Grace Merritt came to Iowa City for college and stayed for the vibrant arts scene. “Growing up, I didn’t have that kind of music community,” she said. “Music in my hometown is like, ‘Do you want to go see the high school’s band?’” Merritt describes her hometown of Naperville, a western suburb of Chicago, as […]
Englert Theatre
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Watch: Bernie Sanders talks to Little Village about Democratic failures and fighting back against Trumpism
Following his speech on fighting oligarchy and Trumpism at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City on Saturday, Little Village had the opportunity to interview Sen. Bernie Sanders. Videographer Jason Smith, photographer Kate Revaux and I sat down with Sanders in a dressing room at the Englert to ask him what he thought has changed in the […]
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‘Now is not the time for despair’: Bernie Sanders calls on Americans to ‘fight back’ against Trump authoritarianism in Iowa City
Half an hour before the doors opened at the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, the line of people hoping to get a seat at Sen. Bernie Sanders’ speech stretched a block-and-a-half down Washington Street, before turning the corner and continuing down Clinton Street for another block. Despite freezing cold temperatures and the […]
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Bernie Sanders is bringing his ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour to Iowa City
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is heading back to Iowa this month as part of a new tour criticizing the Trump administration and associates like Elon Musk. Sanders, who won second place in the Iowa Caucuses as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 and 2020, announced Wednesday the launch of his “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go […]
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James Tutson is a fool for soul music
For James Tutson, music is a lifelong thing. He told me in a telephone interview that growing up, “We had a 10-person congregation, and I had five siblings and my mom, and we were the whole church choir. From the minute you could talk, you were singing in our family and singing in church, you know, […]
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The Englert and ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ cast celebrate 20 years of unabashedly odd entertainment
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Englert Theatre’s nonprofit status. Coincidentally, it also marks the 20th anniversary of the 2004 independent film Napoleon Dynamite.
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A packed Englert audience sees and celebrates ‘Nightbitch’ movie as Refocus 2024 kicks off
Last night, a giddy audience gathered in the historic Englert Theatre, its marquee beautifully illuminating their entrance, for opening night of the third annual Refocus Film Festival. Onstage, Andrew Sherburne and Programming Director Ben Delgado expressed their gratitude for all who made the festival possible and shared some backstory on their efforts to screen Marielle […]
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In memoriam: Ashlee Hopkins’ thoughtful, joyous spirit stretches beyond this community
Ashlee Louise Hopkins (Davis) was involved in a horrible biking accident on Sunday, Sept. 15. Despite her resilience, strength, and the incredible care of UIHC emergency and SNICU care teams, her injuries were too severe. On Sept. 23, following an honor walk at UIHC surrounded by friends and family, Ashlee made a final gift of […]
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‘We are going to make this a FEaST he’d be fucking proud of’: Chris Wiersema’s deep-listening festival carries on in Iowa City
“Bring the Noise” was a musical mantra popularized by the hip-hop group Public Enemy, and Chris Wiersema lived that aesthetic ideal as Iowa City’s premiere programmer of experimental music and other out-there sounds. Over the past quarter century, he brought hundreds of boundary-breaking artists to town in his myriad roles as a house show promoter, […]
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Poets, painters, musicians and more interpret another Prompt for the Planet, focusing on change
Prompt for the Planet returns to the Englert Theatre in Iowa City on Sunday, bringing local artists and performers to the stage to celebrate Iowa’s environment and explore issues around it. Like the 2022 version of the event, the intent is to encourage community members to take action. “This free event draws inspiration from U.S. […]
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Five questions with The War and Treaty, a country music power couple ‘rooted in honesty’
Tanya and Michael Trotter Jr. are the driving force behind the award-winning country band The War and Treaty. They also happen to be husband and wife, having connected after Tanya watched Michael perform in a festival in 2010. Since that fateful encounter, their music has gotten attention and accolades from the Grammy Awards to the […]
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In memoriam: Chris Wiersema, curator of the weird and wonderful
An obituary by Andre Perry Christopher (Chris) Wiersema of Iowa City died on Wednesday, March 13, unexpectedly, but peacefully in his sleep. A public memorial will take place on Sunday, April 7 at the Englert Theatre from 2-5 p.m. The Englert is located at 221 E Washington St in downtown Iowa City. Chris was born […]
