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A FRESH LOOK
Look to FRESH PRODUCE for new works, new looks at old works, and, most importantly, an ever-widening range of voices that speak to the Midwestern experience. 
THIS SEASON...
These three area premieres, Holy Days, Hitler’s Tasters, and *Stripped, have not been seen or heard in the region, but powerfully illuminate the points of view of three contemporary female writers.
​*NOTE-Due to CoVid-19, Stripped has moved forward to Season 3, in Fall, 2020.  More information HERE.
ALWAYS FREE!
These concert readings, developed by artists from around the Midwest, are just as professional and compelling, but slightly more economical than our major productions. Therefore, in the interest of making live theatre more accessible, these concerts will have NO admission charges. DON'T MISS THESE!
"Concert Reading?"  What's That?
Using lecterns, a stage-directions narrator, and no technical elements, these readings focus entirely on the story and the actors--literally, the play's voices.
WANT TO PERUSE THESE SCRIPTS?
peruse here!

HOLY DAYS

by Sally Nemeth
On a farm in western Kansas, from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, 1936, two brothers and their wives struggle to make it through, pulling themselves together, and, most importantly, holding on to the rituals of farm life.  No money, few prospects, and dust everywhere--can baking pies, making love, and taking desperate risks keep them together?

​-Less about plot than quiet emotion and reflection … the deep hope Dust Bowlers had to draw upon to carry on.                           —Monica Eng, Chicago Tribune
-​Is there a play in this? There is. Amazingly. A majestic and gripping one. There is beauty and wisdom in this little piece.               —Sylvie Drake, Los Angeles Times

​Director:  Ann Woldt
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November 16, 2019
7:30 pm
​Java Joe's 4th Street Theatre
​Des Moines, Iowa

ALWAYS FREE!
but seating is limited so we strongly urge you to reserve a seat ahead of time HERE:

RSVP HERE

Meet Our Cast!

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Ann Woldt (Director)
​
Ann is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and Head of the Theatre Departments Recruitment and Educational Outreach program at Simpson College. She holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
*DIRECTING*
-SIMPSON: Silent Sky, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, These Shining Lives, and Noises Off.

*ACTING*
-STAGE WEST: Vanya, Sonya, Masha, and Spike and Dancing at Lughnasa
-DES MOINES PLAYHOUSE: Little Woman, Sabrina Fair

*DIALECT/VOICE COACH*
-THEATREMIDWEST: The Friendly Hour.
-DES MOINES PLAYHOUSE: A Streetcar Named Desire, Metamorphosis and Dinner with Friends
-STAGE WEST: Cock

*VOICEOVER*
 
Hummel’s Nissan, Wells Fargo, John Deere, EMC, Mediacom, GMAC, Dupont;

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Paul Privitera (Narrator)

​*THEATRE*
-DM PLAYHOUSE: Stage Manager for The Cat in the Hat
-THEATRE SIMPSON: The Glass Menagerie; Back Story; The Servant of Two Masters.

*COMEDY*
-CHOWDOWN: Founding member
-TEEHEES COMEDY CLUB: Mainstage cast member

*BUSINESS*
WEST DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS: PC Technician

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Denise Forney (Rosie)

​*THEATRE*
-TALLGRASS: Children of a Lesser God.
-DES MOINES YOUNG ARTISTS: Big Fish, the Musical.
-ANKENY COMMUNITY: Steel Magnolias.
*MUSIC*
-WEEKEND JAM SESSIONS: private guitar studio.
-4NEYS FAMILY MUSIC: Coffeehouse/Event/Wedding musician and singer (HyVee, Hyatt Hotels, Des Moines Marathon, Farmers Markets, West End Salvage, others.)
*BUSINESS*
-WELLS FARGO: Workforce Optimization Consultant.
-UNITY POINT: Management Trainer.
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Matt Robins (Gant)

​*THEATRE*
-IOWA TOURING THEATRE COMPANY: The Rainmaker.
-STONINGTON PLAYERS: Anatomy of a Murder
-GROTON REGIONAL: The Odd Couple
-THEATRE SIMPSON: A Streetcar Named Desire, The Woman In Black, The Rover, Tons of Money, Still Life, 12th Night, Inspecting Carol, The Actor's Nightmare

*BUSINESS*
Works at Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo, IA.

*MILITARY*
6 years in the Navy as an Electronics Technician on board the USS Virginia, a submarine stationed in Groton, CT.


WANT TO PERUSE THESE SCRIPTS?
peruse here!
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Bryce Browning (Will)

​*ACTING AT SIMPSON COLLEGE*
These Shining Lives, Knowing Joan, Noises Off.
*DESIGN AT SIMPSON COLLEGE*
Playhouse Creatures, The Memory of Water
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Maggie Schmitt (Molly)

​*THEATRE*
-DES MOINES PLAYHOUSE: Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Ragtime, The Little Mermaid
-KATA KLYSMIC PRODUCTIONS: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
-URBANDALE COMMUNITY THEATRE: Six on Six the Musical
-THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE: Carousel, The Producers, Les Miserables
-DRAKE OPERA THEATRE: Alice Ryley, Macbeth, La Traviata
-DES MOINES OPERA PROJECT: Cavalleria Rusticana

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February 20, 2020
​Java Joe's 4th Street Theatre
​Des Moines, Iowa

7:30pm

ALWAYS FREE!

