Just a word, and the word a movement.

Just a word, and the word a movement. promotional image

Just a word, and the word a movement.
Dada Manifesto, Hugo Ball (1916)

Free and open to the public, no ticket required.
Rain date: Friday, August 21

A Theatre Arts Interdisciplinary Ten-Day Summer Workshop culminating in an experimental performance inspired by the University of Iowa Dada and Fluxus special collections. Students from Theatre Arts, Dance, Cinema Arts, Art & Art History, Music, and Creative Writing create Fluxus event scores for this site-specific happening with live video machines and projections onto the facade of the E.C. Mabie Theatre at the University of Iowa Theatre Building.

Working with visiting artist Nica Ross, Associate Professor of Video and Media Design at Carnegie Mellon University, and co-lead by Daniel Fine, Associate Professor of Digital Media in Performance at the University of Iowa, students explore how Dada's strategies of chance, collage, interruption, absurdity, and anti-performance directly informed Fluxus approaches to the event score, participatory action, and everyday performance.

A score for the audience:

  • Bring a blanket or a camp chair. Maybe both.

  • Bring a friend. Or two. Or three. Let's pack the lawn!

  • Pack a snack. And a drink. Snacks make you thirsty.

  • Don't be afraid to move.

  • It's OK to participate

  • Free your mind from linear narrative.

  • Laugh out loud. Cackle. Snort.

  • Absurdist live social video machines and performances are always better with many friends sharing many snacks.

Production Team:
Nica Ross, Director of the Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry and Associate Professor of Video and Media Design at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama
Daniel Fine, Associate Professor at University of Iowa in Theatre Arts, Dance, and Digital Arts
Emily Berkheimer, Digital Media Specialist for University of Iowa Performing Arts Production Unit
Bea Beaman **
Andres Castillo *
Jenna Davis **
Zach Douglas *
Pensee Ismael **
Ani Jilavyan **
Brennen Malone **
Embrey O'Leary **
Jasmine Pizano **
Marisa Rodriguez *
Raphael Thome **
Nazanin Vakili **
Jason Vernon +
Lindsey Wildman +

* Undergraduate student.
** Graduate student.
+ Theatre Arts alumni
UI Theatre is dedicated to providing hands-on theatre experience for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Thursday, August 20, 2026 9:30pm
Theatre Building
The lawn on the river side of the Theatre Building
200 North Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242
View on Event Calendar
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Department of Theatre Arts in advance at 319-335-2700 or theatre@uiowa.edu.