21 Jul 2025

If You Knew Her Story: “Bright Star,” at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre through July 27

By Madeline Dudziak

True to Steve Martin’s storytelling sensibility, Bright Star is full of heart, laced with tragedy, and balanced by moments of laugh-out-loud humor. Oh, and there’s plenty of banjo.

18 Jul 2025

There's Something About Mary: “Mary Poppins,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through September 6

By Mischa Hooker and Kitty Israel

Kitty: Full disclosure: We once dressed as Mary Poppins and Bert for Halloween. We’re very serious about our Poppins lore.

Mischa: But we promise to be absolutely objective in our reactions to this show.

15 Jul 2025

A Spoonful of Sugar: “Waitress,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through July 27

By Alexander Richardson

The Timber Lake Playhouse continues its hot streak with Waitress, directed and choreographed by Jennifer Hemphill. A crowd-pleaser through and through, with a charming book that's further buoyed by a wonderfully diverse cast of performers, this production is a saccharine slice of heaven.

21 Jul 2025

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, Mischa Hooker, Kitty Israel, 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.

15 Jul 2025

Talk Like an Egyptian: Genesius Guild’s “Antony and Cleopatra,” at Lincoln Park through July 20

By Madeline Dudziak

I’ve never been disappointed to spend a Sunday in the park with Shakespeare, though I am grateful that, this past Sunday night, the weather was fairly mild for July. I admit to being only vaguely familiar with Antony & Cleopatra before the evening commenced, but I was not fully anticipating the story to be as epic as it was in director Alaina Pascarella’s production.

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.

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