News and Press

Kellie Lin Knott will bring message of hope to August Goldfinch Room concert

Aug. 12, 2022 | By Fred Love

Kellie Lin Knott, a singer-songwriter from the Twin Cities, writes infectious grooves and jazzy melodies that reinforce her hopeful lyrics, resulting in songs that can’t help but lift the moods of her listeners. Knott, along with Decorah songwriter Joshua Vorvick, will perform in the Goldfinch Room on Aug. 16.

Read the full story.

 

 

Joshua Vorvick set to play Goldfinch Room after Bluebird Cafe songwriting contest win

July 27, 2022 | By Fred Love

Once too shy to perform in his high school’s choir, Joshua Vorvick overcame the nerves to spend years as a professionally touring vocalist. Then, last spring, he performed an award-winning original song at Nashville’s storied Bluebird Cafe — all without a hint of stage fright. See Vorvick in the Goldfinch Room on Aug. 16.

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Stephens Auditorium connects university choir with international recording stars for innovative pandemic-era collaborations

June 23, 2022 | By Fred Love

Stephens Auditorium’s participation in World Fest created an opportunity for Iowa State University’s Lyrica choir to create a music video with an Israeli pop singer, even as the pandemic shut down touring and live events. The collaboration bridges the distance between Israel and Iowa and proves nothing brings people together like music.

Read the full story.

 

Performing arts series returns this fall

August 10, 2021 | By: Megan Reuther

After a very long year, people are excited live performances are back! Stephens Auditorium Marketing Manager, Dr. Montana Smith, shares details on the 2021-2022 Performing Arts Series on WHO Channel 13’s Hello Iowa!

Watch the full segment here.

Press Release: Stephens Auditorium received pandemic funding from Iowa Arts and Culture Recovery Grant

Stephens Auditorium is pleased to announce that it has received an Iowa Arts and Culture Recovery Grant from the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Grant funds will support eligible operating expenses.

Read the full press release here. 

Stephens Auditorium looks forward to 2020-21 Performing Arts Series

By Ronna Faaborg

Stephens Auditorium plays a leading role in central Iowa’s performing arts scene, and this week it announced the lineup for its Performing Arts Series for the new season, which starts in the fall.

Read the rest of the article here. 

2020-2021 performing arts series announced for Stephens Auditorium

April 20, 2020 | By: Trevor Babcock
Iowa State Center Executive Director Tammy Koolbeck announced the 2020 to 2021 performing arts series at Stephens Auditorium in a livestream hosted Thursday night.
Read the rest of the article here. 

Dave Chapelle to perform pop-up show at Stephens Auditorium on Tuesday

January 23, 2020 | By: Cameron Bristow

Announced just last Wednesday, legendary comedian and writer Dave Chappelle is set to take the Stephens Auditorium stage next Tuesday.

This is not the first time Chappelle has performed a show of a pop-up nature, with the comedian announcing shows just days before performing in many instances during 2019. A Chappelle performance is unique in that cell phones are strictly prohibited, requiring all phones to be in a locked in a pouch, creating a distraction-free environment, as well as ensuring the comedian’s material is less likely to leak online… Read the rest of the article here. 

 

Tony Award-winning Broadway show ‘The Color Purple’ to play at Stephens Auditorium in Ames

January 15, 2020 | By: Sierra A. Porter

Many know the “The Color Purple” as a timeless film that includes some of Hollywood’s biggest stars like Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg. Now on Broadway, “The Color Purple,” based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is headed to Stephens Auditorium in Ames… Read the rest of the article here. 

 

With the support of the Ames Community Arts Council, the Goldfinch Room, a new music venue located within Stephens Auditorium, will host a series of Iowa Songwriters Showcases over the next year. The first Songwriters Showcase is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 26, from 7 – 9 p.m. and will feature two Iowa songwriters, Chad Elliott and Patresa Hartman, along with Texan Tommy Lewis….Read the rest of the article here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out what’s happening at Stephens through the Des Moines Register!

