Music
Sarah Jarosz
Rozz-Tox
Wednesday, October 16, 8 p.m.
Singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz plays Rock Island's Rozz-Tox on October 16, and in recent years, the bluegrass, country, and folk musician has been the beneficiary of some truly excellent reviews. The Austin Chronicle called her "a songwriter of uncommon wisdom." American Songwriter magazine wrote, "Jarosz invites us along with her into a growing sonic space of collaboration and artistry." Paste magazine praised her gift for "conjuring soundscapes, erotic tableau, and enough tension to hold listeners transfixed."
And my inner frustrated artist is now doing his damnedest to contain his resentment, considering that Jarosz wasn't alive in the freaking 1980s.
The Texas native began her path to professional acclaim as a 10-year-old banjo whiz who quickly became equally accomplished on mandolin and guitar, and who signed a recording contract with Sugar Hill Records before her 18th birthday. Her 2009 debut album Song Up in Her Head - which hit number one on Billboard's U.S. Bluegrass charts - brought her critical plaudits and a considerable fan base, at which point Jarosz apparently took the money and ran ... all the way to the New England Conservatory of Music, from which she graduated this past spring.
Yet having released follow-up albums in 2011's Follow Me Down, 2012's Live at the Troubador, and 2013's Build Me Up from Bones - released, as of this writing, literally yesterday (September 24) - the artist's musical education and success have clearly extended beyond those New England walls.
Her collaborators, over the past four years, have included such talents as Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, and Chris Thile. She earned a Grammy nomination in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category for her song "Mansinneedof." And no less a publication than the New York Times wrote that, with Jarosz's most recent album, "she moves past precocity toward the full bloom of artistry: The singing is more deeply self-assured, and the songs are grounded in truer emotional terrain." The paper of record added, "She's also savvy about her borrowings, covering Joanna Newsom as well as Bob Dylan with cool understatement." And for those of you also not freaking alive in the 1980s, Bob Dylan was a popular folk artist who ... .
Yeah. That resentment's not very well-contained, is it?
Sarah Jarosz performs with an opening set by Ruston Kelly, and for more information on the night, call (309)200-0978 or visit RozzTox.com.
Theatre
Monty Python's Spamalot
St. Ambrose University
Friday, October 4, through Sunday, October 6
St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center houses the musical comedy Monty Python's Spamalot October 4 through 6, and if you're acquainted with the show's slapstick-classic inspiration Monty Python & the Holy Grail, you know it's bound to be hilarious.
If you're acquainted with Spamalot's score, featuring titles such as "I Am Not Dead Yet," "The Song That Goes Like This," "The Diva's Lament," and "Run Away!", you know the musical numbers are just as funny as its Eric Idle-penned book.
If you watched the 2005 Tony Awards, where Spamalot won Best Musical and Best Director, you know the show has been as acclaimed as it has been wildly popular, enjoying an initial Broadway run of more than 1,500 performances.
But until you actually see the show - or, at the very least, speak with St. Ambrose scenic designer Kris Eitrheim - you really don't know how unbelievably gigantic Spamalot is. After all, as Eitrheim says, "This show has got five castles in it."
Beyond that, he adds, "There are gobs and gobs of costumes, and there are tons of set pieces and scene changes, and getting scenes just to move quickly from one point to the other really is a challenge. I mean, we've got to make sure that we're all set with castle number three backstage before they take the curtain down on castle number two."
It should probably go without saying that Spamalot will also boast plenty of on-stage magic to accompany the behind-the-scenes magic. The shrubbery-demanding Knight of Ni, for instance, will indeed be three feet taller than anyone else on-stage. (Says Eitrheim, "And the actor was a tall guy already.") And regarding The Lady in the Lake, Eitrheim reveals, "She'll appear in the midst of fog and mysticism ... and she's on a boat. Because the show makes fun of all kinds of other musicals as well, there's a part where they're poking fun at the Phantom of the Opera set with a boat. And a chandelier.
"For us, it's just huge," says Eitrheim of director Michael Kennedy's production. "It's also been a real challenge, because there's so much stuff - you have to have enough room, with all the scenic elements, for the actors to still move around and do quick changes and props ... .
"But," he adds with a laugh, "I'm certain that by opening night, we'll be able to look at it and talk about what great fun it was."
Monty Python's Spamalot runs Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., and more information and tickets are available by calling (563)333-6251 or visiting SAU.edu/galvin.
