A few years ago, while in the South Dakota Badlands, still photographer, photojournalist, filmmaker, LeClaire native, and current Iowa City resident Danny Wilcox Frazier met John and Julie – married ranchers whose daily lives he wanted to document in photographs. Frazier explained his intentions to the couple, and they agreed to take part. But as Frazier says during our recent phone interview, there was a caveat.

“I said, ‘There’s one thing you need to know before we start: How I work is I move in.’ And Julie was like, ‘Uh-h-h-h ... oka-a-a-ay ... . Are you saying you need somewhere to sleep tonight?’ And I said, ‘Well, yeah, that’d be great!’ Because at that point, I was sleeping in the back of my truck. I’d find a place, get a few hours sleep, wake up with the sun, and start shooting again.

“But more importantly,” he continues, “I wanted them to understand how I work – how I wanted to be there for everything.”

It is, according to a seasonal song, the beginning of that “most wonderful time of the year.” And on the day after Thanksgiving, I, along with my seven-year-old grandson John, attended the opening of the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse's holiday production in a traditional celebration of … pirates.

Everyone loves “holiday fluff,” right? You know – that oddly concocted mixture that your crazy aunt brings for the holidays each year combining Cool Whip, pistachio pudding, marshmallows, crushed pineapple, and walnuts (or not), with cherries on top? Admit it. It’s the perfect little taste of sweetness on a plate otherwise full of more savory dishes.

The Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse is now serving its own version of holiday fluff. No, not on the buffet menu, but rather in the form of its musical Holly Jolly Christmas, which isn't really a musical so much as a musical revue. There's no real story or character development. You won’t see the duality of man in an Ebenezer Scrooge figure or an “If only I would have …” scenario played out by a George Bailey type. In fact, you won’t see anything remotely resembling a plot. What you will find is a Branson-style revue that utilizes the talents of an extremely gifted cast in spite of Ty Stover's exceptionally weak script.

Small organizations tend to reflect the personalities of their leadership, and that’s certainly true of the Midwest Writing Center and its executive director, Ryan Collins.

MUSIC

Thursday, March 17 – The Beggarmen. A St. Patrick’s Day concert with the Celtic musicians. Coralville Center for the Performing Arts (1301 Fifth Street, Coralville). 7:30 p.m. $10-15. For tickets and information, call (319)248-9370 or visit CoralvilleArts.org.

Friday, March 18 – Spring-Queening. Tribute concert to Queen featuring Alan Sweet as Freddie Mercury, Bret Dale as Brian May, David Abdo as John Deacon, and Erik Wilson as Roger Taylor, plus The Dawn delivering a David Bowie tribute. Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 9 p.m. $16.75-20. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.

Friday, March 18 – Bucktown Revue. Celebration of Mississippi River Valley culture through music, storytelling, poetry and humor; with emcee Scott Tunnicliff and special guests. Nighswander Theatre (2822 Eastern Avenue, Davenport). 7 p.m. $13 at the door. For information, call (563)940-0508 or visit BucktownRevue.com.

Saturday, March 19 – Brushville. Concert with the nationally touring country musicians. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 9 p.m. For tickets and information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.

Saturday, March 19 – Téada. Internationally touring Irish musicians in concert, with a performance by dancer Brian Cunningham. Ohnward Fine Arts Center (1215 East Platt Street, Maquoketa). 7 p.m. $13-25. For tickets and information, call (563)652-9815 or visit OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.

Sunday, March 20 – The Billy Foster Quartet. A 6 p.m. concert in Polyrhythms’ Third Sunday Jazz & Matinée Series featuring pianist Billy Foster and vocalist Renee Miles-Foster, preceded by a 3 p.m. “Demystifying Jazz” workshop. Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). $10-15 concert, $5 workshop (free for kids). For information, call (309)373-0790 or visit Polyrhythms.org or RiverMusicExperience.org.

(Publisher's Note: This article appeared in March 2013 in the Reader's printed and online edition. Given the disarray the courts and justice system is in locally, state and nationally, the lessons learned over 12 yeears ago are worth re-visiting again. It is also an example of why county grand juries should be more widely known and engaged as the backstop to governments gone wild.)