A story of family relationships, an examination of how one lives their life, and unrequited love all take equal stage time throughout ‘Uncle Vanya.’ The show runs through Oct. 6 at Riverside Theatre. Tickets are $30.
Iowa City live theatre
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Riverside’s ‘Men on Boats’ is sheer delight
In 1869, Major John Wesley Powell took a crew of nine other men on an expedition to traverse and map the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. In just over three months, six of them emerged on the other side of the canyon, having completed the journey more or less in tact.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Five questions with: Muireann Ahern, director of ‘They Called Her Vivaldi’
Sunday, March 10 will bring an exciting, one-day-only performance to Hancher Auditorium. Irish theater company Theatre Lovett will make their Iowa City stop, one of just seven on their North American tour, sharing their original production ‘They Called Her Vivaldi,’ a playful narrative full of adventure and magic.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
A rocky start dims but can’t douse the brightness of ‘How I Learned What I Learned’
Riverside Theatre and Des Moines’ Pyramid Theatre joined forces this winter to bring us ‘How I Learned What I Learned,’ by August Wilson. It is an incredible thing to be able to see Wilson as a character on the stage, brought to life in Aaron Smith’s performance.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Interviews form basis of new play about the legacy of Sudan in Iowa City
On Friday, Feb. 15 from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Senate Chambers of the Old Capital Museum, the African Studies Program and the Office of Outreach and Engagement at the University of Iowa will present My Daughters Are My Writings, a new play based on oral histories of seven Iowa City residents from Sudan.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Is There Life After High School’ features lovely performances but faces challenges
Presented by Iowa City Community Theatre, Is There Life After High School? is a musical of carefully woven monologues told from the perspective of adults that both loved and hated high school. This production marks the second time that ICCT has brought the show to the stage. The first was in 1995 as a contest production — Jeff Mead, who was in the band of the 1995 production, returns as director, actor and musical director.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Combined Efforts explores the cosmos in holiday show ‘Zwicky’s Air’
Combined Efforts Theatre, the Iowa City company that welcomes performers with and without disabilities, opens its winter holiday show on Friday, Dec. 14. Zwicky’s Air runs one weekend only
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Les Misérables’ — An Iowa City favorite returns to the Hancher stage
‘Les Misérables,’ the epic musical based on Victor Hugo’s expansive 1862 novel, returns to Hancher this week. The play has a long and popular history in Iowa City. Now, after almost 18 years (just shy of Jean Valjean’s 19 year imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread), ‘Les Miz’ is back.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Expect the unexpected at ICCT’s ‘Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge’
If you’re tired of Christmas cliches and traditional holiday theater fare, you will want see Iowa City Community Theatre’s production of Christopher Durang’s ‘Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge.’
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Brash and jocular, ‘Rotten Eggnog’ is the perfect play for Christmas malcontents
Set in a dive karaoke bar adorned with tacky decorations on Christmas Eve, ‘Rotten Eggnog’ opens on Tori as she awaits her two best friends, Rebecca and Addie. For the last ten years, the three women have met on the holiday to exchange gifts, tell their worst Christmas stories and share intimate details of their lives to each other.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Iphigenia Point Blank’ not just a retelling, but a focus on the world today
This month, the University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts has the honor of presenting a Iphigenia Point Blank: Story of the First Refugee. Its final performances will be Nov. 8-10 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at the David Thayer Theatre, UI Theatre Building. Tickets are $5-20.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Ghosts of the past haunt a timely production of ‘The Price’ at Riverside
Throughout the play, the Franz family consistently seems unwilling to face the loneliness of silence. In general, while lines are delivered with passion or reserve, the production allows a sense of accumulation — like the crowded stage — in which everything adds together.
