Audience Comments

Carolina Chocolate Drops

On April 7, Hancher presented the Carolina Chocolate Drops. We asked our audience members with email addresses what they thought. Read these and, if you weren't there, you will wish you had been!

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I'm so glad you brought in this group of excellent musicians. Recapturing some of my musical heritage, roots i didn't even know about, was a great experience for me. They certainly did, "fetch it and bring it forward". Then to couple it with some modern stuff, like Irish lit singing and beat box... "mouth music". Shows that across cultures and through time we really aren't that far apart... people are people, music is music. It was great fun. Hope they come back. I wanted to hug em all and thank them.

Rod

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We first heard CCDs in Bristol TN at the BRR festival. We were so thrilled to have them so close to home. (6 hours) Thank you for bringing such a great group to us!

Bob and Carolyn
Plainview Nebraska

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Outstanding performance!  I hope they’ll come back soon.
John

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The Carolina Chocolate Drops were amazing! It was the best show I've seen in Iowa City. Such a combination of musical talent, expertise, and showmanship. Every song held my rapt attention.

I think the Englert was the perfect venue. Although there was no room to dance, I was in the balcony and could still see the performers well. The lighting changes also added to the mood of the performance

Thanks for bringing them!
Tana

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One of the best performances I have seen in years. Professional, accomplished musicians with a charming sense of fun, deep respect for tradition, and great rapport with the audience. Made me want to put on my dancin’ shoes! Can’t wait for the opportunity to see them live in the near future. Thank you, Hancher, for bringing the Carolina Chocolate Drops to Iowa City and for providing local students from grade school to college the opportunity to interact with them.

Robin Lillie

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Wonderful!  Loved it!  Loved everything about it!  Bring them back!!!!
Wendee

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The Carolina Chocolate Drops were absoluetly fantastic!  One of the best shows I seen at Hancher!  They are not only incredibly talented, but they also have a great interactice style with audiences.

 Angela

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Last night's performance was a highlight of the Hancher season for me.  The Chocolate Drops are fresh, talented, and highly entertaining.  Their performance was top-notch throughout, and contained a commendable breadth of styles and musical subject matter.

I do have a question about the "niche" that Hancher is trying to fill in Iowa City's entertainment market.  The Chocolate Drops seemed a bit outside the normal boundaries of Hancher's more classically-oriented (stuffy?) presentations.  Don't get me wrong, I have very broad musical tastes and have always enjoyed other "lighter" fare on the Hancher schedule, but would like to see more classical chamber music and vocal groups.  With respect to this particular program, I would like to encourage Hancher to continue to reach beyond what has been called the "grey-hair" audience (confession:  I have grey hair).  Perhaps a Hancher "pop" marketing track might be worthwhile.  I would also love to see more UI students in attendance.  Could a "sponsor-a-student" program be worked out?  I would definitely contribute.  I guess it would have to be a lottery affair...

On a similar note, I am delighted that groups such as the Chocolate Drops schedule time with community and school groups (How does this work?  Are they paid?).  In our arts-starved school budgets it is great that students get exposed to something beyond the latest pop culture.

Keep up the good work, and thanks for listening,
Bart Cramer

*
Both a Hoe Down and a "Hoe Up"!
Sherwood

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Took my daughter in law, she had never seen or heard them before, Now, she is a cropie fan of their's. And bought all of the CD's. The best show ever.

Would go back again tonight if they were in town. We will be following them.

Want to see them again soon. Will tell all my friends. What that man can do with his mouth, the noises. Rhiannon's energy, she can't set still.
—C

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They were great!!  one of the best shows we can remember.  so good , in fact, that we are telling you!
Daryl and Nancy Granner

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The Carolina Chocolate Drops were well in one word, AMAZING!!!!!  We drove 200 miles to see them and would drive twice that far to see them again.  The meet the band before the show was great and was a terrific way to get to listen to them about their roots in music.  Thank you to who ever was instrumental in bringing them to Iowa!

