31 Mar 2026

Bucktown's Three Wicked Ds in 1903: Ballet Quad Cities Choreographs Anita Ray's Disappointed Dreams in "Wickedest City in America: Dancing, Drinking, & Debauchery," at St. Ambrose University April 11 and 12

By Jonathan Turner

In 1903 (the year jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke was born in Davenport), the Catholic bishop of Davenport Henry Cosgrove called this Iowa city “the wickedest” in America, mainly because of its downtown Bucktown area, teeming with bars, brothels, and theaters.

31 Mar 2026

Growing Hope and Beauty: "The Secret Garden," April 10 through 19 at the Spotlight Theatre

By Jonathan Turner

It’s no secret why The Secret Garden is beloved in theatre circles. Based on the classic 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the gorgeous 1991 musical has a book and lyrics by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon (late sister of Carly Simon).

05 Mar 2026

The Pain and Promise of Remembrance: Soprano Lily Arbisser at the Figge Art Museum, March 26

By Jonathan Turner

New York City-based soprano Lily Arbisser always loves coming back to her childhood home of the Quad Cities at least annually, and an upcoming, week-long visit will be especially meaningful, capped by a special 6 p.m. concert on Thursday, March 26.

03 Mar 2026

Celebrating America’s 250th: The Quad City Singers Go Patriotic at Davenport's Redstone Room on March 20

By Jonathan Turner

The Quad Cities area will join communities nationwide this year to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary, kicking off with a patriotic concert by the Quad City Singers on Friday, March 20.

05 Feb 2026

“Doesn’t Feel Like Work at All”: Retiring Conductor Jon Hurty Leads His Last Messiah, February 22 at Augustana College's Centennial Hall

By Jonathan Turner

The next performance of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah at Augustana College will be extra-special for its conductor and performers, as Jon Hurty – the school’s director of choral activities since 1996 – is retiring at the end of this school year. He will lead the classic oratorio on February 22 at 3 p.m. in Augustana College's Centennial Hall.

03 Feb 2026

Hold the Line: Veteran Rock Band Toto Brings Its Popular Catalog, and Vocalist Joseph Williams, to Davenport’s Capitol Theatre on February 19

By Jonathan Turner

Nearly 49 years after first forming, the pop-rock band Toto is still going strong, and brings its national tour to Davenport’s Capitol Theatre on February 19.

07 Jan 2026

Jonathan Turner Looks Back on a Busy 2025, and Forward to New Opportunities in 2026

By Jonathan Turner

As a longtime piano player and accompanist (on top of being a QC arts journalist since 1995), I love to play whenever I get the chance – be it for my part-time job at Davenport’s Zion Lutheran Church, or for singers and instrumentalists at private events and public shows.

04 Dec 2025

Boundless Free Expression: A Look Inside Davenport's Burlesque-Themed Ecdysiast Arts Museum

By Jonathan Turner

When Danielle Colby and other local women strut, create character, and gradually remove items of their costumes in on-stage routines at the Ecdysiast Arts Museum, they not only bare their bodies, but their souls, personalities, dreams, and desires – and have great fun in the process.

02 Dec 2025

Fairy-Tale Dreams Can Come True: Ivy Jensen Stars in “Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella,” December 5 through 14 at the Spotlight Theatre

By Jonathan Turner

After years of struggle, Ivy Jensen is living her dream, on stage and off.

30 Oct 2025

An Explosion of Color and Life: “Voces y Visiones: A Celebration of Hispanic Art,” at the Quad City Arts Center through December 5

By Jonathan Turner

Quad City Arts has curated a new exhibit that celebrates the decades long burgeoning Hispanic culture here in the Quad Cities. A colorful and pulsating exhibit of 30-plus pieces – Voces y Visiones: A Celebration of Hispanic Art – is on view at Quad City Arts’ Rock Island Gallery (1715 Second Avenue, Rock Island IL) through December 5. This juried exhibition is presented in partnership with Mercado on Fifth, and Hispanic/Latin/Latinx artists were especially encouraged to apply.

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