05 Oct 2026

Prose and Cons: “Collected Stories,” at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre through October 11

By Mischa and Kitty Hooker

Mischa: The subtlety and quietness do mean that the tone is low-key throughout, possibly too low-key overall. Especially in certain scenes, I would have liked more overt tension and some louder raised voices.

Kitty: I actually thought the low-key quality was more of a strength than a drawback.

29 Sep 2026

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” October 9 through 18

By Reader Staff

An eagerly awaited revival of the venue's first musical presentation in 2018, the stage version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame returns to Moline's Spotlight Theatre October 9 through 18, this lauded stage adaptation of Disney's Oscar-nominated hit again starring Adam Sanders in his memorable role as Quasimodo.

29 Sep 2026

“I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change,” October 9 through 24

By Reader Staff

With Variety magazine calling the musical "smartly conceived" and boasting "catchy tunes and witty lyrics," the tune-filled romantic comedy I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change makes its debut at Moline's Black Box Theatre October 9 through 24, Gannett Newspapers raving that the original production was "hilarious ... the most entertaining show on or off Broadway."

28 Sep 2026

A Stitching in Time: “Real Women Have Curves,” at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre through October 10

By Madeline Dudziak

It was interesting to see how this script written in 1987 was still thematically relevant nearly 40 years later. You’d think we’d be further along as a society, but from its concerns about the deportation of undocumented workers to the characters' strain in simply make ends meet, Josefina Lopez’s play speaks to issues that feel very current.

21 Sep 2026

Every Rose Has Its Thorn: “Rock of Ages,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through November 7

By Pamela Briggs

Rock of Ages was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. “Wait – what?” I said when I read of these accomplishments after seeing the show. I eventually unearthed why.

06 Oct 2026

Local Theatre Auditions/Calls for Entry

By Administrator
Local Theatre Auditions/Calls for Entry

Updated: Tuesday, October 6

06 Oct 2026

River Cities' Reader Theatre Reviews: July 2000 to the Present

By Administrator

Reviews by Rochelle Arnold, Jeff Ashcraft, Patricia Baugh-Riechers, Audra Beals, Pamela Briggs, Dee Canfield, Madeline Dudziak, Kim Eastland, Emily Heninger, Heather Herkelman, Kitty (née Israel) Hooker, Mischa Hooker, Paula Jolly, Victoria Navarro, Roger Pavey Jr., Alexander Richardson, Mark Ruebling, Mike Schulz, Joy Thompson, Oz Torres, Brent Tubbs, Jill Pearson Walsh, and Thom White.

15 Sep 2026

“Collected Stories,” October 1 through 11

By Reader Staff

Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as a work that "gives equal weight to the opposing viewpoints of two formidable characters," Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies' two-woman drama Collected Stories enjoys an October 1 through 11 run at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, the Village Voice adding that "Margulies holds the rich ore of his material up to the light so that it sends beams in every direction."

12 Sep 2026

“Real Women Have Curves,” September 24 through October 4

By Reader Staff

Lauded by The Theater Mirror as "a beautiful, moving, spirited show that examines the bonds of family, community, and sisterhood," author Josefina Lopez's exuberant stage dramedy Real Women Have Curves enjoys a September 24 through October 4 run at Moline's Playcrafters Barn Theatre, this heartwarming coming-of-age saga also a story of love, family, and empowerment that became a 2002 movie hit for breakout star America Ferrera.

01 Sep 2026

“Rock of Ages,” September 16 through November 7

By Reader Staff

Described by Time Out New York as an “insanely fun mixtape musical” and by Variety as a show that “gleefully apes the worst excesses of the era's pole-dancing, crotch-grinding, big-hair-tossing movies,” the Broadway smash Rock of Ages enjoys a September 16 through November 7 run at Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, treating audiences to a celebration of 1980s chart-toppers that NY1 called “so cleverly staged and impressively performed that it's an irresistible, offbeat trip of a show that hits all the right notes.”

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