When I heard that the prolific, amazing Alex Richardson was updating the 1882 Henrik Ibsen play “An Enemy of the People” to a tighter, slimmer, modern version – addressing science, disease, truth, corruption, adultery and journalism – I briefly wondered if there would be a spin on one of Donald Trump’s endlessly repeated lies, the press as the real enemy of the people. That phrase is surprisingly not uttered in the utterly absorbing, thought-provoking “Enemy of the People” at the new Mockingbird on Main in downtown Davenport, but Richardson has made the taut drama (with good doses... Read More

For the second fully staged production at Mockingbird on Main, 320 N. Main St., Davenport, Q-C playwright Alexander Richardson has taken a sprawling 19th-century play by Henrik Ibsen, slimmed it down and modernized it. The 27-year-old East Moliner – who’s been writing plays for almost a decade – slashed the 1882 “An Enemy of the People” from five acts and 30 characters (stretched across three hours), to just five characters and one act, across about 80 minutes. In the story, a doctor realizes that the new expansion for his town’s factory is releasing toxins into the town’s... Read More

You feel something in the air? Something strange? Something not quite right? Something frightening? Quad Cities is a new horror miniseries that will air on YouTube starting October 2nd. Each week, one episode will air with the fifth and final episode airing on October 30th, just before Halloween. The series was shot in the Quad Cities (Iowa and Illinois) with mostly local talent. Each episode will run approx. 10-15 min. And when each episode drops, we’ll be running a short story and link to it on your fun, free, local QuadCities.com! A teaser trailer is also coming soon! For more info, see:... Read More

At one point in the original bluegrass musical “Big Rock Candy Mountain,”the witchy, bitchy character Velda decries the Depression-era theater in which the story takes place as “frivolous nonsense.” Well, in the midst of what seems like a greater 21st-century Depression (see: Covid, unemployment, racial injustice, political division and endless quarantine), I think a little mindless, frivolous nonsense is just what we need right now. Filmed recently at the Circa ’21 Speakeasy (featuring eight mask-less cast members), the 2014 musical – affectionately written and directed by Tristan... Read More

In a dark, uncertain time, Circa ’21 offers light and unadulterated joy in its latest online entertainment, the fun bluegrass musical “Big Rock Candy Mountain.” Fans of the film “O Brother Where Art Thou” and the Circa ’21 favorite “Southern Crossroads” should love this original musical – written and directed by Tristan Tapscott — that features such classic hits as “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” “House of the Rising Sun,” “Keep on the Sunny Side of Life” and many more. In the story set in 1932, a merry band of misfits sneaks into a theater hoping to stay out of... Read More

Coming to your homes on February 6 is the bluegrass musical BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN! If you’re a fan of the film   O’ Brother Where Art Thou   and   the Circa ‘21 favorite   Southern Crossroads,   you’re going to love this show. A merry band of misfits sneak into a theatre hoping to stay out of trouble, but instead find themselves front and center in this story about the power of music and seconds chances. Add a down on her luck theatre owner and her wacky assistant, a clueless town mayor, his scheming wife and bumbling sheriff and you’ve got yourself an evening of music and... Read More

We’re headed into the home stretch today! This week, every day since Sunday, we’ve been running down the top arts and entertainment stories and features we’ve run on QuadCities.com. We hope you’ve enjoy the look back, and let’s all hope for a happy new year and a much, much, much, much better 2021! To check out the previous installments, see Sunday for January/February, Monday for March, Tuesday for April, Wednesday morning for May/June and Wednesday afternoon for July/August. Today we hit the final four months of the year! This morning we’ve got September and October,... Read More

Don’t even think about it. Yeah, you, the fruitcake. Don’t EVEN think about it. Khalil’s Covid Christmas Special premieres December 20, and will be a Christmas Special for the ages — but no fruitcake will be spared in its wake! You saw what this guy can do with donuts, you really don’t want to miss this! Join your hosts, Khalil Hacker and Tristan Tapscott as they wrap up this dumpster fire year the only way they know how… with a Christmas special! Filled with surprise guest stars, a fruit cake eating contest and many laughs! Shot safely in the beautiful Renwick Mansion... Read More

It’s been a rough year, honchos. So, damn it, you OWE IT to yourself to check out Khalil’s Christmas Special, sponsored by QuadCities.com. Yes. You OWE it to yourself. Khalil’s Covid Christmas Special premieres December 20, and will be a Christmas Special for the ages! Join your hosts, Khalil Hacker and Tristan Tapscott as they wrap up this dumpster fire year the only way they know how… with a Christmas special! Filled with surprise guest stars, a fruit cake eating contest and many laughs! Shot safely in the beautiful Renwick Mansion of Davenport Iowa! Sit back, poor some... Read More

Looking for a funny and strange way to entertain yourself this holiday season? Check out Khalil’s Covid Christmas Special, sponsored in part by your favorite web site, no not the Hub, but QuadCities.com! This year has been tough on everyone and hopefully this show will lighten your load before we wrap it up! Filmed safely at The Renwick Mansion. Cast/Crew were masked unless on camera, but only with people within their social bubble. Featuring a socially distanced fruitcake eating contest, sponsored by QuadCities.com! Streaming Dec 20th-27th. Tickets only $1, with the option to make donations... Read More