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How Hoyt Sherman Place plans to celebrate 100 years with tribute show 'Once Upon This Stage'

Jay Stahl, Des Moines Register
·4 min read
Rusty Johnson tells his story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Generosity" show at Hoyt Sherman Place in 2022.
Rusty Johnson tells his story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Generosity" show at Hoyt Sherman Place in 2022.

Hoyt Sherman Place is turning 100 and the theater is celebrating its engaging centennial season with an event that looks back at the history of the venue and the entertainers who graced the stage while looking forward to the future.

The storied theater and event venue, located at 1501 Woodland Ave. in the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood near downtown Des Moines, is planning a unique stage show for one night only to pay tribute to 100 years of entertainment for metro area audiences.

The event, titled "Once Upon This Stage," is executive director Robert Warren's love letter to The Des Moines Women's Club as a show of thanks for the organization's support for Hoyt Sherman Place over a 100-year span.

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"It's a way to give them additional exposure in a nighttime public performance," Warren said.

The women's club began renting the space from the city of Des Moines in 1907 at the price of just $1 per year, part of a 100-year contract. The women's club eventually added the theater and, despite a World War I-related delay, construction was completed in time to host the first show in 1923.

The exterior of the Hoyt Sherman Place mansion sometime prior to theater construction, which began in 1922.
The exterior of the Hoyt Sherman Place mansion sometime prior to theater construction, which began in 1922.

"It's really just a magical place," Warren said. "The respect from the audience members, particularly the younger generation who've been able to come in and see their favorite artist in this Victorian mansion and walk through to get a drink at the bar, it's just really cool."

MoreHoyt Sherman Place looks back at 100 years of entertainment, plans to celebrate big in 2023

"Once Upon This Stage" will honor seven world-class artists who signed the venue's original guestbook at the theater during its first 25 years. The original artists that will be honored are composer and conductor John Philip Sousa, poet and playwright Edna St. Vincent Millay, performer Will Rogers, dancer Agnes de Mille, entertainer Vincent Price, fine artist Grant Wood, and famed Iowa composer Meredith Willson.

Warren, who coined the event a "once in a lifetime performance," said the show will feature a variety-style offering of performances as modern-day acts such as local rapper B.Well and Ballet Des Moines pay tribute to the seven original artists.

B.Well, who is also known as Billy Weathers, will honor Edna St. Vincent Millay alongside the Des Moines Metro Opera at "Once Upon This Stage."
B.Well, who is also known as Billy Weathers, will honor Edna St. Vincent Millay alongside the Des Moines Metro Opera at "Once Upon This Stage."

'Once Upon This Stage' features modern-day acts honoring historic artists

Dancers from Ballet Des Moines, shown here rehearsing "Of Gravity and Light," will honor Agnes de Mille.
Dancers from Ballet Des Moines, shown here rehearsing "Of Gravity and Light," will honor Agnes de Mille.

The Des Moines Metro Concert Band will honor Philip Sousa, rapper B.Well alongside the Des Moines Metro opera will pay tribute to St. Vincent Millay, the Drake University Theatre Department is recognizing Rogers, Ballet Des Moines honors de Mille, Urbandale's professional dance studio Dance Vision is celebrating Price, men's vocal ensemble Vox Infinitus alongside Lani and Tapestry will pay their respects to Willson while landscape artist Alan Lampe recognizes Wood.

The Des Moines Art Center, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and private collector Michael Zahs loaned some of Wood's artwork to Hoyt Sherman Place as well.