Mischa: Fun fact: I didn’t really ever get into “Don’t Stop Believin’” until I heard the Glee version.

K: That’s because you like all the obscure, hipster ’80s music. Normal people love Journey.

The Timber Lake Playhouse’s latest production, Anything Goes, is a freaking hoot and a wonderful time out in the woods for fans of laughter and dazzling musical-theatre numbers. Directed by Tommy Ranieri, this Cole Porter classic practically hums with all the energy radiating off stage. Featuring some killer tech, knockout performances, and more camp than you conceive, this is a summer crowd-pleaser to see.

Keeping an eye on forecasts for days in advance, I was sure that severe thunderstorms were going to wash out Genesius Guild's opening-night performance of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. But they didn't, and with my umbrella, I went, I watched, I liked it.

M: La Bohème jumps right in with frenzied activity in Rodolfo’s garret. Rodolfo and Marcello are trying to figure out how to get fuel for the wood stove to heat the place. The other two roommates get home, have an impromptu feast, and when the landlord shows up for the rent –

K: Rent! The Broadway musical inspired by this opera! Sorry. I had to.

M: Uh-huh. Anyway ... .

Mischa: Overall, director James Beaudry's Footloose was very solid, and if you like the movie, you're pretty much guaranteed to love this.

Kitty: To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the movie, and I really liked Friday's show.

Director Courtney Crouse and music director Sabin Fisher, along with their cast, crew, and production staff, have crafted an extraordinarily entertaining production bursting with high-level musicianship, engaging acting, and visual verve, telling of a legendary studio session involving Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Directed by Patti Flaherty, the Playcrafters Barn Theatre’s Bad Seed is a thriller in the vein of Stephen King that features strong performances and enough chills to combat the hot summer air. It’s also a fun night out for those looking for something different than your standard theatrical fare.

The Quad Cities’ summer-theatre season is finally underway and Quad City Music Guild’s production of A Little Night Music, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a book by Hugh Wheeler, and directed by Colleen Houlihan, is a good start to it, boasting strong performances and some killer vocals.

Care to enjoy some frolicking, singing gorillas (and people) without leaving the QC? I suggest visiting the Spotlight Theatre for Tarzan: The Musical, an adaptation of the 1999 Disney animated film.

With freshly painted arches and some ghostly trees on the furthest front flats, set designer Miranda Callahan’s work on Medea was interesting enough to generally distract me from the gnats that were apparently immune to insect repellent.

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