‘Mary Poppins’ flying into Des Moines for holidays

DES MOINES – “Mary Poppins” is flying from Broadway to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for the holidays.

The magical musical starring everyone's favorite nanny opens a three-week run Thanksgiving weekend, with performances from Nov. 26 to Dec. 12.

Four other shows also will be making their Iowa premiere in the Civic Center's 2010-2011 Willis Broadway Series:

• “9 to 5,” Oct. 12 to 17, 2010;
• “Next to Normal,” March 15 to 20, 2011;
• “Rock of Ages,” April 19 to 24, 2011;
• “Young Frankenstein,” May 3 to 8, 2011;

Returning to the Civic Center as an optional add-on to the Season Ticket package is the current Broadway hit “Chicago,” playing Feb. 25 to 27, 2011.

Current Willis Broadway Series Season Ticket holders can begin renewing their season tickets in early May online at www.civiccenter.org

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family Series returns for its second season with Tomie dePaola's “Strega Nona” on Jan. 15, 2011; Leo Lionni's “Swimmy,” “Frederick” and “Inch By Inch” on Feb. 12, 2011; “Darwin The Dinosaur” on April 2, 2011; and Sones de Mexico's “Fiesta Mexicana” on April 30, 2011.

Family Series shows are appropriate for all ages, but enjoyed most by children 4 to 10 years old. All are Saturday matinees and include access to a free pre-performance Discovery Party and other related. 

The Civic Center will begin taking orders for renewals and new Season Ticket packages for either series in early May.  Orders may be placed in person at the Civic Center Ticket Office (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), by mail or online at www.civiccenter.org 

SHOW DESCRIPTIONS

 WILLIS BROADWAY SERIES

• “MARY POPPINS” (Nov. 26 to Dec. 12, 2010) – The world's most famous nanny lands in Des Moines over Thanksgiving weekend.  Combining the best of the original stories by P.L. Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film, the Tony Award-winning "MARY POPPINS," starring Caroline Sheen who originated the role of Mary Poppins in the UK Tour, is everything you'd hope for in a Broadway musical – and more.  "MARY POPPINS" will enchant all with wonderful songs like “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar” and of course, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” 
• “ROCK OF AGES” (April 19 to 24, 2011) – Broadway's newest megahit is about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on.  In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small-town girl meets a big city rocker in L.A.'s most famous rock club and falls in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80s.  The show features the mind-blowing, face melting hits of Journey, Night Ranger, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Twisted Sister and Poison.
• “9 TO 5” (Oct. 12 to 17, 2010) – Direct from Broadway, “9 to 5” is a hilarious story of friends and revenge in the Rolodex era – getting credit and getting even!  Based on the hit movie, the musical features a Tony Award- and Grammy-nominated score by Dolly Parton including the smash hit title song.  The Civic Center invested in the Broadway production of “9 to 5” and is one of the first cities to present the show in its first national tour. 
• “YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN” (May 3 to 8, 2011) – The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE … and headed to the Civic Center next spring.  This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend follows young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen) as he attempts to create a monster – but not without scary and hilarious complications.
• “NEXT TO NORMAL” (March 15 to 20, 2011) – From the director of “Rent” comes “Next to Normal,” an emotional powerhouse of a musical with a contemporary score about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other.   Winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and three 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Score, “Next to Normal” is the most talked about new show on Broadway, having recently been chosen as “one of the year's 10 best” by major critics around the country.

 WILLIS BROADWAY SERIES (OPTIONAL ADD-ON):

“CHICAGO” (Feb. 25 to 27, 2011) – Winner of six 1997 Tony Awards, including Best Revival, Best Choreography and Best Direction, “Chicago” returns to razzle dazzle the Civic Center with Broadway's “sure thing.”

WELLMARK BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD FAMILY SERIES

• TOMIE dePAOLA'S “STREGA NONA” (Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011)  This is the musical tale of a friendly witch – with a funny name – who strives to cure the ills of her tiny Italian town of Calabria.
• LEO LIONNI'S “SWIMMY,” “FREDERICK” and “INCH BY INCH” (Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011)  Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's latest production is drawn from Leo Lionni's exquisitely crafted Caldecott Honor Books, “Swimmy,” a tiny fish; “Frederick,” a poetic mouse; and “Inch by Inch,” a lovable inchworm.
• “DARWIN THE DINOSAUR” (Saturday, April 2, 2011) Darwin is much more than a pet – he is a dinosaur – a wild and primitive creature.  Darwin shines with crayon-like creatures lighting up the stage using electroluminescent wire.
• SONES DE MEXICO'S “FIESTA MEXICANA” (Saturday, April 30, 2011)  Experience the sights and sounds of traditional Mexican music and dance in this interactive concert by Grammy-nominated Sones de Mexico.

Tickets to the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family Series are $10 per show.  The four-show package can be purchased for $32.