MOLINE, ILL INOIS (January 5, 2026) — The Black Box Theatre located in downtown Moline will celebrate its tenth season with a series of area premieres. Co-founder and artistic director Lora Adams said, “It’s hard to believe it has been ten years since David Miller and I opened the doors to The Black Box Theatre, but here we are.”
The new season includes:
Dorothy Goes to Oz, in partnership with Ballet Quad Cities. Join Dorothy and her companions on an adventure-filled journey to Oz! With a little help from Glinda, the Good Witch, they’ll dance down the yellow-brick road and uncover the smarts, heart, and courage they need to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West. Through their struggle to overcome the Wicked Witch’s unkind behavior, they discover that the qualities they wished for were inside each of them all along. Choreography by Emily Kate Long — January 24
The Adventures of Sam Steele: A Radio Play by Jeff Adamson: It's 1947. The world is trying to pull itself together after the war, but Steele's world is unraveling as he tries to solve his toughest case, "A Murder in McClellan Heights" Join the Tri Cities most popular radio program as Sam Steele is up against mobsters, con men, and femme fatales. Written and directed by Jeff Adamson. March 24-April 4
Master Class by Terrance McNally is a poignant play that explores the life and artistry of opera legend Maria Callas as she conducts master classes for aspiring singers, revealing her complex personality and the demands of her craft. This play is produced in partnership with Opera Quad Cities. Directed by Ron May. May 11-May 24
The Shark is Broken by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon is a comedic play that explores the behind-the scenes drama during the filming of the iconic movie Jaws, focusing on the interactions of its lead actors as they deal with the broken mechanical shark. Directed by Jeremy Littlejohn. June 12-27
Grandma Gatewood Takes a Walk by Catherine Bush: In the 1955, sixty-seven-year-old Emma “Grandma” Gatewood called her son and told him she was “going for a walk.” What she forgot to mention was that the walk would encompass all 2,050 miles of the Appalachian Trail. As we join Emma on her adventure, we relive with her the hills and valleys, obstacles and detours of her Life that led her to make history as the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Directed by Lora Adams. July 10 -18.
Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic, written by Matt Cox, is a humorous take on the well-known “boy who lived,” told from the perspective of the often overlooked Hufflepuff house. Directed by Kailey Ackerman. August 7-15.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change by Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts is a witty musical revue that tackles modern love in all its forms: From the perils and pitfalls of the first date to marriage, children, and the twilight years of life. Set in the modern world and told in a series of vignettes and songs. Directed by David Miller. October 9-24.
The Minutes by Tracy Letts: At the Big Cherry town council meeting, full of backstabbing, personal agendas, and pet peeves. The play explores small-town politics and the real-world effects of trying to rewrite history. Directed by Jeremy Mahr. November 13-22.
The Long Christmas Dinner by Thorton Wilder spans nine decades — showcasing the lives of several generations of the Bayard family, and some of their Christmas dinners. Wilder breaks the boundaries of time as we measure it, and invites us to partake of “one long, happy Christmas dinner”-past, present, and future. As generations appear, have children, wither, and depart, only the audience appreciates what changes and what remains the same. Directed by Lora Adams. December 4-19.
Auditions for the shows will take place in March, with the dates to be determined. Also, in March, The Black Box will begin a series of theatre workshops for performers of all ages. Plus, GIT Improv will be back for a show each month starting with a special show on Valentine's Day.
“We have a few tricks up our sleeve for 2026, so stay tuned,” said Adams.
Information on the season will be available at theblackboxtheatre.com.
