20 Best Acting Programs In Des Moines, IA (2022 Updated)

To all high school seniors looking at colleges, tour Iowa State! Iowa State was pretty low on my college list but I decided to tour it anyway. Coming from Wisconsin, my first thoughts were it was a college in the middle of no where with an easy acceptance rate…sketchy. But the moment I stepped foot on campus for my college visit I knew it was the place for me. It's a division one school but the beautiful campus and friendly staff made it feel small. Iowa State was the only college I applied to and I am more than happy with that decision. The professors and advisors truly care for every student and want you to succeed. For the university being in a such a small town, there is so much to do at ISU. From intramural sports, clubs, going to sporting events, joining greek life, exploring Ames, there is so much to do. Go cyclones.Cody King

Every fall, I am reminded as to why Iowa State University is ranked as one of the most beautiful campus in the country. All the fall foliage makes me want to keep snapping photos like an incoming freshman visiting the campus for the first time. Some of the best locations for looking at fall colors are: 1) around the campanile, 2) central campus (near Pearson Hall), and 3) along Osborn Dr. If you want to avoid getting judged by others for taking pictures, there are plenty of photo opportunities at Reiman Gardens. However, be sure to take those photos quickly as peak fall colors only lasts for about a week.John Hsieh

Beautiful Campus, offers a variety of majors and a multitude of colleges. Very helpful faculty and always friendly people on campus, very welcoming and open environment. Large expansion occurring throughout campus in the engineering and sciences. Definitively recommend visiting in the fall when the leaves are changing or in the spring when all the flowers are in blossom.Wil Q

I have spent the last three years as a student at Central. It was an absolute game changer in my life and career trajectory. As an education major, I am so thankful for the faculty who are so supportive and encouraging. This campus is perfect for students who want that individualized attention and education experience. I feel equipped with the skills I need to not only be an effective teacher, but also a good human being. You will not regret going to or visiting Central!Timothy Stammeyer

I currently have 2 sons enrolled at Central and they are both in the Football program. My "boys" went to Central and within a semester, were young "men" who felt like they had a 2nd family and a future. The coaching staff is beyond remarkable and the school environment is very welcoming and comfortable. We are blessed to be a part of a wonderful program. Thank you #goDUTCH!Stacy Renae

I am extremely grateful for the staff at Central College. They have been very helpful and patient with getting my son set up and ready to head to Iowa from TX. I am confident that he will be surrounded by amazing people. Donna in Financial Aid has been a big blessing to us! Thank you all for being professional and courteous in answering all my questions!yvette banda

This is a nice venue for events of varying sizes. I miss venerable Veterans Memorial Auditorium, site of everything from the legendary Girls' State Basketball Tournament to the Kurt Warner-led Iowa Barnstormers' brief run among the Arena League's best, as well as Ozzy Osbourne's infamous bat incident–for which he was arrested–to farm shows and some of the best years in Drake basketball's history. At Vets' Auditorium, fans seemingly sat atop the action. Because the upper deck extended to within about 15 feet of the main floor level, the vast majority of fans were perched just above the game. At the time it opened in the 1950s, Vets' was among the better arenas in the U.S. The excitement of State Wrestling at Vets' is memorable; as students, we rushed to risers next to our classmate's mat, wishing well those students whose friend had just completed his bout. The State High School Basketball tournaments were regularly energizing events as well; players and fans aspired to see their teams play at "The Barn," and the girls' tournament was known across the U.S. as a premier high school championship. While the concourses were pitifully narrow, the concession stands and restrooms were outdated, and the arena's design was not suitable for modern events, Vets' Auditorium held a special place in the hearts of many Iowans. May it continue to do so.Iowa Reviewers

This is a fine place to have a big meeting. We had 650 family in town for a reunion. So we rented some space for the get together. The facilities were top notch.William Dent

It is central located in the downtown and makes it easier to get too many things such hotel's and restaurant as well as other places of interest.Brenda Hackey

I love that every seat feels so close to the stage! I recommend wearing good shoes to walk in though. I forgot about that and ended up wearing shoes that were not very comfortable and the old seats are rough on my back, so it was not a nice experience for my body, but after stretching and standing through the intermission, the show was worth it. I'm sure others don't struggle as much with chronic pain so it's not a common review for a theater with such vintage charm. It would sure be nice though to have some updated seating and easier, more noticeable signs to follow to locate the escalator and our seats.Sarah

