Producing Director Brent Tubbs sits down (virtually) with Artist and Author Jason Platt for Spotlight Live Q&A this Monday Apr 27 at 1 p.m. Jason, a middle grade graphic novelist, is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (in Savannah GA). He was accepted into the National Cartoonists Society in May 2015, and his first graphic novel, Middle School Misadventures, made national recommendations. His second novel, Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat Heist! was just released on April 21st. He and his family live in Davenport with their cat who lets them live with her. Join The... Read More

Like most others during this crazy Covid crisis, arts organizations locally and nationally are struggling to find financial help. Though four individual artists recently got some funding, no Quad-Cities arts groups – all reeling from the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic — were helped in the first round of $191,000 from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (IDCA). The first relief grants this month were limited to artists and very small nonprofits, including Q-C artists Courtney Lyon (dance), Lojo Russo (music), Matthew Terry (visual art) and Pat Bereskin (art and art education). In... Read More

Rock Cellar Productions presents “ALL TOGETHER NOW!”, an online COVID-19 relief fundraising concert for the City of L.A. on Saturday Apr 25 at 4 p.m. CT. More here: www.alltogethernowla.org Participation includes: Jeff Bridges Smokey Robinson Carole King Mike Love (The Beach Boys) Melissa Manchester Joe Bonamassa Lisa Loeb Official Steve Lukather (Toto) Vonda Shepard Mary Wilson (The Supremes) Peter Beckett/the Voice of Player Alan Parsons Live Project Mickey Thomas Jesse Colin Young Ellis Hall Music (Ambassador of Soul) Mindi Abair Matthew Wilder Burleigh Drummond & Mary Harris (Ambrosia) Walter... Read More

Remember the “cornchip” days? Recall those halcyon times of the ’80s when goth, new wave, synth pop, indie pop and other outlier music mixed with outsider status, skinny ties, funky haircuts, long coats and lots and lots of black? You wore black on the outside because black is how you felt on the inside, and life was as heavy as your thoughts you scrawled in your specially designed journal. And, if you lived in and around the Quad-Cities, you hung out at a little spot called Stage 2. If you still recall those days, you’re going to want to check out DJ Shane Brown’s... Read More

Looking for a little online fun while supporting a local business this Saturday night? How about some Quarantine “I love the 90’s” Music Bingo? Public House Davenport (5260 Northwest Blvd Davenport), in partnership with Think & Drink Entertainment, is hosting an online Quarantine Music Bingo FUNdraiser this Saturday Apr 25at 7 p.m. This is a FREE and ALL AGES online event, but you can donate to the Public House staff: Venmo@Public-House-1 If money is tight during this time, you are still welcome to play along and have some FUN! But if you can help out, it would be very much appreciated! You... Read More

For the first time since 1949, the sweet sound of music will not play in Prospect Park. Quad City Music Guild became the latest arts organization to cancel its summer 2020 season, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it announced Wednesday. Following a March 13 decision to cancel the planned spring show, “The Secret Garden,” at Music Guild’s April 21 board meeting, they decided to cancel the three summer productions (all already cast) – “Spamalot,” “Mamma Mia!,” and “Matilda.” “Our hope is to bring you these three shows, along with our previously canceled spring production, ‘The... Read More

The Arc of the Quad Cities Area is igniting a passion for inclusion at the Virtual Catalyst Awards & On-Line Auction. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Arc of the Quad Cities is turning the Catalyst Awards event into an online, virtual event. Although this may seem a very creative solution to a modern problem, this isn’t the first time that The Arc has had a virtual event. In fact, The Arc had a Phantom Ball in the 1960s where no refreshments were served, no music was heard, and no drinks were poured. The invitation asked attendees to an evening “in your own home,” or on Cloud 9.... Read More

Mercado on Fifth misses their Mercado Familia and has been thinking of ways to connect with all of them virtually! One way they have found to achieve this, is by creating a series of events online until everyone can be together again. Enjoy cooking videos, live music and more story-times! Experience “Story Time With Rosi” this Friday Apr 24 at 2 p.m. on Facebook. Rosalva Portillo will share favorite children’s books, in Spanish and English. Rosalva, a Quad Cities native, is the principal at Lincoln Irving Elementary School, one of the few dual language schools in the Quad Cities.... Read More

Joining the chorus of Covid-related theater closings, Rock Island-based Genesius Guild on Tuesday afternoon announced it is canceling its planned 2020 season.  “This is a decision that none of us took lightly – we have not canceled a season since the Genesius Guild started in 1956 – but we feel that it is the right call,” the nonprofit posted on Facebook.  “This decision protects the health of our audience, our cast who would begin rehearsing together in the next month, and our crew, who would have needed to begin working in the upcoming weeks to get the stage ready for the season to... Read More

As many musical artists and other performers are sharing their talents online during the coronavirus crisis, some Q-C music and theater groups are also finding new ways to be creative. The Spotlight Theatre in Moline was to open its latest musical, “Oliver,” last weekend. But during the closing, co-owners Brent and Sara Tubbs have used some of the time to record video interviews with friends and colleagues who’ve gone onto big things. Since late March, the husband-and-wife team have individually done six Facebook Live talks (inviting visitors to post questions), including actors who have... Read More