Eric Elliott

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This concert was placed perfectly in my life. My friend had finished a very long day...I wasn't sure she'd make it through...and then the group came on stage. With such an amazing energy and teaching ability, these four individuals had dropped from heaven into a world that needs some picking and jigging. Their confidence and joy absolutely brings out the best in people...and they are honoring their ancestry...learning at the feet of a master banjo player ... honoring him and celebrating that process. The Carolina Chocolate Drops help remind us that we are truly all one people. 

What talent, what pizzazz and what a sneaky and productive way to introduce me "miss I don't think I like that" into hip hop....have you ever heard anyone who could make such impressive music from his mouth without singing?

Brilliant selection. Great Venue. Great luck...and timing.

My friend and I are still talking about the show...she made it through just fine...I think I'm going to find her some bones to play. They made it look so easy!

Lisa Baum

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Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob

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The Carolina Chocolate Drops were terrific.  Great concert, great performers, great music.  Thanks for finding them.  They are a group I would not have run across otherwise.
—S

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You have done it again, Hancher folks!!!

This was outstanding. What a show. I hope they come back here some time. Great music

Reginald Cooper
Mary Hogan

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Delightful evening- genuine performers sharing their gift of soul refreshing and physically compelling music.
Nancy

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Great show -- the crowd loved them.  Hope you will have them back.
Jan

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The Carolina Chocolate Drops are an absolutely incredible act. Every song brought something new and delightful. Bring them back.

Love and stuff,
Gene Matthews

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The show was superb; in fact, I thought it was the most entertaining Hancher performance we have seen in years. The songs showed off the players' impressive virtuosity but that was balanced well with the group's overall musicality. Their devotion to their art (and to educating their audiences about it) was clearly evident but it was also clear that they have a lot of fun playing the music and playing off each other. Such fun is contagious!

Gregg

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This was a tremendously entertaining group from start to finish. I’ve been to many, many Hancher events over multiple years and this is definitely amongst my top favorites.

Karen Drake

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The Carolina Chocolate Drops were nothing short of amazing!!!  They are so talented.  I was so glad I went to see them.  They are preserving a form of music rarely heard outside the South these days.  It is an important part of our national cultural history as well as music history.  They are so versatile too.  Hit Em Up Style was so much fun the way they performed it.  The "beat boxing" was the best I ever heard.  THEY ARE TRULY A NATIONAL TREASURE!!!

Sharon

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Love it.  The third time we had seen them.  Missed the dancing of the fellow that departed but like the new additions as well as the pre-performance discussion.
—B

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I had heard complaints about other programs that they were too 'one dimensional.' The CCD had a varied program that spanned folk to blues to jazz. It was excellent.
Dave

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Even though we were not familiar with the genre we thoroughly enjoyed the enthusiasm of the performers and the audience.  We even did know some of the lyrics from "camp days"  long ago.  Amazing talent.
 
A great concert!!
—R

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I loved the show.  The members are intelligent and articulate, yet interacted well with the audience.  Their attitude was relaxed but their music dynamic.  The night was pure fun.

Colette Hostetler

 

 

Universes

On April 1, Hancher presented the group Universes and their piece Ameriville. Audience members were asked to tell us about the evening and here is what they told us.

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Thanks for asking! I really liked it but would have appreciated a description of the group and their approach to performance, in the program. There was no context for their piece so it seemed like the audience was a bit reserved or wary, not knowing where they were being taken. They were not very engaged until the end when the audience was very enthusiastic. There were times when the footwork stamped out the voice of the singer. I thought the voices and the message were important and powerful. I was a little confused by having nearly 25% of it about Katrina and then it morphed into lots of other social justice issues. I think Hancher could have been more descriptive or explicit in marketing what kind of performance this was and perhaps reached out more to diverse groups concerned with social justice issues. Maybe you did this, but the audience was pretty Caucasian; not a bad thing, but some folks really missed out. I applaud your efforts to bring more diversity to Hancher events. Keep up the good work!

