It’s hard not to like a show that begins with a disembodied voice introducing the host Donny Townsend as “the human oyster cracker.” But, co-host Andrew “Stu” Cline loves to start the Circumstantial Comedy Show every week on a high note, before he and Townsend allow the various comics to spiral into the darkness of their souls. Every Sunday night, live comedy comes to the Village of East Davenport. Specifically to BREW, the old blacksmith shop on the corner of 11th Street and Jersey Ridge. Comedians start signing up for the deranged debacle at 9:30 p.m., with the show starting at 10 p.m.... Read More

The Pokeballs are about to get Harry. And if you want to get your wand atwitter, don’t Hermione your own business, use your sorting hat to make sure your plans for Saturday night include you slytherin over to the Speakeasy, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, because I dumble-dare you to ravenclaw your way to Show Us Your Pokeballs new Harry Potter-themed show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door and you can make them magically appear ahead of time by calling 786-7733, ext. 2. So what made the idea of a Harry Potter-themed show magically appear in the heads of Pokeballs organizers,... Read More

Fathers and sons always have interesting relationships, and that dynamic, in an “Odd Couple” type of fashion, is being explored by veteran actor/director Don Faust this weekend, making his area debut with a new show of his creation, “Dad and Me,” which will be performed at 7 p.m. June 17-18, 24-25 and 3 p.m. June 19 and 26 at Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities, located at 2930 W. Locust Street, Davenport. The show, written and directed by Faust, is described as “an original adult comedy with heart” that is recommend for adult and/or teen audiences only. The plot involves... Read More

Some of the most interesting and funny conversations any of us have had are those that have been in that crooked hour of the night when the liquor has kicked in and the inhibitions have kicked out. Heather Nobiling is hoping to recreate that loose, hilarious feel in the new show she’s put together, Chics with Bics, Just Having Beer In New Jammies: Comedy For a Girls’ Night Out. The gig takes place this Saturday, at the Speakeasy in Rock Island. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. The cost is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. All female comics are onstage, but boys are allowed (and even encouraged!)... Read More

Getting your laughs on for a good cause is a win for everyone involved, and Cyndi Hartley is hoping to bring those positive vibes to Muscatine Saturday night as the Muscatine Society of Freethinkers will present a comedy and music show entitled Passing Notes: a Benefit for Flickinger Learning Center. The event will be upstairs at Boonies on Iowa Avenue. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Comedy starts at 7 p.m. and music starts at 9 p.m. Comics on the bill include Chris Schlichting, Nikki Gillette, Austin Black, Taylor Williams and James Draper. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door and can be purchased... Read More

It may be hard out here for a pimp, as they say, but it’s much easier within the confines of the Rock Island Speakeasy for a pimproviser. The downtown venue at 1828 3rd Ave. is opening its doors once again to “Pimprov,” one of the most popular adult improv shows in Chicago on April 30. The doors open at 7 with the show at 8 p.m. Tickets for the show are $10 in advance and $12 at the door and may be reserved through the Circa ’21 ticket office, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, calling (309) 786-7733, ext. 2, or online at www.thecirca21speakeasy.com. “Pimprov” has been a hugely successful... Read More

The latest sketch comedy show in the Quad-Cities, “The Lunchbox: Live,” opens up its bag of goodies this weekend, offering short hits of comedic takes on various subjects from superheroes to politics to vaping – although perhaps all three could be included in one sketch if you see Hillary in a cape dipping to vape. You never know. You’ll have to show up to find out! “The Lunchbox: Live,” was created by local actor and comedian Anthony Natarelli. Natarelli has been a regular on The District Theatre and Speakeasy stages. He was last seen there as the transgender rocker, Hedwig, in “Hedwig... Read More

“The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged),” is far from any telling of the Bible you’ve ever heard, unless, of course, you’ve actually seen the show. Anyone who considers themselves a “theatre person” has seen, or at least knows of, the classic stage adaptations of the Bible in shows like “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Godspell,” “Children of Eden,” etc. This telling, written by Adam Long, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor, of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, throws caution to the wind and introduces comedy to an otherwise serious and wisdom-filled book. It also brings... Read More

Their last offering may have offered a Woolf, but this one’s going to really have some sharp teeth. After rolling out a well-executed and stylish take on a classic, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, the District Theater is offering a local debut by a notoriously darkly hilarious theatrical genius. “A Behanding in Spokane,” offered next up by the Rock Island hot spot from May 13-21 is by the award-winning Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, author of such masterworks as “The Pillowman,” which the District did a fantastic job producing, and “In Bruges,” which was made into a successful... Read More

It’s not often I say a performer steals a show in an ensemble piece, but I feel confident in saying that Tom Walljasper definitely steals the show in “Shear Madness.” Walljasper is so flamboyant and over-the-top funny, grabbing every scene he’s in with some brazen move or line, that it’s impossible to ignore him, not that you’d want to. “Shear” is a very funny, entertaining show. It was on the night I saw it. On the night you see it, it might be even funnier. I say that because it changes from night to night. Not just in the nuances, but in the big strokes. “Shear” is a malleable... Read More