The Performing Arts Series of First Presbyterian Church, 1702 Iowa St., Davenport, will present the Broadway musical “Tuck Everlasting” this weekend.

This timeless story is a musical adaptation of the 1975 young adult novel by Natalie Babbitt that opened on Broadway in 2016. Show dates are Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 28 at 4 p.m. General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.

Patrick Downing (Angus Tuck) and Dawn Hickenbottom (Mae Tuck) surrounded by members of the ensemble.

Performing Arts Series productions always feature the highest level of community actors, musicians, directors, choreographers, costumers, and set builders, most of whom are members of First Presbyterian Church, according to a church release. The series usually presents one major Broadway musical per year, with actors who are new to theater and with actors who have appeared on Quad Cities stages for years (one family from First Presbyterian Church is represented by four cast members of various generations in this production). This production features a live orchestra.

Tuck Everlasting asks the age-old question, “if you could choose to live forever, would you?” The story centers around Winnie Foster, a bored 11-year-old in the small town of Tree Gap, New Hampshire, and how her life changes when she happens upon the Tuck Family. Winnie learns their secret, that despite their looks, they are all over 100 years old, and have been given the gift and curse of everlasting life after drinking from a spring. With amazingly touching music, the poignant story follows Winnie as she wrestles with the choice of joining them or living a full, normal life, the First Pres release says.

Brighton Greim (Jesse Tuck) and Lucy Emerle (Winnie Foster).

The musical – here directed by Sarah Greim — is based upon the American children’s novel Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. It features music by Chris Miller, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and a book by Claudia Shear and Tim Federle, with direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw. The musical had its premiere at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta in 2015, and opened on Broadway on April 26, 2016, at the Broadhurst Theatre, in New York City.

For the First Presbyterian production, doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance. Tickets are available online (https://first-presbyterian-church-of-davenport.square.site/) or by calling the church office (563-326-1691) in advance, or at the door. Light concessions will be available for purchase.

The First Presbyterian production of “Tuck Everlasting” features (L-R) Marlo Reed (Hugo), Glen Roebuck (Constable Joe), Mark Ruebling (The Man in the Yellow Suit), Rebecca Buening-Ferris (Ma Foster), and Wendy Hammen (Nana Foster).

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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.