Music
EPMD
Rock Island Brewing Company
Friday, October 4, 9 p.m.
A legendary hip-hop act is set to rock the Rock Island Brewing Company on October 4, when the District venue hosts the inventive musicians of EPMD, known for such hit songs as "Gold Digger," "Rampage," and "You Gots to Chill." Songs, I might add, that could all accompany our weekly staff meetings at the Reader, but only when I make the mistake of asking for a raise.
Originally from Long Island and now based in Brentwood, New York, the founding artists of EPMD - Erick Sermon and Parrish J. Smith - released their debut album in 1988. For those doing the math, that means that the pair has now been an acclaimed force in hip hop for a full quarter-century, with their second and third CDs achieving gold-record status, and their 1992 crossover smash (rather ironically titled "Crossover") peaking at number 42 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
Fellow hip-hop stars have enjoyed collaborations with the duo; Sermon and Smith have worked alongside the likes of Method Man, Redman, and Das EFX. Music critics have been exuberant in their praise; Pitchfork.com described EPMD's most recent album as an "enjoyable reminder of the potency of a group often overshadowed by their more name-dropped contemporaries," while AllMusic.com raved about the musicians' "killer blend of good groove and laid-back flow." But how familiar are you with EPMD's collective output? Let's find out by having you fill in the blanks on the titles to the duo's seven albums to date:
1) 1988's _____ Business
2) 1989's _____ Business
3) 1990's Business _____
4) 1992's Business _____
5) 1997's _____ Business
6) 1999's _____ Business
7) 2008's _____ Business
A) as Usual
B) Back in
C) Never Personal
D) Out of
E) Strictly
F) Unfinished
G) We Mean
EPMD performs locally with sets by DJ Scratch, DJ Ohms, and Daggers & Gadema, and more information on the night is available by calling (309)793-4060 or visiting RIBCO.com.
Answers: 1 - E, 2 - F, 3 - A, 4 - C, 5 - B, 6 - D, 7 - G. My first draft had me switching which words were left blank in those titles, but co-workers, for whatever reason, thought it made for a re-e-eally easy quiz.
Theatre
Breast in Show: The New Musical About Saving the Ta-Tas!
Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse
Tuesday, October 8, and Thursday, October 10, 7 p.m.
"Hey, Jeff!"
"Hi, Mike."
"So I'd love to do a What's Happenin' article on the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse's third-annual fundraiser for Gilda's Club of the Quad Cities."
"Sounds great."
"Wait! Don't dismiss the idea so fast! Let me tell you about it first!"
"I said it sounds gr-."
"It's the musical comedy/drama Breast in Show: The New Musical About Saving the Ta-Tas!, and it's playing at Circa '21 on October 8 and 10, and this is the first time it's being staged in the Midwest, after playing to big audiences and enormous acclaim out East!"
"That's fine, and I don't have a problem with - ."
"Just listen! It finds a group of people sitting together in the 'Chemo Café' ward, where characters share both heartbreaking and hilarious stories and songs about their breast-cancer diagnoses and treatments, and the effects they've had on their families."
"You don't need to convin-."
"Wait! I know it sounds terribly depressing, but it's not! Richmond Family Magazine, for instance, praised Breast in Show's 'high-energy musical numbers,' and said the presentation's 'skilled one-liners zinged the patrons in unexpected ways.' And the Maryland Theatre Guide wrote that authors Kathryn Bryer and Joan Cushing 'accentuate the informative, funny, and serious aspects with equal vigor,' and that 'the audience laughed, cheered, and whooped it up while wiping away tears.'"
"It sounds completely deserving of covera-."
"Come on, Jeff! The show's being directed by Marc Ciemiewicz, who also directed Avenue Q at the District Theatre, and a whole bunch of familiar area talents are featured: Lora Adams, Erin Churchill, Jody Alan Lee, Ron May, Darla Niksich, Jalayne Riewerts, Jenny Winn ... !"
"Mike! Stop! You have my full permission to do an article on Breast in Show!"
"Oh ... well ... thanks! I thought maybe the reference to 'ta-tas' would be considered offensive."
"Please. You're routinely way more offensive than that."
"All right then! See you later, Jeff! Or should I say ... 'Ta-ta-a-a-as!'"
"Yeah. If you end with that joke, that's offensive."
"Too crude?"
"Too stupid."
