Events Calendar

Hear Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate, renowned novelist, and Oscar award-winning screenwriter John Irving (67MFA) read from his latest novel, The Last Chairlift, during this special evening at Hancher Auditorium, which will include a chat between the author and Workshop Director Lan Samantha Chang.

Irving studied under writer Kurt Vonnegut at Iowa and served as an Iowa Writers’ Workshop instructor from 1972 to 1975. While on campus, the avid wrestler struck up a lifelong friendship with famed UI wrestling coach Dan Gable and also began writing his blockbuster novel The World According to Garp—which won a 1980 National Book Award and was adapted into a film that premiered at Hancher in 1982.

The bestselling author, who has published 15 novels since 1968, went on to earn an Academy Award for his Cider House Rules screenplay in 2000 and joined the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2001.

We are delighted to partner with the the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, University Lecture Committee, Refocus Film Festival, Hancher Auditorium, and the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature for this event. It also is part of Hancher’s new Infinite Dream festival, a multidisciplinary celebration showcasing the talents of everyone from international artists to Iowa students, faculty, and staff.

Limit of two tickets per person, available from the Hancher Box Office starting Monday, July 31, at 10 a.m.