DMPA Conversations

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.  Santino will perform with the Des Moines Symphony for a special collaborative concert on October 5.

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