From Sir Duke to ballet to Lewis Black: Hancher to celebrate 35th anniversary with diverse lineup

The majesty of Russian ballet is renewed by the State Ballet of Georgia. This is one of many diverse offerings to be found on the Hancher 2007–08 schedule of performances.

An exciting schedule of performances for Hancher’s next season was unveiled in late April. Tickets are now available through Hancher’s web site at www.hancher.uiowa.edu. The season, celebrating the 35th anniversary of Hancher, is detailed in a free brochure, All the Best, on the auditorium’s web site, and here in fyi (click here for an event-by-event listing of the season).

The anniversary celebration includes free outdoor River to River performances by the Joffrey Ballet this summer.

The new season also includes an emphasis on family programming, with a mix of theater, from Broadway evergreens to intimate new productions; dance, both classical and contemporary; and music ranging from tango to classical to jazz.

And just as the presidential caucus season is heating up in Iowa, irreverent Daily Show comedian Lewis Black will appear Sept. 22.

Audience favorites returning in the new season include Iowa City native and University of Iowa alumnus Rinde Eckert with a play about faith; superstar jazz guitarist Pat Metheny; Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (including a Hancher commission); clarinetist David Krakauer (premiering a Hancher co-commission with the Orion Quartet); the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company; Sweet Honey in the Rock; jazz vibes/marimbist Stephon Harris; the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra celebrating Duke Ellington; the Ying Quartet (creating a whole new concert with composer/computer geek Tod Machover); the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre; and the Emerson String Quartet with pianist Wu Han.

“In this anniversary season, we wanted to emphasize Hancher’s historic strengths and programming themes, including our role as the region’s major dance presenter,” says Judith Hurtig, artistic director at Hancher.  “Many of these returning artists and companies share a long and productive history with us, including residencies, commissions, and premieres. Hancher is much more than just a venue. We are an active participant in the creative process and a dedicated contributor to the educational mission of the University.”

Artists making a Hancher debut this season are comedian Black, Tango Buenos Aires, the Russian Patriarchate Choir, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Axis Theatre Company, and Afro-pop star Angelique Kidjo.

Spot: The Hancher Family Arts Adventure—a collaboration with libraries and community groups in Spencer, Perry, Marshalltown, and Iowa City/Coralville through a grant from the Wallace Foundation—will feature residencies and performances by percussionist Cyro Baptista and Beat the Donkey in May and the Rubberbandance Group during the summer of 2008.

Robert and Rebecca Bluestone—he’s a classical guitarist and she’s a tapestry artist—will perform in the Hancher loft as part of a weeklong residency in collaboration with UI Hospitals and Clinics’ Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Hancher will offer preperformance themed dinners in conjunction with the performances of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Sweet Honey in the Rock, My Fair Lady, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Simon Shaheen and Qantara.

Tickets are available now only through the season order form. The form is included in the brochure, and available by downloading from the Hancher web site for submission by mail or fax. The form may be filled out and submitted online.

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.

UI students, senior citizens, and audience members 17 and younger also qualify for special discounts to most events. UI students and senior citizens receive a 10 percent discount on tickets to most events, with $15 Zone 2 and 3 tickets available to UI students for most events. Youth tickets are typically discounted 30 percent, with some events discounted 50 percent.

Hancher’s top seating priority goes to Hancher Circle contributors at the $500 level and above. Contributors at this level who order tickets before June 8 receive the first seating assignments, in the order that their forms are received, and according to level of donation.

Designated parking spaces, hearing and visual augmentation units, and large print playbills are available at every event in the Hancher season. Seating for patrons who use wheelchairs is available on a limited basis; reservations are required. When possible, the auditorium will arrange to provide sign language interpretation and tape-recorded playbills; requests for these services must be made one month in advance.

Groups of 20 or more receive a special discount on tickets to most Hancher events. Call 319-335-0009 for information and arrangements.

Hancher Auditorium box office business hours are 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturdays. From the local calling area, dial 319-335-1160. Long distance is toll-free, 800-HANCHER. People with special needs for access, seating, and auxiliary services should dial 319-335-1158, which is equipped with TDD for people with hearing impairment who use that technology.

Tickets may be ordered online 24 hours a day, seven days a week through Hancher’s web site: www.hancher.uiowa.edu.

Orders may be charged to Visa, MasterCard or American Express. UI students may charge their purchases to their University bills, and UI faculty and staff may select the option of payroll deduction. Information and brochures may be requested by e-mail at hancher-box-office@uiowa.edu.

by Winston Barclay