See this incredible show on March 29  as part of the...

Join Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman and Tony and Grammy Award-winning lyricist Scott Wittman as they converse with Des Moines Performing Arts President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig about the writing process for the score of SOME LIKE IT HOT. The genius musical duo who also brought us catchy tunes from  Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can  and soon to come,  Smash , share a f...

Join Grammy and CMA Award-Winning Songwriter and Musican Brandy Clark, and Tony Award-Winning and Grammy Nominated Producer Mike Bosner as they chat with DMPA President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig about what it takes to write an all-original musical like Shucked. Listen as they talk about the years long process it took to make Broadway’s corniest musical.

Join Tony and Olivier Award-winning production designer, Tim Hatley, and DMPA President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig as they discuss Hatley’s amazing career and his approach to design for  Back to the Future: The Musical .

Join Tony Award-winning Actor, Santino Fontana, and DMPA President and CEO, Jeff Chelesvig, as they discuss Santino’s impressive career.  From his award-winning performance leading  Tootsie  on Broadway to voicing the villainous Prince Hans in the Academy Award-winning Disney film  Frozen , Fontana shares insights from his life as a performer and how he found success in the entertainment industry....

Join Tony Award-winning scenic designer, Derek McLane, and DMPA President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig as they discuss McLane’s incredible career and his approach to design for  Moulin Rouge! the Musical .

Join eight-time Tony Award winner and the lighting designer for  MJ , Natasha Katz, and DMPA President and CEO, Jeff Chelesvig, as they discuss Natasha’s incredible career, how she approaches her craft and what it takes to illuminate a show like  MJ .

Join singer, songwriter, composer, and educator Martha Redbone as she discusses her career and inspiration with Laura Sweet, DMPA’s Vice President and COO.  Martha will perform at the Temple Theater on April 12 as part of the Prairie Meadows Live at the Temple Concert Series.

Join Orin Wolf, Producer and Chief Executive Officer of NETworks - a theatrical production company, and Jeff Chelesvig, President and CEO of DMPA, as they discuss the revival of Funny Girl . Listen as Wolf describes the person who inspired the musical – Fanny Brice, the challenges of working on such a cherished story, and what audiences can expect from Funny Girl .

Join NASA Engineer, Kobie Boykins and DMPA Director of Education, Karoline Myers as they discuss Kobie’s incredible career ahead of his appearance at the Civic Center as part of DMPA’s Explorer Series.

Join Kris Andersson, creator, playwright, performer, and director of Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull and 16 Other Things I Learned While I Was Drinking Last Thursday, and DMPA President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig for our latest episode. The duo chat about the origins of Dixie, her history in Des Moines, and why this iconic Tupperware lady appeals to so many folks.

Join DMPA Vice President and COO, Laura Sweet, as she visits with Tory Dobrin, Artistic Director for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Listen as Tory describes the history and heritage of this incredible dance company and how the company approaches their art.

Join Tony and Olivier Award-Winning Producer, Chris Harper, and DMPA President and CEO, Jeff Chelesvig, as they discuss the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s musical, Company . Listen as Harper discusses the creative team’s choices, his personal affinity for the show, and why Company resonates across generations.

Join DMPA President and CEO, Jeff Chelesvig, as he visits with The Wiz director, Schele Williams. Listen as the Broadway powerhouse shares her personal connections to this iconic musical, the benefits of going on tour before opening on Broadway, and what she hopes audiences take away from The Wiz . Learn more and get tickets at DMPA.org