How I Became a Pirate

Sail off on a fantastic excursion when a band of comical pirates land at North Beach looking for an expert digger to join their crew. Braid Beard and his mates enlist young Jeremy Jacob as they look for the perfect spot to bury their treasure. Jeremy finds that adventuring can be lots of fun, but also learns that love and home are treasures you can’t find on any map. The whole family will love this delightful and swashbuckling musical adventure.

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.

Thanks to our sponsor, Nationwide, we have a limited number of tickets for preview night, Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023, available for $10 each. Tickets may be purchased starting at 10:00 AM, Thursday, Apr. 20, online only.

Click here to download How I Became a Pirate P Bill Jr.

Performance Times:
7:00 PM Fridays; 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM Saturdays & Sundays
School Matinees:
9:30 AM & Noon, Tuesdays, Apr. 25 & May 2, 2023
Theatre:
Kate Goldman Children's Theatre
Run Time:
75 minutes including 15-minute intermission
Content Advisory:
Playhouse children’s theatre productions are intended for ages 5 and up.

In the News

Interview with Cody Schug and Peter Dean, Hello Iowa, WHO-TV13, Apr. 21, 2023

Company

  • Pirate Seymour Braunschwagger

    Steve Betz

    Pirate Seymour Braunschwagger
  • Max the Pirate

    Payton Boesch

    Max the Pirate
  • Pirate Pierre

    Mary Bricker

    Pirate Pierre
  • Pirate Scurvy Dog

    Maddie Davis

    Pirate Scurvy Dog
  • Jeremy Jacob (shared role - performing 4/22, 4/28, 4/30, 5/6)

    Charlotte Rempe

    Jeremy Jacob (shared role - performing 4/22, 4/28, 4/30, 5/6)
  • Jeremy Jacob (shared role - performing 4/21, 4/23, 4/29, 5/5, 5/7)

    Isabella Rempe

    Jeremy Jacob (shared role - performing 4/21, 4/23, 4/29, 5/5, 5/7)
  • Braid Beard

    Cody Schug

    Braid Beard
  • Sharktooth the Pirate

    Brett Spahr

    Sharktooth the Pirate
  • Swill the Pirate

    Robert Uy

    Swill the Pirate
  • Tibben

    Franny Winn

    Tibben
  • Director

    Peter Dean

    Director
  • Music Director

    Emma Feldhans

    Music Director
  • Choreographer

    Taylor Millar

    Choreographer
  • Scenic Designer

    Jay M. Jagim

    Scenic Designer
  • Costume Designer

    Jessica Van Essen

    Costume Designer
  • Lighting Designer

    Virgil Kleinhesselink

    Lighting Designer
  • Properties Designer

    Ellen Harvey

    Properties Designer
  • Stage Manager

    Greg Millar

    Stage Manager
  • Assistant Choreographer

    Caitlyn Porter

    Assistant Choreographer
  • Assistant Stage Manager

    Bob Coady

    Assistant Stage Manager
  • Assistant Stage Manager

    Brianna Huisman

    Assistant Stage Manager
  • Assistant Stage Manager

    Brooke Krug

    Assistant Stage Manager
  • Artistic Director

    Katy Merriman

    Artistic Director

Photos/Video

  • How I Became a Pirate, a swashbuckling musical based on the book by Melinda Long, features (left to right) Cody Schug, Charlotte Rempe, Mary Bricker, and Payton Boesch. How I Became a Pirate is Apr. 21-May 7, 2023, in the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

    Download Photo

  • How I Became a Pirate, a swashbuckling musical based on the book by Melinda Long, features (left to right) Mary Bricker, Cody Schug, and Payton Boesch. How I Became a Pirate is Apr. 21-May 7, 2023, in the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

    Download Photo

  • How I Became a Pirate, a swashbuckling musical based on the book by Melinda Long, features (left to right) Mary Bricker, Payton Boesch, Charlotte Rempe, and Cody Schug. How I Became a Pirate is Apr. 21-May 7, 2023, in the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

    Download Photo

  • How I Became a Pirate, a swashbuckling musical based on the book by Melinda Long, features Cody Schug and Isabella Rempe. How I Became a Pirate is Apr. 21-May 7, 2023, in the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

    Download Photo

  • How I Became a Pirate, a swashbuckling musical based on the book by Melinda Long, features Cody Schug and Isabella Rempe. How I Became a Pirate is Apr. 21-May 7, 2023, in the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

    Download Photo

  • How I Became a Pirate, a swashbuckling musical based on the book by Melinda Long, features Isabella Rempe. How I Became a Pirate is Apr. 21-May 7, 2023, in the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

    Download Photo

  • How I Became a Pirate, a swashbuckling musical based on the book by Melinda Long, features Charlotte Rempe. How I Became a Pirate is Apr. 21-May 7, 2023, in the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

    Download Photo

  • How I Became a Pirate, a swashbuckling musical based on the book by Melinda Long, features (left to right) Charlotte Rempe and Isabella Rempe in the shared role of Jeremy Jacob. How I Became a Pirate is Apr. 21-May 7, 2023, in the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

    Download Photo

Press Release

Des Moines Playhouse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kill Date: May 7, 2023
Subject: The Des Moines Playhouse Presents: How I Became a Pirate
Contact: Lee Ann Bakros, Playhouse Marketing & Public Relations Director, 515-974-5358

Join The Des Moines Playhouse for an exciting adventure in How I Became a Pirate, Apr. 21-May 7, 2023. Tickets are available at dmplayhouse.com and by phone at 515-277-6261. How I Became a Pirate is performed in the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre and is sponsored by Nationwide.

Sail off on a fantastic excursion when a band of comical pirates land at North Beach looking for an expert digger to join their crew. Braid Beard and his mates enlist young Jeremy Jacob as they look for the perfect spot to bury their treasure. Jeremy finds that adventuring can be lots of fun, but also learns that love and home are treasures you can’t find on any map. The whole family will love this delightful and swashbuckling musical adventure.

The Playhouse cast includes Steve Betz, Payton Boesch, Mary Bricker, Maddie Davis, Charlotte Rempe, Isabella Rempe, Cody Schug, Brett Spahr, Robert Uy, and Franny Winn. How I Became a Pirate is directed by Peter Dean with music direction by Emma Feldhans, choreography by Taylor Millar, scenic design by Jay M. Jagim, costume design by Jessica Van Essen, 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. 

How I Became a Pirate
Apr. 21-May 7, 2023
Performances: 7:00 PM Fridays, 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM Saturdays & Sundays
Tickets: $15 Students/$19 Adults 
Purchase at dmplayhouse.com or 515.277.6261

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Show Credits

Book, Music & Lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt & Mark Friedman

Based on the book by Melinda Long, Illustrations by David Shannon

Performed by arrangement with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt & The Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency

Presented through special arrangement and will all authorized performance materials supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, www.theatricalrights.com

Sponsored by

  • Nationwide