Each spring at the University of Iowa, Iowa City becomes New Work City: a place where new works are being premiered all over campus as our graduate students in the performing arts present their creative projects to the public--often for the first time ever.

Join us on campus from now 'til commencement for #NewWorkCity, the spring initiative by #PerformingArtsAtIowa to highlight new work created by our talented graduate students in the performing arts. 

We welcome you to help us celebrate one dynamic element of the full range of creative work happening at the University of Iowa, showcasing the energy and creativity that crackles across this performing arts community. 

Follow along on Instagram and Facebook! 

Explore events happening in New Work City

Center for New Music Ensemble IV promotional image

Center for New Music Ensemble IV

Sunday, March 9, 2025 7:30pm
Voxman Music Building

Center for New Music Ensemble IV

This spring, Performing Arts at Iowa is highlighting the amazing work created by graduate students in the performing arts. Join us as we celebrate one part of the full range of creative work happening at the University of Iowa. Look for posts highlighting “New Work City” — a nod to the energy and creativity that crackles across this performing arts community. This concert will feature dissertation by composer and doctoral student Ramin Roshandel, along with...

Dance Thesis II Concert – Katelyn Perez, Mariana Tejeda, and Joshua Culbreath promotional image

Dance Thesis II Concert – Katelyn Perez, Mariana Tejeda, and Joshua Culbreath

Thursday, March 13, 2025 8:00pm
Space Place Theater

Thesis II Concert – Katelyn Perez, Mariana Tejeda, and Joshua Culbreath

Thursday March 13: Katelyn and Mariana
Friday March 14: Katelyn, Mariana, and Joshua
Saturday March 15: Katelyn and Mariana
Performances begin at 8 p.m. - FREE and open to all!

It's all part of #NewWorkCity, the spring initiative by #PerformingArtsAtIowa to highlight new work created by our talented graduate students in the performing arts. Join us as we celebrate one part of the full range of creative work happening at...

Dance Thesis II Concert – Katelyn Perez, Mariana Tejeda, and Joshua Culbreath promotional image

Dance Thesis II Concert – Katelyn Perez, Mariana Tejeda, and Joshua Culbreath

Friday, March 14, 2025 8:00pm
Space Place Theater

Thesis II Concert – Katelyn Perez, Mariana Tejeda, and Joshua Culbreath

Thursday March 13: Katelyn and Mariana
Friday March 14: Katelyn, Mariana, and Joshua
Saturday March 15: Katelyn and Mariana
Performances begin at 8 p.m. - FREE and open to all!

It's all part of #NewWorkCity, the spring initiative by #PerformingArtsAtIowa to highlight new work created by our talented graduate students in the performing arts. Join us as we celebrate one part of the full range of creative work happening at...

Dance Thesis II Concert – Katelyn Perez, Mariana Tejeda, and Joshua Culbreath promotional image

Dance Thesis II Concert – Katelyn Perez, Mariana Tejeda, and Joshua Culbreath

Saturday, March 15, 2025 8:00pm
Space Place Theater

Thesis II Concert – Katelyn Perez, Mariana Tejeda, and Joshua Culbreath

Thursday March 13: Katelyn and Mariana
Friday March 14: Katelyn, Mariana, and Joshua
Saturday March 15: Katelyn and Mariana
Performances begin at 8 p.m. - FREE and open to all!

It's all part of #NewWorkCity, the spring initiative by #PerformingArtsAtIowa to highlight new work created by our talented graduate students in the performing arts. Join us as we celebrate one part of the full range of creative work happening at...

Dance Thesis III Concert – Emily Culbreath promotional image

Dance Thesis III Concert – Emily Culbreath

Friday, March 28, 2025 8:00pm
Public Space One

Thesis III Concert: The Space Between – Emily Culbreath

The Space Between is the culminating thesis production for MFA Dance candidate Emily Culbreath. This performance combines the atmosphere of a club space with Hip Hop dance forms and theatrical immersive approaches. Drawing from the performer's experiences, the work encourages critical reflections on race, relationships, and belonging through storytelling and movement. Audiences are invited to witness and dance along in The Space Between!

All...

Dance Thesis III Concert – Emily Culbreath promotional image

Dance Thesis III Concert – Emily Culbreath

Saturday, March 29, 2025 8:00pm
Public Space One

Thesis III Concert: The Space Between – Emily Culbreath

The Space Between is the culminating thesis production for MFA Dance candidate Emily Culbreath. This performance combines the atmosphere of a club space with Hip Hop dance forms and theatrical immersive approaches. Drawing from the performer's experiences, the work encourages critical reflections on race, relationships, and belonging through storytelling and movement. Audiences are invited to witness and dance along in The Space Between!

All...

Dance Thesis IV Concert – Sophia McLaughlin promotional image

Dance Thesis IV Concert – Sophia McLaughlin

Saturday, April 12, 2025 5:00pm
Hickory Hill Park

Thesis IV Concert: Here with the Tallgrass – Sophia McLaughlin

This dance was made in collaboration with the surrounding plant species. Using the structure of a botanical field survey, observations of plant life and environmental factors were recorded through written, visual, and movement language. All these observations have influenced this dance.