Ms. Jefri Palermo

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An interesting experiment. We found the sound to be too loud and the delivery too fast; it was often hard to hear the words. Given the audience, we thought that the actors were preaching to the already converted. We assume that they would like to reach a broader audience. It is not apparent that this play would do that. Finally, there is the question of accuracy. A line in the play was that there was a home there and another there. We visited the ninth ward in New Orleans shortly after it was flooded. Street after street of homes were seriously damaged or uninhabitable, but few were washed away. Perhaps, now homes have been demolished, but they were not demolished by the flood. It was not a tsunami.

Cheers, Gene

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Powerful.  Sometimes uneven, but there were scenes that were well written and performed.  It was difficult at times to hear.  Too bad that performers don’t realize that if the words don’t come across, you have lost the play, the song, etc.  We are glad we attended and had much to talk about relevant to Universes afterwards. 

Thank you.  Hancher attendees

•
Well, to be honest we were disappointed.  We are big fans of New Orleans but we could not understand much of the lyrics.  At times it was almost too loud to comprehend.  We lost my husband immediately when he couldn't understand and he went to sleep.  Great dance, good rhythm but audio we could hear but not discern, probably in part from aging ears but I think not entirely.  Sorry - I like to pick some unknowns and some don't work out.

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A Rap Opera. WOW!
Sherwood

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Universes was one of the most powerful performances I have ever experienced: fiercely political, yet highly comedic; devastating, yet uplifting. I left with song in my soul and joy in my heart.

Thanks for asking,
Stephanie

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My first response to Ameriville was "Oh shit, yet another!" as I took out my hearing aids.  I do not understand why everything needs to be way too loud.  Why cannot performances be of human scale?  I have worked in Mabie Theatre for more than 50 years and I know that performers of even moderate training can project sufficiently to fill the room. 

Lighting, projections and the set were really quite good. 

The "artists" as they choose to call themselves worked hard and with precision.  They could "perform" but they could not act. Considering the content, we should have been left caring about the social issues they presented, we should have left the theatre caring about what they presented.  Their "acting" was so bad, however, that it was hard to care.  Part of this might be the result of being on tour too long, of having to crank it out night after night.  But even then, they should be able to make us feel for the issues they were presenting.

David Thayer

 

 

 

Calmus

Calmus appeared in Iowa City as part of Hancher's 2010-11 Season on March 25. We emailed ticketholders about their reactions to the concert and here is what we heard back.

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My wife, our granddaughter (a West High freshman), and myself thoroughly enjoyed the Calmus concert.  The inclusion of the two high school choirs made it even more special.  A memorable event!

Mike Hazell

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Calmus was sensational. I purchased 11 tickets and everyone was thrilled. Please have them back again soon.

Now one important point. I direct an a cappella community choir. We wanted to see TAKE 6 and Calmus.

Because they were on consecutive nights we had to choose. We live a distance away and we can't afford so much expense in the same week. Also Ladysmith was just the month prior. We wanted to go to all three and we might have been able to if you had spread the three groups out throughout the season. As it was we had to pick just on leaving us a bit disappointed and leaving you with a distorted view of actual interest in these groups.

I am sure  you have your reasons and some in your box office tried to justify this scheduling phenomena as "we were doing an acapella thing." As a marketer myself, I would like to say that you will get a distorted read on your markets interest by scheduling in this way. YOuwill get better attendance and make more money by spreading out the groups that pull those with similar interests.

I hope you will take my comments to heart. I  would have gone to all three concerts and I am sure many more would have gone to Calmus, but chose in favor of one of the other two groups but for the same reasons.

Thanks for all you do. Your devoted and opinionated friend
Elaine

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They were masters of their art and we enjoyed it. It was a delight to see and hear the combine choirs.

Thank You for a great evening.

Bob and Eunice Welsh

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Wonderful program, Finely tuned group. Would have loved more of their singing with the combined choir. I'd have stayed for another hour if that had happened. The kids were great.

Anthony

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A contrast from Take 6, but very enjoyable.  I appreciated Bach sung auf Deutsch.  It probably was not possible, but when possible, it would have been nice to have the German lyrics to follow.  Regardless, it was good art and entertainment.

