What's Happenin'

  • Apr 09, 2024
    Git Hoan Dancers' “People of the Salmon, Tsimshian – Representing Indigenous People of the Pacific Northwest,” April 19

    In a performance showcasing the culture of the Tsimshian Tribe from Metlakatla, Alaska, the Git Hoan Dancers' remarkable stage spectacle People of the Salmon, Tsimshian - Representing Indigenous People of the Pacific Northwest comes to the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center on April 19, the ensemble boasting a reputation of high-energy, enthusiastic, and spirit-filled entertainment that thrills and educates thousands of audiences on the rich culture of Tsimshian people throughout the world.

  • Apr 09, 2024
    Local Author Visit: Shellie Moore Guy, April 20

    In an April 20 program in which she will share her family history and how that history became the basis for her new book, the Quad Cities' esteemed poet, actor, and performance artist Shellie Moore Guy will take part in a special local-author visit at the Rock Island Public Library's Watts-Midtown Branch, treating family audiences to the saga behind her new release The Family Tree.

  • Apr 16, 2024
    Anders Carlson-Wee, April 23

    The latest guest in the college's River Readings at Augustana series, renowned author and poet Anders Carlson-Wee will deliver examples of his lauded works at Augustana's Wallenberg Hall on April 23, his 2023 poetry collection Disease of Kings lauded by The Los Angeles Review as a work in which "readers are presented with readable poetry that resonates with the heart of humanity," adding that the work "reveals our deepest secrets and failings with complex sympathy."

  • Apr 16, 2024
    “Iowa's Pearl Button Industry,” April 28

    Presented by Dustin Joy, director of Muscatine's National Pearl Button Museum, Iowa's Pearl Button Industry continues the popular "Kaffee und Kuchen" series at Davenport's German American Heritage Center, the April 28 program designed to explore the fascinating history behind the state's formerly massive export, as well as its lingering legacy.

  • Apr 16, 2024
    Kuniko Yamamoto, April 29 through May 4

    Enchanting audiences of every age with dramatic storytelling using myths and fables from ancient and modern Japan, Kuniko Yamamoto enjoys a residency as the latest guests in the Quad City Arts Visiting Artist series, her area performances from April 29 through May 4 spiced with social revelations to educate and amuse.

News & Commentary

Theatre

  • Apr 15, 2024
    The Cremains of the Day: “Exit Laughing,” at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre through April 21

    2013's Exit Laughing is at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, and it is a damn good time. Director Mike Skiles and his cohorts have built an entertaining, satisfying production on the foundation of a solid script.

  • Apr 15, 2024
    Little Orphan Anya: “Anastasia,” at the Spotlight Theatre through April 21

    Director Aaron Baker-Loo created a memorable musical production – though, admittedly, I found the whole saga more depressing than I remembered. Luckily for the Spotlight, their presentation is also an enchanting spectacle that is more than enough to keep even the youngest viewer interested.

  • Apr 15, 2024
    Fairytales from the Crypt: “The Secret in the Wings,” at St. Ambrose University through April 21

    I've visited this little theatre, and knew it was in the mainstage's large green room, but o, my brothers and sisters – I'd never seen it like it is now.

  • Apr 02, 2024
    “The Real Inspector Hound,” April 18 through 21

    Hailed by the New York Times as “a perfect joy” and by the Los Angeles Times as “a timeless farce,” Tony- and Oscar-winning author Tom Stoppard hysterical one-act comedy The Real Inspector Hound enjoys an April 18 through 21 staging in Scott Community College's Black Box Theatre, this theatrical satire also lauded by The Telegraph as a work that "brilliantly nails the clichés of the reviewer's craft."

  • Apr 04, 2024
    “Herein Lies the Truth,” April 18 through 28

    A wonderfully funny and moving solo performance designed to make audiences question how preconceived notions about disability can blur the truth, writer/actor Aaron Pang's autobiographical Herein Lies the Truth enjoys its world-premiere staging at Iowa City's Riverside Theatre April 18 through 28, its author a University of Iowa MFA nonfiction candidate who will relate the story of how an accident changed the trajectory of his life.

Music

  • Apr 16, 2024
    Hawthorne Heights, April 27

    Billboard chart-toppers whose album hits include the top-10 The Silence in Black & White, If Only You Were Lonely, Fragile Future, and Bad Frequencies, the rockers of Hawthorne Heights play two April 27 concerts at Maquoketa's Codfish Hollow Barn, the artists currently on their “The Sound in Black and White Acoustic Tour” alongside the special guests of Bike Routes.

  • Apr 16, 2024
    Marty O'Reilly, May 1

    Praised by Bainbridge Island Review as a singer/songwriter whose "voice is beautiful and distinctive" and whose lyrics are "stark yet lush over gritty electrified guitar," Marty O'Reilly headlines a May 1 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the artist also lauded by Glide magazine for crafting "music you’ve never heard before, music you can’t compare to anything, music that is its own genre that has only been defined, in sound, by those who play it."

  • Apr 16, 2024
    Jake Simon, April 27

    With the country-music artist praised by Obscure Sound for how his "mellow vocals lead into a soulful vocal lushness," singer/songwriter Jake Simon headlines an April 27 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the native of Grinnell, Iowa having made his debut to country radio with "I Still Think About You," which became a top-40 single on the Music Row Country Breakout chart.

