Know Before You Go - School Performances

A successful field trip begins well before the day!

WHAT TO BRING

To ensure a smooth field trip experience, please bring the following:

1. A visible school ID or visitor badge for each adult in your group.
   (We will ask to see at the door prior to entry to ensure all adults entering the building are connected to an attending group.)
   
   
2. A copy of your invoice. This will serve as your group’s “ticket”.

PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS

Review any provided curriculum materials with your students to help set context. Show-relatd materials are shared with reservation contacts via email, typically 4-6 weeks in advance of the performance.

COMMUNICATE SPECIAL NEEDS

Please contact us as soon as possible to let us know of any wheelchairs, sight or hearing impairment needs, inability to do stairs, the need for ASL interpretation, etc.

Parking protocols are developed in conjunction with City of Des Moines Traffic and the Des Moines Police Department.

Please schedule busses or vehicles to arrive downtown 20-30 minutes prior to the performance start time to ensure a smooth parking and check-in process.

Address:

The Temple Theater is located inside the Temple for Performing Arts building, which is located at 1011 Locust Street, Des Moines.

Please note that this venue is several blocks away from the Civic Center. Please ensure your driver has the correct address to avoid arriving at the wrong venue.

For those arriving by bus:

Buses will park at hooded parking spaces directly across the street from the Temple for Performing Arts. Look for members of the Des Moines Police Department, who will direct you to park at one of the hooded spaces on the right-hand side of Locust Street, between 10th and 12th Streets.

Reminder: Locust Street is a one-way, east-bound street.

For those arriving by car or van:

Street parking will only be provided for school buses or for accessible vans transporting students with mobility needs. All other school vehicles, such as vans or cars that can be accommodated in a parking ramp or in a single parking spot on the street, will need to secure their own downtown parking.

We encourage you to consider parking in one of the parking ramps near the Temple for Performing Arts:

• 9th and Locust Parking Ramp: This is the closest city-owned parking garage. Rates are $1/hour.
  
  
• Privately-owned parking garages in the vicinity include the garage at 10th and Mulberry. 

All downtown street parking spaces charge $0.25 - $1.75 per hour from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Free parking is available on the bridges, pending availability. See HERE for details.

If you are part of a home educator cooperative that is arriving by bus, please see bus parking information under the section for school groups.

See below for information to ensure a smooth check-in process for your group!

Tickets

Tickets are not issued for school performances. Instead, your group and reservation details will be listed on a check-in sheet at the door.

It is recommended to bring a copy of your invoice to serve as “backup” in case there is an error on the check-in sheet. Please let us know if you need another copy of your invoice.

Entering

All groups should enter through the Temple for Performing Arts building through the main lobby entrance, located on the Locust Street side of the building.

Tell a staff member your school’s name at the door to start your check-in process. They will then direct your group to the second level of the building, via the stairs. An elevator is also available for those with mobility needs.

Another staff member will greet you at the top of the stairs to officially check-you in. Please give the name of your group again.

As the group enters the theater lobby, the staff member will check to make sure that all adults are wearing a visible School I.D. or School Visitor identification. 

More info on Adult Identification

The Temple Theater is located within the Temple for Performing Arts, a mixed-use building with public access. To help ensure student safety, all adults will be required to wear visible, approved visitor identification for the duration of your time in the theater and theater lobby.

Approved forms of visitor identification are:

• School-issued ID badge
• School-issued visitor badge/sticker (as distributed by your school office)
• DMPA-issued visitor sticker (given to you during the check-in process)

To expedite arrival, please have badges visible when entering the theater lobby. Things will move much faster if all adults already have badges upon arrival.

Any adults arriving without a school-issued ID or visitor badge will need to receive a DMPA-issued visitor sticker upon arrival.

If arriving with the rest of the group, another adult from the school will be asked to verify that you are part of their group. At that time, you will be issued a DMPA visitor sticker.

If arriving separately from the group (such as a chaperone who does not ride the bus), you will be asked to wait to enter the theater until we can locate an adult with the school who can verify you are approved to attend. Please be patient as this can take some time.

It takes everyone's cooperation during the seating process for the performance to start on time. Here are some tips for getting your group seated efficiently.

FINDING YOUR SEATS 

Seating at school performances at the Temple Theater is typically first-come, first-served, starting in the front of the seating area and making our way back. An usher will direct you to the next seats available.

RESTROOMS

Please allow our ushers to seat your group in the theater prior to taking groups of students to the restroom. This helps us ensure that your entire group stays together and does not get mixed up with other large school groups during peak arrival time.

ARRANGING YOUR STUDENTS

Please allow our ushers to seat your entire group prior to re-arranging students in specific seats. This helps us seat all groups efficiently and to better start the show on time.

We hope everyone in the group is able to fully enjoy the performance -- including you! Here are a few things to keep in mind during the performance.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

The use of cameras or any type of recording device is prohibited at all times. 

Please turn your cell phone off or set it to silent mode. Please also refrain from text messaging and using your phone as a light source during the performance.

If you have a student or guest in your group that uses a tablet, phone or similar-looking device as an adaptive communication tool, for a medical need, etc. you may wish to disclose to Education staff or the usher closest to your seats. Many live shows prohibit audience members from taking photos or videos of the performance. Advance notice will help our front of house team know that the device is for a needed accommodation and avoid any confusion about it being used as a camera or recording device.

THEATER ETIQUETTE

Please promote or reinforce theater etiquette with the students in your group, so that all in attendance can fully enjoy the performance.

Please note that etiquette expectations may vary by performance and that the performers will often give you clues on what is appropriate.

