Deemed “wildly funny” by the Los Angeles Times and “a madcap condensation that features nonstop laughs” by Variety magazine, the recently updated slapstick The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] marks the long-awaited return to scheduled stage performances for Moline's Spotlight Theatre, with the comedy – running March 19 through 28- described by the Montreal Gazette as “the funniest show you are likely to see in your entire lifetime.”

An award-winning playwright and acclaimed comedy voice serves as a latest guest in the Englert Theatre's virtual Storytellers series, with University of Iowa instructor Megan Gogerty instructing participants in the art of Telling the Truth through Jokes, a March 13 morning event in which “women, people of color, and other folks who consistently get talked over during meetings are especially encouraged to attend.”

A lauded comedian who was a semi-finalist on the eighth season of NBC's competition series Last Comic Standing, touring sensation Tommy Ryman will be showcased in a virtual performance for the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center, his March 12 online engagement granting viewers access to the comedian singular blend of observational comedy, absurdism, sarcasm, and satire.

Vibrant explosions of color and character are currently on display in the Quad City Arts Center's exhibition Machinations of a Colorholic, and gallery visitors can enjoy a special meet and greet with the exhibit's artist when acrylic painter Elaine Rexdale chats with patrons and discusses her artistic process at the Rock Island venue on March 13.

In a virtual concert perfectly timed to coincide with St. Patrick's Day, the Celtic rockers of Gaelic Storm will bring the party to the people in the March 17 live-stream event One for the Road, an Englert Theatre presentation and holiday celebration with the vocalists and multi-instrumentalists hailed by the Examiner for their “high energy” and “exceptional musical performance.”

As area theatres again gradually reopen for business, Moline's Black Box Theatre returns with its first new production since October in Dick Tracy: A Live Radio Play, the show's March 11 through 20 run inviting audiences to delight in the old-time mystery, comedy, and excitement involving one of pop culture's most iconic and memorable characters.

Continuing its presentation of virtual programming in the venue's annual PASS (Performing Arts Signature Series) program, Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center hosts a riveting March 11 concert event with genre-crossing jazz pianist Barron Ryan, the up-and-coming musical sensation recently recognized as one of Smithsonian magazine's “Ten Innovators to Watch in 2021.”

Appearing in a special co-presentation by the Davenport and Rock Island Public Libraries, award-winning young-adult author Tiffany D. Jackson will be showcased in a virtual author visit on March 9, with the Brooklyn-based talent speaking on her writing process, and five lauded novels, and her successful career that has extended far beyond literature.

Aquatic paintings, bold tapestries, and woven baskets combine for a fascinating and eclectic trio of exhibitions on display through April 29, with the Quad City Arts International Airport Gallery hosting exhibits by Waterloo, Iowa painter Brian Buckles, Davenport-based textile artist Rowen Schussheim-Anderson, and Moline's woven-basket creator Kelly Hanson.

One of the most influential – albeit mostly unknown – women in American art history will be the subject of a March 4 virtual program presented by the Figge Art Museum, with the Davenport venue hosting Dr. Ranelle Knight-Lueth's Who Was Leila Mechlin?, an exploration on the prominent member of the American Federation of arts who also served as an art critic for the Washington Evening Star and Sunday Star newspapers.

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