Tickets to Breast in Show: The New Musical About Saving the Ta-Tas! are $20, with a portion of all proceeds benefiting Davenport's Gilda's House, and more information and reservations are available by calling (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visiting Circa21.com.
What Else Is Happenin' ...?
MUSIC
Thursday, October 3 - Joe Scalissi: Capturing the Spirit of Dean Martin. Tribute concert celebrating the famed Rat Pack entertainer. Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island). 11:30 a.m. doors, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. plated lunch, 1 p.m. show, $42.32. 5:45 p.m. doors, 6-7 p.m. buffet, 7:15 p.m. show, $48.07. For tickets and information, call (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.
Thursday, October 3 - Charlotte Sometimes. Indie-pop singer and The Voice contestant on her Brilliant, Broke, & Beautiful Tour. Barrel House (1321 Fifth Avenue, Moline). 8:30 p.m. No cover. For information, call (309)517-1973 or visit BarrelHouse211.com.
Thursday, October 3 - Martha Redbone Roots Project. Singer/songwriter and her ensemble blend the words of poet William Blake with the music of Appalachia, in a concert in Hancher Auditorium's Visiting Artists series. The Mill (120 East Burlington Street, Iowa City). 7 and 9:30 p.m. $10-20. For tickets and information, call (319)335-1160 or visit http://www.Hancher.UIowa.edu.
Thursday, October 4 - Bill Medley. Concert with the chart-topping musician of Righteous Brothers fame. Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center (1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf). 7:30 p.m. $20-30. For information, call (800)724-5825 or visit Bettendorf.IsleOfCapriCasinos.com.
Friday, October 4 - Dan Hubbard & the Humadors. Rock musicians perform a CD-release concert for Hubbard's solo album, with an opening set by Busted Chandeliers. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 9 p.m. $7. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Saturday, October 5, and Sunday, October 6 - Quad City Symphony Orchestra. The Masterworks I concerts featuring conductor Mark Russell Smith, Jonathan Biss on piano, and a repertoire including Michael Torke's world premiere Oracle, Ludwig's Fanfare for Sam, Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, and Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1. Saturday: Adler Theatre (126 East Third Street, Davenport), 7:30 p.m. Sunday: Augustana College's Centennial Hall (3703 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island), 2 p.m. $10-55. For tickets and information, call (563)322-0931 or visit QCSymphony.com. For an interview with Torke about his world premiere, visit RCReader.com/y/torke.
Saturday, October 5 - Nikki Foxx. Reunion show with the "Midwest Kings of Sleaze" from 1987-1994, with an opening set by Halo of Flies. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 9:30 p.m. $10-12. For information, call (309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com.
Saturday, October 5 - Mason Jennings. Concert with the pop-folk singer/songwriter, featuring an opening set by Love Over Gold featuring Pieta Brown and Lucie Thorne. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $25-27.50. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Sunday, October 6 - Mary Chapin Carpenter & Shawn Colvin. Grammy-winning country-music singers/songwriters in concert. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 7 p.m. $42-57.50. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Thursday, October 10 - Kris Lager Band. Blues and soul musicians in concert, with an opening set by Jason Carl & the Whole Damn Band. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 9 p.m. $8. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Thursday, October 10 - Jerusalem Quartet. Concert with the touring string musicians, in a Hancher Auditorium Visiting Artists presentation. Riverside Recital Hall (405 North Riverside Drive, Iowa City). 7:30 p.m. $10-35. For tickets and information, call (319)335-1160 or visit http://www.Hancher.UIowa.edu.
Friday, October 11 - Trippin' Billies. Dave Matthews Band tribute musicians in concert, with an opening set by Chuck Murphy. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 9 p.m. $8. For information, call (309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com.
Saturday, October 12 - Meg Okura & the Pan Asian Ensemble. Asian-jazz crossover ensemble performing in the Quad City Arts Visiting Artists series. Redeemer Lutheran Church (1107 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf). 7 p.m. Donations encouraged. For information, call (309)793-1213 or visit QuadCityArts.com.
Saturday, October 12 - Cemetery Gatez. Pantera tribute musicians in concert, with an opening set by Sons of S.A.M.M. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 9:30 p.m. $10. For information, call (309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com.
Saturday, October 12, and Sunday, October 13 - We Celebrate Life! Professional vocal ensemble the Nova Singers perform a program celebrating the strength of the human spirit. Saturday: First Congregational Church (2201 Seventh Avenue, Moline), 7:30 p.m. Sunday: Knox College's Kresge Recital Hall (2 East South Street, Galesburg), 4 p.m. $15-18, students free. For information, call (309)341-7038 or visit NovaSingers.com.