What a top notch performance! Saw EMMA…the cast was unbelievably talented. We had 2nd row seats but looking around-there really is no "bad" seat. Well worth the money!!! The infinity overlook of the city was fantastic. Explore the 9th floor too if you get a chance-a 360 view of the surrounding city. Masks still required at all times. Helpful staff. Only drawback was no ability to buy refreshments at intermission. BRAVO! (If you get there early enough-park on the street because it's cheaper and easier to beat the rush post performance.)Beth Powers

EMMA WAS SOOOOO GOOD! They had a amazing staff team, actors, writer, director with some great 4th wall breaks. Even though we had bad seating we still were engaged and laughed so much at the end. I wanted some gruel! I thought I wouldn't like it but I was pleasantly surprised. I hope to come back this Christmas and see what show you have then or just to hang out in the lobby if it is open. BRAVOWilliam Anderson

I went to the Englert Theater to participate in a fundraiser for Girls On The Run annual Luna Fest & watch some great films made by women for women. The event was awesome & the films were very inspiring, moving me to tears & joy in some cases. It was a great venue for the film festival, silent auction, and treats. They also had 2 bars for ordering beer or wine.Dawn Marie J

Fantastic venue, the staff were friendly and helpful both before and during the performance. Box office staff were welcoming and swift. The venue itself is a beautiful place, a real intimate venue but without losing any of the feel of the theatre. Would definitely come back to see more shows hereadam fowler

Nice theater! Well run, everything was smooth and easy, from picking up tickets, to ordering drinks, to finding our seats. We asked someone what direction to walk in to find out seats, and they very kindly walked us all the way over there. Great employees here!Summer Peila

Amazing historical esthetics and architecture. Gorgeous and breath taking inside. My son thought we were in a castle! The seats and facility was clean and the ushers and staff were overly caring and understanding when the venue was too loud for my 3 year old. They even put a TV streaming the show on for us and carried over a bench for us to sit and watch the show from the lobby. The concession stand was very reasonably priced and though I don't endulge, I saw multiple kinds of alcoholic drinks in other parents hands. In all it was an incredibly unforgettable experience. I recommend you try it outKailey Ewing (Kay Jane)

Don't let the outside construction ward you off from coming inside to see a show. The line moved seamlessly. Well staffed. Bathrooms were clearly marked and very clean. I sat in gold circle orchestra. The seats were comfortable and there was plenty of leg room. The sound system was great. Lighting was amazing. I liked that there were no stairs, it was sloped and carpeted. The drink prices were reasonable. Bottled water was 3.00. Easy in and out of the theater. I will attend again now that I know how amazing this page is.Dee Scott

I have been here many, many times and I love it. I've taken my mom there for the Christmas shows when she was still with us. Miss you Mom.They have excellent shows but, back in the mid 1990's when it was a movie theater is was a little run down. Now it's a wonderful place to go. I was supposed to go there today but I got lazy and I wished I went there for the show. They have excellent Christmas shows and I try to make it, they also have great concerts. To many to list except I will list one ( Get The LED Out)!!!Robert Merrill

My oldest daughter receited slam poetry along with poets of her peers. It was the most AMAZING experience and the place was BEAUTIFUL. My daughter Milo ate that, she rocked on stage!!!!!🤩🤩🤩 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙Peechez Hunter

It was a very nice venue, small enough that there wasn't a bad seat anywhere. We saw Pat Hazel's Permanent Record there, he was funny & entertaining the entire timeShane Howard

Intimate venue with comfortable seating and impressive sound for the size. We look forward to another event at the Temple Theatre!AV AV

I have been with ATC ever since it opened in 2007, and I was 5 years old. I feel like I have grown so much not only as an actor, but as a person. The mentors there have truly become my mentors in life and I am forever grateful for the experiences, opportunities, and friends I receive due to ATC. Carole has pushed me to become better versions of myself with each new challenge I face. Alex taught me so much about the art of film and how I can become a vulnerable storyteller. Workshops with Deb, new experiences with Lucky, tips from Becky, sessions with Matt, and more, allowed me to shape and mold myself as an actor. Had I not received training here, I don't think I would be where I am today. Thank you, ATC.Tessa Beth

