14 Jul 2025

Milked Shakes: Barely There Theatre's “To Leer at Lear,” at the Black Box Theatre through July 19

By Pamela Briggs

Alexander Richardson calls this "a love letter to community theatre," and if you've ever been in a show, played on a team, had a job, been part of a family, or met at least one other person in your life, you may recognize at least some of these situations.

14 Jul 2025

Save the Dates: Quad City Music Guild's “The Prom,” at the Prospect Park Auditorium through July 20

By Pamela Briggs

Consider this a "prom-vitation" to enjoy Quad City Music Guild's tuneful, touching, terrifically funny The Prom, its music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and book by Beguelin and Bob Martin.

14 Jul 2025

Fore! Play: “Ken Ludwig's A Fox on the Fairway,” through July 20

By Mischa Hooker and Kitty Israel

M: The comedy relies a lot on broad stereotypes, if you know what I mean.

K: (rolls eyes)

07 Jul 2025

The Beat of a Different Nun: Countryside Community Theatre's “Sister Act,” at North Scott High School through July 13

By Mischa Hooker and Kitty Israel

Kitty: I just want to start by saying that Harmoni Eiland is such a strong lead.

Mischa: Absolutely!

30 Jun 2025

Go, Go, Go See!: “Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre through July 6

By Alexander Richardson

I now know how the Grinch felt when his heart grew three sizes, because I surprisingly, actually, thoroughly enjoyed the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre's and director/choreographer Jenna Schoppe’s production of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Which will be a shock to anyone who knows me, because they also know how much I hate(d) Joseph. But Clinton’s latest has made me a believer.

23 Jun 2025

Class Acts: “Miss Nelson Is Missing!”, at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre through June 29

By Kitty Israel

There are three main villains from childhood fiction that still occasionally haunt my nightmares – my terror trifecta, if you will: the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Barnaby from Babes in Toyland, and Miss Viola Swamp from Miss Nelson Is Missing! So naturally, I was both excited and terrified when I took my seat at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre.

23 Jun 2025

Airy B-and-B: Genesius Guild's “Much Ado About Nothing,” at Lincoln Park through June 29

By Pamela Briggs

T Green's and Calvin Vo's production hooked me from the start – the performers are lively, fully present, and engaged in their scenes, and usually moved and spoke naturally, with excellent projection and diction.

23 Jun 2025

Nothin' but a Good Time: “Rock of Ages,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through July 6

By Alexander Richardson

If it’s got over-ze-top German accents, banging rock music, and more questionable wigs than you can shake a Spirit Halloween store at, it must be Rock of Ages, now playing at the Timber Lake Playhouse. Directed with aplomb by James Beaudry, Timber Lake’s latest takes us back to a yester-decade when rock music was the culture and not something confined to specific frequencies of FM radio.

20 Jun 2025

Smooth Operetta: Opera Quad Cities' “Die Fledermaus,” at St. Ambrose University June 20 and 22

By Pamela Briggs

If you don't think opera can be frivolous and fun, Opera Quad Cities will prove otherwise, with a big dollop of flair and abundant thrills for the ear and eye.

16 Jun 2025

Parental Dissection Is Advised: “The Addams Family,” at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre through June 22

By Madeline Dudziak

They're creepy and they’re kooky, but I must tell you: For a musical comedy about a clan that generally lacks enthusiasm for anything other than the macabre, the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre's The Addams Family was truly a high-energy showcase of talent and spectacle. Director Courtney Ryan Crouse, who's also the company's artistic director, brought the ghoulish tale to light in a way that was hysterically heartwarming.

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