The Des Moines Playhouse Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: July 2, 2021 Kill Date: Aug. 9, 2021 Subject: Summer Tent Theatre at The Playhouse Photos available Godspell https://www.dmplayhouse.com/events/godspell-tent-theatre/ Polkadots  https://www.dmplayhouse.com/events/plaza-suite-tent-theatre/ Plaza Suite https://www.dmplayhouse.com/events/polkadots-tent-theatre/ FAE Rides Again https://www.dmplayhouse.com/events/fae-rides-again-tent-theatre/ Contact: Lee Ann Bakros, Playhouse Marketing & Public Relations Director, 515.974.5358 The Des Moines Playhouse, now in its 102^nd season, is keeping theatre live in Des Moines this summer in a unique setting: an event tent. The four shows under the pavilion this July and August are the Broadway musical Godspell, Neil Simon's Plaza Suite, the family show Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical, and FAE Rides Again, an evening of classic radio plays and songs performed by the Final Act Ensemble. Tickets for in-person performances are available at dmplayhouse.com and by phone at 515.277.6261. Tent Theatre is presented by MidAmerican Energy Company and sponsored by Lincoln Savings Bank, Kent Sovern & Phyllis Mumford-Sovern, Jan & Layton Stump, and Edward & Nancy Truslow. Tent Theatre shows will be presented in repertory. To perform in repertory means to present a series of plays over a given span of time. Godspell and Plaza Suite will alternate weeks on the stage, July 9-Aug. 8, 2021, and Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical will take the stage Saturday mornings, July 10-Aug. 7, 2021. FAE Rides Again is a special one night only experience on July 27, 2021. A limited number of VIP parking spaces will be available for purchase for each show. David Kilpatrick, Playhouse executive director, said, "Following the success of last year’s live theatre drive-in season, we wanted to capture the joy and fun of outdoor theatre but with better sightlines and sound. Performing outdoors is a special experience for our actors and audience, perfect for a summer evening. Most importantly, we want to keep our audiences and volunteers as safe as possible during these turbulent times." The tent, located in The Playhouse’s east parking lot, can accommodate more than 300 guests but for social distancing the capacity will be kept at 150. The tent allows performances to continue even in the rain. The seats in the tent have special cushions, generously donated by Raygun. To promote safety, The Playhouse has drawn upon the guidelines suggested by local, state, and federal agencies, experts, and associations. Full safety guidelines are posted on the theatre's website, dmplayhouse.com. The Playhouse vision, as Iowa's largest producing theatre, is to be a vital part of a collaborative, energized, and engaged community that values art in its culture, particularly because of the contributions of high-quality avocational, educational, and entertaining theatre experiences. 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. For more information about The Playhouse and the summer shows, visit The Playhouse website at www.dmplayhouse.com or contact The Playhouse at 515.277.6261. Ticket office hours are Noon-3:00 PM, Tuesdays-Fridays. Des Moines Playhouse Summer 2021 Mini-Season Godspell Performances: 7:30 PM Thursdays-Sundays, July 9-11, July 22-25, & Aug. 5-8, 2021, presented in repertory, alternating weeks, with Plaza Suite Tickets: $29 Adults, $15 Students Purchase at dmplayhouse.com Description: Prepare ye for Godspell, a modern-day retelling of the New Testament parables. With a Tony-nominated score of songs ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, including the hit song "Day by Day," composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) brings to vibrant life the timeless messages of kindness, tolerance, and love. Plaza Suite Performances: 7:30 PM Thursdays-Sundays, July 16-18 & July 29-Aug. 1, 2021, presented in repertory, alternating weeks, with Godspell Tickets: $29 Adults, $15 Students Purchase at dmplayhouse.com Description: A suburban couple takes a suite while their house is being painted and it turns out to be the one in which they honeymooned 23 (or was it 24?) years before. A Hollywood producer thrice-married calls a childhood sweetheart, now a suburban housewife, for a little sexual diversion. A mother and father fight about the best way to get their daughter out of the bathroom and down to the ballroom where wedding guests are gathered. Hilarity abounds in Neil Simon's portrait of three couples successively occupying a suite at NYC's Plaza Hotel. Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical Performances: 10:00 AM Saturdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31 & Aug. 7, 2021 Tickets: $15 per person, all ages Purchase at dmplayhouse.com Description: Lily Polkadot has just moved to Rockaway, a “Squares only” town. As the first Polkadot in an all-Square school, Lily struggles to gain acceptance from her peers in the midst of daily bullying and segregated drinking fountains. Her quest seems hopeless until she meets Sky, a shy Square boy whose curiosity for her unique polkadots blooms into an unexpected pal-ship. Polkadots offers us a reminder that our differences make us awesome. FAE RIDES AGAIN Performance: 7:30 PM, Tuesday, July 27, 2021 Tickets: $10 per person all ages Purchase at dmplayhouse.com The Final Act Ensemble radio troupe is back with a comedy show featuring Burns and Allen in “George Meets a Hit-Man” and Fibber McGee and Molly in “Fibber Gets a Hundred-Dollar Bill” plus previews of coming attractions, bantering announcers, commercials that couldn’t sell anything, and a couple of favorite songs. ###  

By Neil Simon