Performing Arts at Iowa is heading into a busy season of musicals, lectures, concerts, recitals, and more.

Every branch of Performing Arts at Iowa — Hancher Auditorium, School of Music, Department of Dance, and Department of Theatre Arts — hosts a myriad of exciting exhibitions for audiences to witness in this 2024-25 schedule.

“In my role at Hancher, I’m thinking about what we should bring to enliven the campus and the community to further cement our position as a place where exceptional artists can come to do great work,” Programming and Engagement Director of Hancher Auditorium Aaron Greenwald said.

Greenwald invites Iowa City students and residents to come out and support Hancher by attending as many of its free events as possible.

One such event is a musical residency from conductor, author, and percussionist Steven Schick. 

“Schick is doing a musical piece that is going to take place in City Park, free to the public,” Greenwald said. “The piece is performed by 99 percussionists spread out over almost all of City Park. There’s no wrong place to hear the music from.” 

Among the other highlights of Hancher’s season is a lecture from former acting solicitor general of the U.S. and Georgetown law professor Neal Katyal. His lecture on Sept. 10 is a part of the University of Iowa’s Fall 2024 Levitt Lecture series. 

Greenwald also cites the 2024 Infinite Dream Festival as vital to Hancher’s latest lineup. Running from Sept. 24-28, the festival will explore what it means to be American. 

“The festival allows the community to participate in a conversation with world-class artists. It surrounds an ever-present question in our country,” Greenwald said. 

Hancher’s previously announced Broadway series fills out the rest of the auditorium’s calendar along with concerts and orchestras. Programming extends beyond the main auditorium, though. Club Hancher sets a roster of comedians and poets, promising a more intimate performance in the smaller space. 

The Department of Dance’s season starts with a dance gala titled “Agile,” featuring several performances throughout October followed by a collaboration with the International Writing Program and several thesis, graduate, and undergraduate performances. 

The School of Music takes the stage at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts in November and April for concerts featuring music from Mozart and more. 

Finally, the Department of Theatre Arts brings a “Marie Antoinette” production to the David Thayer Theatre starting Oct. 11, multiple plays within the Iowa Director’s Festival throughout February, and more. 

“One of the really great things about the Iowa City community is that Hancher is a big part of a lot of people’s lives,” Greenwald said, “I’m beyond grateful to be working in a place where the performing arts are important.”