Looking for something original AND local?… Here is something for you… For your late night viewing pleasure… QUAD CITIES is a web series that was shot in the Quad Cities in the summer of 2021 and debuted in the fall of 2021.  The series was created by Kurt Oberhaus (This Is Us) and Justin Marxen (Haunt) and features both local and National talent.  QUAD CITIES follows a series of gruesome murders that plague the Quad Cities and an unlikely duo must work together to restore peace to the area. All 5 episodes of  Quad Cities – Mini Series  now available for free on YouTube! EPISODE... Read More

Three African American children grilled me about why the Bunny was white. One of the children, no more than 8 years old, said, “This Bunny is out of touch with what’s going out there.” But I can’t talk; I can only animate. And that was my first day as the Easter Bunny. Yes, I was one of THOSE people. And by THOSE people, I mean I was one of the few, the underpaid, the sorta proud, who has donned the costume of the Easter Bunny for public appearances at everywhere from shopping malls to car dealerships to libraries and more. Where was I? Well, everywhere and nowhere,... Read More

ARTISTS IN CONVERSATION BEN GOUGEON – An Oak Tree   Ben Gougeon, a graduate of Western Illinois University’s MFA Acting program (2007), moved to the QCA in the fall of 2019. Before relocating back to the Midwest, he had spent the last decade plus working in New York City as an actor, having appeared on TV shows such as the Emmy Award winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Law & Order: SVU, The Blacklist, Bull, and HBO’s The Deuce, where he performed with Oscar nominated Maggie Gyllenhaal. He’s performed Off & Off-Off Broadway, at the Metropolitan Opera, and on stages in almost... Read More

  On December 22nd from 9:00am until 12:00 Noon, Characters2Life, based out of Clinton, Iowa will surprise your family with a visit from one of Santa’s very own holiday helpers! In this socially-distant activity, Santa will send a special Holiday Helper to your door and peek through your windows to give your kids a silly surprise! The Characters2Life Holiday Helpers will magically appear for plenty of time for you create a great memory and get some awesome pictures! Unique and affordable, Characters2Life will deliver a special Holiday Helper appearance at your home and a customized snowman... Read More

This Wednesday night, the Figge Art Museum are taking over the craft room, 5-9PM during Winter Nights Winter Lights Powered By MidAmerican Energy Company. Visit to participate in crafts curated by Figge educators. Get all the details HERE!  Read More

Art is a powerful tool. It can make us laugh. It can make us cry. It can make us think. It can be used to fictionalize harsh real-life circumstances in order to enhance our acceptance and understanding of actual reality. That’s the power behind the Netflix short (and Oscar nominee and front runner) Two Distant Strangers. Sharply written by Travon Free and directed by Free and Martin Desmond Roe, this 32 minute masterpiece centers around Carter James (an nuanced and solid Joey Bada$$), a clean cut black dude reliving the same day of waking up next to his new fling (an absurdly authentic Zaria... Read More

Former Quad City Times David Burke reporter once referred to the cast of my production of Company as being “the cool kids lunch table” and if he were still reviewing shows in this area, he’d say the same and MORE about this cast. This is the new “cool kids lunch table.” James Driscoll. Jenny Winn. Sara Wegener. Tom Vaccaro. Matt Walsh. Mark Ruebling. Doug Kutzli. It’s like producers Lora Adams and David Miller broke into my brain and picked one of my dream team casts and put them on stage for the new Black Box Theater production of “Dick Tracy.” Unfortunately, they... 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

What if “Love Is Blind” met “Tiger King?” It’s Netflix and maybe not so chill, as Tristan Tapscott takes another swipe at the “Tiger King” phenomenon in the latest episode in his new comedy series of short videos, “Oh Geez, It’s Tristan Again…” for QuadCities.com. Watch and enjoy, as Tristan proves himself a multiple-threat, taking on the roles of Joe, Carole, and, yes, MORE, in this hilarious video, and stay tuned for more episodes of “Oh Geez, It’s Tristan Again…” on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com!  Read More

Actor, director, writer, raconteur, mojito enthusiast and general man-about-town Tristan Tapscott has tackled the “Tiger King” phenomenon in the latest episode in his new comedy series of short videos, “Oh Geez, It’s Tristan Again…” for QuadCities.com. Watch and enjoy, as Tristan proves himself a multiple-threat, taking on the roles of Joe, Carole, and, yes, MORE, in this hilarious video, and stay tuned for more episodes of “Oh Geez, It’s Tristan Again…” on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com! Oh,... Read More