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We imagine it. We create it.
Production is what we create and where we create it; a single reading of a new play, a 2-week run of a mainstage production, or our artistic home, since 1935 – the Theatre Building.
Virtual Lobby
Visit our Virtual Lobby to learn more about current and past productions' cast, creative team, crew, director's and dramaturg's notes, designer renderings, and more!
Performing Arts Calendar
Visit the Performing Arts at Iowa calendar to view all upcoming performing arts events happening across our vibrant and creative campus.
Upcoming Department of Theatre Arts events

The Milk Miracle
Friday, May 9, 2025 1:30pm to 3:30pm
The Milk MiracleBy Poonam DhirPart of Iowa New Play Festival – Reading SeriesThe Milk Miracle centers on a playwright navigating questions of identity, place, and belonging—both personal and cultural—while writing a story about a family struggling with grief, community expectations, and the weight of tradition. The play explores the layered tensions between the act of writing and the forces that shape a story’s creation.Please be advised this production includes discussions of death, brief...

The Words of Ants
Friday, May 9, 2025 5:30pm to 7:30pm
The Words of AntsBy Xiaoyan KangDirected by Meredith G. HealyPart of Iowa New Play Festival – Production SeriesThe visit of an uninvited woman changes Yan's life forever. As the last natural inheritor, Yan embarks upon a journey to preserve an almost extinct language, but at what cost?Please be advised this production includes discussions about death of loved ones, mention of child abuse, mentions of suicide, and depictions of smoking.TicketsUI Students (with ID) – Free, limit 1 ticket per...

The Words of Ants
Friday, May 9, 2025 9:00pm to 11:00pm
The Words of AntsBy Xiaoyan KangDirected by Meredith G. HealyPart of Iowa New Play Festival – Production SeriesThe visit of an uninvited woman changes Yan's life forever. As the last natural inheritor, Yan embarks upon a journey to preserve an almost extinct language, but at what cost?Please be advised this production includes discussions about death of loved ones, mention of child abuse, mentions of suicide, and depictions of smoking.TicketsUI Students (with ID) – Free, limit 1 ticket per...

Digital Graffiti showing
Friday, May 9, 2025 10:15pm
Part of Iowa New Play FestivalThursday, May 8, 2025 - approximately 10:15 pm, immediately after salt tongue 9:00 pm performanceFriday, May 9, 2025 - approximately 10:15 pm, immediately after The Words of Ants 9:00 pm performanceUI Theatre Building Lawn - in front of the main entrance on the river sideThe world has seen the dazzling delights of digital artwork projection mapped onto some of the most iconic buildings: the Empire State Building, the Sidney Opera House... even our own Old Capitol...

Guest Roundtable | The Words of Ants
Saturday, May 10, 2025 10:30am to 11:30am
A roundtable discussion of the Iowa New Play Festival production The Words of Ants by Xiaoyan Kang directed by Meredith G. Healy.

Zero to Sixty
Thursday, May 15, 2025 9:30pm
Zero to SixtyBy Molly Costello and Sophie YoungTheatre Building Loading Dock, between public Theatre parking lot and lot 55This immersive experience tells the story of an unexpected car crash with video projected onto the windows and body of the car with an accompanying soundscape. The car contains physical artifacts, time capsule inspired memories that can be interacted with.

Theatre Arts Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, May 17, 2025 7:00pm
The Department of Theatre Arts holds its own commencement ceremony on the final Saturday of the spring term. The department ceremony is scheduled at a different time than the ceremonies for CLAS and the Graduate College, so students can attend both ceremonies if they so choose. Students graduating in the spring semester, or at the end of the summer or fall terms, are invited to participate. The ceremony includes speeches by faculty and members of the graduating class, a slide show and a...
Pagination