One of the many reasons Genesius Guild is a priceless cultural jewel in the Quad Cities is its verdant, pastoral setting.

Lincoln Park (1120 40^th St., Rock Island) was created in 1909, commemorating Abraham Lincoln’s centennial birthday, and the 22.75-acre woodland site was selected for its grandeur and views overlooking the Mississippi River valley. The building and circular Greek columns where Genesius performs (after launching in 1956) were erected in 1930.

Now 70 years old, every summer, Genesius offers something unique and incomparable – free productions in this beautiful setting, and devoted to a range of productions unusual for a community theater: Greek tragedy in mask, Shakespearean comedies and tragedies, and Greek comedy in contemporary re-writes.

Storm Marie Baca and Christian Wellner in “Love’s Labour’s Lost” (photo by Jonathan Turner).

Thanks to donors, support from local foundations, and sponsorships from local businesses, Genesius Guild has been able to continue providing free theater to the Quad Cities, but that means operating on a shoestring budget to make ends meet, and it depends heavily on the generosity of major donors. The nonprofit is working to raise up to $1 million for needed capital improvements on its property.

One simple improvement it recently made for this season, and struck me as a giant leap forward, was installation of three long strings of small lights from the stage that swoop over the audience to the rear lights that come on after the sun sets each weekend.

A scene from “Love’s Labour’s Lost” at Genesius Guild, Rock Island, running through June 14 (photo by Jonathan Turner).

That was the brilliant recommendation of the current director of this year’s first production, Cameron Ulrich, for Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost.” It’s the first time the work has been seen in the QC for a decade, since Prenzie Players did it in 2016, directed by Cait Bodenbender. The last time Genesius staged it was in 1996, and under Ulrich’s direction, with scenic designer Miranda Callahan, the new version is the most visually impressive production I’ve seen here in a long time. It’s simply delightful (the twinkling lights go a long way to achieve that) and a feast for the senses.

Pam Cantrell in “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” an early Shakespeare comedy, performed in Lincoln Park, Rock Island (photo by Jonathan Turner).

One of Shakespeare’s early comedies (first published in 1598), the play follows four men who (in the ultimate dorky bro pact) have sworn to study together for three years while avoiding all contact with women, as well as giving up drinking and excessive eating. Their pledge turns out to be short-lived, as the Princess of France arrives on a state visit (embodied by upright regal authority by Ulrich’s wife, Patty) and all four of the men fall in love with the princess and her ladies. Of course, nothing goes as planned, with unexpected twists and turns in the show.

A scene from “Love’s Labour’s Lost” at Genesius Guild, Rock Island, running through June 14 (photo by Jonathan Turner).

Director Ulrich – who moved here last summer from St. Louis — has a passion for Shakespeare’s works and it shows in the committed, strong, enthusiastic performances by all here. He has copious experience with Shakespeare (including last directing “Henry V” in 2011), and serving as fight director for many of the Bard’s works.

Among my favorite actors at Genesius are Brian Wellner as the very human, smitten King of Navarre, and his real-life son Christian as the funny, playful Costard (another son, David Wellner, here is Dumaine); Storm Marie Baca as the often annoyed wench Jaquenetta; Kitty Hooker as the very strong-willed, mocking Rosaline; Mischa Hooker as Boyet, charming messenger to the Princess who exchanges jokes with the lords; Michael Kintigh as the witty, skeptical Berowne, and a hilarious Pam Cantrell as Madame Holoferness.

A scene from “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” with Brian Wellner (right) as the King of Navarre (photo by Jonathan Turner).

The gentle comedy continues a theme throughout many Shakespeare’s plays in showcases dominating, intelligent, fiercely independent women (see: “Taming of the Shrew” coming July 11-19). When I talked to Cameron before the show, I asked if this feminist streak meant the beloved playwright was ahead of his time, I dumbly recalled the Queen of England during his time, Elizabeth I, ruled from 1558 to 1603, providing a role model for women.

Patty Ulrich as Princess of France and Mischa Hooker as Boyet (photo by Jonathan Turner).

“Love’s Labour’s Lost” will continue this Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14, at 7 p.m. I genuinely hope the hanging lights are a permanent feature in the park. For more information, visit www.genesius.org.

New hanging lights at “Love’s Labour’s Lost” stretch from the stage to the back stage lights.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.