Going to the Theater: Civic Center

2019-2020

APPLAUSE SERIES GUIDE: PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO THE CIVIC CENTER GRADES: PRE-K - 3

r your perience fo x e e 24th c n a ou to our erform y p e a m in o g lc n e nees. r. We w for investi chool mati school yea s y t Thank you s a u s b e r c u n o use die uring y the Appla f r young au o fo n r o students d te ti a c e e theater et! This s senting th visit to the t season y s r year of pre e u b o y r u e o k a e will b help m es We hope it t Des Moin is meant to u o ls a b a ri n te o a ti m a and e e theater ( find inform l Series Guid th ’l u to o Y t . e g le tline to possib nts that ou bout how e a d s n tu as easy as s o ti r c fo e ne-sheet g Arts, dir useful! well as a o Performin s a , ) ese pieces s u th b d a n fi rk l a ’l u p hope yo where to en tions. We ta c e help deep p x to e r ls a ri te a theate art form aching m ditional te about the d n a o d ti a te a rm re fo uiry lso c age in inq ntextual in g o n c We have a e e id to v ts ro n pecific rience, p et stude your expe the show s e and to g t g u ta o s k n c o e h ers rk. C and perform ics raised in the wo p to around the tion. nd to at informa students a r u o y to guide for th o happy th s. We are s itment bo rt m a m e o th c r e c u for yo experien Thank you unities to rt o p p o m the providing us. ing to visit m o c re a you r, n Team the theate s Educatio rt See you at A g in rm s Perfo Des Moine hers,

Dear Teac

TA B L E O F CONTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS Page 3

ABOUT THE APPLAUSE SERIES Page 4 CIVIC CENTER FIELD TRIP INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS Page 5

THEATER INFORMATION GOING TO THE THEATHER Page 6 HOW TO BE AN AUDIENCE MEMBER Page 7

T H A N K YO U TO O U R D O N O R S SUPPORT FOR DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND THE APPLAUSE SERIES IS PROVIDED BY: Arts Midwest • Bradford and Sally Austin • BNIM • Bravo Greater Des Moines • Clive Community Foundation • Dallas County Foundation • Ernest & Florence Sargent Family Foundation • Hy-Vee, Inc. • Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs • John Deere • Judith A. Lindquist Scholarship Fund • Maytag Family Foundation • Richard and Deborah McConnell • McKee, Voorhees and Sease, PLC • Meredith Corporation Foundation • MidAmerican Energy Foundation • Nationwide • Polk County Board of Supervisors • Prairie Meadows • Principal • U.S. Bank • Wells Fargo & Co. • West Bancorporation Foundation • Windsor Charitable Foundation and more than 300 individual donors.

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DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS

BY THE NUMBERS

300,000

More than 300,000 guests attend performances and events in our four venues each year

75,000

DMPA education programs serve more than 75,000 Iowans annually.

700,000

More than half a million students and teachers have attended school-time performances as part of the Applause Series since its launch in 1996.

DMPA is central Iowa’s premier not-for-profit performing arts organization.

Guests experience a wide variety of art forms and cultural activities, with presentations ranging from Broadway, comedy, professional dance, to family programming.

DMPA is more than the Civic Center!

You can find us at the following spaces:

• Civic Center, 2744 seats • Stoner Theater, 200 seats • Temple Theater, 299 seats • Cowles Commons (outdoor plaza)

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Take thousands of Iowa students out of their classrooms, place them in a theater, sprinkle the stage with world-class performers, AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE? A recipe for learning that reaches new levels of possibility — for students and teachers.

APPLAUSE SERIES MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Each year, more than 50,000 students and teachers attend an Applause Series performance. The actual cost per person is $8, but thanks to the caring contributions of donors, schools pay just $1 per ticket. By removing the financial barriers to participation, donors introduce a whole new generation to the power of arts in action. That means stronger schools and communities now and in the future.

B E Y O N D T H E S TA G E

For many Applause Series performances, we offer the opportunity for schools to go deeper by exploring an art form or theme that connects with what is seen on stage. Invite a professional teaching artist into the classroom or visit another cultural destination in Des Moines to help students make more meaning of a piece of theater.

B R I N G I N G A R T S E D U C AT I O N T O L I F E T I C K E T T O I M A G I N AT I O N

The Applause Series annually delivers 60 age-appropriate performances for pre-school to high school students. The impact stretches far beyond the Des Moines metro, reaching schools in over 35 Iowa counties. The theater becomes the classroom.

One-hour matinees energize students to imagine new ways of creative expression, cultural diversity and even career opportunities.

The Applause Series is a flagship education program of Des Moines Performing Arts. Since its launch in 1996, more than a half million students and teachers have attended school-time performances as part of the series. You are joining us for the 24th season of school performances!

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FIELD TRIP INFORMATION TEACHER GUIDE

WE WA N T YOU R FI E L D T R I P TO B E SAFE A ND S UCC E SS FUL! Please read below for important tips and details to ensure a great day.

