Archive for the 'Theatre' Category

Freakin’ Weekend: 3.6-3.8

Published by todd on March 6, 2008 in Theatre, Weekend and Concert. 0 Comments

Brett Favre Warren SappHow can we think about this weekend when we’ve got a festival to organize in less than a month? If you missed the 2008 Mission Creek lineup be sure to take a quick look right now. From Cursive to Dan Deacon to Neva Dinova and much more, we think this year’s festival is going to be the best one yet. Nonetheless, we can’t be expected to stay inside until April, especially with such enticing menu items for this upcoming weekend. As for this week in the real world, we’ve got the first half of our major-party Presidential race settled, with a hotly contested Democratic race still smoking with Pennsylvania looming just seven weeks away. What’s not smoking? Maybe you in bars, after the Iowa Senate approved a public smoking ban in our state. We’ll leave it up to you to decide your thoughts on the whole thing, but for now you can still light up at two of the following three events.

Thursday
Grand Archives / Picador / 9pm / $6
We’ve already done our best to get you in the doors, but just in case you need a refresher course, we’ve added it here. It’s definitely one of our most anticipated nights of music thus far this year, and at a measly six bucks, you really have no excuse. You love to go out Thursday night, anyway.

Friday
The Gglitch w. Dead Larry, Datagun (ex-Heathers) / The Mill / 9pm / $6
The Gglitch never disappoint with their genre-spanning performance, but the ante has been upped for this night out. Datagun, risen from the ashes of now-defunct Freak fave Heathers, will be making their debut performance. Will you be that guy (or girl) that misses it?

Saturday
The Piano Lesson / Theatre Building / 8pm / $17
August Wilson’s 1990 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama begins its two weekend run in the E.C. Mabie Theatre (Theatre Building) on Friday, but with your Friday night sewed up at the Mill, this represents a good chance to take it in. The play deals with quintessential themes of American history not only in the South, but universally, touching on tradition, legacy, and family. Theatre Dept. faculty member Tisch Jones directs.

Freakin’ Weekend: 2.7-2.9

Published by craig on February 7, 2008 in Theatre, Weekend and Concert. 0 Comments

Hump day snow day? That’s the cat’s meow. It gave me the eye of the tiger. Whatever: I’ll stop trying to justify using an awesome picture of a tiger jumping out of a snowdrift right now. Seriously, how cool is that? Almost as cool as getting a free day in the middle of the week to do whatever you want, unless you were some sucker who still had to hustle to some job, like the fine folks that were pouring liquid down people’s throats (like mine) when we decided to hit the bar instead of the sledding hill. I’m kidding. I read all day in my pajamas. It was very nice. Now put on your snow pants and do cool shit this weekend. Here’s what we recommend:

Thursday
10 Minute Play Festival / 8pm - Theatre B of the UI Theatre Building - $6 ($4 students)
Faculty member Kate Aspengren came up with the idea of the 10 minute play festival, and it has developed into a cool little tradition. There are 8 plays in this year’s fest, whittled down from 55 submissions, so first and foremost congrats to the playwrights who made the cut. Also, the cost breakdown here is amazing: 50 cents per play! And you know what they say about the weather in Florida? Wait 10 minutes and it’ll change. Hold onto your Playbill, kids.

Friday
Illinois John Fever w/Macon Greyson, Pussy River Bawler / 9pm - The Picador
We’ve had Fever fever here for quite some time, and we have to admit that is nice to see our local Apocalypse Blues Band headlining their own bill at the Picador. Macon Greyson brings some serious Son Volt-esque alt.country vibes from deep in the heart of Texas, and while I don’t know anything about Pussy River Bawler I sure had a few good laughs when googling them

Saturday
CD Release Mania!: Wayne Western @ the Picador / Kate Kane and Nikki Lunden @ The Mill
Get your compact disco on with three local bands celebrating the release of their records this week. Over at the Picador it’s Mission Creek alums and all-around ass kickers Wayne Western with The Wheel and The Fence, Yamoto, and Emerge Again. Over at the Mill you’ve got Kate Kane (of Lipstick Homicide and Crokane) releasing some solo jamz, as well as the venerable Nikki Lunden doing the same. This will be worth doing a little back and forth.
*Note: we’d love to get some local records (ahem, like these ones) in the mail so we can start publishing reviews. Check out addresses and emails on our About page and feel free to send things along.