As we move through the three prairies where this data collection occurred, you too, are invited to observe and notice the plants and space around us...

Center for New Music Ensemble Concert IV, feat. Gregory Rowland Evans promotional image

Center for New Music Ensemble Concert IV, feat. Gregory Rowland Evans

Sunday, April 20, 2025 7:30pm
Voxman Music Building
Presented by the Center for New Music, this concert features "Alu," a new composition by Gregory Rowland Evans (2024 PhD), and is part of #NewWorkCity
Dance Faculty/Grad Concert promotional image

Dance Faculty/Grad Concert

Thursday, April 24, 2025 8:00pm
Space Place Theater

Faculty/Grad Concert

All performances are free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served.

It's all part of #NewWorkCity, the spring initiative by #PerformingArtsAtIowa to highlight new work created by our talented graduate students in the performing arts. Join us as we celebrate one part of the full range of creative work happening at the University of Iowa. Keep an eye out for more posts this spring featuring #NewWorkCity: a nod to the energy and creativity that crackles across...

Dance Faculty/Grad Concert promotional image

Dance Faculty/Grad Concert

Friday, April 25, 2025 8:00pm
Space Place Theater

Faculty/Grad Concert

All performances are free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served.

It's all part of #NewWorkCity, the spring initiative by #PerformingArtsAtIowa to highlight new work created by our talented graduate students in the performing arts. Join us as we celebrate one part of the full range of creative work happening at the University of Iowa. Keep an eye out for more posts this spring featuring #NewWorkCity: a nod to the energy and creativity that crackles across...

Dance Faculty/Grad Concert promotional image

Dance Faculty/Grad Concert

Saturday, April 26, 2025 8:00pm
Space Place Theater

Faculty/Grad Concert

All performances are free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served.

It's all part of #NewWorkCity, the spring initiative by #PerformingArtsAtIowa to highlight new work created by our talented graduate students in the performing arts. Join us as we celebrate one part of the full range of creative work happening at the University of Iowa. Keep an eye out for more posts this spring featuring #NewWorkCity: a nod to the energy and creativity that crackles across...

Center for New Music presents Composers' Workshop Concert III, with LIGAMENT promotional image

Center for New Music presents Composers' Workshop Concert III, with LIGAMENT

Saturday, May 3, 2025 7:30pm
Voxman Music Building
The Center for New Music will premiere new works by University of Iowa student composers, performed by LIGAMENT
Iowa New Play Festival promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival

Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9, 2025 (all day)
Theatre Building
We are thrilled to present our annual Iowa New Play Festival in the Theatre Building featuring full productions written by MFA playwrights Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe, Eli Campbell, Xiaoyan Kang, and a collection of work by the Undergraduate Playwrights Workshop! Plus, there are readings daily from new, full plays written by MFA playwrights.
Iowa New Play Festival promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival

Tuesday, May 6 to Friday, May 9, 2025 (all day)
Theatre Building
We are thrilled to present our annual Iowa New Play Festival in the Theatre Building featuring full productions written by MFA playwrights Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe, Eli Campbell, Xiaoyan Kang, and a collection of work by the Undergraduate Playwrights Workshop! Plus, there are readings daily from new, full plays written by MFA playwrights.
Iowa New Play Festival promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival

Wednesday, May 7 to Friday, May 9, 2025 (all day)
Theatre Building
We are thrilled to present our annual Iowa New Play Festival in the Theatre Building featuring full productions written by MFA playwrights Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe, Eli Campbell, Xiaoyan Kang, and a collection of work by the Undergraduate Playwrights Workshop! Plus, there are readings daily from new, full plays written by MFA playwrights.
Iowa New Play Festival promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival

Thursday, May 8 to Friday, May 9, 2025 (all day)
Theatre Building
We are thrilled to present our annual Iowa New Play Festival in the Theatre Building featuring full productions written by MFA playwrights Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe, Eli Campbell, Xiaoyan Kang, and a collection of work by the Undergraduate Playwrights Workshop! Plus, there are readings daily from new, full plays written by MFA playwrights.
Digital Graffiti showing promotional image

Digital Graffiti showing

Thursday, May 8, 2025 10:15pm
Theatre Building
Public showing of semester-long project created by students in Digital Graffiti course
Iowa New Play Festival promotional image

Iowa New Play Festival

Friday, May 9, 2025 (all day)
Theatre Building
We are thrilled to present our annual Iowa New Play Festival in the Theatre Building featuring full productions written by MFA playwrights Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe, Eli Campbell, Xiaoyan Kang, and a collection of work by the Undergraduate Playwrights Workshop! Plus, there are readings daily from new, full plays written by MFA playwrights.
Digital Graffiti showing promotional image

Digital Graffiti showing

Friday, May 9, 2025 10:15pm
Theatre Building
Public showing of semester-long project created by students in Digital Graffiti course

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