Iowan brings "Wicked" home to Des Moines
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The North American "Wicked" touring cast. Photo: Joan Marcus, courtesy of Des Moines Performing Arts
"Wicked" company manager Steve Quinn already has plans for the cast as they launch shows in Des Moines, including a visit to the Downtown Farmers' Market and a High Trestle Trail bike ride.
Driving the news: The show will be at the Civic Center for three weeks starting Wednesday, and Quinn, a native Iowan, is returning home with them.
- We chatted with Quinn about his 20-plus years of working on the show and in theater.
🦷 How it works: As company manager, Quinn handles operations and logistics for the 65 people on tour, plus 30 local stagehands who will join.
- He arranges everything from housing to dentist appointments to gym visits and entertainment, so the cast and crew can remain focused on the show.
🌽 How it started: Born in Des Moines and raised in Cedar Rapids, Quinn got his bachelor's from the University of Iowa and studied theater administration at American University in Washington, D.C.
- Quinn, who grew up detasseling, says he got hooked on theater after his sister took him to watch "West Side Story" at Regis High School in Cedar Rapids. His parents were from Winthrop and Williamsburg.
- "Both were raised on farms, and so no one is really quite sure how the theater bug got into our family," he joked.
⏳ What's changed "for good": After the first "Wicked" movie was released in 2024, some people in the audience of the touring show would leave after the first act because they didn't want the film's sequel to be spoiled for them. (Which was "crazy," Quinn said.)
- Now that both films have been released, the biggest change he's seen is a younger audience coming out to watch "Wicked," he says. Kids are coming and wearing Glinda and Elphaba costumes and sporting green face paint.
🎭 Advice for young Iowans pursuing theater: "Get your foot in the door," he says.
- He recommends messaging people and asking to shadow or help load a show in and out.
What they're saying: "I'm just upset we just missed the state fair," Quinn said. "It's what puts Iowa on the map, aside from Caitlin Clark."
If you go: "Wicked" runs at the Civic Center from Sept. 2-20.