19 Jul 2021

Extra-Credit Assignment: “I & You,” at the Black Box Theatre through July 24

By Pamela Briggs

Even within the subset of meritorious solo or duo shows, author Lauren Gunderson's I & You is a particularly outstanding and imaginative two-person play unlike any I've seen in the Quad Cities, and one to which the Black Box Theatre did full justice. I attended opening night as one member of an equally appreciative crowd.

19 Jul 2021

Family Dis-chord: August Wilson's “The Piano Lesson,” at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre through July 25

By Madeline Dudziak

Family history can often be synonymous with family drama. And anyone who has ever argued over ownership of a family heirloom with their sibling will probably appreciate the Playcrafters Barn Theatre's current production.

19 Jul 2021

Boogie Knight: “Saturday Night Fever,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through September 11

By Rochelle Arnold

At last! After being pandemic-delayed for 17 months, it was finally opening night for the long-awaited Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse production Saturday Night Fever. And Friday’s performance transported an extremely excited audience back to the 1970s for a disco revolution in which there was a whole lot of incredible dancing going on.

12 Jul 2021

How Swede It Is: Quad City Music Guild’s “Mamma Mia!”, at the Prospect Park Auditorium through July 18

By Madeline Dudziak

Once Mamma Mia!'s overture started and the curtains opened – my my – it was nothing short of theatre magic.

09 Jul 2021

Teacher's Pet Project: The Mississippi Bend Players' “No Child … ,” at Augustana College through July 11

By Pamela Briggs

The summer is obviously flying by, as the final show of the Mississippi Bend Players' season – Nilaja Sun's No Child … – just opened at Augustana College's Brunner Theatre. I was there for Thursday's opening night; there are only three performances left, and you have got to see it. This show’s structure is unusual, the topic relatable, and the performance exceptional.

05 Jul 2021

Loved Letters: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through July 11

By Pamela Briggs

It was great to be back at the Timber Lake Playhouse, a capacious space that somehow still has a cozy ambiance.

05 Jul 2021

Elvis Has Entered the Boating: “All Shook Up,” at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre through July 18

By Rochelle Arnold

I was inside – bare-faced, cool, and enjoying the air conditioning – last Thursday for the opening performance of All Shook Up at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre.

05 Jul 2021

Bard and Noble: Genesius Guild’s “Shakespeare’s Life in his Works,” at Lincoln Park through July 11

By Madeline Dudziak

Many questions were raised this last Fourth-of-July weekend, such as: Do you prefer hot dogs or hamburgers? Which summertime dessert should you bring to the barbeque? Most importantly: How much do you really know about Shakespeare? While the first two questions are a mere matter of opinion, Genesius Guild looks forward to helping you better answer that third question with the company's latest production Shakespeare’s Life in His Works.

28 Jun 2021

Oh, There's Nothing Halfway About This Musical's Way to Treat You: Countryside Community Theatre's “The Music Man,” at North Scott High School through July 3

By Pamela Briggs

What would summer in Iowa be without fireworks? And small-town Independence Day celebrations? Ice cream? A marching band? A charming con man? Yep – for me, it's just not summer without The Music Man. This 1957 work by Iowan Meredith Willson (with Franklin Lacey's assist on the story) is my favorite musical. I've seen more productions of it than any other show, and felt lucky to review Countryside Community Theatre's opening-night performance.

25 Jun 2021

Cooper Duper: The Mississippi Bend Players' “Mary & Ethel: How I Learned to Sing,” at Augustana College through June 27

By Pamela Briggs

We don't just hear about the two Broadway ladies, both of whose careers took off in the 1930s and spanned decades; we also hear about Shelley Cooper's theatrical career. After reading her credits in the program bio, I can say that Cooper is a bona fide musical-theatre luminary herself.

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