The traditional holiday concert by the terrific trio, Damon, Dave and Ryan, is looked forward to each year. Proof of that is at the Pearson Lakes Center Box Office where Saturday night’s show sold out over two weeks in advance. Lakes Region native Damon Dotson lives in Des Moines. ...

When I stepped into Pomerantz Hall at the Pearson Lakes Art Center last Tuesday night, I did not know what to expect. Two couples I know had heard him on their southern winter travels and persuaded him to come to Okoboji to do a show. I respect their knowledge of music and good performance, but that was the extent of my knowledge going in...

Dave Rowley & Friends made their annual visit to the Pearson Lakes Art Center and really rocked the place. This group of musicians are good friends and they love to entertain. In addition to Rowley on guitar, harmonica, penny whistle and vocals, his friends include Ryan Sather of Okoboji on piano and vocals, Perry Pearson of Okoboji on guitar and vocals, Brent Wallin of Sioux Falls, South Dakota on bass and vocals, Carlis Faurot of Cedar Rapids on violin and vocals and Carley Wells of on drums. ...

Rollie Jensen of The Expressions played Rock the Roof last year and will drum again this Thursday night on the same stage. (Photo provided by Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association)...

She came (for the 62nd consecutive summer) and she was magnificent! Marilyn Maye, a cabaret and Broadway performer, turned 90 years of age in April. She wanted to celebrate her landmark birthday in Okoboji but her usual performance venue (The Inn of Okoboji) was torn down this spring. The staff at the Pearson Lakes Art Center asked her to do her annual gig in their Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre and she agreed. Two shows on Aug. 14 and 15 were sold out weeks in advance...

The curtain has lowered on the 61st season at Okoboji Summer Theatre. What a season it was! Nine shows in nine weeks is unheard of at any other summer stock or playhouse in the entire country. I had the privilege of interviewing all the guest directors who came from all over the United States to director and/or choreograph productions here at OST. ...

OST review - Throughly Modern Millie Spectacular costumes, fantastic dance routines and beautiful voices make "Throughly Modern Millie" a must see for everyone...

For approximately 15 years, The Best of Second City has spent one summer evening entertaining us at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. Signe Kim Lauridsen-Jones has consistently brought the comedy troupe from Chicago to make us laugh, mostly at life and some at ourselves. Each year a group of comedians enter the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre stage to frolic, make jokes and pantomime their way into our funny bones...

"Over the River and Through the Woods" is a happy song, usually sung around the Thanksgiving and Yuletide holiday season...

The third of four musical productions this summer at Okoboji Summer Theatre was a truly remarkable evening of entertainment...

"Not Now, Darling" is a comedy of errors and infidelity that had us laughing from the beginning through the final curtain...

Hotel California travels the world performing tribute shows to The Eagles. They returned to the Lakes Area last week Wednesday to soak up some Okoboji hospitality and do a pair of shows at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. They have played here before and were a hit...

For director Gail Humphries-Mardirosian, the classic play "The Miracle Worker" at Okoboji Summer Theatre is not about miracles but about awakenings...

The musical “Annie” is a classic but one that has never been performed by the Okoboji Summer Theatre until now. It was well worth the wait! The music, performers, set and costumes were top rate. It was a wonderful evening of live theatre...

Director/choreographer Bernard Monroe checks over his large script and notes in rehearsal hall while preparing a large cast to perform "Annie" at Okoboji Summer Theatre this week. (Photo by Doris Welle)...

OST REVIEW: 'I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES' How do you relate to a 19-year-old daughter you haven't seen in 16 years? How do you jump start a sagging career? How do you handle a relationship with a beautiful 30-year-old? These major life crosses confront Herb Tucker in "I Ought to Be in Pictures."...

How can a road trip from Winterset to Mount Union end up in Kansas? In "Leaving Iowa" the trip takes a long, winding journey through past memories of family car trips and sometimes disastrous vacations, all in an effort to allow Don Browning to deposit his father's ashes in an appropriate location...

We don't realize how many amazingly talented musicians we have here in the Iowa Great Lakes Region until we attend one of the seasonal Open Jams. The Pomerantz Hall at the Pearson Lakes Art Center was the perfect venue for musicians to showcase their talents to an appreciative audience while making new friendships with other instrumentalists and vocal virtuosos...

"Godspell" brought the life of Jesus into the 21st century in a colorful, upbeat way. Okoboji Summer Theatre started its 2018 season with a popular musical written nearly 50 years ago by Stephen Schwartz...

Music lovers entered the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre Thursday night to experience a musical unlike anything we have experienced here in northwest Iowa before. "Broadway's Next Hit Musical" was a story that unfolded as we went along. Entering the lobby, each audience member was asked if they would like to fill out a slip of paper. You could enter a thought or subject along with your name and put your entry into a large glass bowl...