The new Hancher Auditorium.
A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for this afternoon at the University of Iowa’s new Hancher Auditorium.
The $176 million performing arts center replaces the original Hancher which was inundated by floodwaters in 2008. Tours of the new 18-hundred seat Hancher will be given during open houses tonight and Sunday afternoon.
Hancher marketing director Rob Cline says next Friday, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform the first concert there. “One of the reasons that that’s so important to us is back in 1972, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band opened the original auditorium,” Cline says. “So we’re delighted to welcome them back for this big free outdoor concert.”
Cline says ticket sales have been strong for upcoming events, including the September 29th appearance of saxophonist David Sanborn, a University of Iowa grad.
(By George Dorman, KCCK, Iowa City?University of Iowa photo)