15 Jun 2026

Smells Like Cheese Spirit: “The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales,” at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre through June 21

By Madeline Dudziak

John Glore’s theatrical adaptation preserves the witty, slightly dark sensibility that made the book so beloved by youth and adults alike, and as directed by Jennifer Hoeper, the Playcrafters Barn Theatre's presentation combines adults and children to bring these fractured fairy tales to life.

15 Jun 2026

Stand Up, They're Rockin' the 'Boat: “Guys & Dolls,” at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre through June 21

By Mike Schulz

This past Thursday, after a full week of unseasonably hot, muggy weather, we were finally treated to an evening that was cool and breezy. I'm prone to credit the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre's Guys & Dolls for the atmospheric shift, because as season-opening presentations go, this one was as cool and breezy as they come.

15 Jun 2026

Boat Over Troubled Water: “The Shark Is Broken,” at the Black Box Theatre through June 27

By Kitty Hooker

Because The Shark Is Broken is an insider look at the making of Jaws, it seems both fitting and somewhat ironic that the play and movie share the same villain.

15 Jun 2026

A Loaf of Bread, Some Jugs of Wine, and Wow: “Les Misérables,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through June 28

By Mike Schulz

There's no point in burying the lede on this: The Timber Lake Playhouse's Les Misérables is the most visually powerful, thunderously well-performed area production I've seen since my first published stage review debuted in 2005, and even since I first arrived in the Quad Cities for college in 1986.

15 Jun 2026

“Something's Coming Somewhere Tonight, Maria.” “Cool!”: “West Side Story,” at the Spotlight Theatre through June 21

By Pamela Briggs

Adam Sanders' production has some of the most intricate, varied, prolonged, high-density, high-energy choreography I’ve yet seen.

08 Jun 2026

Water, Water, Nowhere, but Perhaps a Drop to Drink: “The Rainmaker,” at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre through June 14

By Pamela Briggs

The perfectly suited look and demeanor of each person, and their consistent Southern lilts throughout, made this experience particularly magical.

08 Jun 2026

The Perils of Being a Wallflower: Genesius Guild’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost" through June 14

By Madeline Dudziak

I admit that at Saturday’s opening-night performance, I was initially confused when Genesius Guild's Andy Shearouse explained both the entire plot of William Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost and that the set was designed to represent the inner workings of a broken cuckoo clock. One might think both concepts would be self-explanatory. But alas, they were not. In the end, I was grateful for the introductory explanation.

01 Jun 2026

Good News in Jesus Camp: “Godspell,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through June 7

By Mischa and Kitty Hooker

Kitty: I think that Godspell is a highly underrated musical. It’s the secret, more heartfelt version of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Mischa: And without Andrew Lloyd Webber’s malevolent influence!

25 May 2026

This Dragon Slays: “The Tales of Custard the Dragon,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through June 20

By Pamela Briggs

I enjoy experiencing new-to-me talent, but it’s cozy and comforting to see familiar faces at the theatre.

18 May 2026

Joie de Diva: “Master Class,” at the Black Box Theatre through May 24

By Madeline Dudziak

Pairing up with Opera Quad Cities proves to be a recipe for greatness at the Black Box Theatre, because make no mistake: There's something truly special about Master Class.

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

    

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Theatre Calendars

Submit your event listings to calendar@rcreader.com