The University of Iowa

Infinite Dream: September 17–20

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.

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Infinite Dream festival 2025

Sharon Van Etten in Conversation

Wednesday, September 17 / 1:00 p.m.
Old Capitol Museum / Senate Chamber / General Admission Seating

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Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
With special guest Helado Negro

Wednesday, September 17 / 7:30 p.m.
The Englert Theatre / Auditorium Seating

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Farmhouse/Whorehouse
An artist lecture by Suzanne Bocangera
Starring Lili Taylor

Thursday, September 18 / 6:30 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Hadley Stage / Onstage Seating

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José James
With special guest Jim Swim

Thursday, September 18 / 8:30 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Strauss Hall / Standing Room

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Roger Guenveur Smith in Conversation

Friday, September 19 / 1:00 p.m.
Old Capitol Museum / Senate Chamber / General Admission Seating

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Kaveh Akbar and Eve L. Ewing
Reading and Conversation

Friday, September 19 / 5:30 p.m.
Voxman Concert Hall / General Admission Seating

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32 Sounds
A film by Sam Green
With music by JD Samson & sound design by Mark Mangini

Friday, September 19 / 6:30 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Hadley Stage / Onstage Seating

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Roger Guenveur Smith
In Honor of Jean Michel Basquiat: A Personal Tribute to a Revolutionary Artist

Friday, September 19 / 7:30 p.m.
The James Theatre / General Admission Seating

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Roger Guenveur Smith
Frederick Douglas NOW

Saturday, September 20 / 6:00 p.m. 
The James Theatre / General Admission Seating

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Alan Sparhawk and His Band
Followed by a DJ set with JD Samson

Friday, September 19 / 9:00 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Strauss Hall / Standing Room 

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Meandering River

Friday, September 20 / 1:00 p.m.
Lagoon Shelter House (adjacent to the Iowa River and Hancher Green)

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Josh Johnson in Conversation

Saturday, September 20 / 1:00 p.m.
Old Capitol Museum / Senate Chamber / General Admission Seating

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Josh Johnson

Saturday, September 20 / 8:00 p.m.
Hancher Auditorium / Hadley Stage / Auditorum Seating

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Festival Passes
You can access events with a festival pass or individual show tickets. Many events are free. 
Festival passes and individual tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, July 21 at 10:00 a.m.

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Day Dreamer Pass
Pick any 3 ticketed events
$75 General Public
$25 Students & Individuals under 25

Buy Day Dreamer Pass

Infinite Dreamer Pass
Pick any 7 ticketed events
$150 General 
$50 Students & Individuals under 25
*There are more than 7 ticketed events but only 7 that you can attend due to timing overlap on Friday night

Buy 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 LINEUP: 
On Baldwin: Celebrating a Great American Writer (Night #1)
Conrad Tao and Caleb Teicher
No More Water: A Conversation with Meshell Ndegeocello
Touch of RED: A Conversation with TRIBE's Shamel Pitts and Mirelle Martins
John Moreland
On Baldwin: Celebrating a Great American Writer (Night #2)
Meshell Ndegeocello
Hari Kondabolu
A Conversation with Andrew Bird and Madison Cunningham
Patti Smith: A reading of selected poetry
Cunningham/Bird: Madison Cunningham & Andrew Bird
This is the Army: Mobilizing Dancers for War
Wright House: 10 Years of Fashion in Iowa City
aja monet
Patti Smith and Her Band
Stamptown: Comedy Night

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