Devout fans of literature and aspiring writers sat down under the lights of the beautiful Hancher Strauss Hall to hear a reading from multi-genre author and Pulitzer-Prize finalist Kelly Link.
Link began the reading with a haunting yet humorous passage from her short story, “I Can See Right Through You.” In a somewhat conversational manner, she functioned as a ghost-story teller by the campfire, depicting the tale of an actress’ run-ins with fame, a demon lover, and a missing nudist colony.
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Daily Iowan - Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Opening for Andrew Bird on Tuesday evening, My Brightest Diamond was unfamiliar to many concert goers. But these attendees absolutely left the show as fans, springing to their feet in a standing ovation.
The new Hancher stage premiered its first ever Mission Creek Festival performance with My Brightest Diamond, fronted by alternative singer-songwriter and multi-talented musician Shara Nova.
Daily Iowan - Tuesday, March 28, 2017
On Monday evening, the multi-hyphenate actor-singer Leslie Odom Jr., most famous for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the smash hit musical Hamilton, performed and spoke to a nearly full crowd in Hancher.
Odom opened with two jazz-style pieces before outlining his life leading up to and after Hamilton.
The Gazette - Monday, March 27, 2017
Before stepping on stage Monday at Hancher Auditorium, Leslie Odom Jr. learned the University of Iowa Lecture Committee hosting his appearance had received some calls or letters asking why “that guy” was coming — that guy who was “so mean to Mike Pence.”
Odom — after walking the audience through the journey that landed him a lead role in the Broadway blockbuster “Hamilton” and singing several pieces from the show — shared this information with the full house, to widespread chuckles.
Hoopla Now - Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Keith Lockhart has been crisscrossing the globe this winter for pleasure and business, but he ties them both together. It’s part of the mission he loves, in bringing the Boston Pops Orchestra to the masses.
“We feel the Boston Pops is America’s orchestra, and that our constituency really stretches across the country,” Lockhart, 57, said by phone from Boston. He’s home, after traveling the past month on a Pops tour to Florida, a jaunt to Iceland to celebrate his wife’s birthday by viewing the Northern Lights, followed by a family trip Florida, then on to his other job with the BBC in London, then home before going back to London and “before I come out and greet the Midwest,” he said.
Iowa Now - Wednesday, March 15, 2017
If you’re playing a word-association game and someone says “dance,” you probably don’t blurt out “architecture!” but an upcoming performance at Hancher Auditorium might change that.
Jessica Lang Dance will perform a concert on March 23 at Hancher, and one piece in particular shares a unique connection with the University of Iowa. The critically-acclaimed Tesseracts of Time was created by choreographer Jessica Lang in collaboration with world-renowned architect Steven Holl, who has made a significant mark on the UI campus.
KCRG - Tuesday, March 14, 2017
The Master Builders of Iowa has awarded Mortenson Construction the 2017 Masters Award for Exemplary Construction for the University of Iowa's Hancher Auditorium.
The $176 million performing arts center opened in September 2016, and includes a large 1,800-seat, proscenium theater, rehearsal room, and administrative offices. The project was completed over a three-year period.
KCRG - Monday, March 6, 2017
Hundreds of works of art done lined the halls of Hancher Auditorium once again at the Hancher Guild Youth Art Show. Nearly 400 works of art were on display from students from kindergarten all they way up to high school. People say they've missed having this annual event in Hancher Auditorium.
Daily Iowan - Friday, March 3, 2017
There are not many classical musicians whose names are accessible in the mainstream media, because they tend to be drowned out by the more “current” acts.
However, certain performers who pride themselves on excellence manage to break with the norm. Yo-Yo Ma is one of those select few.
At 7 p.m. March 5, the famed cellist will return to Hancher after 17 years. This visit will mark his ninth time performing at Hancher and his first in the new facility.
Iowa Now - Friday, March 3, 2017
Some of the great performing artists from around the world already have graced the Hancher Auditorium stage since its grand opening in September. On March 6, however, the new building will become a visual arts gallery filled with works created by the youth of Iowa City, Coralville, Hills, and North Liberty.
The Hancher Guild Youth Art Show, which began in 1983 and was held annually until floodwaters destroyed the original Hancher Auditorium in 2008, is making its return to the University of Iowa campus. Reinstating the longstanding tradition always was part of the plan as the new Hancher was being built.