"The elements be kind to thee, and make thy spirits all of comfort: 

fare thee well !" Ant & Cleo, Act iii, Sc.2

 

 

Re RAIN or COLD or WINDY WEATHER or FLOODS

for Shakesperience Festival 

(Note: We go up in all hot weather! Yes – no matter how hot, because it will be cool cool cool along the River when the sun goes down!)

2010 Information

 

SPECIFIC WEATHER PLAN INFORMATION

 

WEATHER: Watch the space within the green Weather Box just below to learn of any specific Rain plans as weather occurs. 

FLOODS: The green Weather Box will also update you as to plans if upon occaision, the Amphitheater floods.  No worries if the Amphitheater and the river have become close friends- the Amphitheater was specifically designed as a flood control mechanism and our alternative outdoor location is as nifty as is the Amphitheater! Typically when the Amphitheater floods but the weather is nice, we are on the scenic Locust street bridge - where we have a stunning view of the State Capital as our backdrop!  The only difference between our alternative outdoor location and the Amphitheater is that there is less grass to sit on - you may wish to bring lawn chairs instead of blankets!

(For general planning for weather, see important information below.)

 

WEATHER BOX:  UPDATED MONDAY JULY 19

INFORMATION ABOUT IF WE ARE MOVING INDOORS

(0r to alternative outdoor space)

THIS GREEN BOX IS USED TO CONVEY WHEN WE KNOW IN ADVANCE THAT WE WILL MOVE A SHOW DUE TO WEATHER.

RAIN CONCERNS:

THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS.  BUT RARELY WILL WE MAKE A DECISION TO MOVE A SHOW INDOORS BEFORE 3PM ON ANY GIVEN DAY.  USUALLY WE MAKE THE DECISION TO MOVE A SHOW INDOORS BETWEEN ABOUT 3PM AND 5:30 PM ON THE DAY OF THE SHOW.  So, usually, the best time to double check this page is between 3:oo and 5:oo pm on the day of a show. 

ONCE WE KNOW WE WILL CALL A SHOW INSIDE FOR WEATHER, THE INFORMATION THAT A SHOW WILL MOVE TO OUR INDOOR VENUE WILL BE LOCATED INSIDE THIS BOX! 

If this box does NOT indicate a show has been called for weather but you have weather worries, check for weather messages at 515 274 8989 AND follow the remaining directions on this page. 

If this bos DOES indicate a show will move indoors, follow the directions on this page to the Indoor Show location. Indoor shows and concerts start about 15 minutes later than our outdoor shows. Be sure to bring lawn chairs and you are welcome to also bring your picnics and wine!

ALSO CONSIDER ATTENDING OUR "RAIN DATE" SHOW AT SIMON ESTES ON JULY 20!

FLOOD CONCERNS:

We will likely know 24 hours in advance if we will move to our alternative location due to the occaisional routine Amphitheatre flooding.  In all liklihood, our alternative location is immediately adjacent to the Amphitheatre directly on one of Des Moines' beautiful historic bridges.  No worries- the show will go on in the style the ISE accustoms yuo to!

TODAYS DATE and Time of Update:  MONDAY, JULY 19 10:45 am:

DUE TO A RE-FLOODING OF THE AMPHITHEATHER IN COMBINATION WITH A POOR WEATHER PROGNOSIS, WE ARE CALLING TONIGHT'S SHOW TO OUR INDOOR LOCATION AT 519 PARK STREET!  Since we are calling the show indoors early in the day, the show will start on time at 8:15 pm, with pre-show activities as scheduled. For MUCH more information and directions, see the rest of this page.  Remember to bring lawn chairs and picnics! 

SPECIAL NOTE:  While normally we offer an additional continued floods of 2010, we will be unable to hold our additional outdoor show originally scheduled for Tuesday, July 20.  Our July 20 show is cancelled and our July 19 show will regretably be the final show of the 2010 season. 

 

 

(Date and times of Updates will only be filled in when weather concerns are active)

 

DIRECTIONS IF A SHOW IS CALLED FOR WEATHER::  

Once THIS webpage OR the 515 274 8989 message machine has confirmed that a show must be moved indoors, mosey on over to the 2010 Rain Location: the Scottish Rite Consistory Building (also called the Masonic Center) at 519 Park Street. Note that this is a different building than the building near Centro Restaurant and Starbucks that is known as the Masonic Temple.  

