Quad City Music Guild To Welcome In-Person Audiences Starting in July
Due to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker relaxing Covid-19 restrictions for indoor theaters, Quad City Music Guild will return to in-person audiences for its musicals starting in July with “Mamma Mia!”
Music Guild’s entire 2020 season (its 72nd) was canceled due to Covid-19.
In its online Covid update at www.qcmusicguild.com, the Moline-based nonprofit theater said that “Mamma Mia” and “Matilda” will return to the Prospect Park theater (1584 34th Ave.) as scheduled for July and August.
The state of Illinois is allowing indoor theaters with over 200 seats to have 25-percent capacity audiences, meaning a maximum of 133 people per performance at Music Guild. Theaters with fewer than 200 seats must remain at the previous restriction of the lesser of 50-percent capacity or 50 patrons.
“Of course, should the public health situation or state guidelines change, we will continue to follow them,” Music Guild posted, noting that masks will be required for all patrons and volunteers.
Eighteen months after staging their last full production, Music Guild will return in June, to perform a filmed version of “Monty Python’s Spamalot” with no in-person audience, to be streamed online three times.
This show is available for streaming June 11th and 12th at 7:30 p.m. and June 13th at 2 p.m. You can reserve your $12 (per person) view by
“Monty Python’s Spamalot” will be performed with no in-person audiences, and streamed June 11, 12 and 13.
clicking HERE. Patrons with existing tickets to “Spamalot” that were not refunded from last year will automatically receive a link to view this show via email.
Music Guild canceled its entire 2020 season due to Covid – starting with “The Secret Garden” last spring, and
Taylor Bley singing for the new Music Guild cabaret, “On With the Show.”
the planned “Spamalot,” “Mamma Mia” and “Matilda” last summer, and “Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn” last holiday season.
“We will keep a close eye on capacity limits and adjust ticket availability accordingly,” Guild said online regarding the July and August shows (each to be performed for two weekends). “We ask for your continued patience as we monitor phases of reopening and what that means for our audience members and volunteers. Ticket sales for these shows will be temporarily suspended while we wait for more capacity guidance.”
If you have a ticket to either of these shows from 2020, they will be honored at the same performance, and Guild will mail out new tickets ahead of the productions.
“Holiday Inn” will be produced in person as scheduled in December. Music Guild is seeking a directing staff for this holiday classic. If you are interested, fill out an application, available HERE, and submit to president@qcmusicguild.com.
“We are so grateful for the overwhelming and ongoing support we have received from the Quad-Cities community, and we are so thankful we
Ellen Rickert, left, Kevin Snell and Emma Tully sing for the April cabaret from the Prospect Park theater.
will be able to provide a full five-show season to our audiences,” the Guild site says. “We know that some patrons with existing tickets to ‘Secret Garden’ and ‘Spamalot’ may not have streaming capabilities.
“We know that some patrons with existing tickets to the remainder of our season may not yet be comfortable joining us in person at the theatre,” they wrote. “We will eventually return to our no-refund policy. But, as we continue to work through this season together, if you have accessibility or safety concerns, please contact our box office staff to discuss a voucher for a future production or a refund.”
The box office is now open and will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. They can be reached at 309-762-6610, or at boxoffice@qcmusicguild.com.
Tickets available for “On With the Show: A QCMG Cabaret”
Shay Schehl, who was to play Mary in “The Secret Garden,” is performing in the April QCMG cabaret.
The filmed spring cabaret is available for streaming April 9-18, and tickets are on sale now.
You can reserve your view (also $12 for a single view) by clicking HERE. Patrons with existing tickets to “Secret Garden” that were not refunded will automatically receive a link to view “On With the Show” via email. You can stream this production any time between April 9 and 18.
Like for “Spamalot,” tickets for streaming include higher prices for couples ($18) or families ($30). The cabaret (in place of an in-person “Secret Garden”) is being led by creative director Christina Myatt, with piano accompanist Dave Blakey, video design by Beth Marsoun, sound design by Sean McGinn, and lighting design by Robert Crist.
Jordan Dodd, who also was in “The Secret Garden,” is performing in the April QCMG cabaret.
The hour-long video will be a virtual trip through the 73-year history of Quad City Music Guild, featuring songs from some favorite productions, including “The Music Man,” “My Fair Lady,” “Carousel,” “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” “Children of Eden,” and more.
Several performers from the never-staged “Secret Garden” will be featured – Taylor Bley, Jordan Dodd, Mark McGinn, Ellen Rickert, Shay Schehl, Kevin Snell, Emma Tully, and Luke Vermeire. Other singers will include Kevin Pieper, Pami Triebel, Harold Truitt, Sheri Olson and Jen Sondgeroth.
