Brittny Rebhuhn and Benjamin Sheridan mix it up in Shakespeare’s classic mix-up. Photo: Duane Tinkey.
Double trouble
So these two sets of identical twins walk into a play … and it’s called “The Comedy of Errors.” This year’s Shakespeare on the Lawn production, July 16-20 at Salisbury House and Gardens, is the Bard’s shortest and possibly funniest play, with all the mistaken identities and slapstick chaos you’d expect from a story featuring two men named Dromio and another two named Antipholus. (Plural: Antipholi?) The shenanigans are co-produced by Salisbury House and the Iowa Stage Theatre Company. shakespeareonthelawn.com
Bright idea
A tradition that started more than a thousand years ago in India has drifted here: The Water Lantern Festival is set for July 19 at Riverview Park. With a ticket, festival participants can pick up a kit to decorate and assemble a simple lantern made from rice paper and wood and then set it afloat on the little lake as the evening fades into night. Afterward, the festival team will collect the lanterns, reuse or recycle their LED candles, and donate a portion of the event proceeds to Water.org, a global nonprofit Matt Damon and Gary White founded to help people living in poverty get access to clean water. waterlanternfestival.com
Golden (medal) age
During the National Senior Games, July 24 through Aug. 4, more than 10,000 seasoned athletes (ages 50 and up) and their raucous fans (of all ages) will take over the city for competitions in 20 individual and team sports — everything from shuffleboard and bowling to powerlifting and pole vault. The games take place every other year and were last hosted by Pittsburgh, where Catch Des Moines President and CEO Greg Edwards participated in the traditional torch-passing ceremony. nsga.com
Photo: National Senior Games/Brit Huckabay
Forward march
The musical “Parade” draws from a dark chapter of American history to tell the true story of Leo Frank (Max Chernin), a Jewish factory manager who is framed for an appalling crime in Georgia in 1913. As anti-Semitism and a media frenzy swirl around the trial, his wife, Lucille (Talia Suskauer), fights to prove his innocence and uphold the truth. This summer the show’s 2023 Tony-winning revival will visit the Des Moines Civic Center for a run from July 29 through Aug. 3. dmpa.org
Photo: Joan Marcus
Mr. Worldwide
This is for everybody going through tough times: The Grammy-winning international sensation Pitbull is coming to the Iowa State Fair. Born in Miami, the Cuban-American rap and hip-hop artist conquered the late aughts and 2010s with catchy chart-toppers like “Fireball,” “Hotel Room Service” and “Timber.” He’s also the proud owner of a trademarked sound, one of fewer than 40 who qualify for copyright protection from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. So mark your calendar: Pitbull brings his “EEEEEEEYOOOOOO”™ yell to the grandstand on Aug. 10. iowastatefair.org
Photo: Courtesy of the Iowa State Fair
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