The funny bone of one of the United States' most revered presidents will be explored at Coal Valley's Robert R. Jones Public Library on February 11 when historian and former professor Dr. William Hampes presents The Humor of American Lincoln, a program focusing on the types of humor that Lincoln used, how he used them in politics and his personal life to achieve his goals, and what his sense of humor demonstrated about his personality.
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A unique production that pushes the boundaries of circus arts by combining stunning skating and acrobatic feats that defy the imagination, Cirque du Soleil: Crystal enjoys a four-day, five-performance run at Moline's Vibrant Arena at the MARK, the touring show's February 13 through 16 engagement exploring brand-new creative territory for the first time in the company’s astounding 40-year history.
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An artist who has broken ground for Latino comics by embracing his ethnicity, confronting racial stereotypes, and fighting for his community on and off the stage, Grammy-nominated comedian George Lopez brings his national tour to Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center on February 15, the famed funnyman beloved for six seasons as the star of his eponymous ABC sitcom, which currently ranks as one of the top-rated shows on Nick at Nite.
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With the exhibit inviting guests to learn stories of early immigrants and Quad City residents through historic artifacts, What's New? Recent Acquisitions to the Collection will be on display at Davenport's German American Heritage Center from February 15 through June 1, this showcase of interesting items culled over the last six years including machines, hand-crafted furniture, textiles, medical equipment, and personal items from early Davenport homes.
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A Dubuque native who enjoys bringing comfort, healing, and honesty to those in need. Melissa Culbertson - better known by her stage moniker Melissa the Medium - will speak to and with audience members at Maquoketa's Ohnward Fine Arts Center on February 15, the professional counselor beloved for employing her Christian background as guidance while she delivers messages from the spirit world.
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Whether one head-banged with Rob Zombie and Black Sabbath in the 1990s, enjoyed dinner and a Broadway musical downtown in the 2000s, or busted a gut at a John Crist tour stop in 2024, the experience inside the Adler Theatre on show night always begins on a positive and classy note thanks to the heretofore unheralded volunteer usher corps.
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Tom Vaccaro of Davenport had a “Grand Ole” time in Nashville, Tennessee, to kick off his 2025.
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To many Statehouse types, some of last week’s news out of Washington, D.C. felt eerily familiar.
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The Illinois legislature’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability recently released an eye-popping actuarial analysis of a union-backed pension reform plan. The analysis concluded that the proposal, House Bill 5909, would cost tax-payers almost $30 billion through the year 2045.
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Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s longtime law firm partner Vincent "Bud" Getzendanner testified in Madigan’s defense against numerous federal charges last week. One of the main themes of Getzendanner’s testimony was the property tax firm’s process of weeding out clients and potential clients who could pose a conflict of interest to Madigan.
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Writing about the iconic stage presentation The Vagina Monologues in a 2018 article, the New York Times stated, “No recent hour of theatre has had a greater impact worldwide.” And patrons of Moline's Playcrafters Barn Theatre will no doubt understand why that claim was made when Eve Ensler's revered work is staged in a February 6 through 9 production, the Times adding that the play is "probably the most important piece of political theatre of the last decade."
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A thrilling adaptation of Sophocles’ play Philoctetes by celebrated Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, The Cure at Troy serves as the first 2025 production at Iowa City's Riverside Theatre, the show's January 30 through February 9 run treating audiences to what Broad Street Review deemed "a rousing exploration of how our dark impulses threaten to shatter the soul – and how the light of compassion can temper our baser urges."
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Nominated for seven 2017 Tony Awards and the winner of the prestigious Olivier Award for Best New Musical, the comedy-classic adaptation Groundhog Day: The Musical makes its Quad Cities debut at Moline's Spotlight Theatre February 7 through 16, the stage hit lauded by the New York Times as a "dizzyingly witty" work "so outrageously inventive in ringing changes on the same old, same old, that you can’t wait for another (almost identical) day to dawn."
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With the City Circle Theatre Company's latest presentation a winner of the 2000 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, the concert version of Andrew Lippa's Wild Party enjoys a February 7 through 16 run at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, this delicious stage hit's 13 Drama Desk Award nominations including those for castmates Brian D'Arcy James and Idina Menzel.
