On Friday, Dec. 18, the historic Englert Theatre lit up the icy streets of downtown Iowa City as its newly restored marquee shone above in all its 1950s-vintage glory. With exposed ankles turning red and propane heaters blazing, only the clouds of frigid breath were missing underneath an array of masks, Santa Claus hats and […]
Englert Theatre
Witching Hour hosting virtual fest featuring Danez Smith, Stacey Walker, Black Belt Eagle Scout and more

The arrival of COVID-19 in Iowa on March 8 spelled disaster for the 2020 Mission Creek Festival, which was set to take place in downtown Iowa City April 1-4. But the Englert Theatre had time to adapt their other annual festival, Witching Hour, for a pandemic world. The 2020 Witching Hour Festival, presented by the […]
Englert makes the best of the pandemic, presenting and fostering engagement with the arts digitally

Throughout its 108-year history, the Englert Theatre in Iowa City has always changed with the times. From its origins as a vaudeville theater, to a movie theater and now a revered space for performing arts, the Englert has grown into its role as a cornerstone in Iowa City’s art scene. Through its regular programming as […]
Wine, dine and donate: Brix contributes more than $13,000 to fellow downtown businesses and arts organizations

When Nick Craig, owner of Brix Cheese Shop and Wine Bar in Iowa City’s Northside Neighborhood, was making plans for his girlfriend’s April 19 birthday, he knew the couple couldn’t celebrate the way they would under normal circumstances. He and Lacy Laughton would usually mark the occasion by going to a performance or eating at […]
Mission Creek Festival 2020 is canceled, may reschedule

The 15th annual Mission Creek Festival is the latest event to fall to the coronavirus pandemic. Festival organizers sent an email just before 6 p.m. Thursday announcing the cancellation of the festival “in its current form” due to the public health risk. Originally scheduled to take place at various downtown Iowa City venues April 1-4, […]
Mission Creek Festival announces Kim Gordon, Black Belt Eagle Scout and more for 15th fest
Five questions with: Kev Marcus, of Black Violin

Kev Marcus (Kevin Sylvester) and Wil B (Wilner Baptiste) were just kids when they met in the orchestra room at Dillard High School of the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (the majority-black magnet school also counts Nonpoint’s Elias Soriano and upcoming Rum Tum Tugger Jason Derulo among its alumni). But what began as a […]
Elizabeth Moen to perform new songs at the Englert Saturday, joined by Penny Peach Jr. and Dana T

There’s a touch of destiny, or perhaps buddy comedy, about Elizabeth Moen and Penny Peach Jr.’s artistic partnership. Originally from Norwalk, Iowa, Peach — her real name Elly Hofmaier, previously known by the stage name Elly h. — was about to start her freshman year at the University of Iowa when a friend played her some of Moen’s music. […]
Q&A: Kathleen Madigan on YouTube, hecklers and being a ‘Catholic-school-kid rule follower’
Five questions with: Choreographer and dancer Kuldeep Singh

Like many artists, Singh understands that traditional forms are not static — traditions reinvent themselves as choreographers and performers become a site relating present to future. o Many Journeys: Choreographies in Odissi on April 26 at 7 p.m., part of the Englert Wavelength Series (sponsored by Little Village. Tickets are $10-18; youth 17 and under are free. […]
‘We should be building off of each other’s progress’: FilmScene and the Englert announce joint fundraising, programming campaign

This Saturday, April 20, FilmScene and the Englert Theatre unveiled the steps toward a new vision: “building the greatest small city for the arts in the America.” The outer lobby of the Englert Theatre was filled with notecards hanging from balloons, filled with statements from community members on why they find the arts important. Additional […]
Neko Case discusses her ‘bad luck,’ blue-collar ethic and musical superpowers ahead of Englert performance

For the first time in over a decade, Neko Case will perform at the Englert on April 29, in support of her new album ‘Hell-On,’ with Shannon Shaw (of Shannon and the Clams) opening at 8 p.m. ‘Hell-On’ provides an insightful, beautiful understanding of how to remain humane despite the almost continual wave of tragedies
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