Saturday, October 12 - Maggie Mae. Concert with the touring country musician. 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, October 13 - The Laurence Hobgood Quartet featuring Ernie Watts. Two-time Grammy-winner and his ensemble perform and educate as part of Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Workshop & Matinée Series. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 3 p.m. jazz workshop: $5/adult, kids free. 6 p.m. concert: $10-15. For tickets and information, call (309)373-0790 or visit Polyrhythms.org or RiverMusicExperience.org.
Monday, October 13 - Todd Snider. Americana singer/storyteller in concert, with an opening set by The Coal Men. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 7 p.m. $22-25. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org. For a 2009 interview with Snider, visit RCReader.com/y/snider.
THEATRE
Thursday, October 3, through Sunday, October 13 - The Mousetrap. Agatha Christie's mystery-thriller classic, directed by Gary Clark. Richmond Hill Barn Theatre (600 Robinson Drive, Geneseo). Thursdays-Saturdays 7:30 p.m., Sundays 3 p.m. $10. For tickets and information, call (309)944-2244 or visit RHPlayers.com.
Friday, October 4, through Sunday, October 13 - The Agony & the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs. Mike Daisey's one-man drama about the famed entrepreneur, directed by Tristan Tapscott. District Theatre (1611 Second Avenue, Rock Island). Thursdays-Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. $20. For tickets and information, call (309)235-1654 or visit DistrictTheatre.com.
Saturday, October 5, through Sunday, October 13 - Cinderella. Roger Pavey Sr.'s new adaptation of the timeless fairytale, directed by Ivy Bekker. Davenport Junior Theatre (2822 Eastern Avenue, Davenport). Saturdays 1 and 4 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. $5-7 at the door. For information, call (563)326-7862 or visit DavenportJuniorTheatre.com.
Thursday, October 10, through Sunday, October 20 - Water by the Spoonful. Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Quiara Alegrí Hudes, directed by Tlaloc Rivas. University of Iowa's David Thayer Theatre (200 North Riverside Drive, Iowa City). Wednesdays-Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. $10-17. For tickets and information, call (319)335-1160 or visit Theatre.UIowa.edu.
Thursday, October 10 - The Road to Shameless: A Survivor's True Story of Rape and Recovery. One-woman production with Nancy Donoval, followed by a Q&A session. Augustana College's Wallenberg Hall (3520 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island). 7 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (563)468-2140 or visit Augustana.edu.
Thursday, October 10, through Sunday, November 10 - Dial "M" for Murder. Frederick Knott's mystery-thriller classic. Old Creamery Theatre (39 38th Avenue, Amana). Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays 3 p.m. For tickets and information, call (319)622-6194 or visit OldCreamery.com.
Thursday, October 10, through Sunday, October 13 - Dedication: Or, the Stuff of Dreams. Terrence McNally's backstage comedy/drama, presented by Kirkwood College. Coralville Center for the Arts (1301 Fifth Street, Coralville). Thursday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $7-12. For tickets and information, call (319)248-9370 or visit CoralvilleArts.org.
Friday, October 11, through Saturday, October 19 - Fictional Murders. Dreamwell Theatre's original cyber-sex drama, written by Mike Moran. Unitarian Universalist Society (10 South Gilbert Street, Iowa City). Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 p.m. $10-13. For tickets and information, call (319)423-9820 or visit Dreamwell.com.
Monday, October 14 - EA Poe: Edgar Allan Poe's Imagination. One-man drama about the famed horror writer, performed by Dan Haughey. Rock Island Public Library (401 19th Street). 6 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (309)732-7323 or visit RockIslandLibrary.org.
DANCE
Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October 12 - Dracula. Horror-themed ballet performed by the dancers of Ballet Quad Cities, featuring lead dancer Domingo Rubio. Scottish Rite Cathedral (1800 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island). 7:30 p.m. $12-22. For tickets and information, call (309)786-3779 or visit BalletQuadCities.com.
Sunday, October 13 - Dancing with the Local Media Stars. Charity event featuring performances by Bailey Deitz, Jillene Khan, Melissa Smith, Bryan Witt, Denise Hnytka, and their professional partners, plus emcee Pippa Harris, appetizers, a cash bar, a silent auction, general dancing, and more. Golden Leaf Banquet & Convention Center (2902 East Kimberly Road, Davenport). 2 p.m. $35. For tickets and information, call (563)326-4321 or visit ArthurMurrayQCA.com.
