His credits including touring events with the likes of the Impractical Jokers, comedian Greg Hahn, and two-time Emmy Award winner Jennifer Coolidge, standup hypnotist Doug Thompson brings his touring sensation The DougT Hypnosis Show to East Moline venue The Rust Belt on May 9. Potential stage participants, however, shouldn't worry about doing anything they'll regret in the morning, as Thompson prides himself on delivering a raucously fun evening that doesn’t come at the cost of compromised dignity.

The recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship who, in 2016, was also named one of Politico's “50 people across the country who are most influencing the national political debate," a Pulitzer Prize winner engages in virtual conversation with a Chicago-based journalist in Poverty – A Discussion with Matthew Desmond, the May 13 event with Desmond and Natalie Moore presented by Illinois Libraries Present and the Rock Island and Silvis Public Libraries.

A special presentation by the Genesius Theatre Guild of the Quad Cities in preparation for its summer season at Rock Island's Lincoln Park, the Shakespearean celebration Songs & Sweet Airs will enjoy a live presentation at the Rock Island Public Library's Watts-Midtown Branch on May 13, this reader's-theatre performance a supercut of some of the Bard's greatest writing that boasts scenes and monologues from many of his plays.

An eagerly awaited springtime event taking place over Mother's Day weekend in Davenport's spacious Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, the Beaux Arts 2025 Spring Fair will treat visitors to an outdoor celebration of visual arts and fine crafts on May 10 and 11, with the annual event featuring food, live music, children's activities, and works for sale by dozens of artists and Midwestern vendors.

Highlighting the importance of sustainability in the arts and encouraging their audience to see the beauty of Earth’s resources and ecosystem, a trio of Illinois and Iowa talents enjoy a collective exhibition at the Quad City Arts International Airport Gallery through June 30, Olson, Stampfli, & Sunderman showcasing a beautiful assemblage of quilted art by Lindsay Olson and Jessie Stampfli and sculpture by Robert Sunderman.

As you likely know by now, a federal jury deadlocked last week on all three corruption charges against Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago). U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood declared a mistrial after polling individual jurors and arriving at the conclusion that they could not possibly reach a verdict.

Has it really been only three-and-a-half years since they won my heart with their first production "Jacques"alope? (Answer: Yes.) The founders of this comedic theatrical ensemble, T Green and Calvin Vo, are serving their latest smörgåsbord – Zooted Suits, a merrie medley of classic-cartoon parodies – at the Black Box Theatre. I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready!

With their 2022 release Color Decay hailed by AllMusic as “a meaty, 12-song set that pairs unrelenting aggression with expansive arrangements and introspective lyrics," the metalcore musicians of The Devil Wears Prada bring their tour to Davenport's Capitol Theatre on May 3, Distorted Sound adding that Color Decay is "another home run from a band who have kept in step with the evolution and growth of the genre in a manner that many others could only dream of."

Touring in support of his 2023 album debut This Far South, and the youngest son of legendary folk musician John Prine, Tommy Prine performs a special early-evening concert event at Davenport's Raccoon Motel on May 2, Americana UK raving that with his first full-length recordinmg, "Prine has channeled loss, grief, and even humor into a collection of compelling songs that are smartly written and beautiful, both musically and lyrically."