My daughter the L.A. Film Intensive Class with Deb Dion on 615-6/16 and loved it! It was her first class at ATC and she received such positive feedback from the class, and follow up notes via email to improve going forward as an actor. Many times as a parent, we do not hear the feedback and cannot reinforce the skills at home. I loved the direct feedback via email. She walked away from the class with real life experience and skills she could implement immediately. The entire process was positive both as a parent and for my child. I highly recommend ATC to anyone wanting to hone their acting skills!Patty Esslinger

ATC is a place of incredible opportunity on Chicago's North Shore. With a vast array of training experiences available – from beginner to pro and for young and old alike – ATC delivers everything you'd expect to find in a big city program. Highly skilled instructors seem to truly care about each student's experience. We have had a fabulous time at ATC and recommend them highly! Thank you ATC!Lisa Finks

FIVE OUT OF FIVE TEAM!!! I live in Florida and needed to set my career up for success. I contacted the Green Room saying I was interested in one of their small online showcases that would have Florida agents present. I completed this showcase and saw HUGE success! I signed with one the best agencies in Central Florida and immediately I began getting commercial gigs and lots of exposure. Due to the huge success I experienced, I wanted to attend the LA showcase and I did. The Hollywood showcase was done online and I trained with some amazing people, all of which are casting directors, actors, and industry professionals. These people were all very interactive and intensive on making sure I could perform on a high level. I completed the Hollywood showcase with an extremely positive result. I received callbacks from over 16 of LA’s TOP AGENTS AND MANAGERS! I then was able to meet and interview almost all of them before eventually signing with an agent in LA who represents hundreds of big names. I have only been signed with this agent for a week and have already gotten a voiceover audition for Nickelodeon! I am now in the process of signing with a manager in LA. I am so thankful to Gregory James and the GRAS team for helping me so much on my journey. I can never truly thank them enough. I really do appreciate everyone and I am so excited for the years ahead I will always turn to them if I need anything. I definitely 100% totally recommend them. They are by far the best people you can invest into and you will always be receiving a great response. You can be confident that they will always work for you. THANK YOU TO THE GREEN ROOM!!!Daniel Luke Curtiss

Super impressed with the entire Green Room Acting Studio team. First and foremost Greg is amazing he is all about supporting the talent and guiding them in the right direction. We are so glad our daughter is part of the Green Room Acting Studio, so far our experience has been nothing but positive. We are super impressed with the communication during this process. Our daughter did her headshots with Greg and David and WOW what an awesome job they did. Big shot out to Mrs. Diane who made sure my daughter look impeccable making sure her clothes and hair were perfect. Our daughter is taking some classes with Shaun and is totally worthy he is great with the kids but keeps it real with them. A good friend recommended Green Room now I will like to pay it forward by recommending them to all the talent out there looking for an honest and real studio that really care to push your career. Once again thank you Green Room Acting Studio. Greg you are the best!!!Maylenis Valcarcel

The evoking emotions class with Greg really helped to broaden my knowledge base on the changing emotions in a given scene. I left this class with a far more organized approach to breaking down my script. Greg is wonderful, any class he creates and teaches is likely to be great and super helpful. Greg offers tools to aid in understanding the emotions to apply to each section, memorizing lines, being able to record a self tape when you can’t rely on a reader to help you and will often give you tips to prepare for what the industry looks for in an actor. After finishing this class it’s a great idea to continue practicing using the new tools in one of the ongoing coaching classes. I have been to and plan to return to Mark Tillman-Briggle’s coaching class. He is absolutely wonderful!Rebecca Wilde

I recently moved to the Beaverdale area into a 100 year old home that needs a bit of love. I’ve been so impressed with the service, staff and product offering at Ace – not to mention it is extremely convenient having a hardware store in downtown Beaverdale. I have to mention that when I stop in, Brian is typically working and is always more than willing to help me with whatever project I am taking on. The service at Ace is really what makes this place 5/5 stars.Shelby Schaefer

I've had to come here to visit and once to pick up an order several times. In very impressed with the staff, the store itself, and how quickly they graciously served me. I was very happy with my experience.Clint