Dave Tiffany

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This was a delightful and talented group of young folks.  While each may be a soloist in their own right, together they blended into one pleasant sounding instrument.  Their pitch and pacing were perfect, and their English was very well spoken.  Their taking turns to announce the next piece established great raport with the audience.  Calmus is a ‘must’  return for a future Hancher performance.

Thanks for bringing them to Iowa City.
Bill and Sharon Oglesby

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Excellent group, great sound, great diversity of music.  True professionals.
Larry 

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Such talent!  We savored every musical moment.  Encore, please.
Myrene and H. Dee Hoover

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All praise to the folks that arranged for Calmus to come to Iowa City.  We drove over from Chicago not to miss this event.  I know them from their previous visits to Illinois.

Yours truly,
Dan Seymour

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the show was musically very well done and quite amusing as well.
G. Strohmer

 

Take 6

On March 24, Take 6 was presented by Hancher at the IMU Main Lounge.
Here are the comments we received from the audience after we asked for their commnts.

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Overall enjoyed the concert.  many of the lyrics were not understandable.  Great talent.

RHC

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I enjoyed the Take 6 event immensely.
It was joyful from beginning to end.
Take 6 was completely entertaining and full of wonderful energy.
I smiled the whole time.

Tonya

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I would never go to see them again.  They were too loud,  selections were too similar,  and I do not support group who gives praise to the lord, without knowing that that is part of the program (i.e. church ). 

Betty

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We were greatly disappointed with the show presented by "Take 6."  We went to the concert prepared to hear the pleasing harmonies of six male voices in natural sound, doing vocal jazz and soul touched with gospel.  Instead we got artificial sound of boom box quality that masked the potential for natural and acoustic projection of their program.  Not only was the artificial sound, especially at the level it was projected, a disappointment, the artists used gimmicks that drew attention away from their natural abilities.  We left the show after thirty minutes.

Bob and Beth

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Good and LOUD!
Sherwood

 

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Tremendous. I would see them again in a minute!

Dave

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The music was good, but too loud.   We wish they had done more "old standards."

Kay and Dale

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very good concert! bring in more groups of the like :)
Mark

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I LOVE Take 6!  May, in fact, have been introduced to their tight harmonies when they were at Hancher in 1991.  Was pleased to have been able to bring a group of young people to the concert to expose them to the varied musical stylings of this group.

It is refreshing to see a group of African American men singing family-oriented music so well and for so long. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience, and I know the The Academy Kids did, as well.

Ruth

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Parts we enjoyed, others were a stretch.  It was a matter of expectations.  We were expecting less amplification so I was overwhelmed some of the times.   Maybe it is just that we are over 65!  

Just some feedback..  We liked to be "stretched" a bit and we were last night.   

SS

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My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. It was dynamic and uplifting. We appreciate Hancher's ability to offer this performance to our community. Some of the songs brought some wonderful memories.

Diana

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Absolutely loved these guys.  It’s some of the best music I’ve heard all year, and they were so personable.  Please bring them back in the future!

Nancy

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BRAVO!!!  Something my students could really latch on to both in terms of applicability to their own performing and entertaining to many generations!  We saw several older folks leave in the middle, most likely due to volume.  DO NOT BE DETERRED BY THEIR POTENTIAL NEGATIVE COMMENTS.  It was a fabulous performance and I'm glad to see Hancher bringing in some top rate ensembles as well as branching out from the normal lineup.

Keep it coming!!!
Joel

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This was a terrific event.  Part of the treat was the pre-concert with the Uof I men’s and women’s groups!  Good to know there are still such talented men and women. The concert was energetic, entertaining and spiritually uplifting an confirming.  They should be invited back again.

Nanc

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Basically, enjoyed the show very much. Would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't had to have my hands over my ears for about 1/3 the show. My husband took his hearing aids out and still found it too loud.

Judy

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A very talented group. We enjoyed the program for the most part. The bass was overpowering in the first piece. I could feel my body vibrating. Fortunately, there was a change of pace in the second piece. However, more generally, we thought that amplification made it difficult to hear the words of the songs.

