“Groundhog Day: The Musical,” February 7 through 16

Friday, February 7, through Sunday, February 16

Spotlight Theatre, 1800 Seventh Avenue, Moline IL

Nominated for seven 2017 Tony Awards and the winner of the prestigious Olivier Award for Best New Musical, the comedy-classic adaptation Groundhog Day: The Musical makes its Quad Cities debut at Moline's Spotlight Theatre February 7 through 16, the stage hit lauded by the New York Times as a "dizzyingly witty" work "so outrageously inventive in ringing changes on the same old, same old, that you can’t wait for another (almost identical) day to dawn."

Based on the iconic 1993 film, Groundhog Day: The Musical concerns Phil Connors, a sarcastic and self-centered TV weatherman from Pittsburgh who dreads his annual trips to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where he is forced to report on the annual Groundhog Day festivities. Disdainful of the locals, and rude to his cameraman and associate producer, Phil would do anything to get out of Punxsutawney as soon as possible. Unfortunately for him, he is stuck overnight due to a blizzard. When he wakes up on February 3, however, Phil has a worse problem on his hands: It isn’t February 3, but February 2, the same day he just lived. In a bizarre twist of fate, Phil is forced to relive the same day over and over again. What will it take for Phil to break the time loop? Crimes and misdemeanors? Arrest? Suicide? Falling in love? Or is he fated to be stuck in Punxsutawney celebrating Groundhog Day forever? Set to a hilarious and heartfelt score by Tim Minchin, Groundhog Day is an uproarious tale of a man who finds himself with all the time (he never wanted) in the world.

Directing the area debut of Groundhog Day: The Musical for the Spotlight Theatre is venue veteran Noah Hill, who previously helmed the theatre's The SpongeBob Musical and The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, and has appeared in recent productions including Anastasia, Annie, and A Christmas Carol: The Musical. The Spotlight's co-owners Brent and Sara Tubbs serve as producers, with Brent also the show's sound, lighting, and (alongside Hill) set designer, and additional members of the creative team include music director Christine Rogers, stage manager Rebecca McNamar, costume designer Heather Blair, and props designer Sarah Greim.

Matthew Call, who portrayed the revolutionary Che in the Spotlight's fall presentation of Evita, stars as Phil Connors, with fellow venue favorite Abby Bastian (All Shook Up, Anastasia) playing Phil's associate producer Rita. Eighteen local talents, meanwhile, complete the Groundhog Day ensemble: Doug Alderman; Erik Finch; Gordon Finley; Dallas Foss; Heather Foss; Paul Hansen; Danny Hauskins; Emma Hughes; Maxwell Johnson; Addyson Kramer; Heather Lueder; Jolene McKittrick; Kelsey Miller; Grace Mottett; Jordan Paxton; Eli Swailes; Haley Tromblee; and Zoe Zelnio.

Groundhog Day: The Musical runs in Moline from February 7 through 16, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Admission is $20-25, and more information and tickets are available by calling 309-912-7647 and visiting TheSpotlightTheatreQC.com.