The Civic Center building is also home to the 200-seat Stoner Theater, used for smaller theatrical shows and lectures, located on street level.

A group of community leaders attempted to pass a referendum to construct a theater in 1974, but, needing 60% approval, it received only 54% and failed.

[2] After the narrow defeat, Des Moines business leaders decided to form a privately held, not-for-profit corporation to build and run a performing arts facility.

The city's largest fundraising effort at the time raised $9.3 million to build the Civic Center in fewer than 90 days.

In 1997, a staging of The Phantom of the Opera welcomed more than 100,000 visitors during a five-week run, proving to many that Des Moines could support bigger shows.