 

Kinky Boots doles out lessons in heels

January 27, 2019 | By: Emily Urban

The touring Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” will strut its way into Stephens Auditorium on Thursday. The story is based on true events and, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, “struts its stuff with sparkles, stilettos and heart.”

“Kinky Boots” is based on a film of the same name, inspired by true events of Charlie Price, a struggling business man, who partners with Lola, a drag queen entertainer. Their teamwork and eventual friendship produces a line of trusty stilettos taking them from Northampton, Massachusetts to Milan, Italy….Read the rest of the article here.

Stephens Auditorium to host a Circus of Marvels

January 29, 2019 | By: Meg Grice

A new circus inspired by American innovation will be rolling into Ames on Monday.

According to their website, Cirque Mechanics: “42ft” is “the American Circus, reinvented in timber, steel and ingenuity.” Read the rest of the article here.

Dane Cook brings ‘Tell it Like it Is’ tour to Ames

December 22, 2019 | By: Tribune Staff

Stand-up comedian Dane Cook is performing his national tour, “Tell it Like it Is,” at Stephens Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3.

It’s Cook’s first full-scale tour since 2013. The tour will visit several U.S. cities between the its kickoff Feb. 21 at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, N.Y., and its wrapup Nov. 16 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Read the rest of the article here.

 

‘The Nutcracker’ takes the stage at Stephens

November 24, 2018 | By: Tribune Staff

The annual holiday production of “The Nutcracker” is returning to Stephens Auditorium Saturday, Dec. 8, at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 9, at 1:30 p.m.

This perennial favorite is the longest-running Nutcracker in Iowa and showcases “sensational talent.” Read the rest of the article here.

 

Kenny G performs holiday tour at Stephens Auditorium

November 17, 2018 | By: Tribune Staff

On Wednesday, Nov. 28, Kenny G’s “The Miracles Holiday and Hits Tour” will be at Stephens Auditorium, where the musician will perform his “beautifully arranged world-renown holiday songs” as well as a set filled with hits from his recording career.

In a recording career that spans more than four decades and 24 albums, Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G has grafted elements of R&B, pop and Latin to a jazz foundation to become one of the premiere artists in contemporary jazz. Read the rest of the article here.

 

Stephens Auditorium announces 2019-20 Performing Arts Series

Stephens Auditorium plays a leading role in Iowa’s performing arts scene, and the Iowa State Center recently announced the lineup for its 2019-20 Performing Arts Series. Read the rest of the article here.

 

The Head And The Heart perform at Stephens Auditorium

With a new album just released this week, the folk/pop band, The Head And The Heart, will perform at Stephens Auditorium on Thursday, Sept. 19. Read the rest of the article here.

 

Stephens Auditorium to stage holiday spectacular

A holiday production that combines illusions, acrobatics, artistry and music is coming to Ames at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22. The show offers a unique opportunity for VIP ticketholders to be seated on the stage just steps away from the performers. Read the rest of the article here.

 

Grammy-nominated Christian music group brings tour to Ames

On the heels of its No. 1 album, “United,” Christian music group Newsboys United returns to the road this fall for a tour that brings it to Stephens Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. Read the rest of the article here.

The Avett Brothers perform at Stephens this fall

July 13, 2019 | By: Tribune Staff

The Avett Brothers will perform at Stephens Auditorium, on Thursday, Nov. 14. Tickets go on sale at noon on Friday. The Avett Brothers made mainstream waves with their 2009 major label debut, “I and Love and You,” which landed at No. 16 on the Billboard Top 200 and garnered critical acclaim. Read the rest of the article here.

 

Criss Angel brings his ‘Mindfreak Unplugged’ tour to Ames

The “Magician of the Century,” Criss Angel, is bringing his newest production to Stephens Auditorium on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. Read the rest of the article here.

Click here to check out more articles by the Ames Tribune!

 

Gill brings his musical storytelling to Stephens

Goldfinch Room presents Iowa Songwriter Showcase