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IN SEARCH OF GOD & LAUGHTER
Daily Iowan - Thursday, October 6, 2016
Book of Mormon will say “Hello” to Hancher on Oct. 11, as cast members spend a week in Iowa City to put on the show that won “South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker — responsible for Book’s score, libretto, and script — the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2011. The musical follows a pair of mismatched missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as they are sent to Uganda to help spread the word of God. However, true to Stone’s and Parker’s idea, all piety goes out the window when they touch down and begin a journey that sees them encounter war-lords, love, frogs, and purple-sequined vests.
RINGING A BELL WITH 'BOOK OF MORMON
Hoopla Now - Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Hello. His name is Elder Price. Never in a million years did Ryan Bondy think the creators of television’s “South Park” and Broadway’s “Avenue Q” would know his real name. But they do, after Bondy was the standby for a leading character in “The Book of Mormon” on Broadway, then stepped into the role in three U.S. companies of the wildly popular musical. It’s set to unleash its heart and hilarity in Hancher Auditorium for eight performances from Tuesday (10/11) through Oct. 16.
A Review of The Man Who Planted Trees
Iowa Theatre - Monday, October 3, 2016
While there is much understandable excitement surrounding the opening of the new Hancher Auditorium, I’m not sure how many people realize that there is a second performance space in the building. Called Strauss Hall, it’s a little black box theatre space, with around 200 seats which are raked for good viewing. It is in this space that my daughter and I enjoyed The Man Who Planted Trees, a wonderful puppetry theatre experience by the Puppet State Theatre Company of Scotland.
Hieu Nguyen - Friday, September 30, 2016
Students look forward seeing performances at the new Hancher Auditorium after the grand opening on Sept. 9. The auditorium has had significant impacts on the university and local community members since 1972.
Hancher Auditorium, designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, Celebrated its Opening
PR News Wire - Thursday, September 29, 2016
Hancher, University of Iowa, is the state's leading performing arts presenter and has earned a stellar reputation for commissioning national and international artists to create innovative dance and theater. In 2008 many buildings suffered tremendous damage from a devastating flood. FEMA determined that Hancher, among others, could not be salvaged and funded a substantial portion of the venue's rebuilding.
Next steps
Iowa Now - Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Rebekah Kowal says she didn’t have much exposure to dance growing up. It wasn’t until the native of Littleton, Colorado, spent time at Connecticut College, a private liberal arts college in New London, Connecticut, where she was a two-sport athlete in tennis and swimming, that she discovered her love for dance. Now, the newly appointed chair of the University of Iowa Department of Dance is on a path to grow and improve the department and provide new and enriching opportunities for its students. Kowal, who has taught dance at the UI for 16 years, was named department head in June.
SANBORN RETURNS TO IOWA CITY FOR UI JAZZ BAND REUNION
Fifty years ago, Hancher Auditorium didn’t even exist, Ray Nagel was in his first season as the Iowa football coach and David Sanborn was studying saxophone at the University of Iowa. A lot has changed since then.
GOWNS, TUXES, & A BANJO OPEN A SPARKLING HANCHER
Daily Iowan - Monday, September 26, 2016
Steve Martin and Martin Short ushered in Hancher’s opening season on Sept. 24 with a raucous evening of searing stand-up, raunchy puppeteering, and banjo-picking. At Hancher’s gala event, the sold-out crowd packed the lobby in their evening finest. Men clad in tuxedos complete with colorful cummerbunds trailed through Hancher’s halls beside women draped in floor-sweeping gowns. The building’s interior, made up of speckled iridescent floors, snowy walls inlaid with gentle skylights, and chrome detailing, complemented the crowd’s regalia. “Tonight, we’re starting a new history book for Hancher,” Executive Director Charles Swanson said on stage before the show. “Not only new but a beautiful history book.”
Photos: Steve Martin and Martin Short at Hancher
Little Village - Sunday, September 25, 2016
Steve Martin and Martin Short brought their “An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life” show to the Hancher auditorium Opening Gala Saturday night. The new 1,800 seat theater was packed to see the two comedy legends poke fun at each other, share funny stories, sing songs from films and perform with bluegrass outfit the Steep Canyon Rangers and pianist Jeff Babko.
The Early Days of the University of Iowa Jazz Program
KCCK - Saturday, September 24, 2016
This item is no longer available. David Sanborn, world-renown jazz saxophonist, began his playing career at the University of Iowa in the early 60s, at a time when there was no jazz program at the UI. And not only was there no jazz program, the music department administration had no interest in creating one. But percussion instructor Tom Davis, along with a group of interested students, including a young Dave Sanborn, didn’t take no for an answer, and created an extra-curricular program. Retired Iowa City middle school director Jerry Zinn played sax next to Sanborn in that very first band, dubbed the UI Jazz Lab Ensemble.