October 12, 2025
I might have mentioned this before, but Facebook’s targeted market sure knows me.
Before our trip to Cabo, I’d spied an ad for Evil Dead In Concert, a showing of my favorite movie with a small orchestra performing the score live on stage.
There was NO way I was going to pass this up!
A week after our return from Mexico, I made my way up to Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines for the event.
Hoyt Sherman Place in and of itself is a bit of a destination. Hoyt Sherman was a banker and politician, serving in the Iowa House of Representatives in 1866. In 1877, he built a mansion in Des Moines that served as his residence until his death in 1904. In 1907, the park board bought the mansion and an adjoining 3 acres, turning the property into a museum and later a performing arts center.
I had, of course, purchased the VIP package that came with a small assortment of little goodies, including a tote, a VIP laminate on a lanyard, a commemorative ticket, and a poster signed by the musicians.
I waited a brief moment before the doors opened and we were allowed in to find our seats. Once I’d found my seat, I made my way up a set of stairs and found a merch booth where I purchased a t-shirt and a pin then to the bar where I got myself a beer.
I headed back to my seat and waited for the show to start. Soon, one of the musicians came on stage to introduce the rest of the ensemble and explained what to expect during the experience, then the movie started in short order.
Sure enough, exactly as I explained it here is exactly what we got- the movie in it’s 1981 3:4 aspect ratio glory with the five piece ensemble performing the score live on stage in front of the screen. There were two light stands flanking the group shining ambient lighting in colors that matched the mood of the film at any given time, changing from blues to reds to greens, depending on what was happening in the movie.
I only took a few pictures on this adventure, which are, as always, in the Photo Diary, but I don’t think I have to tell you what a memorable experience this was for me!
I would absolutely love to see other movies shown in such a fashion. I’m not too sure how to find out about more, but hopefully Facebook can point me in the right direction.
In the meantime, stay tuned for my next post which marks a return to Hoyt Sherman Place for another Blue October concert… sans Brandy… (!)
Until then!
-Phil