New Mission Creek dates and Refocus Film Festival to share September weekend
Josie Fischels and Madison Lotenschtein
April 4, 2020
Downtown Iowa City will once again be bursting with artistic life this fall with the rescheduled 2020 Mission Creek Festival and FilmScene’s newly launched Refocus Film Festival. Both events will share the same weekend in September, according to a joint press release by John Schickedanz, the...
Mission Creek Underground showcases filmed performances during COVID-19 pandemic
Megan Conroy, Arts Reporter
April 2, 2020
Today would have been the third day of the 15th anniversary Mission Creek Festival. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was postponed on March 12, but the Englert Theater staff didn’t leave it at that — instead organizing a virtual mini-festival to hold the community over until the reschedu...
Des Moines cancels 80/35 Music Festival
Josie Fischels, Arts Editor
March 30, 2020
The 2020 80/35 Music Festival at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines has been canceled due to the spread of COVID-19. 80/35 was scheduled for July 10 and 11. The 2020 lineup had yet to be announced. According to a statement posted on the 80/35 website on Monday afternoon, “It’s with a sad song in ...
Iowa City resident hosts virtual talent show for LGBTQ performing artists
Josie Fischels, Arts Editor
March 26, 2020
By means of a livestream on Instagram Wednesday evening, six performers showcased their talent virtually for the first round of “Gays Got Talent: a Virtual Talent Show for LGBT+ Artists.” The contest, organized and hosted by Iowa City resident Sydney Speltz, allowed LGBTQ+ artists to come t...
Elizabeth Tate High School finds another resource for struggling students through the Writing and Wellness Club
Pedro Barragan, Arts Reporter
March 7, 2020
On Wednesday March 4, the Iowa Youth Writing Project hosted their monthly Writing and Wellness Club event at Tate High School. A program started by IYWP associate director Emily Spencer in November of 2019, the club aims to empower, inspire, and engage youth through creative writing. Spencer hopes the orga...
Rebellious Russians bring Orchestra Iowa and Ballet Quad Cities joint show to Coralville
Samantha Murray, Arts Reporter
March 6, 2020
The main performance hall of The Coralville Center for Performing Arts will soon fill with the deep rumble of intense compositions sharing the stage with pale flashes of dancing ballerinas. Orchestra Iowa and Ballet Quad Cities will present their show Rebellious Russians tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Rebellious...
Hancher to host 18th annual Nachte Raho dance competition
Naomi Hofferber, Senior Reporter
March 5, 2020
A Bollywood fusion battle is set to begin at Hancher this weekend, at the 18th-annual Nachte Raho dance competition. The University of Iowa will host the national dance competition Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m., where eight teams from around the nation will compete for the grand prize of $3,000. Teams...
Comedic magician Grant Freeman charmed audiences with controversial and magical comedy
Ashley Dawson, Arts Reporter
March 5, 2020
Magician Grant Freeman entered the pink-lit Coralville Center for the Performing Arts stage on Wednesday night to a rock n’ roll drum cadence. Standing in a plain, gray t-shirt with jeans and a gray button up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, he proceeded to perform his touring gig, An R-...
Irish folk band The Chieftains bring Irish culture, joy to Hancher
Naomi Hofferber, Senior Reporter
March 5, 2020
A pitch from Paddy Maloney’s small tin whistle filled Hancher auditorium, light and fluttery, as his seat was lit by an overhead light on stage. One by one, instruments joined Maloney in his tune, and Grammy Award-winning Irish folk band The Chieftains made their presence known. The band, which...
Dancers in Company celebrate 36th year with home concert
Addie Bushnell, Arts Reporter
February 27, 2020
Dancers in Company, the University of Iowa’s touring ensemble, held the opening night of their home concert tonight at 8 p.m. in Space Place Theater. The show, which consists of six works of contemporary dance, will run through Feb. 29 at the UI. Celebrating its 36th year, the home conce...
Safari Room set to give their sophomore performance at Gabe’s
Pedro Barragan, Arts Reporter
February 26, 2020
Hailing from Nashville, indie rock band Safari Room will return to Iowa City tonight at Gabe’s at 9 p.m. The band currently seeks to differentiate themselves from recognized indie bands, something they hope to achieve by playing a few songs from their first full-length album that they hope to release...
FilmScene introduces opportunity for adults to learn animation techniques
Jenna Post, Arts Reporter
February 23, 2020
At FilmScene’s Ped Mall location, groups of adults huddled around tables full of art supplies and video equipment to take their first step in learning the tricks of animation. FilmScene's Adult Animation camp took place Feb. 22-23 to teach participants beginner's animation tricks. The children’s...