Freakin’ Weekend: 1.31-2.02

Published by tanner on January 31, 2008 in Theatre, Weekend and Concert. 0 Comments

nullWith this week’s primaries over and the ranks officially thinned, we’ve got our sights set squarely on next Tuesday, aka Super Tuesday, after which we should have a better idea of who will next be in charge of our great nation. Iowa’s 15 minutes are officially up, but we still can’t help being enthralled by the venom-slinging that’s taking place on the Democratic side of things, but would like to remind everyone that it isn’t always good to burn your bridges. Oh, well. At least we haven’t seen any Jerry Springer-style fisticuffs. Yet. Here’s wishing you a peaceful weekend.

Thursday
Sarah Cram and the Derelicts / The Picador – 9pm - $5
The Diplomettes, as you probably know, are the sexy complement to the Diplomats of Solid Sound. You may not realize that Diplomette Sarah Cram does plenty musically in her own right, and amongst her projects are the Derelicts. Hit up the Picador on Thursday to start the weekend proper. Samuel Locke-Ward and the Awful Purdies open.

Friday
Riff Raff Theater Presents Speed / The Englert – 8pm - $10
Following in the footsteps of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (possibly the best show ever), Riff Raff Theater is going to perform a “riff” of the Keanu Reeves…strike that, Dennis Hopper thriller, Speed. Their website says the show will include audience participation and skits…but somehow we still don’t know what to expect. Make sure you see this, otherwise it won’t make any sense to you when they do a riff of Speed 2: Cruise Control.

Saturday
Mission Creek Presents Andre Perry, Caleb Engstrom, and Matthew Wright at The Redhead (Solon) – 9pm
This is the first of our new series of Saturday shows at The Redhead Cafe. It’s a great opportunity to see great artists in a super intimate setting, all while grubbing on some sweet potato fries. Besides, when was the last time you chilled in Solon? Chances are the answer is never. Come out this Saturday to see where you will be spending the first Saturday of every month from now on. Andre Perry (of the Lonelyhearts), Freak fave and Mission Creek vet Caleb Engstrom, and local heartthrob Matthew Wright will be performing.

Freakin’ Weekend: 12.13-12.15

Published by todd on December 13, 2007 in Theatre, Weekend and Concert. 0 Comments

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If you are still reeling from this week’s shows (Dinosaur Jr’s tower of power might still be ringing in your ears if not for last night’s Mission Freak pop fest) there is no rest for the weary. And lest you thought this town would slow down for finals, we’ve got three hot events this weekend to prove you otherwise. So get your studying done, because you’ve got no reason not to hit up at least one of these this weekend.

Also, our year-end coverage starts tomorrow with a countdown of the year’s best concerts, followed by the year’s best albums.

Thursday
Pukers w/ Wet Hair, Secret Abuse+Evan Miller, Nimby, F(fractals) / Hall Mall - 9:55pm

Another killer Thursday night Hall Mall show with Los Angeles noise-act Pukers, who once called Iowa City home. They’ll be joined by a slew of avant garde locals that includes members of Raccoo-oo-oon, some hot local DJ shit, and who knows what else.

Friday
Gilded Bats w/ Evan Miller, The Mike and Amy Finders Band / 9pm - The Mill - $7

For as much time as we spend getting down on what’s freshest in Iowa City, it’s nights like these that remind us that for as vibrant as our avant scene is, the old-time music scene is just as present and necessary. Evan Miller’s virtuoso solo guitar work kicks the night off, followed by the Finders Band and Gilded Bats keeping the flame of local bluegrass and string music alive.


Download: The Mike and Amy Finders Band - Sayin’ No

Download: Evan Miller - Track 1

Saturday
MFA Directors One-Act Festival / Theatre Building - 8pm - $6 ($4 students, youth, senior citizens)

This is the final night of a two-weekend run of the festival, which takes place every three years. Four first-year directors have each taken on a contemporary play. This weekend features Sam Shepard’s “Chicago” (directed by Brandon Bruce) and “Walkin’ Backwards” by Brian Silberman, directed by Anthony Nelson.