The first national tour of Broadway’s 2011 Tony-winning Best Play is charging toward the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for eight performances Tuesday to Dec. 16.

Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 best-selling book inspired the play, which opened in London in 2007, and in turn, inspired Steven Spielberg’s 2011 film.

It’s the story of young Albert, who receives a foal from his father. Albert raises the horse he names Joey. They develop such a strong bond that when Joey is sold to toil for the arduous World War I effort, Albert sets out to find his beloved friend and bring him home.

Dec. 11 to 16; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1:00 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday

http://www.civiccenter.org/