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Subject: The Des Moines Playhouse Announces 2007-08 Season

The Des Moines Playhouse opens its 89th season with the blockbuster musicals Cats and Disney's High School Musical. These are just two of the 13 shows comprising the 2007-08 Playhouse season. Playhouse season tickets are currently on sale at The Playhouse box office, and by phone at 515-277-6261.

One of the hottest shows around, topping TV rating, DVD and CD charts, is now a stage production, and The Des Moines Playhouse has it. Disney's High School Musical explodes onto the Mainstage, July 13-Aug. 5.

The 2007-08 Playhouse Mainstage season boasts two musicals in addition to Disney's High School Musical: Cats and The Pajama Game, both multiple Tony Award winners. Rounding out the Mainstage season are new stagings of a bestselling book, Tuesdays With Morrie, and a romantic film, Enchanted April; plus a hilarious new comedy, Leading Ladies, from the author of Lend Me a Tenor.

The 2007-08 Kate Goldman Children's Theatre season continues its page-to-stage tradition of plays adapted from bestselling books, most of them Newbery Award winners: Charlotte's Web, based on the E.B. White classic; Tuck Everlasting, based on the book by Natalie Babbitt; Prince Brat and the Whipping Boy, based on the Newbery Award-winner The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman; Patricia MacLachlan's Newbery Award winner, Sarah, Plain and Tall; and Louis Sacher's Holes. School matinees are offered in addition to public performances of all children's theatre shows.

The Playhouse's 89th season will feature two returning, bonus shows: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, now in its 17th annual production, and High School Reunion, celebrating its fourth hit year.

The Playhouse is Iowa's largest and oldest producing theatre. Conveniently 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 season ticket information, contact The Des Moines Playhouse box office at 515-277-6261 or visit The Playhouse website at www.dmplayhouse.com.

2007-08 Playhouse Season

Disney's High School Musical

July 13-Aug. 5, 2007

Book by David Simpatico. Songs by Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil, Ray Cham, Greg Cham, Andrew Seeley, Randy Petersen, Kevin Quinn, Andy Dodd, Adam Watts, Bryan Louiselle, David N. Lawrence, Faye Greenberg and Jamie Houston. Music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle. Based on a Disney Channel Original Movie written by Peter Barsocchini.

When Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez sing together at a chance meeting on vacation, they have no idea they'll see each other again, much less that they'll go to the same school! At East High, they're worlds apart; he's the star of the basketball team and she's the shy new girl on the academic decathlon team. Together, they decide to audition for the school's winter musical, but are discouraged by friends and family to "Stick to the Status Quo." More problems arise when the school theatre's prima donna, Sharpay, and her lackey brother, Ryan, do everything they can think of to keep Gabriella and Troy from being cast in the lead roles!

Cats

Sept. 7-30, 2007

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Based on "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by T.S. Eliot.

The much-adored musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber comes to the intimate Des Moines Playhouse stage! With lyrics based on T.S. Eliot's poetry, Cats is a song-and-dance spectacular! The Jellicle cats gather in this alleyway once a year for the Jellicle Ball. Among the wondrous and varied cats are Jennyanydots, who teaches the mice in her home to crochet; finicky and mischievous Rum Tum Tugger; and, of course, Grizabella, the aged glamour cat. At the Jellicle Ball, one cat is chosen to go to the Heavyside Layer and be reborn. Cats is the 1983 Tony Award winner for Best Musical and Best Original Score.

Charlotte's Web

Sept. 28-Oct. 14, 2007

Adapted by Joseph Robinette. Based on the book by E.B. White.

Based on the best-selling children's book by E.B. White, Charlotte's Web tells a touching story about friendship and love. When Wilbur, a runty but goodhearted young pig, finds out he's on course to meet the butcher, his friends in the barn come to his rescue: Templeton, the gluttonous rat who can occasionally be talked into a good deed, and, of course, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte, who proves to be a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte, determined to save Wilbur, uses her abilities to write "Some Pig" in her web, the first effort in the attempt to save her friend Wilbur and a friendship that means everything to Charlotte.

Tuesdays With Morrie

Oct. 19-Nov. 4, 2007

By Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom. Based on the book by Mitch Albom.

Tuesdays With Morrie is based on Mitch Albom's bestselling nonfiction book of the same name. Mitch, a journalist for a Detroit newspaper, finds himself losing his direction in life. He reconnects with Morrie Schwartz -- professor, mentor and friend from his college days at Brandeis -- and who is in his last months of battle with the debilitating Lou Gehrig's disease. Mitch visits Morrie once a week, rekindling their friendship, and Morrie teaches Mitch life's lessons once again. A touching, tender and true story, Tuesdays With Morrie reminds us what really matters and what to value each day.

Tuck Everlasting

Nov. 9-25, 2007

By Mark Frattaroli. Based on the book by Natalie Babbitt.

"Do not fear death... only the unlived life. You don't have to live forever, you just have to live." Based on the book by Newbery Award-winning author Natalie Babbitt, Mark Frattaroli's stage adaptation of Tuck Everlasting is the touching tale of young Winnie Foster and her adventure with the immortal Tucks. When Winnie happens across the Tucks in the forest, she also discovers their secret for everlasting life: Drink from a spring in the wood. As Winnie grows close to the Tucks, she must ultimately choose between mortality and their offer of eternal life. Tuck Everlasting spans generations with its thought-provoking story.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Dec. 7-23, 2007

By Barbara Robinson. Based on her book.

The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal and smoke cigars (even the girls!). When they take over the church play, everyone wonders if this will be the best Christmas pageant ever, or just the most memorable. A Des Moines holiday tradition, now in its 17th year.

Prince Brat and the Whipping Boy

Jan. 4-20, 2008

By Sid Fleischman. Music by John Engerman. From the book The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman.

Sid Fleischman's Newbery Award-winning book, The Whipping Boy, takes to the stage in this hilarious, musical adaptation. Prince Brat and the Whipping Boy tells of the unlikely friendship that develops between horrible Horace, aka Prince Brat, and Jemmy, the peasant boy who has been brought to court to take the Prince's punishment for him. After having more than enough of the Prince's mischief and consequent spankings, Jemmy has plans for a solo escape, but he's enlisted by the Prince as a companion runaway. The two soon encounter trouble from the outlaws Cutwater and Hold-Your-Nose-Billy, and Jemmy's wit must save them. In the spirit of The Prince and the Pauper, this winning adventure is a guaranteed good time!

Enchanted April

Jan. 25-Feb. 10, 2008

By Matthew Barber. Based on the book by Elizabeth Von Arnim.

Four women needing a new lease on life spy an advertisement for the chance to rent a small medieval castle in Italy for the month of April. Escaping from the drab, post-WWI English town life, the women revel in days of wisteria, sunshine and laughter. Here they escape the day-to-day drudgery of their lives and husbands, and grow new, unexpected friendships. Enchanted April is a feel-good show that shines with hope, joy, romance, and, yes, enchantment.

High School Reunion

Feb. 14-Mar. 8, 2008

High School Reunion is an evening of fun, dinner and dancing in the tradition of Tony N' Tina's Wedding. It's the Class of '84's delayed 20th reunion. A series of unexpected events has plagued the class since Senior Prom was cancelled, the work of an unidentified "mad prankster."  The class's jocks, Heathers, geeks, and nerds, and even a few teachers, are on hand as the class reunites to hold the homecoming, prom and graduation that never were. Audience members are fellow classmates and teachers for an evening of dinner and dancing to totally awesome '80s music.

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Mar. 28-Apr. 13, 2008

By Joseph Robinette. Based on the book by Patricia MacLachlan.

The well loved, Newbery Award-winning book by Patricia MacLachlan is now a stage play. Jacob Witting is a simple midwestern farmer, trying to raise a daughter and son on his own after their mother dies. He takes a chance by writing away to the East for a wife. His young daughter, Anna, who has taken over her mother's role as woman of the house, wants no part of it. The woman who answers Jacob's letter is Sarah, an outspoken and adventurous woman from Maine. After exchanging letters, Sarah decides to try out the family for a month. Upon arrival, she brings song, joy and happiness back into their lives, while learning to love her new home in Kansas. The joys and challenges of everyday life are richly depicted in this classic, which The New York Times called "an exquisite, sometimes painfully touching tale." The School Library Journal said the book "is filled with wisdom and gentle humor... a tender story about the fragile beginnings of a family relationship on its way to permanence."

The Pajama Game

Apr. 11-May 4, 2008

Book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell. Lyrics by Jerry Ross and Richard Adler. Music by Jerry Ross and Richard Adler. Based on 7-1/2 Cents by Richard Bissell.

Employees of the Sleeptite Pajama Factory are looking for a whopping 7-1/2 cent raise and they won't take "no" for an answer. Babe Williams is their feisty employee representative, but she may have found her match in the shop superintendent, Sid Sorokin. When the two get together, they wind up discussing a whole lot more than job actions! Fun and romance, song and dance; everything you're looking for in a musical! The Pajama Game, winner of the 1955 Tony for Best Musical and the 2006 Tony for Best Revival, is a delightful, sassy and fast-paced show featuring hit songs like "Hernando's Hideaway," "Hey There" and "Steam Heat."

Holes

May 2-18, 2008

By Louis Sachar. Based on his book.

From the author of the Wayside School books comes the Newbery Award-winner, Holes. Holes is the story of Stanley Yelnats, an inherently unlucky kid whose family lives under a gypsy curse that brings them perpetual misfortune. Stanley is wrongly accused of stealing a pair of sneakers and sentenced to Camp Green Lake, where nothing is green, and there's certainly no lake. There, Stanley, along with the other boys at the camp, is forced to dig 5-foot by 5-foot holes in the ground to build character. As they work, the boys unearth the secrets of Camp Green Lake and the warden's curious fascination with legendary bandit Kissin' Kate Barlow. Rich in fun and chock full of mystery, audiences will really dig Holes.

Leading Ladies

June 6-22, 2008

By Ken Ludwig.

From the writer of Lend Me a Tenor and Moon Over Buffalo comes a sidesplitting comedy of mistaken identity and harebrained schemes. Leo and Jack are two Shakespearean actors who are so down on their luck that they're playing "Scenes from Shakespeare" on the Moose Lodge Circuit in Pennsylvania's Amish country. When they read about a rich old woman in York, PA, who is about to die and leave her fortune to her two, long-lost nephews, whom no one has seen since birth, they decide to high-tail it to York to impersonate the two men. It's only when they're a few minutes out of town that they realize that the nephews are in fact nieces, and that they must appear in York as Maxine and Stephanie if they're to collect the loot.

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