DMPA Conversations

Join the DMPA team as they chat with the creative forces that make magic happen on the DMPA stages. These brief podcasts (about 15 minutes each) are ideal for listening on your way to the theater, on your way home, or anytime!

Episodes

Composer and Lyricist Marc Shaiman and Lyricist Scott Wittman - Some Like it Hot

March 18, 2025 • 14 mins

Join Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman and Tony and Grammy Award-winning lyricist Scott Wittman as they converse with Des Moines Performing Arts President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig about the writing process for the score of SOME LIKE IT HOT. The genius musical duo who also brought us catchy tunes from Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can and soon to come, Smash, share a few laughs and talk about the making of ...

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Musician Brandy Clark and Mike Bosner, Producer of Shucked The Musical

January 22, 2025 • 14 mins

Join Grammy and CMA Award-Winning Songwriter and Musican Brandy Clark, and
Tony Award-Winning and Grammy Nominated Producer Mike Bosner as they chat with
DMPA President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig about what it takes to write an all-original
musical like Shucked. Listen as they talk about the years long process it took to make
Broadway’s corniest musical.

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Tim Hatley, Set and Costume Designer for Back to the Future: The Musical

October 10, 2024 • 14 mins

Join Tony and Olivier Award-winning production designer, Tim Hatley, and DMPA President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig as they discuss Hatley’s amazing career and his approach to design for Back to the Future: The Musical.

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Santino Fontana

September 12, 2024 • 16 mins

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 Moi...

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Derek McLane, Scenic Designer Moulin Rouge! the Musical

August 12, 2024 • 15 mins

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.

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Natasha Katz, Lighting Designer for MJ

April 25, 2024 • 15 mins

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.

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Martha Redbone, singer, songwriter, composer, and educator

April 9, 2024 • 14 mins

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.

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Orin Wolf discussing Funny Girl

March 7, 2024 • 15 mins

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.

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Nasa Engineer, Kobie Boykins part of DMPA’s Explorer Series

March 7, 2024 • 15 mins

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.

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Kris Andersson, creator, playwright, performer, and director of Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull...

February 23, 2024 • 15 mins

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.

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Tory Dobrin, Artistic Director for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

February 12, 2024 • 15 mins

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.

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Chris Harper, Producer of Company

February 1, 2024 • 14 mins

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.

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Schele Williams, Director of The Wiz

December 8, 2023 • 14 mins

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

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DMPA Conversations

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Composer and Lyricist Marc Shaiman and Lyricist Scott Wittman - Some Like it Hot

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Musician Brandy Clark and Mike Bosner, Producer of Shucked The Musical

Tim Hatley, Set and Costume Designer for Back to the Future: The Musical

Santino Fontana

Derek McLane, Scenic Designer Moulin Rouge! the Musical

Natasha Katz, Lighting Designer for MJ

Martha Redbone, singer, songwriter, composer, and educator

Orin Wolf discussing Funny Girl

Nasa Engineer, Kobie Boykins part of DMPA’s Explorer Series

Kris Andersson, creator, playwright, performer, and director of Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull...

Tory Dobrin, Artistic Director for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Chris Harper, Producer of Company

Schele Williams, Director of The Wiz

Popular Podcasts

Composer and Lyricist Marc Shaiman and Lyricist Scott Wittman - Some Like it Hot

Musician Brandy Clark and Mike Bosner, Producer of Shucked The Musical