Les Miserables at Des Moines Civic Center

Let’s be frank: LES MISÉRABLES is a towering, powerful theatrical experience.

It’s storytelling that functions on a hard-hitting, visceral level, addressing themes of love, sacrifice, mercy, and redemption. It’s exquisite music - from orchestra down to the very last voice - and soaring melodies that you’ll remember long after the curtain has fallen; it’s unmissable musical production that will engulf you, stun you, and have you in the palm of its hand since the first notes fill the air.

An iconic story

Following the journey of French peasant Jean Valjean from despair to redemption, Victor Hugo’s iconic 1862 novel inspired writers Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg, and Jean-Marc Natel to create a unique theatre piece imbued with tenderness and warmth. Victor Hugo’s iconic 1862 tale about French peasant Jean Valjean’s journey from desperation, his redemption following an enormous act of mercy, love, and revolution made for the perfect premise for a theatrical masterpiece - and that is exactly what writers Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, alongside composer Claude-Michel Schönberg {had in mind for their celebrated sung-through musical|were hoping for - something wonderful to create absolute theatrical magic with. The result was so much greater than they ever could have anticipated - not only did LES MISÉRABLES, since its English-version premiere in the West End in 1985, become the longest-running musical in the West End and the second-longest running musical on Broadway, but has been seen live on stage by over 130 million people around the world, in 22 different languages.

LES MISÉRABLES has been described as “an enormous, gorgeous bleeding heart” with every single production thereof a marvellous nod to the original. It is imbued with authenticity, gravitas, and sincerity, featuring soaring melodies that land like gifts among the stars, lyrics that stir and soothe at the same time, visuals that leave a lasting impact, music that oozes passion and operatic intensity, themes that move, and fantastic embodiment that capture the heart narrative flawlessly.

On top of that, you’ll hear Claude-Michel Schönberg’s incredible music performed in a breathtaking manner - from ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ and ‘Castle On A Cloud’ to ‘Stars’ and ‘On My Own’, from ‘Bring Him Home’ and ‘Empty Chairs At Empty Tables’ to ‘One Day More’ and ‘Do You Hear The People Sing?’ - something you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Tickets and more info

If you are looking for an evening to remember at the theatre, look no further - the Des Moines Civic Center has everything you could want and then some!

With its lengthy history of hosting the best in entertainment, world-renowned acts, and Broadway,, the Des Moines Civic Center is hailed as the place to be. Featuring to-the-minute sound and lighting, pin-drop acoustics, wonderful amenities, ample parking, and plenty of luxurious seats spread across multiple levels ensuring those crystal-clear sight-lines, there is no such thing as a bad seat at the Des Moines Civic Center!

So hurry - get your tickets and get in on experiencing one of the world’s greatest musicals live, on stage!