All Is Calm

Through new arrangements of European carols and war songs, All Is Calm recalls the remarkable World War I truce between Allied Forces and German soldiers in No Man’s Land on Christmas, 1914.

Out of the violence a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht.” Thus begins an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music, and peace. A remarkable true story, told in the words and songs of the men who lived it.

A note to parents and other audience members: All is Calm is about a remarkable, true moment during WWI. There are no guns on stage and no gunshot sounds. There are no bodies on stage and no blood.

Throughout the run of All is Calm and A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Playhouse is collecting non-perishable food items for the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Food Pantry. Most needed food pantry items include canned fruits and vegetables, canned meat, cereal, pasta, rice, beans, soup, peanut butter. Donation boxes are in the ticket office and west lobby.

Veterans and active military can receive one complimentary ticket to All is Calm with the purchase of one ticket. When purchasing online, type the code VETERAN23 in the Discounts box on the Checkout page. Click Apply and make sure the code has been applied.

If ticket prices are keeping you away from this show, please call the ticket office at 515.277.6261, Noon-5:00 PM, Tuesday-Friday. We have supporters who want to make sure everyone gets a chance to see this production.

Performance Times:
7:30 PM Wednesdays through Saturdays & 2:00 PM Sundays
Run Time:
68 minutes, presented without intermission
Content Advisory:
The Playhouse does not rate subject matter as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have questions about content, age appropriateness, or other aspects of the show (ie strobe lights and other theatrical effects), please contact the ticket office at 515.277.6261.
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Company

  • Steve Betz

  • Brian Bopp

  • Brad Church

  • Ed Griffith

  • Brandon Lee

  • Dean Messerly

  • Greg Millar

  • Evan Schettler

  • Eric Sharp

  • Christopher White

  • Director

    David Kilpatrick

    Director
  • Music Director

    Brenton Brown

    Music Director
  • Scenic Designer

    Nicholas Amundson

    Scenic Designer
  • Costume Designer

    Jessica Van Essen

    Costume Designer
  • Lighting Designer

    Samuel Stephen

    Lighting Designer
  • Sound Designer

    Brian Dodson

    Sound Designer
  • Properties Designer

    Robin Breen Fulton

    Properties Designer
  • Stage Manager

    Sarah Coeur

    Stage Manager
  • Assistant Stage Manager

    Abby Kilpatrick

    Assistant Stage Manager
  • Artistic Director

    Katy Merriman

    Artistic Director

Photos/Video

  • All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 features (front row) Dean Messerly, (second row, left to right) Brian Bopp, Eric Sharp, (third row, left to right) Steve Betz, Ed Griffith, Christopher White, (back row, left to right) Greg Millar, Brandon Lee, Brad D. Church, and Evan Schettler. All is Calm is Dec. 1-17, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 features (front row, left to right) Christopher White, Ed Griffith, Steve Betz, Evan Schettler, Dean Messerly, (back row, left to right) Brian Bopp, Greg Millar, Brad D. Church, Brandon Lee, and Eric Sharp. All is Calm is Dec. 1-17, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 features (left to right) Greg Millar, Brad D. Church, and Evan Schettler. All is Calm is Dec. 1-17, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 features (group on left, clockwise from top left) Brian Bopp, Greg Millar, Steve Betz, Dean Messerly, Ed Griffith, Eric Sharp, (group on right, clockwise from top right) Brandon Lee, Brad D. Church, Christopher White, and Evan Schettler. All is Calm is Dec. 1-17, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 features (group on left, clockwise from top left) Brian Bopp, Greg Millar, Steve Betz, Dean Messerly, Ed Griffith, Eric Sharp, (group on right, clockwise from top right) Brandon Lee, Brad D. Church, Christopher White, and Evan Schettler. All is Calm is Dec. 1-17, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

  • All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 features (left to right) Ed Griffith, Christopher White, Steve Betz, Evan Schettler, Dean Messerly, Brian Bopp, Brad D. Church, Greg Millar, Brandon Lee, and Eric Sharp. All is Calm is Dec. 1-17, 2023, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

Press Release

Des Moines Playhouse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kill Date: Dec. 17, 2023
Subject: The Des Moines Playhouse Presents Two Shows in December
Contact: Lee Ann Bakros, Playhouse Marketing & Public Relations Director, 515-974-5358

The Des Moines Playhouse presents two holiday shows in December: All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, Dec. 1-17, 2023, and A Charlie Brown Christmas, Dec. 2-17, 2023. Tickets for both shows may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com and by phone at 515.277.6261.

In conjunction with these shows, The Playhouse is collecting non-perishable food items for the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Food Pantry. Audience members are encouraged to bring a donation with them when they come to the show. Most needed food pantry items include canned fruits and vegetables, canned meat, cereal, pasta, rice, beans, soup, and peanut butter. Donation boxes are located in the ticket office and west lobby.

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 recalls the World War I truce between British and German soldiers on Christmas Eve 1914. A lull amidst the sounds of war gives way to a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht.” Thus begins an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music, and peace. A remarkable true story, told in the words and songs of the men who lived it.

The All is Calm cast includes Steve Betz, Brian Bopp, Brad Church, Ed Griffith, Brandon Lee, Dean Messerly, Greg Millar, Evan Schettler, Eric Sharp, and Christopher White. The show is directed by David Kilpatrick with music direction by Brenton Brown, scenic design by Nicholas Amundson, costume design by Jessica Van Essen, and lighting design by Samuel Stephen.

Veterans and active military can receive one complimentary ticket to All is Calm with the purchase of one ticket. If purchasing online, buyers should use the discount code VETERAN23.

For families, the classic animated television special A Charlie Brown Christmas comes to life in a faithful stage adaptation. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang discover the true meaning of Christmas. A Charlie Brown Christmas is sponsored by Nationwide.

A Charlie Brown Christmas cast includes Celeste Brown, Kara Cody, Ben Green, Nathan Jorgensen, Chayse MacLennan, Porter McClure, Emmitt Reyerson, Courtney Rodd, Josie Thompson, Maddie Topliff, and JP Ungs. The show is directed by Jen Green with music direction by Nancy Cobb, choreography by Stella Webster, scenic design by Brynn Kelly, costume design by Angela Lampe, and lighting design by Virgil Kleinhesselink.

The Playhouse mission, as one of Iowa's largest and oldest producing theatres, is to create extraordinary, shared experiences through live theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage. 

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, Dec. 1-17, 2023
7:30 PM Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2:00 PM Sundays
Tickets start at $29
Audio description by the IRIS Sensation Team is offered 2:00 PM, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023.
The Playhouse can provide ASL translation with advanced notice.
To use either of these free services, please contact the ticket office.

A Charlie Brown Christmas, Dec. 2-17, 2023
11:00 AM & 1:00 PM Saturdays, 5:00 PM Sundays
Added shows: 3:00 PM Saturdays
Tickets $14 for students, $19 for adults
Audio description by the IRIS Sensation Team is offered 5:00 PM, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023.
ASL translation is offered 11:00 AM, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
To use either of these free services, please contact the ticket office.

To purchase tickets: Dmplayhouse.com, 515-277-6261, or Des Moines Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St, Des Moines, IA 50312, Noon-5:00 PM Tuesdays-Fridays

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Show Credits

Written by Peter Rothstein

Vocal arrangement by Erick Lichte & Timothy C Takach

Presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing LLC, www.broadwaylicensing.com