Through the lens of the arts, Infinite Dream explores the complex fabric of the American Story-our grand accomplishments, disruptive failures, and remarkable potential for excellence.
Events will feature performances, presentations, and discussions from artists and thinkers from around the world as well as students, faculty, and staff from the University of Iowa. 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.
The festival also celebrates the vast creativity found on the University of Iowa's campus-evident in the work of its students, faculty, and staff and embedded in its remarkable cultural venues. In addition, Infinite Dream positions the university's artistic efforts within the scope of robust creative activity happening in the larger Iowa City community.
Schedule of Events:
6:00 pm: Roger Guenveur Smith Frederick Douglas NOW
Roger Guenvuer Smith's Frederick Douglass NOW examines the life and work of the self-liberated abolitionist and pioneering orator Frederick Douglass. Smith has edited Douglass's 19th century texts into a jazz-infused narrative bookended by original writing.
"Smith makes Douglass's critique of American life seem tragically relevant. The show is both pedagogical and inspirational in its call to resistance." - ELLE
The James Theatre - General Admission Seating
1:00 pm: Meandering River
Explore the intertwined ecologies of people, nonhumans, water, and infrastructure. Audiences will gather at the Lagoon Shelter House and travel along a guided walking-tour featuring dancers, soundscapes, and interactive prompts designed to enhance awareness of the river's presence and significance. A remarkable cohort of University of Iowa creative and critical researchers lead this adventure, including David Cwiertny (Engineering, Chemistry), Eric Gidal (English), Elizabeth McTernan (Art and Art History), Stephanie Miracle (Dance), Jenna Supp-Montgomerie (Religious Studies, Communication Studies), Heather Parrish (Art and Art History), and Larry Weber (Engineering).
Lagoon Shelter House
1:00 pm: Josh Johnson in Conversation
A soft-spoken, sharp-thinking comic, Josh Johnson is convincingly reinventing standup comedy with fully-formed sets dropping on YouTube on a weekly basis. Join Johnson as he discusses his process and philosophy with writing and performing comedy.
Old Capitol Museum - Senate Chamber - General Admission Seating
8:00 pm: Josh Johnson
A soft-spoken, sharp-thinking comic rolls out new material as fast as the news cycle spins.
Josh Johnson is quietly, convincingly reinventing standup comedy. He released the equivalent of 28 hourlong specials in 2024-and all the material was of the immediate cultural moment. His social media following is nearly four million people strong, and his fans delight in the steady stream of new thoughtful, laugh-inducing stories. Johnson is currently a rotating host and correspondent on The Daily Show where he was previously a writer for seven years. Wired says he is "the funniest man on the internet." We say he might be even funnier live on stage.
"Whatever your entry point, what you notice almost immediately is how Johnson unravels a story like a detective, with a kind of forensic scrutiny for the familiar. He is purposefully digressive, detouring by way of (apparent) improvisation. Revelation is always the result of his meticulous curiosities. Curiosities about everything from family group chats to smart TVs, dinner parties, relationship disputes, trad wives, washing machines, and American history. What Johnson's comedy of the everyday achieves is a kind of comic cartography. He turns the unremarkable into a map of shared astonishments." - Wired
Hancher Auditorium - Hadley Stage - Auditorium Seating