Take 6 certainly has a devoted following.

Cheers, Gene

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We thought we would have to leave during the first number due to the intensity of the sound.  However, the sound people got it together and we thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the evening.  It was great hearing some standards like “ Smile.”  It was great to see an audience that was mixed in age.  A delightful evening! 

Hancher attendees

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What a fabulous experience we had at Take 6!  We were so thrilled by this absolutely incredible performance by such a talented energetic and positive group!  When the world seems to be in such difficulty--in Libya, Japan--and our political discourse is so confrontational, it is such a lift to be with Take 6 for an evening! 

It is duly noted that they asked to come back when we have "our Hancher back"!  They noticed how sad it is for us to live with our arts moving from place to place....making do with conditions that are only acceptable....we look forward to the day when we will have "our Hancher experience" back again.

Will that ex-Hancher building ever come down?  Will the new plans begin to form and will the work begin so that it is visible and real?  Even in these hard economic times, will we be able to envision a time when we will be back into The ARTS at full capacity!? 

Take 6 took us places last night!  a wonderful celebration as only the arts can give us! Touching our souls, our joy, our heart felt longing for brilliant artistic expressions of the best of life!

Thank you!  Bev

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Roots

Hancher and SCOPE combined forces and presented The Roots on March 9. Here is what our audience sent us:

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The Roots put on a fantastic show full of high energy, melodic sounds, and extreme talent.  The "opening act" was terrible, because the announcer frustrated the crowd rather than warming them up.

Molly

 

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Too frickin loud! Painful- too crowded. Should of sold fewer tickets.  Band was great. Can u book a funk.or jazz group next time?

Saul

Danú

On Friday night, March 4, Hancher presented Danú. We asked our audience their reactions and here is what we heard:

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I loved the Danu concert!  Just the right mix of lively music and slow ballads.  I particularly liked the way one or two instruments would begin and the rest would join in.

It was beautiful.  I hope they come back another year.

Dicta

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We loved Danu!  Impressed by the talent, engaged with the performers and couldn’t keep from toe-tapping, head-bobbin’, and clapping along.  A very entertaining evening. Would definitely come to see them again!

 J. Callahan

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Super!! Very engaged audience
Cheers, Gene

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The Danu concert was, without a doubt, the best concert I have ever attended, no contest. The musicians were friendly, funny, energetic and incredibly good at making music. If they return to the Midwest, I will be first in line to get my tickets, so please, invite them back!

 Sincerely,
Jen

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Danú was great but i feel that the venue was not ideal. This group would have benefited  from a  less restrictive seating location. I've attended an event at the Riverside Casino.  an Irish band feeds on audience response, which is facilitated and enhanced by some freedom of movement. Several times the group encouraged the audience to use vocalizations "shouts" as encouragement a little foot-stomping and hand clapping energizes them.

Fixed seats are best for strictly passive performances. if Hancher must continue to offer performances in different locations, please consider the nature of the performers when selections are made.

Thanks for your ear.
Janice Frey

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We were SOOOO excited that Danú came back to Iowa!  We love them and this concert was everything we expected.  We are so hoping they come back again soon.   We had previously seen them at CSPS in Cedar Rapids before the flooding, and kind of miss the very intimate setting and the fantastic energy felt in the smaller venue.  I understand that due to their popularity that may be a thing of the past...in which case we were truly blessed for having had the experience.  Thank you Danú!   Come back again soon!

Sandy

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I tapped my toes off!
Sherwood

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Each performed was a virtuoso on their instrument. The band was excellent and very tight. It was a thrilling performance and the audience was enthralled.

