With the closure of indoor dining throughout the state, by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse has made the difficult decision to close its doors for the holiday season. The Rock Island theater’s planned productions of “Winter Wonderland” and “Seussical” will be moved to the end of the 2021 season instead. Circa has, however, received special permission from Springfield to remain open until this Saturday to finish the current run of “The Savannah Sipping Society.” “This was a terribly difficult decision,” Brett Hitchcock, director of audience development,... Read More

The classic bromance of Faust bargaining with the devil, becomes a feminist, queer bond in a new Augustana College production opening tonight, Oct. 29, at the Brunner Theatre Center’s Blackbox Theatre. “The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus” by Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) stars students Lauren Larson as Faustus and Alyssa Frazier as Mephistopheles, directed by senior theater major SophiaRose Brown. Doctor Faustus has mastered every scholarly subject, so what is left to explore? Magic? Necromancy? When offered everything she desires for 24 years and a demon at her command, the temptation... Read More

Despite an online petition protesting theater cuts, the private St. Ambrose University in Davenport has decided to eliminate its award-winning theater major, but maintain faculty and programs. It’s also cut two theater staff positions. “It’s a disappointing decision, and a short-sighted one,” River Music Experience executive director Tyson Danner (a 2007 SAU alum) said Monday by e-mail. “I don’t believe the university’s leadership has an understanding of the value of the arts, or the important role SAU has (had?) as an anchor of our arts and culture community.” Steph DeLacy, an... Read More

There are awards, and there are VERY SPECIAL awards. Honors, even. And this weekend, Quad-Cities actor/musician/bon vivant Doug Kutzli was verily bestowed with one of the greatest honors that could be graced upon a local performer. Upon a search for “donuts near you,” Mr. Kutzli’s performer page came up, thus putting him in rarified company as the ONLY Quad-Cities entertainer thus dubbed as AN OFFICIAL DONUT NEAR YOU. This is the first time any local entertainer has come close to gaining such a status since actor, singer, and cocksman Russell Lee was handed the Aunt Connie’s... Read More

Ballet Quad Cities supplied a delicious, delightful Halloween treat last year as they performed a “Dracula Unleashed” at Moline’s new Bartlett Performing Arts Center. Given the craziness of Covid, the trick in this year’s holiday special promises to be literally more delectable, as the professional dance company offers a three-course, sit-down dinner and a lively, playful Halloween performance in the beautiful ballroom at The Outing Club on Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31. All proceeds will go directly to Ballet Quad Cities, to keep the organization a viable part of the community... Read More

The Speakeasy in downtown Rock Island is thrilled to welcome back, for the fifth consecutive year, the 1970’s cult classic, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. The Speakeasy will be presenting THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW on Oct. 23,24,25,30 and 31. Filled with outrageous humor, dynamic musical numbers, unconventional romance, ghoulish delights and plenty of audience participation, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW will be directed by longtime Circa ’21 veteran, Brad Hauskins.  This will be Hauskins third time directing the show for The Speakeasy. “We are thrilled to be presenting Rocky Horror in The Speakeasy... Read More

The 1953 Samuel Beckett classic “Waiting for Godot” has had a long wait for its premiere Thursday at Moline’s Black Box Theatre. But it’s perfect for a pandemic-plagued 2020. Directed by local theater veteran Mike Schulz (an Augustana College alum), he started rehearsals in May, originally as a partnership between QC Theatre Workshop and Mississippi Bend Players. A plan to do the mainly two-person play outside at a pavilion behind Brunner Theatre Center was later shelved, and it’s now going up independently at the small Black Box with a maximum audience of 26 – masks are required –... Read More

Returning with the venue’s first mainstage production since theatres everywhere closed in mid-March, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is ready to bring audiences loads of long-awaited laughs and warmth with the Quad City premiere of THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY. Playing through Nov. 7, this new hilarious and heartwarming comedy is written by the authors of such previous Circa ’21 hits as “The Dixie Swim Club” and “Mama Won’t Fly” and is being presented by a first-class cast of professional actors. THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY will be presented on Wednesday,... Read More

Saturday In The Arts is a weekly look at a personality, place, trend or topic of interest to the Quad-Cities. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com. Tom Vaccaro is seven years older than the beloved TV/film actor Michael J. Fox, but it was just a year ago that the Davenporter was diagnosed with the disease that’s long affected Fox – Parkinson’s. The veteran actor-musician-illustrator (who was featured in the Black Box Theatre’s radio play in August) thinks he had symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) before he was diagnosed... Read More

“Scrooge was dead.” That’s how Donald C. Hepner started off a production of A Christmas Carol one night. And that one moment perfectly captures than man we all knew as “Hep.” You were never certain whether you were in on the joke or part of it. A standup comedian, gifted actor, personal friend  and mentor to many on the local theater and comedy scene, Hepner died of a massive heart attack Sunday night in his Moline residence. He was 79. He was an original dude, a great writer (his book “Reggie! Ringling’s First Black Clown” is FANTASTIC), and a fine performer... Read More