GET ORGANIZED Double-check that all students, teachers, and chaperones were included in your ticket order. Request an adjustment if your numbers have increased. We want to make sure we have enough seats for you!

Tickets are not issued. Bring a copy of your invoice, which will serve as your group’s “ticket”.

Schedule arrival for 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance. This allows time to park, cross streets, find your seats, and go to the restroom.

Let drivers know that Applause performances are approximately 60 minutes, unless otherwise noted.

Remind chaperones that children under the age of three are not permitted in the theater for Applause Series events.

D I R ECTIONS/PARK EC T IONS/PARK I N G The Des Moines Civic Center is located at 221 WALNUT STREET, DES MOINES, IOWA DIRECTIONS FROM I-235: take Exit 8A (Downtown Exits) and the ramp toward 3rd Street and 2nd Avenue. Turn onto 3rd Street and head south.

Police officers stationed at the corner of 3rd & Locust Streets will direct buses to reserved street parking near the Civic Center.

Buses are not allowed to drop groups off in front of the theater. Contact us in advance if there is a special circumstance.

Buses remain parked for the duration of the show. Drivers must be available to move the bus immediately following the performance.

A R R I VA L / S E A T I N G An usher will greet you at the door and ask for your school name.

Adults will be asked to show proper identification (such as school IDs or visitor badges as applicable) at the door.

Each group will be assigned a specific location in the theater based on various factors. An usher will escort you to your section.

Your school may be seated in multiple rows. Adults should position themselves throughout the group.

Allow ushers to seat your entire group before rearranging student seats or taking groups to the restroom. This helps us seat efficiently and better start the show on time.

I N T H E T H E AT E R Adults are asked to handle any disruptive behavior in their group. If the behavior persists, an usher may request your group to exit the theater.

Please wait for your group to be dismissed by DMPA staff prior to exiting the theater.

QUESTIONS? We are happy to help!

Please contact us at: education@dmpa.org 515.246.2355

Personal vehicles are responsible for securing their own parking on a nearby street or in a downtown parking ramp.

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GOING TO THE THEATER WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU TO A PERFORMANCE! It is so fun and special to see a show with real people and music instead of watching on a screen.

It is different than watching a movie at home because at the theater the audience has an important job to do to make the performance the best!

ETIQUETTE means how to behave politely in a special situation

IQUETTE T E R E T A E TH N O W AY ! save your lunch and your phone calls for before or after the show

, drinks Do not bring food

or chewing gum

into the theater.

ay cell phones rn off and put aw tu to u yo th wi s n-up Remind the grow ake noise before ight light up or m m at th ics on ctr and other ele begins. the performance can’t le each year and holds many peop at se ch Ea r. te ea e floor Respect the th ep your feet on th g up and down! Ke cin un bo of s air lot handle m in the ch . u) and your botto yo of nt fro in air (not on the ch . is about to begin , the performance dim s ht lig e us ho When the listening ears on. lips and turn your ur yo zip to e Tim h if they are being you with a quiet sh to ar ne le op pe ption.

You can remind even bigger disru l not to make an fu re ca be t bu noisy an til the end. If it is rmance or wait un rfo pe e th re fo ll be and they wi help Use the restroom n-ups near to you ow gr e th of e on ly tell emergency, quiet e theater. th you safely leave find a person ve an emergency, ha or p ou gr ur ted from yo u! They are the If you are separa me-tag to help yo na ld go a d an s nt the who has black pa re you get back to radio to make su eir th e us n ca d ushers an right spot.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP! our ushers can answer your questions!

JEFF

Have a fun time!

D D II D D Y YO OU U

KNOW?

THE THEATER IS DESIGNED TO MAGNIFY SOUND. (even whispers can be heard!)

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HOW TO BE AN AUDIENCE MEMBER When people are on stage performing they can hear and see the audience. The audience has the job of making sure the artists know that you are paying attention and enjoying the performance. Sometimes the right thing is to clap and shout out. Sometimes the best way to show you are having a good time is by sitting quietly with your hands in your lap.

YO U R J O B A S

AN AUDIENCE MEMBER As you experience the performance, ask yourself the following questions:

ers m ? r rfo to do long e p a e the ienc clap hey e ar aud e to nk t at l e hi ate h W g th peop ou t tr kin ant o y ncen ? s d a rk co Or yw he up? et to d wo t ar ui Do get d q eir h & e ne n th o

W A

A

ha

mu

da

nc

sic

al

tk

is

ind

of s s? how

thi

e p or c on e or a p rform cert lay an ? ce ?

ists? e art h t f do ng moo e smili h t & s i y t p a ap Wh ious hey h g ser Are t n i r a or we ? faces What ar e the pe ople aro you doin und g? Are y our grow watchin n-ups g the sta ge quietl stompin y or g to the beat or dancing ?

en to clap? u know wh o y o d w o ery H g until the v in it a w e c n e Is the audie performanc e th in k a re ab or is there g too? are clappin rs e th o re e wh

H O W W I L L YO U G E T T O T H E T H E AT E R ?

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