Our Town

Our Town presents the small town of Grover’s Corners in three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity.” Narrated by a stage manager and performed with minimal props and sets, the play depicts the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry, and eventually pass away.

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
Theatre:
John Viars Theatre
Run Time:
2 hours 10 minutes including one 15-minute and one 10-minute 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.
Download Playbill

In the News

Interview with Julia Spera and Katy Merriman, Hello Iowa, WHO-TV13, Jan. 31, 2024

Interview with Becky Scholtec, We Are Iowa, Feb. 13, 2024

Company

  • Si Crowell

    Elias Andersson

    Si Crowell
  • Wally Webb

    Shea Beilgard

    Wally Webb
  • Sam Craig, Belligerent Man

    Whit Ellsworth

    Sam Craig, Belligerent Man
  • Simon Stinson

    Charlie Hubbard

    Simon Stinson
  • Constable Warren

    Cory Hug

    Constable Warren
  • Mrs. Webb

    Amanda Jackson

    Mrs. Webb
  • Howie Newsome

    Dionysus Lewis Manuel Jr

    Howie Newsome
  • Joe Crowell Jr

    Evelynn Snyder Maul

    Joe Crowell Jr
  • Joe Stoddard / Sound Designer

    Michael Meacham

    Joe Stoddard / Sound Designer
  • Woman in Balcony

    Sophie Murphy

    Woman in Balcony
  • Rebecca Gibbs

    Harmoney Parker

    Rebecca Gibbs
  • Farmer McCarty / Professor Willard

    Joshua Powles

    Farmer McCarty / Professor Willard
  • Mrs. Soames

    Katie Saldanha

    Mrs. Soames
  • Stage Manager

    Becky Scholtec

    Stage Manager
  • A Woman Among the Dead

    Sabina Shelton

    A Woman Among the Dead
  • Emily

    Julia Spera

    Emily
  • George

    Derek Steffen

    George
  • Lady in a Box

    Stacy Terrill

    Lady in a Box
  • Mr. Webb

    Daniel Tuchscherer

    Mr. Webb
  • Dr. Gibbs

    Tom Walton

    Dr. Gibbs
  • Mrs. Gibbs

    Lisa Wiggins

    Mrs. Gibbs
  • Director / Artistic Director

    Katy Merriman

    Director / Artistic Director
  • Scenic Designer

    Benjamin Kramer

    Scenic Designer
  • Costume Designer

    Angela Lampe

    Costume Designer
  • Lighting Designer

    Virgil Kleinhesselink

    Lighting Designer
  • Properties Designer

    Barbara McClintock

    Properties Designer
  • Stage Manager

    Ellie Wellman

    Stage Manager
  • Assistant Director

    Toni K Farris

    Assistant Director
  • Assistant Stage Manager

    Ashley Kientoff

    Assistant Stage Manager

Photos/Video

  • The Des Moines Playhouse production of Our Town features Julia Spera as Emily and Derek Steffen as George. Our Town is Feb. 2-18, 2024, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

    Download Photo

  • The Des Moines Playhouse production of Our Town features Julia Spera as Emily, Becky Scholtec as Stage Manager, and Derek Steffen as George. Our Town is Feb. 2-18, 2024, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

    Download Photo

  • The Des Moines Playhouse production of Our Town features Julia Spera as Emily and Derek Steffen as George. Our Town is Feb. 2-18, 2024, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

    Download Photo

  • The Des Moines Playhouse production of Our Town features Julia Spera as Emily and Derek Steffen as George. Our Town is Feb. 2-18, 2024, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

    Download Photo

  • The Des Moines Playhouse production of Our Town features Julia Spera as Emily and Derek Steffen as George. Our Town is Feb. 2-18, 2024, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

    Download Photo

  • The Des Moines Playhouse production of Our Town features Julia Spera as Emily, Derek Steffen as George, and Becky Scholtec as Stage Manager. Our Town is Feb. 2-18, 2024, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

    Download Photo

  • The Des Moines Playhouse production of Our Town features Becky Scholtec as Stage Manager. Our Town is Feb. 2-18, 2024, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

    Download Photo

  • The Des Moines Playhouse production of Our Town features Becky Scholtec as Stage Manager. Our Town is Feb. 2-18, 2024, at The Des Moines Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

    Download Photo

Press Release

Des Moines Playhouse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kill Date: Feb. 18, 2024
Subject: The Des Moines Playhouse Presents: Our Town
Contact: Lee Ann Bakros, Playhouse Marketing & Public Relations Director, 515-974-5358

The Des Moines Playhouse presents a fresh take on the classic American play by Thornton Wilder, Our Town, Feb. 2-18, 2024. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com and by phone at 515.277.6261. Our Town is sponsored by Edward Jones. The performance at 2:00 PM, Sunday, Feb. 4, features free audio description provided by the IRIS Sensation Team. The Playhouse can provide for those who have the need for ASL translations with advanced notice.

Grover’s Corners is a nice town, much like yours or mine. The milk and the paper are delivered on time and childhood friends like George Gibbs and Emily Webb grow to love each other. Our Town presents a small town in three acts: "Daily Life," "Love and Marriage" and "Death and Eternity." Narrated by a stage manager, audiences experience the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry, and eventually pass on.

The Playhouse cast includes Elias Andersson, Shea Beilgard, Whit Ellsworth, Charlie Hubbard, Cory Hug, Amanda Jackson, Dionysus Lewis Manuel Jr, Evelynn Snyder Maul, Michael Meacham, Sophie Murphy, Harmoney Parker, Joshua Powles, Katie Saldanha, Becky Scholtec, Sabina Shelton, Julia Spera, Derek Steffen, Stacy Terrill, Daniel Tuchscherer, Tom Walton, and Lisa Wiggins. Our Town is directed by Katy Merriman with scenic design by Benjamin Kramer, 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. 

Our Town Performances
Feb 2-18, 2024
7:30 PM Wednesdays-Saturdays
2:00 PM Sundays
Audio description provided by the IRIS Sensation Team, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024

Our Town Tickets
Tickets start at $29
To purchase: Dmplayhouse.com, 515-277-6261, or Des Moines Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St, Des Moines, IA 50312

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Show Credits

By Thornton Wilder

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Inc, www.concordtheatricals.com

Sponsored by

  • Edward Jones