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- The Wellmark Family Series is Fun For the Whole Family
The Wellmark Family Series is Fun For the Whole Family
The Wellmark Family Series returns for another amazing season, with three all-new productions taking the Civic Center stage. Each one-hour performance is designed to bring young minds on incredible adventures, while educating and educating audiences of all ages and making memories that last a lifetime.
Adding to the excitement, free Discovery Parties held one hour before each performance, offer a delightful pre-show experience with art-making activities, demonstrations, music and more fun-filled moments for all attendees.
2024-25 Wellmark Family Series 3-Show Package:
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster | November 2, 2024
Leonardo is a terrible monster. He tries so hard to be scary, but he just… isn’t. Then Leonardo finds Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the world. Will Leonardo finally get to scare the tuna salad out of someone? Or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship? The plot thickens when this pair meets Kerry and Frankenthaler, an even scaredier-cat and her monster friend. Kerry and Sam need to make a big decision: will they just be scaredy cats or can they become friends?
Leonardo! uses hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, book pages, two-dimensional props, furry monster puppets, and songs to bring Mo Willems’ books to life. Manual Cinema wanted to re-create the experience of holding one of Mo’s book pages, which are big, bold, colorful, and full of visual rhythm, with a playful use of scale. Like all Manual Cinema productions, you’re invited to watch the big screen like a traditional movie, or to watch the artists below as they create the story in real time. (There is no wrong way to watch the show!)
Fiesta Con Sonia De Los Santos | February 22, 2025
¡Hola! It's fiesta time and everyone's invited! Sunny songstress Sonia De Los Santos is hosting a party at the Des Moines Civic Center, and her musical friends are arriving from all over Iowa to join in the fun. Everyone’s brought an instrument from their homeland and is ready to sing, dance and celebrate each other’s heritage and culture. Who will Sonia perform with in Des Moines?
360 ALLSTARS | April 27, 2025
A non-stop energy packed urban circus, complete with dancing, beat boxing, acrobatics, BMX biking and more, 360 ALLSTARS is a spectacular fusion of the extraordinary artistry that emerges from street culture. Boasting a stellar international cast of World Champion and World Record-holding athletes and artists, the show has had sold out runs on Broadway, Sydney Opera House and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Seen by over one million people worldwide 360 ALLSTARS entertains audiences of all ages!
2024-25 Wellmark Family Series Add-ons:
The Remember Balloons | March 29, 2025
James’s Grandpa has the best balloons because he has the best memories. He has balloons showing Dad when he was young and Grandma when they were married. Grandpa has balloons about camping and Aunt Nelle’s poor cow. Grandpa also has a silver balloon filled with the memory of a fishing trip he and James took together.
But when Grandpa’s balloons begin to float away, James is heartbroken. No matter how hard he runs, James can’t catch them. One day, Grandpa lets go of the silver balloon—and he doesn’t even notice!
Grandpa no longer has balloons of his own. But James has many more than before. It’s up to him to share those balloons, one by one.
Created by Director/Choreographer Dominic Moore-Dunson, recognized in Dance Magazine’s prestigious “25 to Watch” list for 2023, this dance production breathes life into “The Remember Balloons” story by bringing it to the stage! Beautifully accompanied by an original score composed by Theron Brown, the show incorporates digital projections and voiceover narration to complement Moore-Dunson’s theatrical choreography, resulting in an experience built for the entire family.
Underneath a Magical Moon | April 19, 2025
A reimagining of Peter Pan as told by Wendy Darling… Wendy gazes out at the night sky dreaming of blue lagoons, magical moons and most of all, stories. And tonight, there’s magic in the air...
Fly with Wendy and her brothers as they create the world of Neverland, where time stands still and the impossible seems possible. Even everyday objects become extraordinary under the magical moon. A sparkling new production written by international award-winning writer Mike Kenny, scored with exquisite live music and songs, enthralling movement and a sprinkle of fairy dust.
"Underneath A Magical Moon really was a delight, the boys loved it, and I’m sure many of the children who see it will be inspired to go home, pull out old sheets and buckets and create their own pirate ships, Wendy houses and anything else their imagination can conjure up’ – thebrickcastle.com
Season Tickets for our Wellmark Family Series are on sale now and start at just $24.
