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

The Mockingbird on Main and Max Moline present the Quad Cities premiere of Tim Crouch’s An Oak Tree. Directed by Mr. Moline and starring Ben Gougeon, a veteran actor of stage and screen who has recently relocated to the Quad Cities, An Oak Tree will be performed at The Mockingbird on Main in Davenport from November 26 – December 5, Inspired by Michael Craig-Martin’s 1974 conceptual work of art of the same name, An Oak Tree was first performed by author Tim Crouch at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival, where it took home the Herald Angel Award. It has subsequently played at theatres and festivals... Read More

Davenport Junior Theatre (DJT) will be celebrating its 70th season of theater “for kids, by kids” with a four-show Mainstage season consisting of two DJT classics, Winnie-the-Pooh and Imagine That!, and two first-time shows: Annie Jr. and The Phantom Tollbooth. All shows will be free to audience members. “Coming out of the pandemic into our 70th season makes the cause for celebration even more special,” says Ben Gougeon, DJT’s artistic director. “We wanted to honor our history while also looking forward to DJT’s future. During last year’s ‘pause’ on live theatre, we also envisioned... Read More

Davenport Junior Theatre (DJT) will conclude its 69th season of theater “for kids, by kids” with their first in-person production in 15 months: the premiere of Aaron Randolph III’s “The True Tale of Robin Hood,” opening Friday. Written by local playwright Randolph and directed by Zach Meyer, this swashbuckling production will be held outside on the Great Lawn of the Annie Wittenmyer Complex, 2822 Eastern Ave., Davenport, and will be FREE for all to attend. In addition to the performance, guests are invited to arrive an hour before show time to enjoy a mini-Renaissance Faire on the lawn,... Read More

Can we ever get out of the rabbit hole? That eternal question is more relevant today than ever, as Davenport Junior Theatre (DJT) continues its 69th season with its second virtual production, “Alice in Wonderland,” directed by local theater artist Bobby Becher. Based on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865) and adapted by Daniel DP Sheridan, “Wonderland” is a timely story that speaks directly to the viral Wonderland we’ve all found ourselves in over the last year. “Alice in Wonderland” involves 24 students from around the Q-C area. The kids range from ages... Read More