An exciting schedule of performances for Hancher’s next season was unveiled in April. Tickets are now available online through Hancher’s web site: www.hancher.uiowa.edu.
The 2005-06 performing arts menu at Hancher Auditorium ranges from comedian Lily Tomlin to opera diva Renee Fleming to the Munich Symphony to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Magic Flute to Broadway hits, including The Producers and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Returning hits from recent seasons include the ABBA musical Mamma Mia!, the Mingus Big Band, Cirque Eloize, South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.
Hancher’s ongoing commitment to family programming is epitomized by events including the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company, the theatrical hip-hop of Rennie Harris Puremovement, and the Children of Uganda.
Hancher’s ambitious statewide project Spot: The Hancher Family Arts Adventure continues with “master of the impossible” Tomas Kubinek and San Jose Taiko. Launched through funding by the Wallace Foundation, Spot is an audience-building, family-oriented partnership with the Iowa communities of Spencer, Perry, Iowa City, and Marshalltown. As in the inaugural season, the Spot events in Hancher will include a family picnic, included in the ticket price.
A free, full-color mail-order brochure—featuring a cover photo of a diner’s neon “open” sign—is now available through the Hancher box office.
The season will begin with a dance party on the Hancher stage to the Puerto Rican big band Plena Libre, in an event featuring Puerto Rican treats and beverages.
Hancher’s preperformance dinners have been popular, and the auditorium will offer themed dinners for even more events this season. Dinners may be reserved in conjunction with the performances by Ballet Flamenco Jose Porcel; the Munich Symphony; The Exonerated, performed by Tim Robbins’ Actors’ Gang; the Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers of the Black Watch; and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. A brunch will precede the Sunday matinee performance of Mamma Mia!
Advance ticket-buyers not only enjoy the best choice of seats, but also can take advantage of volume discounts on most events in the season. A simultaneous purchase of five events or more qualifies for a 15 percent discount. Purchases made before the end of June may be paid through Hancher’s installment plan.
Hancher experimented with earlier curtain times for some events in the 2004-05 season. In 2005-06, evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and matinee performances will begin at 2 p.m.
Box office hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. From the local calling area, dial (33)5-1160. Long distance is toll-free, 1-800-HANCHER.
by Winston Barclay
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