Elaine

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I have seen Danu many times with Tom Doorley  flute, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh vocals/ tin whistle and Donnnchadh Gough on pipes and the bodhran. I was a bit concerned they were not in the lineup that played the Friday night but those concerns were quickly dashed as the engine that is Danu got going.  Even though the lineup was changed slightly and I had heard all the tunes before there was definitely the same energy and professionalism to Danu that fans have come to expect from the best Irish traditional group going. Oisin McAuley is one of the best fiddle players on the planet.  Benny McCarthy the engine of Danu along with Eamon Doorley, bouzouki and Donal Clancy guitar (yes that Clancy family) are always spectacular.  However, the musicians filling in for those who were absent did not disappoint.  Martin O’Neill is a quality bodhran player who has played with everyone from Eamon’s wife Julie Fowlis a fine Scots’ gaelic singer to John McCusker a legend of Scottish music best known for his days with the battlefield band.   Shuana Mullin and Ivan Goff were very talented as well.  So all in all a great performance to a sold out house.  If there is a chance to get musicians like this in the future I believe Friday night demonstrates there is an audience for it.

Cheers
Tom Pace

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It was an excellent performance.  We were pleased that alcohol was allowed only in the lobby and not in the theatre itself.  We attended an Englert performance the Saturday before where alcohol was allowed in the Theatre and several folks sitting in front of us were quite drunk and there was much loud talking during the performance--that should not be allowed at any time.

Larry

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We loved them.  Would see them again.
Casey and Kate

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They were great. A really outstanding performance.
Reg Cooper and Mary Hogan

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This was a delightful group of young folks, both as professional musicians and as charming people.  Thanks for putting them on the schedule!

Bill and Sharon Oglesby

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Danu was fantastic. They are some of the best musicians I have ever heard. I was disappointed that their lead singer wasn't there, although her replacement was very good. Even though they were fantastic, when you pay $40 for a ticket you expect the full group to be there.That said, I'm glad I was there. Please get them back (with the full group.)

Sam

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Danu was marvelous!  Their music is electric.  I purchased their CD and relived the concert again over the weekend.   I would welcome the opportunity to hear them perform again.  Hope Hancher brings them back for a return engagement.     

Rita

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We've seen them before in New Mexico.  I like traditional Celtic music and they are entertaining as well.  Excellent musicians

Neva

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Danu was one of the most engaging shows I've been to!  They truly got the audience involved and had us clapping, shouting, and stomping our feet.  A perfect show before St. Patrick's Day.  The band seemed extremely appreciative of the Iowa welcome and I, as I'm sure most of the audience, am an official fan of Danu! 

Tara

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I am delighted to tell you how impressed I was with the Danu concert.  We have heard many of the celtic groups that have come to Iowa City in recent years, but they were far above all others!  Having visited Ireland in 2009, they were delightfully genuine.  Their technical skill was fascinating and musicianship simply amazing.  While other groups may have one primary star, this group is very equally balanced, and when put together as an ensemble, provide a truly amazing performance.  Since being introduced to Danu by the announcement of the Hancher season last summer, I have sought out their recordings and set up a Danu station on Pandora.  If there is ever an opportunity to bring them back to Iowa City, I hope you will invite them again.

Thanks!! 
Kevin Ward

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My husband and I caught Danu last Friday night. It was a fantastic show. They played music, music, MUSIC! Celtic bands make us feel good.

I still remember the Tannahill Weavers, which we saw at CSPS in Cedar Rapids more than two years ago. We saw a family act called Grada more than a year ago, and Alistair Frasier sometime in-between.

We enjoyed the show "Cherish the Ladies" at your venue.

Just keep it coming.
Judy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Schubert Piano Trios

David Finckel, Wu Han, and Philip Setzer playing the Schubert Piano Trios in a concert on February 24 as part of this season at Hancher, elicited these comments from our audience:

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Magnificent!  I drove down from CR and back in snowy weather to not miss it!
Paul

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The concert was fantastic.  Everyone was in tune and I noted that even the tone of all of the instruments complimented each other.  The musicians are exceptional and their bios speak for themselves.  We have seen the Emerson String Quartet several times and rarely miss the chance to hear and/or see them perform. 

We also feel this way about the Berlin String Quartet, St. Martins in the Fields, The Academy of Ancient Music, Ian Hobson, Awadagin Pratt, The Zuckerman Family and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.  I also adore anything by Beethoven and most traditional Irish/Celtic music.  My husband enjoys dance and Aaron Copeland.

