Heavenly humor and music is going to be shining down on the congregation of Circa ’21 Dinner Theater this summer as the Rock Island venue opens up its pearly gates to “Sister Act.” The Broadway musical-comedy smash hit opens May 6 and runs through July 2. Based on 1992’s wildly popular film comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg, and nominated for five 2011 Tony Awards including  Best Musical, this hilarious, endearing, and high-energy production will have you riding a wave of pure musical-comedy exhilaration, and is being brought to life by a magnificent cast of professional talents. “Sister... Read More

For the first time in its 64 year history, Davenport Junior Theatre is featuring a show starring… a puppet. See our previous coverage of “The Magical Lamp of Aladdin” :  Puppet Lead Adds To ‘Aladdin’s’ Magic For Junior Theatre The Magical Lamp of Aladdin April 30, May 7 at 1 and 4 p.m., May 1 and May 8 at 2 p.m. Davenport Junior Theater, 2822 Eastern Ave, Davenport Tickets: adults $8, ages 3-17 $6, under 2 free, sold at the door www.DavenportJuniorTheatre.org (563) 326-7862  Read More

For the first time in its 64 year history, Davenport Junior Theatre is featuring a show starring… a puppet. It’s both a surprising and not-so-shocking turn of events for the local stalwart. Given the nature of kids’ shows, one might have thought a puppet would’ve made its bow as the narrator or lead by this time, but, there’s a first time for everything, even this great moment in puppet equality rights. “The Magical Lamp of Aladdin,” a tale of adventure, genies and magic adapted by Tim Kelly features an evil magician trying to trick a young street urchin into stealing a genie’s... 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

Audiences can plan on having a great time with the Good Book when the QC Theatre Workshop presents its latest stage production The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged), running April 15 through May 1. A rip-roaring comedy by playwrights Adam Long, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor and originally produced by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, this acclaimed spoof has been called “a slick, fast, very funny show” by the London Times, and this debuting area play will be brought to life by a sensational three-man cast of local-theatre favorites and Workshop veterans. The Bible: The Complete Word... 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

There’s a lot happening at Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner Theater over the next few months! The venerable institution is bringing in a huge array of shows, showcases and concerts for a variety of audiences. Here’s the rundown: Mainstage Shows: SHEAR MADNESS – Through April 30: Audiences are loving this absolutely hilarious comedy which is the longest running comedy in U.S. history. SISTER ACT (Quad City Premiere) May 4 – July 2: The hit 1992 movie starring Whoopi Goldberg comes to the Circa ’21 stage. MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL – July 6 – August 27: A musical celebration... Read More

One of the best parts about watching a bad movie is making snide, snarky comments about how awful it is. It’s even better when you’re with hilarious friends making those comments. The experience was successfully replicated and popularized by the TV show “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” and now local comedian and actor Anthony Natarelli has replicated it on the stage with his “Tony Goes To The Movies” gig, which returns this weekend for the fourth time to its lovely home at Rock Island’s District Theater, which looks amazingly like the old Rock Island Argus building, right down to the... Read More

The idea behind live theatre is to bring forth a form of art that captivates an audience allowing them to escape the monotony of daily life and immerse them in a new story. A successful creation brings out any and all emotion with a desire to leave an audience with an experience that lasts and connects with them on any level they deem necessary. In the QC Theatre Workshop’s production of “The Big Meal”, written by Dan LeFranc, these qualities are prevalent in rare form, leaving the daunting task of turning thoughts and emotions into words. The story itself leaves very little room for explanation... Read More