The Return are living up to their name, at least in the case of Circa ’21. The Beatles tribute act are RETURN-ing to the Rock Island dinner theater for a show Thursday, June 16. Doors are at 6, show is at 7. Tickets are $27.50 in advance and $35.00 at the door. It’s a show only gig, but the theatre will offer snacks and sandwich baskets for purchase as well as a full bar. Tickets may be reserved at the Circa ’21 ticket office located at 1828 3rd Avenue in Rock Island or by calling (309) 786-7733, ext. 2. The Return began its series of returns in 1995 when four young friends got together... Read More

Antoinette Holman has always been a star, she just needed a vehicle to show it, and I can’t think of a better way for her to debut than as the lead of Circa’s new “Sister Act.” With its combination of sass, singing and humor, Holman is perfect for the part, and it’s her brilliant talent that’s the biggest factor in leading the show to such a triumph. It’s not just Holman that highlights the show. It’s a terrific production in many ways I’ll get into shortly. But when you’ve got to cast a character that is in almost every scene, in a musical in which she sings the majority of... Read More

District Theater’s “Behanding in Spokane” is an absolute joy to experience, a dark, wonderful array of literary and theatrical twists and turns that’s exhilarating and fun. I very highly recommend it. Martin McDonagh is one of the most original voices in theater to emerge over the last 15 years. The closest comparison overall is Quentin Tarantino, in that McDonagh has a brilliant talent for dark, often violently dark, comedy and breaking barriers in regard to aggressive language in a way that’s both primal and intellectual. McDonagh’s closest comparison  stage-wise is David Mamet,... Read More

Downtown Moline is going to be bursting with Heart, heritage and a human slingshot over the next couple of weeks, and the good folks of Moline Centre are happy to holler about it. Here’s the rundown of their events coming up for your perusement and amusement: The Moline Historic Preservation Commission, in conjunction with Moline Centre and the City of Moline, is proud to announce the roll out of a new Self-Guided Heritage Walking tour in Moline on Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to noon.  The new system will allow you to access the tour through your smart phone via QR codes that will be available... Read More

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

Where else can you find everything from live music to live art displays to book signings to performance art to free drinks and food in an eclectic array of settings and get an evening’s worth of that entertainment all for free? Well, Gallery Hop. The bi-annual event in the District of Rock Island going on from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday features over 300 artists and performers showcased in over 20 locations throughout downtown Rock Island. The locations are not limited to art galleries; artists will exhibit in coffee shops, restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment venues. Jewelry, photography, glass,... Read More

The lives of bootleggers during prohibition have been romanticized and captured many times on screens big and small, but one of the most unique and interesting tales of a city predominantly run by bootleggers will debut on local PBS station WQPT at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 8 and 9 p.m. May 12. “Whiskey Cookers: The Amazing True Story of the Templeton Rye Bootleggers” tells the fascinating tale of Templeton, Iowa, a town which dealt with the oppression of prohibition by banding together to avoid capture by the authorities. The award-winning documentary tells the tale of how this town of 400 German-Catholic... Read More

Ever wonder if you could escape from a prison? Find a hidden pirate’s treasure? Uncover clues to solve a crime for CSI? Well, wonder no more, because now you can experience all of those and more at the Bust Out Escape Game at 2704 Central Ave., Bettendorf. Owner Scott Carpenter opened up Bust Out in October after experiencing an escape room game first hand on vacation in Myrtle Beach, S.C. “I was down there with my daughter, Paige, and she thought it would be fun, so we did it and we had a great time, we loved it,” Carpenter said. “I did some research and saw that the games have been going... 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