COMEDY
Friday, October 4 - Dave Lippman. Satirical "post-corporate" comedy and acoustic numbers with the singer/songwriter. First Lutheran Church (1600 20th Street, Rock Island). 7 p.m. $8-12. For tickets and information, call (309)788-9661 or visit FirstLutheranRI.org.
Friday, October 4 - John Hodgman. Concert evening with the comedian, storyteller, and frequent contributor to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $25. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Saturday, October 12 - Craig Ferguson: Hot & Grumpy. Stand-up comedy with the Emmy-nominated host of TV's The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Adler Theatre (136 East Third Street, Davenport). 8 p.m. $44.50-49.50. For tickets, call (800)745-3000 or visit AdlerTheatre.com.
LITERATURE
Saturday, October 5 - Pen-in-Hand Mini Writing Conference: Manuscript Makeover. Learn about voice and style, showing versus telling, editing and proofreading, and/or writing a query letter in workshops led by Ann Boaden, Daniel Horne, Nancy Schaefer, and Kate Ganshert. Midwest Writing Center (225 East Second Street, Suite 303, Davenport). 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $20-30/workshop, $60-90/all four workshops. For information and to register, call (563)324-1410 or visit MidwestWritingCenter.org.
EXHIBIT
Saturday, October 12, through Friday, December 13 - Medieval Monsters. Exhibition will include rare illuminated-manuscript pages and stained glass from the collections of Augustana College, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Olin Library Manuscripts Collection, St. Louis' Washington University, and other public and private collections. Figge Art Museum (225 West Second Street, Davenport). Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sundays noon-5 p.m. Free with $4-7 museum admission. For information, call (563)326-7804 or visit FiggeArt.org.
EVENTS
Thursday, October 3 - Emotional Eating & Its Role in Anorexia, Bulimia, & Binge-Eating Disorders. Health event with featured speakers Dr. Wayne Bowers and Susan Clarahan, sponsored by Amy's Gift: The Quad Cities Eating Disorders Consortium. Community Health Care Auditorium (2750 11th Street, Rock Island). 6 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (309)779-3077 or visit AmysGift.com.
Thursday, October 3 - 2013 Taste of Home Cooking School. With cooking demonstrations led by Karen Davis, attendees will learn seasonal recipes for every holiday and occasion. Riverside Casino Event Center (3184 Highway 22, Riverside). 7 p.m. $10-20. For tickets and information, call (877)677-3456 or visit RiversideCasinoAndResort.com.
Saturday, October 5 - Walk the Walk. Christian Care's fourth-annual community walk and fundraiser to help "de-feet" domestic violence. Prospect Park (16th Street and 30th Avenue, Moline). 10 a.m. Donations encouraged. For information, visit ChristianCareQC.org.
Saturday, October 5 - Equality 5K Walk/Run. Community event with profits helping fund the QC Pride Scholarships awarded during the Seventh Annual QC Pridefest next June. Modern Woodmen Park (209 South Gaines Street, Davenport). 9 a.m. $25-30 registration. For information, call (309)798-7700 or visit QCPride.org.
Sunday, October 6 - Quad Cities CROP Hunger Walk. Community walk sponsored by Churches United of the Quad City Area, with live music by Lojo Russo. Modern Woodmen Park (209 South Gaines Street, Davenport). 1 p.m. registration and music, 2 p.m. walk. Donations encouraged. For information, call (563)332-5002 or visit CUQCA.org.
Saturday, October 12 - Make-a-Wish Iowa Walk for Wishes. Fundraising event with the 5K/10K walk/run starting at 10 a.m., and the one-mile run starting at 10:30 a.m. Modern Woodmen Park (209 South Gaines Street, Davenport). $15-35 registration. For information, call (563)275-8749 or visit Iowa.Wish.org.
Saturday, October 12 - Zoofari. Australia-themed fundraiser in celebration of the zoo's 50th anniversary, featuring dinner, an open bar, auction items, and interaction with the animals. Niabi Zoo (13010 Niabi Zoo Road, Coal Valley). 6 p.m. $150/person, $2,000/VIP table of 10. For tickets and information, call (309)799-5107 or visit NiabiZoo.com.
