Hoyt Sherman Place Theater Celebrates 100 Years

(Des Moines, IA) -- Hoyt Sherman Place Theater celebrated its 100th anniversary on Saturday with a special concert by six-time Grammy Award-winning artist Dionne Warwick.

Warwick performed many of her signature hits, including a special duet version of "I Say a Little Prayer," with her son and drummer, David.

The evening was concluded with a celebratory cake and champagne social hour.

Hoyt Sherman's 1877 mansion was first used by the the Des Moines Women's Club in 1907, three years after the Des Moines pioneer's death. Fifteen years later, the club commissioned the building of the attached theater. It opened on January 21st, 1923, hosting a play called, "The Book of Job."

Hoyt Sherman Place saw an additional expansion just three years ago. CEO Robert Warren says it didn't take long to figure out more space was needed. "After two years of having capacity crowds and 80 headliners, then the need for the back spaces in larger shows came to fruition," Warren said. The addition received it's certificate of occupancy just days before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Warren says after an 18-month break, they reopened with Jazz in July and have slowly built back up. Hoyt Sherman's goal for this season is to host 100 stars to coincide with the theater's 100th anniversary. So far, Warren says they're at 87.


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