Regards,
Neva

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This was a thoroughly wonderful performance!  The musicians were excellent and connected with the audience beautifully.  

Our one comment would be that the venue was not at all well identified.  We had come from out of town and fortunately decided to locate the Riverside Recital when we arrived in Iowa City.   There was no sign or visible address -  very difficult to locate! 

Thanks,
Linda and Gerge 

 •
Great performance. Hard seats!
Sherwood

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Great concert and the acoustics were also great.
Cheers, Gene

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The trio were excellent musicians, and played delightful music.  The selections, however, were almost too similar.  Trios from two different composers might have been more enjoyable.

Bill and Sharon Oglesby

 

 

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

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The show was amazing.  The voices were so rich and blended so well.  The group was pretty incredibly flexible, too, even the older guys.   It was really a great evening.
Chris Buresh

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The venue was great!  We were sitting further back and to the right and I was resigned to the fact that we would hear the music, but not really be able to see the artists.  The contrary was true.  It seems that all seats were equally good.  The sound was great.

Thanks!
GB

 

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It was a great show. Unfortunately, the seating was uncomfortable, but I think that could be easily improved. The seats were much too crowded, both between & within the rows. A little more space, both to the sides & to the front & back, would make the experience much more enjoyable. We felt “packed in like sardines” & that’s never confortable.

The rows of chairs were straight across in front of the stage. We were seated to the right of the stage, so we spent the whole night looking to our left to see the stage. We had sore necks by the end of the evening.

Thanks,
Ron

 

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The performance was great and kid friendly which was nice to see. The smoke wafting in from the casino side, however, was regrettable. It was  also difficult to maintain a visual of the stage because of the seating arrangement, across a flat ballroom floor. Overall Ladysmith Black Mambazo was amazing but the venue in which they presented could have been a bit nicer.

Kdm

 

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Ladysmith Black Mambazo was fabulous as always.  They are so energetic and harmonic.  I loved the performance.

Some concerns about the venue:  I could smell cigarette smoke throughout the performance, which I am assuming was coming from the casino floor.  This was very bothersome.  Also, the doors at the back were open and there was noise from the entrance.  I do not know if the doors could have been closed which might have helped with the noise and the smoke.

And again, I miss Hancher!!!  I can’t wait for the new facility to be built.  But thanks for continuing to provide exceptional entertainment.

Janet

 

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I really enjoyed the concert.  It was so amazing to have a world-renown, Grammy award winning group perform for us as if we were part of their family.  At times I wished I knew what they were saying in their songs, but luckily I don't need a dictionary to understand 'beautiful.'  It was a truly enriching experience.

Molly

 

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A very good show.
Reg Cooper

 

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Very South African!
Sherwood

 

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Thanks for bringing such excellent talent to the area under these circumstances.  Our only negative issue with the event has to do with the smoke smells throughout the area.  My wife is pregnant and the smell was too much for her, so we left at intermission.  I know that you have to deal with the cards you’re dealt, so I completely understand the predicament.  Thanks again!

Brian

 

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Wonderful concert, can’t wait until you get into a full time smoke free venue again.
James

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What a wonderful evening!!
Jean

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Just wanted to share my thoughts regarding this concert.  It was fantastic!!  What a powerfully moving show, packed with authentic talent and rich culture.  Met several of the gentlemen and they were incredibly gracious and kind.  Please invite them back for another concert!!!

Thanks,
Karen

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Enjoyed the performance, hate the venue. It is crowded, chair spacing and aisles don't meet IC fire code (don't know about Washington Co.), hate the smoke in the lobby, stage is crummy. Hope that you can find another venue soon for the larger performances.

Judy

Merce

The Legacy Tour of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company performed in the IMU Main Lounge as part of this year's Hancher season. Here are the responses we received from audience members when we emailed to ask what they thought.

 

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Nice performance, horrific parking.

Barbara

 

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I was delighted with the Merce Cunningham Dance program on Feb. 8th.  I wasn't sure how they could stage it in that Main Lounge but they did a brilliant job.  The sound production and the lighting were great .  The audience loved those dancers and the dancers seemed very pleased with us.  It was a fun evening, I wouldn't have wanted to miss it.