Perfect. Tom was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. All 3 staff I was in contact with were wonderfully friendly and helpful. Good job Ace!!!DONNA HOPKINS

We adopted Luke, knowing he didn't walk well on a leash (understatement!) and he didn't like other dogs. Dana taught us how to use a gentle leader on walks and the difference has been incredible! Another huge part of going on walks with Luke is being able to encounter other dogs and not lash out and perhaps provoke the other dog. We've only had 3 or 4 sessions with Dana, but Luke can walk by a barking dog and hardly cast a glance. We've worked on COME, SHAKE, DOWN and other commands. I cannot recommend Dana too highly. The knowledge she shares during conversations is so helpful. She is patient and has a great sense of humor.Mary Gillaspey

Dana is an excellent trainer. Our dog came to us as an older pup with major leash issues. Dana patiently worked through that with us and we are finally able to enjoy our walks. She does a wonderful job explaining why the dog reacts as she does and instructing me on how to alter that behavior. Her schedule is flexible and I really appreciate the fact that she has encouraged me to contact her between sessions if I have questions or concerns. It is very exciting to see how quickly my dog is responding to Dana’s training methods! I would give her 10 stars on a 1-5! BarbBarb Sherman

I highly recommend Dana and PupStart! In just a few sessions, she helped us figure out a personalized approach for training our dog and working through his specific anxieties and needs. By coming into our home, she was able to observe our dog Joey in his usual environment and gauge how he responds to strangers to help us make an action plan that we can remember and follow. We are smarter and better dog owners thanks to Dana's tips and years later, still are using what we were taught and feel it's the best money we've spent on our dog.Allie Smaha

I have been signed with The Peak Agency for a couple years now. Both Steve and Mary are highly professional individuals who know their way around the industry. Steve is very prompt and answers any questions/concerns you may have. The workshops the agency offers to their talent are highly informative and helpful. Do not hesitate in giving The Peak Agency a shot, you will not regret it. The Peak Agency is a great starting point to gain exposure and experience. For those concerned if you have to pay a "membership fee" that is not a thing at The Peak Agency. It's always a pleasure to work with Steve and those who I have been booked for.Anita

Great agency! I've worked in Chicago and Des Moines and the folks at Peak are very professional; I get all the information I need for auditions to be successful; I have recommended actors of all ages to Peak and never heard a discouraging word. I am an ensemble member of Iowa Stage Theater Company and have booked many commercial gigs through The Peak Agency. If you are looking for an agency in Iowa, I can't think of a better place to send your resume or reel for Steve's consideration, or a more legitimate place to be represented.Tom Geraty

Peak has represented 3 of my children for the past 12 years. We are so grateful for Peak because they have provided both education and modeling/acting jobs for my girls. Steve is wonderful about explaining things and offering suggestions when asked. My girls have grown with Peak, developed a great network, and outstanding resumes. They have worked in Chicago and LA too, but without Peak those other connections would have been unlikely. We are proud to be affiliated with Peak and strongly recommend the Peak Agency to others.Tracie Behr

A great time; entertaining, thoughtful and edgy! Leave the kids at home and go have a fun date night. The acting is great, the social club is very cool and there are plenty of places to go after the show. Des Moines is lucky to have StageWest.Dave Miglin

Got to see Next to Normal tonight, Kellie Kramer is astonishing! Des Moines has an amazingly vibrant local theater scene, Des Moines Playhouse, Des Moines Social Club and StageWest are all tops. Get your butt into a seat at the Stoner theater!Jeff Mathias

Iowa Stage Theatre Company performs in the Stoner Theatre in the Des Moines Performing Arts, AKA the Civic Center. Please subscribe to our Facebook page for information about our upcoming performances.Bonnie Hodson

I was at my wits end when I contacted Deb about working with one of my dogs; Sherman. Asking for help in training a dog wasn't easy, since I've been working with dogs professionally for 40 years. His barking was incessant, and no amount of corrections helped. Deb to the rescue! Deb patiently walked my husband and I through Bark Busters methodology, explaining each step clearly and concisely. We then began working with Sherman, and he and I both appeared surprised; it worked! Deb did explain that we would need to be extremely consistent, and that he would require firm, consistent guidance to obtain the best results. It's been approximately two months now, and all I can say is THANK YOU DEB! Sherman's barking is minimal now, and he continues to make forward strides. And as far as me; you can teach an old dog new tricks! An added bonus has been that he seems to be relieved he has the guidance he was looking for, and has become so much more affectionate! A Win-Win!DianeStille1

