12 Oct 2026

Let's Talk About Sextet: “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change,” at the Black Box Theatre through October 24

By Pamela Briggs

Are you looking for love? For marriage? Or just trying to get past your partner’s daily idiosyncrasies? You may well love I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, whether you attend solo or with a date.

12 Oct 2026

For Whom the Bells Toll: “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” at the Spotlight Theatre through October 18

By Madeline Dudziak

Make no mistake: This is not a show with a lovely, happy ending. In fact, it’s an altogether dark look at humanity. And October is a perfect time for The Hunchback of Notre Dame, because it’s spooky and dark – ideal for setting the Halloween mood without explicitly being Halloweeny.

21 Sep 2026

Every Rose Has Its Thorn: “Rock of Ages,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through November 7

By Pamela Briggs

Rock of Ages was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. “Wait – what?” I said when I read of these accomplishments after seeing the show. I eventually unearthed why.

06 Oct 2026

River Cities' Reader Theatre Reviews: July 2000 to the Present

By Administrator

Reviews by Rochelle Arnold, Jeff Ashcraft, Patricia Baugh-Riechers, Audra Beals, Pamela Briggs, Dee Canfield, Madeline Dudziak, Kim Eastland, Emily Heninger, Heather Herkelman, Kitty (née Israel) Hooker, Mischa Hooker, Paula Jolly, Victoria Navarro, Roger Pavey Jr., Alexander Richardson, Mark Ruebling, Mike Schulz, Joy Thompson, Oz Torres, Brent Tubbs, Jill Pearson Walsh, and Thom White.

05 Oct 2026

Prose and Cons: “Collected Stories,” at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre through October 11

By Mischa and Kitty Hooker

Mischa: The subtlety and quietness do mean that the tone is low-key throughout, possibly too low-key overall. Especially in certain scenes, I would have liked more overt tension and some louder raised voices.

Kitty: I actually thought the low-key quality was more of a strength than a drawback.

28 Sep 2026

A Stitching in Time: “Real Women Have Curves,” at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre through October 10

By Madeline Dudziak

It was interesting to see how this script written in 1987 was still thematically relevant nearly 40 years later. You’d think we’d be further along as a society, but from its concerns about the deportation of undocumented workers to the characters' strain in simply make ends meet, Josefina Lopez’s play speaks to issues that feel very current.

31 Aug 2026

A Soft Place to Land: “Come from Away,” at the Black Box Theatre through September 12

By Kitty Hooker

An unexpected detour can become a story of extraordinary kindness.

24 Aug 2026

Attention Must Be Paid: The Mockingbird at Black Hawk's “Death of a Salesman,” at Black Hawk College through August 29

By Alexander Richardson

There are some scripts that can be like pulling teeth when not done right. Thankfully, no orthodontist is needed for director Tristan Tapscott's powerful production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.

24 Aug 2026

Fin and Bear It: “The Mermaids,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through August 30

By Mike Schulz

I can only imagine how honored Andy Bro would be to see his name attached to annual presentations of world premieres – shows boasting the exceptional talent, on- and off-stage, continually lured to his theatre in the woods. That being said, and having nothing but admiration and gratitude for Timber Lake's series, I think The Mermaids may have broken my brain.

24 Aug 2026

A Theoretical Physicist and a Painter Walk into a Bar …: “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre through August 30

By Pamela Briggs

Self-referential meta-theatre ploys wage stealth attacks on the audience like mosquitoes. By the time you notice the tiny, piercing strike, it’s gone.

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