As many orchestras nationwide have cancelled in-person concerts for the fall, the show must go on for the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO). It’s proceeding with fall Masterworks concerts at Davenport’s Adler Theatre, which will undergo some major changes. Following recommendations from the Scott County Health Department, the QCSO has altered its October, November and December programs – to cut the ensemble size in half, to about 40 musicians; allow only 25 percent capacity in the Adler for both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon concerts; require masks and social distancing, and eliminate... Read More

Music certainly has the power to comfort and unify people, as exemplified in a new video by Rock Island native Lissie Maurus, who encouraged her fans to submit short videos from their recent life in quarantine. The five-minute compilation – set to her soulful 2018 song “Peace” – was released Aug. 11, and Lissie did a CNN International interview on the project from her family’s Rock Island home on Aug. 15. “Needless to say, these have been very disorienting, painful, reflective times,” the 37-year-old singer/songwriter posted on Facebook on Aug. 12. “I tear up with every view! And... Read More

If you’re itching to get out and see some new locally made short films, plan on rolling into Sterling, Ill., on Wednesday, Aug. 26, for the first-annual Northwest Illinois Film Festival at the Midway Drive-In Theatre. The free event (registration required) is billed as a “Shorts-A-Palooza,” and is a celebration of Illinois independent filmmakers, featuring several short films  — including a few from Quad-Cities producers. “The festival is an abridged version of the much larger film festival we had planned for May, but were forced to cancel due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Gary Camarano,... Read More

Many people have gotten used to working from home during the seemingly endless period of quarantine. Anthony Natarelli is even bringing theater and improv comedy to his home. The irrepressible 26-year-old Rock Islander, who lives in an apartment above the Circa ’21 Speakeasy, 1818 3rd Ave., livestreamed an improv show there June 27, and later this month will act in a two-man play to be shown online as part of his $1 Producer Project. “We’re keeping it small casts,” Natarelli said recently. “The highest number of people that will ever be in here will be five people in the entire apartment.... Read More

A year ago, Chelsea Ward was sassily standing up to a rigid Mother Superior in Music Guild’s “Sister Act.” This month, the passionate 25-year-old Davenport actress is standing up for racial justice and equality in two different online performances. On Aug. 8, Ward was among an all-female cast in a virtual cabaret – “Six Queens for Change,” recorded at Moline’s Black Box Theatre – and this Wednesday will play the title role in “Antigone (born against.),” a modern version of the ancient Greek tragedy. She was asked by Victoria House to help put together the Black Box cabaret,... Read More

Ballet Quad Cities is presenting Ballet On The Lawn at 2 and 6 p.m. August 30 at the Outing Club, 2109 Brady St., Davenport. Enjoy the atmosphere of the 125 year old, member–owned, private club for a unique and beautiful dance production by Ballet Quad Cities. Professional dancers will transform the lawn at The Outing Club into a magical setting! Find your picnic spot with friends and family and connect through the arts. Bring your chairs and blankets – there is plenty of room to spread out on the lawn Purchase your tickets ahead, they won’t be available at the door Charcuterie... Read More

After thoughtful and careful consideration, Quad City Arts along with the Riverssance planning committee have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Riverssance Festival of Fine Art originally scheduled to take place  September 19th-20th at Lindsay Park in the Village of East Davenport. Riverssance — formerly organized by Midcoast Fine Arts, before disbanding this spring — will return on September 18th and 19th, 2021 in support of arts programming through Quad City Arts.  As one of the Midwest’s finest outdoor arts fairs, this event has long been recognized for its careful... Read More

As many theaters and musicians nationwide have moved performances online, the Mississippi Bend Players at Augustana College is salvaging part of its canceled summer season, by offering a virtual reading Friday, Aug. 21, of playwright Sarah Ruhl’s deeply personal “For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday.” (The performance originally was scheduled for Aug. 14, but was postponed after power outages this week. Tickets for the original date will be honored on Aug. 21. Patrons who are unable to attend on the new date, and who would like a refund, should contact the Ticket Office.) Filled with Quad-Cities... Read More

Several Quad-Cities artists were honored this past weekend with awards at the 29th-annual Iowa Motion Picture Association (IMPA) award ceremony. Due to Covid-19, the Aug. 8 event was held online this year. The IMPA recognized outstanding creative and technical achievement in Iowa’s moving image production industry, in all its forms. “Sons & Daughters of Thunder,” a docudrama produced by Moline-based Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films, received seven awards, out of eight IMPA nominations. It won five top Awards of Excellence: Best Live Action Entertainment — Long Form... Read More

Support the arts and our community, while having a great time, this weekend! The Ruby Slipper (2507 53rd Avenue Bettendorf) presents The Artist Series this Friday Aug 14 and Friday Aug 21 from 4 – 7 p.m. This socially responsible, partly outdoors, event will feature works (also for sale) from the artists below: Aug 14 – Honsey Art, Wilson Creek Pottery, Hartley Studio Aug 21 – Molly Koenig Photography, Wilson Creek Pottery, Kimberly Pierce Jewelry   Meatheads food truck and local beers will also be available, as well as music by Maureen Carter from 5 – 6 p.m. Inside the... Read More