RESTROOM BREAKS

In the event a student must leave the theater during the performance to use the restroom, please ensure that an adult or another student from the group accompanies them.

Your assistance is appreciated after the performance to ensure a smooth dismissal process for all groups. 

DISMISSAL

Due to the small size of the Temple Theater, groups may exit at their own convenience after the show. There will not be staggered dismissal.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Please help students check their seats for any personal belongings prior to departure. Left behind items will be turned into our lost-and-found.

RESTROOMS AND TRAFFIC FLOW

Groups may utilize restrooms or head straight to their busses and vehicles. Most groups will choose to use the restrooms on floor two - the same floor as the theater. Small groups may wish to use restrooms on the first floor to increase efficiency.

As you depart the building, we ask that groups plan to use the stairs in order to reserve use of the elevator for those with special mobility needs.

BUS DEPARTURE

As a reminder for those traveling by bus, all busses parked on your same block need to be fully loaded with doors closed prior to traffic officers allowing busses to pull away. 

Please be patient, and please keep this in mind as you conclude your time in the building. After all, no one wants to be the group holding others up!

(Typically, most busses are able to depart the theater within 10-15 minutes of dismissal starting.)

A successful field trip begins well before the day!

WHAT TO BRING

To ensure a smooth field trip experience, please bring the following:

1. A copy of your invoice. This will serve as your group’s “ticket”.

PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS

Review any provided curriculum materials with your students to help set context. Show-relatd materials are shared with reservation contacts via email, typically 4-6 weeks in advance of the performance.

COMMUNICATE SPECIAL NEEDS

Please contact us as soon as possible to let us know of any wheelchairs, sight or hearing impairment needs, inability to do stairs, the need for ASL interpretation, etc.

For a smooth arrival process, we recommend you plan to arrive downtown 20-30 minutes prior to the performance's scheduled start time.

Address:

The Temple Theater is located inside the Temple for Performing Arts building, which is located at 1011 Locust Street, Des Moines.

Please note that this venue is several blocks away from the Civic Center. Please ensure your driver has the correct address to avoid arriving at the wrong venue.

Parking:

Home educators arriving by car, van or other vehicle that can be accommodated in a parking ramp or in a single parking spot on the street are responsible for securing their own downtown parking.

See below for information to ensure a smooth check-in process for your group!

TICKETS

Tickets are not issued for school performances. Instead, your group and reservation details will be listed on a check-in sheet at the door.

It is recommended you bring a copy of your invoice to serve as “backup” in case there is an error on the check-in sheet. Please let us know if you need another copy of your invoice.

ENTERING

All groups should enter the Temple for Performing Arts building through the main lobby entrance, located on the Locust Street side of the building.

Tell a staff member the name of your group's reservation contact at the door to start your check-in process. The staff member will then direct your group to the second level of the building, via the stairs. An elevator is also available for those with mobility needs.

Another staff member will greet you at the top of the stairs to officially check you in. Please give the name of your reservation contact again.

As your group enters, the staff member will issue all adults with the group a DMPA visitor sticker as part of our school performance safety protocols. We ask that adults keep this sticker visible on their person for their duration of time in the building.

*Home School Cooperatives and Home School Assistance Programs - to help ensure a smooth check-in process, we encourage reservation contacts to meet families in your group in the theater lobby in order to help "approve" everyone who enters. Or, you may email us in advance a list of families attending as part of the group.

SEATING

Seating at school performances at the Temple Theater is typically first-come, first-served, starting in the front of the seating area and making our way back. An usher will direct you to the next seats available.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

If your group has communicated with us about any special accommodation needs, please arrive early and identify yourselves to our staff so we can match you to your appropriate seats.

*Note: if you need special seating, but do not make prior arrangements with us, we may not be able to accommodate your request last minute. Please contact us if you have any special needs.

We hope everyone in the group is able to fully enjoy the performance -- including you! Here are a few things to keep in mind during the performance.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

The use of cameras or any type of recording device is prohibited at all times. 

Please turn your cell phone off or set it to silent mode. Please also refrain from text messaging and using your phone as a light source during the performance.

If you have a student or guest in your group that uses a tablet, phone or similar-looking device as an adaptive communication tool, for a medical need, etc. you may wish to disclose to Education staff or the usher closest to your seats. Many live shows prohibit audience members from taking photos or videos of the performance. Advance notice will help our front of house team know that the device is for a needed accommodation and avoid any confusion about it being used as a camera or recording device.

THEATER ETIQUETTE

Please promote or reinforce theater etiquette with the students in your group, so that all in attendance can fully enjoy the performance.

Please note that etiquette expectations may vary by performance and that the performers will often give you clues on what is appropriate.

RESTROOM BREAKS

In the event a student must leave the theater during the performance to use the restroom, please ensure that an adult or another student from the group accompanies them.

Your assistance is appreciated after the performance to ensure a smooth dismissal process for all groups. 

STAGGERED DISMISSAL

Due to the small size of the Temple Theater, groups may exit at their own convenience after the show. There will not be staggered dismissal.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Please help students check their seats for any personal belongings prior to departure. Left behind items will be turned into our lost-and-found.

RESTROOMS AND TRAFFIC FLOW

Groups may utilize restrooms or head straight to their busses and vehicles. Most groups will choose to use the restrooms on floor two - the same floor as the theater. Small groups may wish to use restrooms on the first floor to increase efficiency.

As you depart the building, we ask that groups use the stairs in order to reserve use of the elevator for those with mobility needs.

In addition, if meeting friends or other home school groups, please find a place to meet away from the theater exits. This will make it easier for large groups behind you to exit the theater and return to their busses.