Iowa's largest theatre since its opening on June 10, 1979, the Des Moines Civic Center was built on a city-donated lot with 9.3 million dollars raised through the city's largest-ever private fundraising campaign, completed in fewer than 90 days. Designed by Charles Hebert and Associates and built by The Weitz Company, the Brutalist precast-concrete building houses a 2,744-seat fan-shaped continental seating area where no seat is more than 145 feet from the stage. All seats are on a single level. The main hall features a 76-by-28-foot proscenium stage and is the performance home of the Des Moines Symphony as well as the primary stop for touring Broadway productions through the Broadway series. Past headliners span every discipline: concerts by B.B. King and James Taylor, comedy from Jerry Seinfeld and Dave Chappelle, and family shows from Sesame Street Live to Disney productions. The Des Moines Ballet gave the first performance in the newly opened venue on June 14, 1979. The Civic Center building also houses the 200-seat Stoner Theater on street level, used for smaller theatrical shows and lectures. Together with Cowles Commons and the nearby Temple for Performing Arts, the Civic Center is part of Des Moines Performing Arts, a nonprofit organisation formerly known as the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. The venue is located at 221 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309. Tickets and season information are available at desmoinesperformingarts.org. Free parking is available in the City-owned ramp adjacent to the building, and the venue is within walking distance of the Des Moines Skywalk system. The Civic Center's role as Iowa's cultural anchor was underscored by its reopening in April 2021 after a pandemic closure, with sold-out Broadway and concert programming resuming to enthusiastic audiences. The box office phone number is 515-246-2300.

Type: Theater / Concert Hall

Address: 221 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA, United States, 50309

Website: https://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org

Capacity: 2744

Opening Date: 10/06/1979