  • Apr 16, 2024
    Tom Holland & the Shuffle Kings, April 28

    With the artist's work with James Cotton resulting in Grammy Award-nominated albums such as Giant and Cotton Mouth Man, distinguished Chicago blues guitarist Tom Holland and his ensemble the Shuffle Kings perform a special April 28 engagement presented by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society, the performance at Davenport's Best Western Steeplegate Inn showcasing the gifts of a musician who honed his skills through personal mentorship under John Primer, one of Muddy Waters' last guitarists.

  • Apr 16, 2024
    Georgette Jones, April 26

    A gifted country-music singer/songwriter and daughter of genre legends George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Georgette Jones headlines an April 26 Country Vibes Series event at Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Rhythm Room, her most recent album Skin inspiring Saving County Music to rave that "her talent for singing and finding songs that embody all that's great about the country genre is on full display."

Movies

  • Apr 15, 2024
    We Have Met the Enemy, and He Is Us: “Civil War,” “Arcadian,” “Vanya,” and “Hundreds of Beavers”

    Unbiased journlalists may seem hard to find these days. But as Alex Garland's film reminds us, they're still out there, and they're not the problems – they're the messengers. And you don't shoot the messengers. Except that here, other Americans very much do.

  • Apr 02, 2024
    “Mommy,” April 18

    A Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize recipient that was also nominated for prestigious Palme d’Or, and the French Cesar Award winner for Best Foreign Film, French-Canadian director Xavier Dolan's Mommy enjoys a special April 18 screening as part of the Figge Art Museum's Free Film at the Figge series, the drama lauded by the Montreal Gazette as "an ode to the strength of tough working-class single mothers everywhere."

  • Apr 08, 2024
    Believe Him or Not: “Ripley,” “The First Omen,” “Monkey Man,” “Wicked Little Letters,” and “Problemista”

    Where Anthony Minghella's The Talented Mr. Ripley adaptation was luscious, passionate, and emotional, Steven Zaillian's Ripley is chilly, controlled, and cerebral – an entertainment for the head rather than the heart. But yowza did this thing make my head spin. Not for nothing, but at least once per episode, it also made me laugh my ass off.

  • Apr 11, 2024
    Mike Schulz with Dave & Darren on Planet 93.9 FM

    Going to the cineplex or staying in and streaming this weekend? Every Thursday morning at 8:15 a.m. you can listen to Mike Schulz dish on recent movie releases & talk smack about Hollywood celebs on Planet 93.9 FM with the fabulous Dave & Darren in the Morning team of Dave Levora and Darren Pitra. The morning crew previews upcoming releases, too.

    Or you can check the Reader Web site and listen to their latest conversation by the warm glow of your electronic device. Never miss a pithy comment from these three scintillating pundits again.

    Thursday, April 11: After an unanticipated week off (yep, we can blame Mike's car again ...) a lot to get caught up: Discussion of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, In the Land of Saints & Sinners, Netflix's limited series Ripley, The New Omen, Monkey Man, Wicked Little Letters, and Problemista, and previews of Civil War, Arcadian, Sting, and the Last Picture House booking of Hundreds of Beavers. That trailer is amazing.

  • Apr 10, 2024
    Now Playing: Friday, April 12, through Thursday, April 18

    Now playing at area theaters.

Art

  • Apr 16, 2024
    “DART Senior Thesis Art Show,” through April 27

    A celebration of work completed by graduating seniors in the Department of Digital Art and Design, the DART Senior Thesis Art Show will be on display at the University of Dubuque's Bisignano Art Gallery through April 27, the exhibit boasting a variety of pieces in illustration, animation, digital painting, motion graphics, and digital artwork, and displaying the wide range of skills students cultivated during their time at UD.

  • Feb 27, 2024
    “Ciccotti, Davis, & Stewart,” through April 22

    With each artist capturing the natural world in abstraction and their works complementing one another through color and texture. a trio of gifted Iowa artists combines their talents in the Quad City Arts International Airport Gallery's new exhibition Ciccotti, Davis, & Stewart, a showcase on display through April 22 boasting glass vessels by Art Ciccotti, paintings by Larry Davis, and pastels by Deb Stewart.

  • Apr 09, 2024
    “Schafer & Rocca,” April 24 through July 1

    New works by a pair of gifted Iowa artisans will be decorating the Quad City Arts International Airport Gallery from April 24 through July 1, with thoughtful and arresting pieces in the Schafer & Rocca exhibit showcasing the talents of oil painter John Paul Schafer of Cedar Rapids and wall-sculpture artist Kimberlee Rocca of Solon.

  • Apr 09, 2024
    Last Chance Exhibition Tour Night: “Peter Xiao: A Room That One Is In (And All Things In It),” April 25

    On April 25, guests of Davenport's Figge Art Museum are invited to enjoy an early "Last Chance" exhibition tour for the venue's popular Peter Xiao: A Room That One Is In (And All Things In It), an installation of arresting paintings by our area's beloved, longtime Augustana College Professor of Art and the college's Paul A. Anderson Chair in the Arts.

  • Mar 22, 2024
    “47th Annual High School Art Invitational,” through April 25

    Nearly 200 works by gifted student artists will be on display at Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center through April 25 in the expansive 47th Annual High School Art Invitational, a glorious celebration of local talent featuring the Quad Cities’ most promising artists expressing themselves through paintings, drawings, sculpture, paper, recycled materials, and film.

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