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Deidra Mohr (Director)
*THEATRE*  
-THEATREMIDWEST:  The Friendly Hour;  
-KATA CLYSMIC: The Rocky Horror Show, Vagina Monologues; 
-CALIFORNIA THEATRES:  Young Frankenstein, Burning Opera LA, Ragtime in Concert, Company, Not Your Mama's Broadway, The Nitch, Stepping Out, Marat/Sade, Mousetrap, Laramie Project; 
*FILM/TV*  My Friend Max, That Night, Lost Soulmates, Antique America.
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Audrey Kaus (Margot)
*THEATRE*
-DES MOINES PLAYHOUSE: The Addams Family; 
-STAGEWEST: Carrie, the Musical; 
-THEATRE SIMPSON: Kiss Me Kate, Tartuffe, These 
Shining Lives, Waiting for Philip Glass
-OTHER: Into the Woods, Thoroughly Modern Millie; 

HITLER'S TASTERS

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click for interview vid
By Michelle Kholos Brooks
Three times a day, every day, a group of young women have the opportunity to die for their country. They are Adolph Hitler's food tasters. And what do girls discuss as they wait to see if they will live through another meal? Like many other girls throughout time, they gossip and dream, they question and dance. They want to love, laugh, and above all, they want to survive.

The Mean Girls/Third Reich crossover we never knew we needed. It’s enthralling, unbelievable, and inescapably relevant ... Brooks’ razor sharp humour pulls laughter from an astounded audience ... You’ll remember this one.              -- Spy in the Stalls
​

MEET THE COMPANY

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Stephanie Schneider (Hilda)
​*THEATRE*
-DES MOINES PLAYHOUSE:  Singin' in the Rain, A Chorus Line, Lion/Witch/Wardrobe, Young Frankenstein; 
-ACTORS (Ames): Dirty Rotten Scoundrels;
-URBANDALE COMMUNITY THEATRE: Beauty and the Beast;
-KNOXVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE:  Into the Woods;

-WINTERSET STAGE: Snow Queen;
*FILM*
-FEARLESS CINEMA:  Absynthe, Red Sunset Drive, Burn;
-INDEPENDENT: The Ever Beating Heart, A Family That Slays
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Jessica Wade (Leisel)
*THEATRE*
-IOWA STAGE THEATRE:  Macbeth;
-IOWA CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL: Romeo and Juliet; 
-UNIVERSITY OF IOWA:  Iphigenia Crash Land Falls, Pirate Queen, Great Emergencies, Mortal Instruments
-OTHER:  Leaving Iowa, The Miracle Worker 

*CAMERA*
-FILM: Cicada, Jane Eyre;
-COMMERCIALS: First Bank, Kum & Go, Mediacom, Billion Auto
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Rachel Meyer (Narrator)
*THEATRE*
-DES MOINES PLAYHOUSE: Freaky Friday, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia, Elephant and Piggie, Young Frankenstein, Sister Act, Into the Woods; 
-KATA KLYSMIC: Hedwig;
-ACTOR'S CABARET (Oregon): The Addams Family, Grease, Once on this Island
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Devin Walter (Anna)
*THEATRE*
-CENTRAL COLLEGE: Mystery of Edwin Drood, Boeing Boeing, Steel Magnolias, Little Shop of Horrors, (Anon)ymous, Blithe Spirit, Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
-DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS: Teaching Assistant
-GEORGE DAILY AUDITORIUM: Musical Director, Teaching Assistant
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Jacklin Stonewall (Stage Manager)
*THEATRE*
-STAGE MANAGEMENT: Theatre Midwest: Hitler's Tasters 
-COSTUME DESIGN: East Marshall Performing Arts: Sister Act
​-ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCE: Martha Ellen Tye Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar, Company, Nunsense
*BUSINESS*
-EDUCATION: Iowa State University Aerospace Engineering (BS), Industrial Engineering (MS)
MISSION
Professionals creating works of relevance to the people of the Midwest, ​with particular attention to the voices of women ​and other under-represented groups.
SUPPORT ​THEATREMIDWEST
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Donate today to aid our mission and support your theatre community.

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  • HOME
  • Events
    • Fresh Produce >
      • Box Office Burst
    • Kitchen Killers
    • Auditions
    • Past Events >
      • Atlas of Mud
      • 2020 Brilliant Traces >
        • Couples Interviews
      • Fresh Produce 19-20
      • 2019 Friendly Hour
  • RADICAL HOSPITALITY
  • Support Us
    • THANK YOU
  • About
    • Press
    • F.A.Q.
    • BACKSTAGE