From January 21 through 30, the Center for Living Arts, the Penguin Project of the Quad Cities, and Augustana College's theatre department will team up to help turn kids into stage stars for the eagerly awaited family-musical presentation The Little Mermaid Jr. – a production based on Disney's Oscar-winning animated adventure, and a show that boasts a cast composed of talented youths with special needs.

An acclaimed author, public speaker, radio host, and former halfback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rocky Bleier takes the stage at the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center for the touring sensation The Play with Rocky Bleier, a special January 28 event in which the guest will take audiences from his early years through his professional career and talk about the lessons he learned along the way.

An exploration of the valiant and courageous personalities behind one of the most critical chapters in the history of the Civil Rights movement, Mad River Theater Works' Freedom Riders will enjoy a special January 31 staging at the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center, the play delivering unforgettable heroes and facts essential to a full understanding of the Civil Rights era and American history.

In the Redstone Room's first concert event under the "All Sweat Original Series" banner, local songwriters are paired up alongside topnotch area musicians to act as their own personal backing band, with this January 20 explosion of community and fun showcasing three exceptional headliners on the Davenport stage: Randy Leasman, Erin Moore, and John Born.