HOW TO LOCATE OUR RAIN SITE: This 2010 Rain Location is on the West side of the River (the opposite side of the river from the outdoor Amphitheater).  Directions: Go to 519 Park Street as noted above. To find this address, head to the immediate north of central downtown Des Moines -off 6th Avenue. The building is a 6 story white stone building between 6th and 5th Avenues. Park Street is a short street just south of Center Street and north of Watson Powell Jr. Way.)  

Note that the building contains some  flights of stair steps, although there is an interior elevator that covers MOST steps.  Note that this is a different building than the building near Centro Restaurant and Starbucks that is known as the Masonic Temple. 

SPECIAL NOTE:  Don’t rush.  In most cases when we move indoors for rain, we will hold the curtain for an extra 15-30 minutes to allow everyone to find us and settle in comfortably!

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT RAIN OUT:

If we have a rain out, our 2010 outdoor extra rain date will be Tuesday, July 20 at Simon Estes Amphitheater.  So, you will still be able to catch a show under the stars. 

But, if we have a rain out, we will ALSO still have the show that same night!  AND you CAN (and should) still bring picnics and lawn chairs and blankets, as we will not be in a traditional theatre.  Instead, we will have a romantic “indoor picnic” location as described below.  NOTE:  You SHOULD bring lawn chairs to the indoor shows as traditional seating may be very limited!

Our 2010 rain location is the fabulous “Secret Castle” Tapestry Ballroom at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in downtown Des Moines.   With its elegant Abusson tapestries and huge stone fireplaces, this is one of the most perfect indoor locations for Shakespeare you will ever see- it is an amazing location and we will have a GREAT time!

  •  We get very excited about our rain location.  Because at this great location, even if it rains, you will enjoy terrific FREE theatre in a simply smashing venue!  In fact, it is hard to imagine a more perfect setting for a Shakespeare play than the “Secret Castle” room!  With its huge stone fireplaces, Renaissance tapestries, and terrific atmosphere, this a great romantic place to be in a thunderstorm!  Plus, you may still bring picnics and wine!  There will be plenty of room to spread out with picnics, lawn chairs and blankets- an “indoor picnic” if you will!  So continue to bring your comfy chairs and goodies (and we will have a limited selection of regular chairs –dinner theatre style- too!) 
  •  See the directions to our Rain Out Location, above. 

 

ADDITIONAL GENERAL WEATHER INFORMATION:

  •  Regarding weather and the Shakesperience Festival, reading the section on “weird weather” on our FAQs page is always the place to start. Really! Go there right now and read it! 
  • This page is used to convey rain plans for a specific date or for a specific series of show dates when it is very clear a show will rain out. And sometimes when it is truly unseasonably cold –or just impossibly windy. 
  • Weather in Iowa moves fast. We are likely to be able to update our phone line sooner than this webpage. If this page does NOT contain weather information plans for a specific date, and you are concerned about weather, please try calling 515 274 8989. If there is a major weather concern, the message line will have the most current information on weather. 
  • If there is no specific rain information on the phone message or on this page, assume the show is ON! Bring an umbrella as we will continue during sprinkles or a light rain - bring a jacket and especially a ground-cloth if it is cool and damp.

 

  • If weather worsens, or on occasions when the weather takes us so much by surprise that we can’t get on top of our messages (this is Iowa, after all!) we will try to have informational signage at the Amphitheater if necessary. Bur for sudden squalls, in the event we end up moving from the Amphitheatre with little notice and in a situation where we are unable to provide signage, if you find the Amphitheater vacated, simply go to the Rain location instead.  

 

  • SPECIAL HOT WEATHER NOTE: if it is hot hot hot hot, we will still go up because along the river, we will likely soon be cool cool cool cool once the sun goes down.  But especially in super-hot weather, be sure to bring a sun-umbrella for early picnics - all umbrellas will be lowered when the show starts, which is just about at sundown. 

 

BASIC ISE WEATHER POLICIES: 

Remember: we do our best to help “the show go on!” despite the changeable Iowa weather- but we can only do our best.  Please understand that it can be hectic before a show, and we can’t always communicate with you as quickly as we’d like.

But our weather policies are very generous-

if you have complimentary VIP seating courtesy of our Festival, you can always come back any other night of the run and we will still honor your pass on a space available basis- or if worse comes to worse, we will always honor it next year.

Also, if you purchased VIP seating area, Cabaret, or Tent tickets through MidwesTix, you are entltled to a full refund of the ticket price (less any fees paid to MidwesTix) for any shows called for rain before 9pm.  See the MidwesTix website for more information.  

Special events like our VIP night or our Young Professionals party will also be held in our Rain out location if at all possible.  However, if we are unable to move these events, your ticket or pass will be honored next year or you can arrange for a refund- contact us to discuss options.