Hancher Auditorium and the Office of Performing Arts and Engagement will debut a new two-week festival this October celebrating the arts in all forms. Infinite Dream explores the complex fabric of the American Story—our grand accomplishments, disruptive failures, and remarkable potential for excellence.

“The festival’s theme serves as a reference point for the performances and conversations—a loose frame for artists and patrons to consider as they share and experience transformative work,” says Hancher executive director André Perry.

Spanning Wednesday, Oct. 11 through Saturday, Oct. 21, the festival includes orchestral, jazz, and alternative music, a conversation with famed Iowa Writers’ Workshop alum John Irving and Workshop alum and director Lan Samantha Chang, and a centerpiece performance installation at Hancher Auditorium.

Festival Pass Details
  • • Festival passes guarantees admission to the following shows at all times: Sphinx Virtuosi (Oct 11), Love in Exile and Makaya McCraven (Oct 12), John Irving and Lan Samantha Chang (Oct 13), Kurt Vile and Lonnie Holley (Oct 14)
  • • Festival passholders will have the first opportunity to reserve access to N O W I S W H E N W E A R E (the stars) (Oct 18-21) before the general public can reserve tickets on July 31. Note: This is a limited availability performance and access might reach capacity after reservations are opened to non-passholders
  • • Festival passholders will have access to the Model/Actriz (Oct 13) show at Gabe’s subject to venue capacity. If the venue reaches capacity, patrons will be let in on a one-in/one-out basis with priority assigned to festival passholders.
Festival Schedule
  • Oct. 11: Performance by The Sphinx Virtuosi at The Englert Theatre
  • Oct. 12: Performance by Love in Exile and Makaya McCraven at Hancher
  • Oct. 13: Conversation with John Irving and Lan Samantha Chang at Hancher
  • Oct. 13: Performance by Model/Actriz at Gabe’s
  • Oct. 14: Performance by Kurt Vile & The Violators and Lonnie Holley w. Mourning [A] BLKstar at Hancher
  • Oct. 18—21 – Performance installation of NOWISWHENWEARE (the stars) at Hancher