Stephens Auditorium announces new Performing Arts Series lineup, including 'Book of Mormon'

A big green ogre is coming to Ames.

Stephens Auditorium’s new Performing Arts Series includes popular shows such as “The Book of Mormon” and “Shrek The Musical.”

The 13 perfromances that make up the 2024-25 season were announced Thursday, May 2 during a special ceremony at Stephens Auditorium.

Three Broadway hits will make their Stephens debuts, along with comedy, ballet and world music from the Czech Republic, England, Ireland and Japan.

“With new partnerships with Ballet Des Moines and the Iowa State University Music and Theater Department and returning support from the 4-H Foundation, Ames Commission on the Arts and our growing number of performance underwriters, this season is a big one for us,” Tammy Koolbeck, Stephens Auditorium executive director, said in a news release.

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Anticipated local premieres

The new season will include two world premieres from Ballet Des Moines.

“See the Music (Hear the Dance)” is a collaboration with the JACK Quartet.

Ballet Des Moines will also perform the timeless Romeo and Juliet tragedy alongside a full, live orchestra.

“We are welcoming a full schedule of diverse programming to the Stephens stage with performance choices for everyone,” Koolbeck added.

Subscription ticket orders can currently be purchased online at www.center.iastate.edu/orderonline. Tickets for individual shows go on sale in fall 2024. The subscription packages offer audience members the chance to buy tickets to multiple shows at a savings of up to 20%.

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Stephens Audirotium's 2024-25 Performing Arts Series schedule

Shrek The Musical — 6 p.m., Oct. 20, Broadway Series

Based on the Oscar-winning animated film, “Shrek The Musical” follows the adventures of an unlikely hero, an ogre named Shrek. His sidekick is a joke-cracking Donkey who helps the ogre save a feisty princess who’s resistant to being rescued. With new, original direction and choreography, the production “brings the show back to its roots — giving it a new kind of love emphasizing the importance of loving ourselves and one another,” according to a news release.

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An Evening with David Sedaris — 7 p.m., Oct. 24

“David Sedaris is one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. He is a master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers,” according to a news release. Nominated for five Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album, Sedaris is also the bestselling author of several books of personal essays and short stories. In 2019, Sedaris became a regular contributor to CBS “Sunday Morning,” and his Masterclass on storytelling and humor was released.

Artrageous — 7 p.m., Nov. 9

Vocals, choreography and music combine on stage as an Artrageous artist creates a masterpiece while the audience watches. “Our troupe of artists, musicians, singers and dancers pay tribute to a variety of art forms, icons and musical genres throughout the evening. The result is an uniquely entertaining, masterpiece show culminating in a gallery of fabulous, finished paintings,” Artrageous members said in a news release.

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical — 7:30 p.m., Nov. 11, Broadway Series

Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall, the tribute musical is “the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll,” according to a news release. Featuring many of Turner's most beloved hits, the musical depicts Tina’s journey to beat the odds and become one of the most successful performers of all time.

Dear Evan Hansen — 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5, Broadway Series

The musical “Dear Evan Hansen” has won Tony and Grammy awards and was called “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by the Washington Post. The production is based on Evan Hansen, a high school student who feels like an outsider. “What follows is a poignant, funny, and powerful musical about how even though it can be hard, we can find each other — and ourselves — along the way,” according to a news release.

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Menopause The Musical 2 — 3 p.m., Feb., 2

The sequel to the smash-hit “Menopause The Musical” is taking the stage with the subtitle, “Cruising Through ‘The Change.’” The production follows the lives of four women who had a chance encounter in a department store and, five years later, decide to go on a cruise together. The show is a funny and “heartfelt look at the joys of menopause and friendship — plus hot flashes, mood swings, and memory lapses!” the release stated. The soundtrack features parodied songs from the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s.

Voces8 — 7 p.m., Feb. 11

The British vocal ensemble Voces8 was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2023 and “is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing,” according to a news release. On its global tour, the group performs a cappella and in collaboration with instrumentalists. Known for its diverse musical selections, in January, Voces8 released its single “Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters.”

Czech National Philharmonic of Moravia — 7:30 p.m., Feb. 15

Founded in 1908, the Czech National Philharmonic was reconstituted after World War II, when it was awarded the title of “National” Philharmonic. “The orchestra is famous for performing the works of Dvorak, Smetana, Martinů, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart and Schubert,” the news release stated. The orchestra focuses mainly on 19th and 20th-century composers, but it also promotes contemporary Czech and world music

Yamato: The Drummers of Japan — 7 p.m., Feb. 28

The Japanese Taiko drumming group Yamato is based in Asuka-mura Nara Prefecture. More than 40 Taiko drums will be on stage, and each drum is said to have its own personality. The largest is called “Odaiko,” which was created from a 400-year-old tree. The enormous drum is more than two yards wide and weighs 1,100 pounds. Yamato’s performances are known as “physical music” as the group’s members have trained extensively to beat the massive drums.

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See the Music (Hear the Dance) — 2 p.m., March 2

Ballet Des Moines presents “See the Music (Hear the Dance),” which is described as a “mesmerizing ballet performance” featuring choreography by Artistic Director Tom Mattingly. “The performance opens with a world premiere collaboration between Ballet Des Moines and the acclaimed JACK Quartet playing the haunting strains of Philip Glass’ String Quartet No. 5,” the release stated. “The evening concludes with the Iowa premiere of Mattingly’s Four Seasons, set to a captivating collection of piano etudes by German composer Goetz Oestlind performed live on stage by master pianist Douglas Jayd Burn. This four-part ballet evokes the passage of time and highlights the beauty of nature across the seasons. The production features custom artwork projections by award-winning theatrical designer Court Watson, taking inspiration from iconic Iowa foliage, fauna, and natural landmarks.”

Shamrock Tenors — 7 p.m., March 25

The Shamrock Tenors are “Irish music’s most exciting new international hit,” according to a news release. Belfast performer Raymond Walsh created the group, which is supported by Tourism Ireland. The group includes vocalists, multi-instrumentalists, and a champion Irish dancer.

“Their show takes you on a journey through Ireland’s most beloved classic songs, in beautiful five part harmony, whilst sharing their love for home and how far it has come in recent years,” according to the release. The show will feature audience favorites, such as “Danny Boy” and “The Wild Rover.”

Ballet Des Moines’ Romeo and Juliet — 7 p.m. April 26

Exclusively at Stephens Auditorium, Ballet Des Moines will bring to life the timeless tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The production will be the world premiere of the choreography by Tom Mattingly with live music by the Ballet Des Moines Orchestra. “Set to the beloved score by Sergei Prokofiev, this ballet unfolds with passion, drama, and heart-wrenching emotion,” according to the news release. “The incredible dancers of Ballet Des Moines pour their hearts into their roles, embodying the intensity of love, longing, and despair.”

The Book of Mormon — 7:30 p.m. April 30, Broadway Series

The nine-time Tony Award-winning “Best Musical” is an irreverent look at religion and life in general. From Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of “South Park,” the show contains explicit language and blasphemous ideas but somehow also manages to be endearing. The New York Times called it “the best musical of this century,” and the Washington Post said, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.”

Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rfaaborg@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Here's the Stephens Auditorium 2024-25 Performing Arts Series lineup