Iowa City, IA - Infinite Dream returns to Iowa City Wednesday, September 17, through Saturday, September 20. Produced by the team at Hancher Auditorium, Infinite Dream is a multidisciplinary arts festival exploring the shape, depth, and complexity of the American story. Festival passes and individual tickets are on sale now.
The festival is an opportunity for community members to engage their curiosity, take a chance on arts experiences across disciplines, and consider the past and current creative culture at the University of Iowa and in the surrounding area.
“This year’s festival feels like a big, exciting, multilayered essay,” says Hancher executive director André Perry. “These artists are exploring personal narrative, thinking about our national culture, and offering philosophical questions all while delivering compelling performances. If we want to step into the unknown and see new, innovative art, this is our chance.”
Most events happen in Hancher’s performance spaces including the full auditorium, Club Hancher, and the Up Close setup with artists and audiences onstage together. Other venues include The Englert Theatre and The James Theater. The Old Capitol Senate Chamber on the UI’s Pentacrest will host discussions with festival artists.
The festival opens on Wednesday, September 17, with an afternoon conversation from indie songwriter Sharon Van Etten at The Old Capitol Senate Chamber. She performs that evening with her band The Attachment Theory at The Englert Theatre in support of this year’s self-titled record Sharon Van Etten and The Attachment Theory.
The rest of the weekend unfolds with a range of multidisciplinary events that blend sound, image, and performance. Sam Green presents his live film documentary 32 Sounds with a real-time soundtrack by JD Samson (from the band Le Tigre); visual artist Suzanne Bocanegra’s work blends essay with performances by actress Lili Taylor (Mystic Pizza, Six Feet Under); actor and director Roger Guenveur Smith (Do The Right Thing, Summer of Sam) tussles with wide swathes of American culture in two one-man shows about Jean-Michel Basquiat and Frederick Douglass; and seven UI faculty members, alongside UI students, offer a performance-in-motion called Meandering River that takes audience members on a walking tour of the Iowa River, surrounded by dancers, narration, and recorded sounds of the river. There will also be concerts from José James, Alan Sparhawk (of Low), Helado Negro, and local rapper/producer Jim Swim.
The festival closes on Saturday, September 20 with a headline set from comedian Josh Johnson. A correspondent on The Daily Show as well as a frequent touring artist, Johnson has redefined the comedy special in the past year. He releases a new 45- to 60-minute set of comedy every Tuesday night on his YouTube channel with most sets reaching 1 million views in a few days. His comedy ruminates on major topics from the current news cycle, dissecting public happenings alongside personal stories. The sets are humorous, deeply thoughtful reflections on where we are as people and where we’re going as a country. In addition to his show on the mainstage at Hancher Auditorium, Johnson will sit for a moderated conversation about his career in the Old Capitol Senate Chamber.
Tickets are on-sale now. For more info, please visit: hancher.uiowa.edu/infinitedream
Tickets and Access
Events can be accessed via festival passes or individual ticket purchases.
Passes:
Day Dreamer Pass (Pick any 3 events): $75 adults, $25 for students and patrons under 25
Infinite Dream Pass (Pick any 7 events): $150 adults, $50 for students and patrons under 25
Individual Tickets:
Individual tickets range from $20-$45 for adults and are $10 for students and patrons under 25
Free Events:
All festival discussions in the Old Capitol Senate Chamber are free and open to the public.
Full Festival Schedule:
Wednesday, September 17
Sharon Van Etten: In Conversation
The Old Capitol Senate Chamber, 1:00 p.m.
Sharon Van Etten and The Attachment Theory
With Special Guest: Helado Negro
The Englert Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 18
Farmhouse/Whorehouse: An Artist Lecture by Suzanne Bocanegra starring Lili Taylor
Hancher Auditorium (Up Close), 6:30 p.m.
José James
With Special Guest: Jim Swim
Club Hancher, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, September 19
Roger Guenveur Smith: In Conversation
The Old Capitol Senate Chamber, 1:00 p.m.
Kaveh Akbar and Eve L. Ewing: Reading and Conversation
Voxman Music Building at the University of Iowa, 5:30 p.m.
32 Sounds: A Film by Sam Green with Music by JD Samson & Sound Design by Mark Mangini
Hancher Auditorium (Up Close), 6:30 p.m.
In Honor of Jean Michel Basquiat: A Personal Tribute to a Revolutionary Artist by Roger Guenveur Smith
The James Theater, 7:30 p.m.
Alan Sparhawk and His Band
Followed by a DJ Set with JD Samson
Club Hancher, 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 20
Josh Johnson: In Conversation
The Old Capitol Senate Chamber, 2:00 p.m.
Meandering River
Lagoon Shelter House (Outside, adjacent to the Iowa River and Hancher Green), 4:00 p.m.
Frederick Douglass NOW by Roger Guenveur Smith
The James Theater, 6:00 p.m.
Josh Johnson
Hancher Auditorium, 8:00 p.m.