We have two pups that had some naughty tendencies and recently added a 3rd pup to the mix. We hired Deb as we had to start to get a handle on these behaviors as we were soon going to be outnumbered. Deb was fantastic. She came to the house, taught us a lot about how to better understand our dogs as well as many training exercises we could easily complete at home. It was great that these exercises weren't tremendously time consuming as we have 3 dogs to work with. It has just been a few weeks since Deb stopped by but already we have seen a reduction in barking, implemented tricks to help stimulate the dogs mentally, practiced walking on the leash and truly learning how to lead our dogs. I appreciate all Deb shared with us and her attention to detail. We have already seen a difference and I can't wait to see where the continued practice of these training exercises takes us. Highly recommend.Michelle Hemesath

Deb from Bark Busters totally changed my relationship with my dogs. I have two dogs, one is 4 years old hound mix and the other is 7 months old corgi mix. There has been some sibling rivalry, some aggressive behavior around feeding time (coming from the corgi towards the hound), and the typical barking, jumping, etc. I took a dog training course with the hound but when I tried training the corgi he wouldn't listen, just wanted the treat. Deb came to our home and totally flipped the script on how to handle my dogs. It's only been one week and we still have some work to do in certain areas but I noticed my dogs are a lot more relaxed and when your dog sitter texts you saying "Holy *beep*! What did you guys do? They didn't jump on me when I came into the house!" I find that a great success and the steps to the right direction! Thank you, Deb!Cory Wessels

I visited recently to see DMMO's productions of Candide and La Boheme and thought it was a very interesting space. The shows are very different, but they were able to create incredibly unique scenery for both shows. At one show I was closer to the front, and another show, I was near the back – and I feel like any seat in the space is a good one. I could hear clearly and see all of the action without any distraction. The staff was helpful and extremely polite, and the seats were also pretty comfortable. The only drawbacks I see are that there isn't a middle aisle for the seating, so if you are on one of the ends (like I was at one of the shows), you'll have to wait for the entire row to show up before sitting… or be content with the stand & shimmy for everyone to get by. Also, parking is a bit of a mess, but get there early and there shouldn't be any problem.Nik Pugmire

It was a great opportunity for my granddaughter and loved the energy of the band director. I haven't heard or seen that energy in a music director since my daughters were in band when we lived in Iowa.Theresa G

A beautiful performing arts space to see Des Moines Metro Opera. The stage is really unique with the pit right in the center. A great way to see theatreBen Ross

BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!! Try anywhere else first, then try the internet before doing business here. The new owner, Jim, is completely incompetent. It's unfortunate that such a great business was sold to such a hapless individual. Greg and Andy are great and regularly point out how pathetic he is but Jim really makes it not worth doing business with Audio Labs. It's a sad situation. Edit: You were my first point of contact and had no idea what you were talking about so Greg and Andy had to compensate for your complete lack of knowledge. I ended up not purchasing anything, since the other guys don't get commissions anyways. Nice try at saving face though.Steve Fraun

I have recommended Audio Labs to lots of family and friends. I tell them to let someone there know what they are wanting to do and how much they want to spend. They always leave happy. They aren't pushed into buying things they don't need and are always offered ways to obtain service on purchases. If anyone out there is looking for great sound its great to check it out. Of course, my favorite room in the place is the home theater. I think a lot of people might miss it, but well worth the look to get some ideas of what is possible. The guys there seem to be able to make things happen and make sure they work and keep on working.John Ruggieri

I have been a customer at Audio Labs since the 1970's and have always found them to have excellent products and outstanding customer service. Multiple times I have received the advice to NOT buy a given product because it would not achieve my stated goal of upgrading my systems. I have never had this experience at any other retailer and certainly not at a big box store. Their attitude has always been to keep me as a customer for the long term and not simply get the quick sale. Keep up the great work, gentlemen!David Elliott

