Study up on entertainment at Iowa’s state universities

“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, heading to Ames on Oct. 14. Photo: Master Sgt. Karl Johnson, USMC

The new school year started about six weeks ago at Iowa’s three state universities, which means midterm exams are right around the corner. But guess what, dear reader? Unless you’re a student, you can have fun on campus without any pressure to study.

All three schools have posted a big glorious syllabus of shows at their performing arts centers, which are open to the public.

At the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls, you’ll find “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band (Oct. 14), along with national tours of “Annie” (Nov. 4) and “Mean Girls” (Nov. 17-18).

At Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City, see serpentwithfeet’s gay Black love story “Heart of Brick” on Oct. 5, the sprawling new multidisciplinary festival Infinite Dream from Oct. 11 to 21 and the Disney/Pixar hit “Coco” on Oct. 27, screened with live music performed by the Orquesta Folclorica Nacional de Mexico.

And at Stephens Auditorium in Ames, check out “RuPaul’s Drag Race: The Night of the Living Drag” on Oct. 13, the music and dance show iLuminate on Oct. 21, the Mineria Symphony Orchestra of Mexico on Oct. 24 or country diva Wynonna Judd on Oct. 27.

For extra credit, visit each center’s website for the full schedules through May.

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