29 Jul 2025

“Ordinary Days,” August 8 through 17

By Reader Staff

A lauded musical in which, according to The Sound on Stage, "the songs hit every band of the emotional spectrum," composer Adam Gwon's Ordinary Days enjoys its Quad Cities debut at Moline's Black Box Theatre from August 8 through 17, StageLeft.nyc adding that the show is a "sweet, quietly extraordinary musical that cleanses the soul, lifts the spirit, and reminds you what you love about New York."

28 Jul 2025

Dance Like Everyone's Watching: Countryside Community Theatre's “Hairspray,” at North Scott High School through August 3

By Pamela Briggs

Seeing and hearing Countryside Community Theatre's production of Hairspray has nearly stolen my words from me.

28 Jul 2025

Peace! What Is It Good For?: Genesius Guild's Peace, at Lincoln Park through August 3

By Alexander Richardson

A lot of the action follows Aristophanes' original text. The rest is decidedly in the style of Calvin Vo and Tee Green.

22 Jul 2025

“The Diary of Anne Frank,” August 1 through 10

By Reader Staff

Lauded by the New York Times as an "undeniably moving" stage work that "shatters the heart," the immortal tale of horror and hope The Diary of Anne Frank runs at Moline's Playcrafters Barn Theatre August 1 through 10, author Wendy Kesselman's adaptation of Frances Goodrich's and Albert Hackett's Pulitzer Prize-winner hailed by the Associated Press as "a powerful new version that moves the audience to gasps, then tears."

22 Jul 2025

“Almost Heaven: The Songs of John Denver,” July 31 through August 10

By Reader Staff

Closing its 2025 summer season with a celebration of one of America's greatest and most beloved entertainers, the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre stages Almost Heaven: The Songs of John Denver from July 31 through August 10, this transporting stage salute inspiring Chicago Theatre Review to rave, "it’s assured that every theatergoer will fly back home on a 'Rocky Mountain High.'"

22 Jul 2025

“Disney's Frozen,” August 1 through 17

By Reader Staff

Based on the Oscar-winning modern classic that stands as one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time, Disney's Frozen enjoys an area debut at Mt. Carroll's Timber Lake Playhouse August 1 through 17, this magical family enchantment a three-time Tony Award nominee hailed by The Guardian for its "theatrical razzmatazz" and "the sense of a real, beating heart in the relationship between the two tortured sisters."

22 Jul 2025

“Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr.,” August 2 and 3

By Reader Staff

A student-performed version of the Tony Award nominee adapted from one of the most beloved animated musicals of all time, Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. enjoys an August 2 and 3 run at Maquoketa's Ohnward Fine Arts Center, the theatrical rendition of 1989's Oscar-winning film lauded by Broadway World as "a family-friendly stage musical with great visual punch."

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.

15 Jul 2025

Countryside Community Theatre's “Hairspray,” July 25 through August 3

By Reader Staff

Lauded by the New York Times as a "fresh, winning, and deliriously tuneful" musical that's "as sweet as a show can be without promoting tooth decay," the Tony-winning Broadway sensational Hairspray closes Countryside Community Theatre's 2025 summer season with the show's July 25 through August 3 run, this stage sensation also praised by Variety as a "sweet, infinitely spirited, bubblegum-flavored confection" that "more than lives up to its promise."

15 Jul 2025

Genesius Guild's “Peace,” July 26 through August 3

By Reader Staff

For the fourth straight year, and with company favorite Jacob Lund directing, the Quad Cities' classical-theatre company Genesius Guild will close its summer season with a madcap, somewhat modernized slapstick co-written by Haus of Ruckus founders T. Green and Cal Vo, their adaptation of Aristophanes' ancient-Greek satire Peace running in Rock Island's Lincoln Park June 26 through August 3.

Pages

more

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

    

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Theatre Calendars

Submit your event listings to calendar@rcreader.com