Best Show Ever

Thanks for tuning in to Best Show Ever, a podcast presented by The Englert Theatre. In this week’s episode we talk with Tara McGovern and Justin LeDuc, two ensemble members for the musical project known as Esteban and the Children of the Sun. We also hear from Jen Knights, Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist for the University of Iowa's School of Social Work and host of their new podcast, "Wild Bill’s Cup of Social Justice".

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “Second Mug” by O'Boy for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to Martin Construction for sponsoring this episode.

Ongoing support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and from the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. Phase 1 is an initiative of Arts Midwest and its peer United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Best Show Ever is produced by the Englert in Iowa City, Iowa, and is supported by Friends of the Englert. Visit www.englert.org/friends to support our programming.

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Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Elly Hofmaier

Audio Engineers: Elly Hofmaier & Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry

On this week’s episode, we talk Mimi Ke about the art of aerial performing. Then, to keep the aerial theme going, we talk to Michael Tharp, manager of the Iowa City municipal airport. 

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “Too Tired to Sleep” by Alex Ramsey for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to MidWestOne Bank for sponsoring this episode.

Ongoing support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and from the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. Phase 1 is an initiative of Arts Midwest and its peer United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Best Show Ever is produced by the Englert in Iowa City, Iowa, and is supported by Friends of the Englert. Visit www.englert.org/friends to support our programming.

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Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Elly Hofmaier

Audio Engineers: Elly Hofmaier & Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry

In this week’s episode, we talk to Mike Weber, aka Shadowfox Photography, about his career in concert photography and thoughts on the corridor music scene. Then we hear from the newly appointed Interim Executive Director for The Englert, John Schickedanz.

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “I Love You” by Lex Leto for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to Martin Construction for sponsoring this episode.

Ongoing support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and from the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. Phase 1 is an initiative of Arts Midwest and its peer United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Best Show Ever is produced by the Englert in Iowa City, Iowa, and is supported by Friends of the Englert. Visit www.englert.org/friends to support our programming.

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Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Elly Hofmaier

Audio Engineers: Elly Hofmaier & Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry

On this week’s episode we talk with Nolan Petersen, board chair and tenor vocalist for the Quire of Eastern Iowa. We also hear from Grace Swartzendruber, a mother and full-spectrum doula.

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “What?” by TIGER! for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to Kim Schillig for sponsoring this episode.

Ongoing support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and from the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. Phase 1 is an initiative of Arts Midwest and its peer United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Best Show Ever is produced by the Englert in Iowa City, Iowa, and is supported by Friends of the Englert. Visit www.englert.org/friends to support our programming.

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Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Elly Hofmaier

Audio Engineers: Elly Hofmaier & Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry

On this week’s episode we talk about putting art to work with Carla Baudrons, founder of Art Office which is a 12-week accountability program designed to help artists. We also hear from Michael and Vicki Lensing, co-owners of Lensing funeral home.

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “Sad Stories” by Anthony Worden & the Illiterati for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to Martin Construction for sponsoring this episode.

Ongoing support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and from the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. Phase 1 is an initiative of Arts Midwest and its peer United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Best Show Ever is produced by the Englert in Iowa City, Iowa, and is supported by Friends of the Englert. Visit www.englert.org/friends to support our programming.

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Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Elly Hofmaier

Audio Engineers: Elly Hofmaier & Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry

This week we talk with co-owners of Record Collector, Alissa Witzke and Bobby Larson. We also hear from Frankline Matanji, a PhD student in the school of Journalism and Mass Communications. Franklin speaks on his experience as an international student from Kenya and his favorite live arts performance in Iowa City!

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “Orcrist” by DRYAD for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to Martin Construction for sponsoring this episode.

Ongoing support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and from the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. Phase 1 is an initiative of Arts Midwest and its peer United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Best Show Ever is produced by the Englert in Iowa City, Iowa, and is supported by Friends of the Englert. Visit www.englert.org/friends to support our programming.

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Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Elly Hofmaier

Audio Engineers: Gabi Vanek & Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry

In this week’s episode we talk about the importance of representation in TV and Movies with Iowa City film maven Nick Messersmith. We then talk to Assistant City Manager, Rachel Kilburg, about what it takes to run a city. Rachel also tells us about what makes a Gregory Alan Isakov show so special.

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “Holy Ghost” by Good Morning Midnight for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to Martin Construction for sponsoring this episode.

Ongoing support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and from the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. Phase 1 is an initiative of Arts Midwest and its peer United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Best Show Ever is produced by the Englert in Iowa City, Iowa, and is supported by Friends of the Englert. Visit www.englert.org/friends to support our programming.

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Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Elly Hofmaier

Audio Engineers: Elly Hofmaier & Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry

In this week’s episode we talk with local musician, theme night planner, and community organizer extraordinaire - Kane Edwards. We also hear from Jessica Bristow, a historic preservation planner for the City of Iowa City. 

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “Drive” by Ahzia for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to Martin Construction for sponsoring this episode.

Ongoing support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and from the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. Phase 1 is an initiative of Arts Midwest and its peer United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Best Show Ever is produced by the Englert in Iowa City, Iowa, and is supported by Friends of the Englert. Visit www.englert.org/friends to support our programming.

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Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Elly Hofmaier

Audio Engineers: Elly Hofmaier & Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry

In this week's episode we talk to TheZeffster, performing artist and CEO of Critical Money, a hip-hop music label based in Iowa City. We also hear from Jon Green, former mayor of Lone Tree, Iowa and recently elected Johnson County Supervisor. Jon fills us in on his political journey and his joyous best show ever.

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “Glisten” by Bouquet for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to MidWestOne Bank for sponsoring this episode.

Ongoing support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and from the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. Phase 1 is an initiative of Arts Midwest and its peer United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Best Show Ever is produced by the Englert in Iowa City, Iowa, and is supported by Friends of the Englert. Visit www.englert.org/friends to support our programming.

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Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Elly Hofmaier

Audio Engineers: Elly Hofmaier & Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry

Donté K. Hayes is an artist who primarily works in the realms of ceramics and printmaking. He attended grad school at the University of Iowa and during his time, acted as a board member for Public Space One and helped build the Center for Afrofuturist Studies. Antoine Williams is a mixed media artist from North Carolina and was scheduled to do an in person residency at PS1 before the pandemic moved the work to a digital format. Savannah Lane is currently the Programming & Production Coordinator here at The Englert. (She’s also the one who types these episode descriptions. Hey y’all!) She’s a longtime camp counselor for Girls Rock! Des Moines and has recently joined on as a coach for Girls on the Run in Iowa City. She’s had an incredibly prolific career within the Iowa music industry (aw, shucks) in just a short period of time which we’ll get into, but now she’s taking a step away from arts programming.

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “Body Rock” by Alyx Rush for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to Carrie Houchins-Witt for sponsoring this episode.

Ongoing support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and from the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund. Phase 1 is an initiative of Arts Midwest and its peer United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Best Show Ever is produced by the Englert in Iowa City, Iowa, and is supported by Friends of the Englert. Visit www.englert.org/friends to support our programming.

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Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Savannah Lane

Audio Engineers: Gabi Vanek & Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry