Presented by Hancher Auditorium and the Office of Performing Arts and Engagement.
Through the lens of the arts, Infinite Dream explores the complex fabric of the American Story—our grand accomplishments, disruptive failures, and remarkable potential for excellence.
Events will feature performances, presentations, and discussions from artists and thinkers from around the world as well as students, faculty, and staff from the University of Iowa. The festival’s theme serves as a reference point for the performances and conversations—a loose frame for artists and patrons to consider as they share and experience transformative work.
The festival also celebrates the vast creativity found on the University of Iowa’s campus—evident in the work of its students, faculty, and staff and embedded in its remarkable cultural venues. In addition, Infinite Dream positions the university’s artistic efforts within the scope of robust creative activity happening in the larger Iowa City community.
Purchase festival pass
Infinite Dream Festival 2024
On Baldwin: Celebrating a Great American Writer (Night #1)
Tuesday, September 24 / 5:00 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Stanley Café
Conrad Tao and Caleb Teicher
Tuesday, September 24 / 7:30 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Hadley Stage / Onstage Seating
No More Water: A Conversation with Meshell Ndegeocello
Wednesday, September 25 / 1:00 p.m.
Old Capitol Museum / Senate Chamber / General Admission Seating
Touch of Red: A Conversation with TRIBE's Shamel Pitts and Mirelle Martins
Wednesday, September 25 / 5:00 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Stanley Café
John Moreland
Wednesday, September 25 / 7:30 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Hadley Stage / Onstage Seating
On Baldwin: Celebrating a Great American Writer (Night #2)
Thursday, September 26 / 4:00 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Stanley Café
Meshell Ndegeocello
Thursday, September 26 / 6:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Hadley Stage / Onstage Seating
Hari Kondabolu
Thursday, September 26 / 7:30 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Strauss Hall / Cabaret
A Conversation with Andrew Bird and Madison Cunningham
Friday, September 27 / 1:00 p.m.
Old Capitol Museum / Senate Chamber / General Admission Seating
Patti Smith: A reading of selected poetry
Friday, September 27 / 5:00 p.m.
The Englert Theatre / Auditorium Seating
Cunningham/Bird
Madison Cunningham & Andrew Bird
Friday, September 27 / 8:30 p.m.
The Englert Theatre / Auditorium Seating
This is the Army: Mobilizing Dancers for War
Featuring Rebekah Kowal
Saturday, September 28 / 1:00 p.m.
Old Capitol Museum / Senate Chamber / General Admission Seating
Wright House: 10 Years of Fashion in Iowa City
Saturday, September 28 / 3:00 p.m.
Old Capitol Museum / Senate Chamber / General Admission Seating
aja monet
Saturday, September 28 / 5:00 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Strauss Hall / Cabaret
Patti Smith and Her Band
Saturday, September 28 / 8:00 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Hadley Stage / Auditorum Seating
STAMPTOWN: Comedy Night
Friday, September 27 / 8:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 28 / 8:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.
The James Theater
Festival Passes
Festival passes and individual tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, July 29 at 10:00 a.m.
Explore events and festival passes
Day Dreamer Pass
Pick any 4 ticketed events
$80 General
$30 Students & Individuals under 25
Infinite Dreamer Pass
Pick any 8 ticketed events
$150 General
$50 Students & Individuals under 25
SOLD OUT: Infinite Dreamer Pass
Festival Venues:
The festival will take place at various venues including Hancher Auditorium, The James Theater, The Englert Theatre, and other presentation spaces across our campus and community.
All seating at the festival is general admission.
2024 FESTIVAL PARTNERS:
The Chuck Swanson Executive Directorship of Hancher Auditorium Fund
Everybody's Whole Foods
Brent Hadder
Sara & Sherwood Wolfson Educational Fund
Chuck Peters
Mary Ann Peters
2023 FESTIVAL LINEUP:
RECONSTRUCTING: Who & How Are We Together? A Conversation on Process with Jillian Walker and Emma Orme of The TEAM Featuring Johanna Kasimow (moderator)
Sphinx Virtuosi
Herein Lies the Truth: A Work-In-Progress Conversation Featuring Aaron Pang, Christopher-Rasheem McMillan, Tisa Bryant, and Adam Knight
Love In Exile, featuring Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily
Makaya McCraven: In These Times
Regarding The Continuum: An Exploration of Dreams Fulfilled Featuring LaTasha Barnes and Rebekah Kowal (moderator)
John Irving in conversation with Lan Samantha Chang
Model/Actriz with special guest KL!NG
Storytelling Across the Arts: A Conversation with Lonnie Holley & Lee Baines
Uncharted Myths: Reckonings, Reflections, and Riffs on American Stories
Kurt Vile and The Violators with special guests Lonnie Holley and Mourning [A] BLKstar
Cinema Savant: Werner Herzog
N O W I S W H E N W E A R E (the stars): A Creative Matters conversation with Andrew Schneider and Jecca Barry Featuring Daniel Fine (moderator)
N O W I S W H E N W E A R E (the stars) by Andrew Schneider
Reflecting the Infinite Dream: Visions of the American Story
2023 FESTIVAL PARTNERS:
Infinite Dream is made possible by programmatic partnership with the following entities and individuals:
Michael S. & Renee Favo
Karl Kundel & Allison Kundel
Douglas & Linda Paul
Creative Matters, a program of the University of Iowa's Office of the Vice President for Research
University of Iowa Center for Advancement
University of Iowa Writers' Workshop
University Lecture Committee
University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art
Iowa City Book Festival
Iowa City Public Library
Feed Me Weird Things
Refocus Film Festival
The Englert Theatre