Best Show Ever

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

In this week’s episode, we discuss the recent publishing industry merger between Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. Then, we’ll talk with Ralph Bryant and Joel Sires about their new project, Seeder Records, and we’ll hear from local volunteer-extraordinaire Kelly Ruggles about her best show ever. Visit Friends of the Animal Center Foundation at facf.org and the Coralville Community Food Pantry at coralvillefoodpantry.org

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “Corona of Springfield” by Brian Johannesen for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to MidAmerica Securities, Bread Garden Market, and Preucil School of Music 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: Red Rebelskey, Gabi Vanek, and Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry

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 hear from the artisan jewelry maker, Alicia Velasquez, the woman behind the House of Dotł'izhi. We also talk with local American Sign Language interpreter, Bambi Suits, about her advocacy, career, and Best Show(s) ever.

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

Thank you to MidWestOne 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 share a behind-the-scenes look at production work in the arts. Then, we’ll talk with Kirsten Sogaard, a U.S. postal worker, artist, and local courier, followed by a conversation with Manny Gálvez - founder of Iowa City Latino Festival and local publication El Trueque Iowa - about the power of community and his best show ever!

The episode features music by Gossip Cult, Alex Body, and “january storm” by tomato boy for our Song of the Week.

Thank you to Toyota of Iowa City, Phoebe Martin Realty, and OPN Architects 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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Staff Writer & Content Manager: Claire Barrett

Host: Elly Hofmaier

Line Producer: Savannah Lane

Audio Engineers: Red Rebelskey, Gabi Vanek, and Ioannis Alexakis

Executive Producers: John Schickedanz & Andre Perry