By Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register
Des Moines is more than a tour stop for Broadway shows as they take their work national. It’s become a player in getting Broadway shows produced and on the stage.
Those investments paid off with three Broadway shows, in part funded by Des Moines Performing Arts, collectively earning 30 Tony Award nominations. Those accolades squarely put Des Moines’ cultural influence in the national spotlight.
On June 7, the Tony Award winners will be announced.
How Des Moines Performing Arts helps fund Broadway shows
Des Moines Performing Arts invests early in select productions through its membership in the Independent Presenters Network, a consortium of about 40 major Broadway presenters and performing arts centers. The payoff is the launch of ambitious new shows and it positions Des Moines to bring those titles to the Des Moines Civic Center when they eventually go on national tours.
In the past, DMPA invested in “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Operation Mincemeat,” “The Outsiders,” “The Notebook” and “Spamalot,” as well as “Company,” “Girl from the North Country,” “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” “The Wiz,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “La Cage aux Folles.”
This season, DMPA invested in “The Lost Boys,” “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” and “The Rocky Horror Show,” which collectively earned 30 nominations.
‘The Lost Boys’ earns 12 Tony Award nominations
A musical version of the 1987 film starring Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Haim and Corey Feldman became the buzziest Broadway show of the season. “The Lost Boys” led the Tony Award nominations with 12, including Best Musical. The creative team earned nods across the board for direction, book, score, choreography and design, while performers Ali Louis Bourzgui and Shoshana Bean were recognized with leading actor and featured actress nominations.
‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’ reimagines a classic
Nine nominations went to “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” a ballroom-infused revival that reimagines the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber show through a contemporary lens. Aside from nominations for Best Revival of a Musical, it earned nods for direction, choreography, design, costumes, lighting, sound and orchestrations. Andre De Shields was recognized for Best Featured Actor.
‘The Rocky Horror Show’ earns another nine Tony Award nominations
Roundabout’s revival of “The Rocky Horror Show” brought in nine nominations as well, including Best Revival of a Musical. Luke Evans, Stephanie Hsu and Rachel Dratch all earned nominations for acting, while choreography, design, costumes, lighting and sound also received nods.
How to watch the Tony Awards
The 79th Annual Tony Awards airs live on Sunday, June 7, at 7 p.m. CDT on CBS and streams on Paramount+.
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