Darlyne

 

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Really,really terriffic.

Sherwood

 

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Loved the dance, hated the venue.  There was virtually no parking nearby on a very cold night.  But I am very happy to have dance companies still willing to come to Iowa City. I miss our Hancher building!!!!!!

Janet

 

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I was very disappointed in the seating and stage for the Merce Cunningham program.  I could not get the perspective of the choreography sitting on a chair at the level below the stage.  I watched the piece on youtube yesterday and really enjoyed the choreography for free.  I realize it is challenging creating performance spaces without Hancher Auditorium but this one missed the mark entirely for me.  I believe dance should be presented on a traditional stage…especially the last chance to see Merce Cunningham performances.

Wendee

 

 

Fiddler on the Roof

Hancher presented Fiddler on the Roof at the US Cellular Center on December 1. We emailed ticketholders about their experience and we received these answers:

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I GAVE MY TICKETS TO A FRIEND AND HER 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER AND THEY BOTH ENJOYED THE SHOW GREATLY-  ESPECIALLY THE GIRL-  SHE WAS GUSHING WITH PRAISE.  THIS WAS HER FIRST EXPERIENCE SEEING  A PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLE AND I THINK THEY TURNED HER INTO A FAN.  PLEASE WISH THE ENTIRE CAST AND ORCHESTRA HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. 

 PK

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Loved the Show, the Venue was not good for a musical but I bet there isn’t very many places around that could hold that many people.  The flood took a lot of the places away!  I still liked the show.

Donna

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Fabulous!  Thanks for offering it – bring on more musicals!!
JA

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I loved the show but the seating on the main floor made seeing the production almost impossible.  It was a family event for us and I would go again.  I would however encourage greater use of the auditorium style seating available.

Thank you,
LC

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I thoroughly enjoyed the show despite the limitations of the venue. The cast was a well assembled variety of talent and beautiful voices. I don't think Tevye could be portrayed any more colorfully and vivaciously than John Preece does - and his performance still seems fresh after 1500+ times! I felt that the dancing and colorful costumes would have looked better on a larger stage, but they did the best they could with what they were given.

(Boy, do I miss Hancher Auditorium!!) I'm glad I went and hope others will continue to 'hang in there" until we can once again enjoy what we took for granted until 2008.

MH

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Loved the performance!  Such talent!!  The Five Season venue was somewhat limiting but understandable.  Too much seating on the main floor. My seat was almost to the back and VERY close to the row in front of me.  I moved to the side bleachers(they were empty) at the beginning of the performance as did many others and had a great view of the stage. Enjoyed the show.

Jane Sloan

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I bought tickets to Fiddler on the Roof as a birthday present for my husband…I couldn’t have purchased a better gift.  The performance was absolutely amazing!  Thank you for bringing this opportunity to Cedar Rapids!

Rick and Kathy Berry

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Great show and cast.
Sherwood

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We enjoyed the show very much.  The music, choreography, set and costumes were wonderful and met our expectations.  We were disappointed though with the seating.  We were on the main floor, near the center about row 16.  The stage was not high enough and I couldn't see the right side of the stage at all due to a large person in front of me.  We had to sit up and strain our necks to see.  That was disappointing.  I've never been to this venue, but wish on the web site, they would distinguish which seats were elevated and which were not.  These were not $60.00 seats!  Just a few rows behind us there were elevated seats, and that would have been perfect.

I have a mild disability, so when I am not familiar with the venue, I usually request seating on the main floor. I wish the website provided more info about the seats and accessibility.

We will attend future shows, as the quality of the show was good.  I will, however, call and discuss the seating before booking tickets.

Amy Smith

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Great Show! It will be good to be back in Hancher!
Bob

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The performance was wonderful but our seats were on the side and not the best. 
We are glad that the US Cellular is getting a redo, not very many good seats in
that place!

Becky

 

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lovely show, nice sound, terrible seating, could not see show from front orchestra seating.

Sonia