The ghost of artist Ding Darling will be paying the lake named after him a visit tomorrow in a special performance by actor Tom Milligan called “A Conversation with Ding.” With help from a grant from Humanities Iowa, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources commissioned the performance, which has been shown at the Iowa State Fair and a statewide DNR meeting before coming to Lake Darling. Jim Dickinson, the President of the Friends of Lake Darling, is complimentary of Milligan’s portrayal, saying, “I’m really excited about it. I did get to see it at the state fair, and it’s just phenomenal. You’re sitting in the audience, and you actually believe you’re talking to Ding Darling.”

The performance will focus on the entire life of Darling, including his childhood, his work at the Des Moines Register, and the substantial work he did for conservation in the country. The piece is both written and performed by Milligan, who primarily works with the Old Creamery Theater in Amana. The event runs Sunday from 1:30-6 p.m. at the Lake Darling lodge, and each performance is one hour long. The show is sponsored by the Friends of Lake Darling, Iowa DNR, and Humanities Iowa, and is free to the public.