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With the touring sensation boasting an original score by Grammy Award winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and a book by screenwriter J.F. Lawton and legendary director Garry Marshall, Pretty Woman: The Musical makes its area debut at Davenport's Adler Theatre on February 12, this song-filled adaptation of the smash film comedy recreating one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic tales of all time.
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With the Michigan musicians lauded by the Grand Rapids Herald Review as a "wonderfully talented" band that finds "percussions, strings, and trumpet working together seamlessly to provide the foundation for vocals and lyrics," Wild Horses enjoys a February 12 headlining engagement at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the group's recent accomplishments including acting as 2024 openers for Willie Nelson and winning the Blue Ox Virtual Band Competition.
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A special Valentine's Day event overflowing with love for rock-and-roll and pop favorites, the combined talents of Hairball and The Pork Tornadoes co-headline the February 14 concert at East Moline's The Rust Belt, the former paying tribute to iconic bands such as Van Halen, KISS, Mötley Crüe, Queen, Journey, and Aerosmith, and the latter's repertoire ranging from Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake, and Beyonce all the way to Lizzo, Morgan Wallen, NSYNC, and Phil Collins.
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Performing from a repertoire of favorites includes swinging Frank Sinatra standards and lush blue-eyed ballads, popular stage crooner Ben Jones brings his touring show Let Me Be Frank to Galesburg's Orpheum Theatre on February 14. The Valentine's Day concert also boasts the talents of pianist, composer, and music director Ron Abel, side-splitting laughs, and tunes from the songbooks of Cy Coleman, Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Brel, and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
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Returning to Moline with two spectacular, all-new touring presentations, the live, multi-sensory musical experience known as the Candlelight Concerts series enjoys its latest Quad Cities engagement the city's First Congregational Church with a pair of eagerly awaited February 15 events: Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer and Candlelight: Valentine' Day Special.
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Their set list boasting classics such as "Just What I Needed," "My Best Friend's Girl," and the hit ballad "Drive," the Chicago musicians of The Electric Cars: Cars Tribute will faithfully recreate the pop-rock magic at Davenport's Raccoon Motel on February 15, the quintet devoted to taking audiences on a nostalgic journey through the band's greatest hits and deepest cuts.
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I absolutely adored this funny, nasty, intensely satisfying shiv to the gut knowing its hook in advance. The mind boggles at how much fun I might've had going in unprepared.
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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, February 6: Discussion of Dog Man, Companion, and You're Cordially Invited, previews of Love Hurts, Heart Eyes, and I'm Still Here, and reminiscences on the debut of the original Jurassic Park. Darren saw real-life raptors! Kind of!
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I'll readily admit that I left The Brutalist less exhilarated than bemused. Yet this flawed work of near-greatness absolutely deserves an audience, and more than a few awards.
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Presented by Galesburg's Orpheum Theatre with support through a grant from the United Way of Knox County, a special screening of Edward Zwick's Oscar-winning 1989 drama Glory will be held at the Orpheum on February 15, its free showing intended to further promote the initiative of creating a permanent monument to honor previously unsung heroes of the American Civil War.
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Now playing at area theaters.
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A wide and beautiful variety of artistic media will be showcased in the latest group exhibition at Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center gallery, with Davis-Salazar, Weiland, & Regional Woodturners, from February 7 through March 21, boasting new paintings by Katrina Davis-Salazar, sculptural ceramics by Brant Weiland, and 20 works by nine of the region’s best woodturners.
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With each piece chosen by the institutions’ art professors to showcase campus talent and creativity, the Figge Art Museum's 13th installment of the College Invitational will be celebrated at the Davenport venue on February 20, the event finding students and professors from area colleges and universities on hand and recipients of the student awards announced during the evening.
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With its creator's artistic practice belonging to a tradition that intertwines nature, technology, and human experience, Leo Villareal: Interstellar, on display at Davenport's Figge Art Museum through February 23, will showcase nine works from light sculptor Villareal’s Nebula series, inviting patrons into the realms of space, time, and perception through LEDs and custom software.
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With each piece chosen by the institutions’ art professors to showcase campus talent and creativity, the Figge Art Museum's 13th installment of the College InvitationaL is on display in the Davenport venue through February 23, artwork from students attending eight area colleges and universities now on view in the museum’s second-floor Katz Gallery.
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Longtime arts educator at Augustana College and successful ceramicist/sculptor Megan Quinn has 35 ceramic sculptures on display at the Catich Gallery on the campus of St. Ambrose University through February 28.