I have three older model cars that spend way too much time in repair shops, so I’ve worked with a lot of different mechanics and shops. Mike and his staff at this AAMCO are the best mechanics I have encountered in a long time. Not only is the work excellent and thorough, Mike helped us figure out the best and most economical solution. My son was driving across Iowa on his way to a new job in Utah when the transmission blew out. All the other shops we called gave standard answers (“it takes 3 to 4 days”) and prices, even after we asked if there was any way to get it done quicker. Mike understood immediately what we needed, and offered to get to work on it as soon as the car arrived. They worked nonstop until it was done (in one day), found other problems that needed to be fixed, and road tested it before handing it over to my son who immediately hit the road for the 16 hour drive. The car worked beautifully. I can’t say enough great things about this shop. They’re honest, hard-working, smart and thorough. They understand cars and treat their customers as they themselves would want to be treated. We feel fortunate to have found them.Kathryn Kost

BF took his truck in cause the reverse was out of it. Other than that it ran perfect. Dropped it off on a Fri, was told it would take till wed.On we'd never received a phone call , nothing. On Thurs. BF called and was told they were replacing the torque converter and they used one that they had in shop. Never called to ask if that was ok . They said a couple hours it would take. Fri comes around still no call so BF called them and they said an hour or so. Fri afternoon came around and get a call they were done.went and got it and aamco employee got rude when we wanted to use a coupon one of their coupons for $100 off., But he did take it.its now 3 days after we got it and tomorrow morning it's going back in. There's no acceleration, it's making a whining noise and hesitation at stops , and feels like it's ready to die at stops. All problems that were not there when we took it in. It ran perfect before just no reverse.Kristi Doss

Tim and the workers at AAMCO are the most caring individuals who helped me out tremendously! I was making a long trip and my car ended up breaking down in Des Moines Iowa; Tim was quick to help out and even made sure I was able to get to the shop safely. They made reasonable and fair offers for the payment to cover the fixes; they did not push on any extra fixes like some shops like to do which I really appreciate. Unfortunately my car ended up having another part breaking (13 year old car, was not a shock that its time for driving was over) and Tim communicated very well on what happened and was helpful on what were reasonable steps moving forward. Overall, I am so thankful that I went to AAMCO and highly recommend everyone to go! If you want to receive genuine, kind, quick communication, respectful payment offers, and caring services, AAMCO is your place!Jamie Schacht

I've been a patron of the Des Moines Symphony and the Broadway series at the Civic Center for over 20 years, but until I attended It's a Wonderful Life, the Radio Play, at the Stoner (black box) Theatre, I had never seen a production in the Stoner. The staging was exceptional, as evidenced by the photo and the production was absolutely delightful!Lila S

I've both performed and attended shows here. It's a pretty small and sterile theater – a venue with a very formal vibe. There's not a ton of seating, but stage visibility is good from pretty much every seat. Sound quality is also very good. Great for seeing plays – less ideal for comedy shows.Justin Norman

Across from the Federal building on one side and the Cowles Commons place on the other , on 3rd St and Walnut St. For Symphony orchestra concerts, shows like Aladdin and much more this is your place to go.DODJI ANANI

Place an order for curbside pickup went to pick up the items called and told him I was there and 45 minutes later I called back and they proceeded to tell me that my order was canceled but my account had already been charged so now I wasted an hour of my day and I don't know when the money will be back in my account and no one there was willing to handle the situation in a professional manner or even offered some kind of compensation for my horrible experience! Not too happyDrea Linn

I love how friendly and helpful everyone is here. They know a lot! Special shout-out to employee Nick who helped me today with a super annoying issue that I had been trying to fix for 2 days. I had the right equipment for the job but couldn't get the dang thing to work, so he just came right out to my car and fixed it then and there. Only took him 15 min but made a WORLD of difference to me. Thank you! You've earned a loyal customer for sure.Kaylee Prunty

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! I go to my local hardware store for advice….great prices….friendly help and a WIDE variety of items to meet your needs. I'm a bargain shopper and their rewards program sends me $5-$10 about every 3rd month! That's really great on top of already decent and competitive prices. So much closer than a big box store and I love their advice. Always someone to greet you at the door to help you find ANYTHING!!!!Sue Sundal