Kim Haymes stars in “Squeamish,” opening later this month. (Photo illustration: Nick Strickland)
By John Busbee
When the new About Time Theatre Company raises its curtain for the first time later this month, it may raise a few eyebrows, too. The group plans to present bold programming in bare bones productions that are both provocative and entertaining.
The company presents its first show, “Squeamish,” May 30 through June 7 at the Haunt speakeasy at 500 Locust St. The one-woman show by Aaron Mark centers on a New York therapist, a recovering alcoholic with a fear of blood, who finds herself in a desperate situation in Texas.
It’s a psychological thriller that fits the new company’s mission to produce “innovative and socially relevant theater that reflects the rich tapestry of experiences within our community.”
To the show’s star, Kim Haymes, the mission means “more interactive theater, immersive theater, and things that aren’t happening in Des Moines.” She used to live and perform in Chicago, where she said people take more creative risks and the approach is: “Don’t be worried, don’t be discouraged, just do the art. Maybe it doesn’t appeal to everybody, but that’s OK.”
About Time formed in 2022, when Haymes and six other seasoned actors began forming a vision for the new group even while live theater was still struggling to recover after the pandemic. Most of the group’s members — Haymes and her husband, Dan, with Maggie Jane, Michael LaDell Harris, Marnie Strait, Nick Strickland and Josh Visnapuu — were Des Moines transplants with stage and screen experience in bigger cities, including New York and Seattle. Over the past decade here in Des Moines, they’ve performed with various local theater companies and have collectively racked up a dozen Cloris Awards and nominations.
All of the members are also parents, with children aged 6 and under. So they’ve changed their process to allow for flexibility about where and when to rehearse.
LaDell Harris, who is directing the company’s debut, said, “No theater company in town is going to be doing this play, especially in the location we’re doing it.”
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