It’s a gloomy Monday morning in a coffee shop filled with sleepy drones and the only full-time magician in the Quad-Cities is performing an amazing trick – he’s making my case of the Mondays disappear. And all without two dozen pieces of flair, shrimp poppers, pizza shooters or extreme fajitas! That’s because David Casas is more than a magician, he’s a magical performer. He’s got a charm, style and panache that makes him compelling to watch on- and off-stage when he’s talking about his craft. Casas, 36, mixes self-deprecating humor and a down-to-earth persona with quicksilver sleights... Read More

Omaha native and LA resident Kil Theodrick (as seen on Netflix, Hulu, Comedy Central) is coming through the Quad Cities while on tour for a surprise one night only event at 7 p.m. Thursday! Don’t miss your chance to see Kil live before you’re seeing him on your TV weekly. Hosted by Joshua Kahn Also Featuring Mike Adrales (QC) Steve Jennings (QC) Jameson Cox (Des Moines) Todd Willhite (QC) Aloe Mean (Des Moines) Dan Umthun (Des Moine) Doors are 6:30pm / Show 7pm Tickets $10 by calling the Circa 21 Box Office at 309-786-7733 ext.2 or at www.thecirca21speakeasy.com Tickets are $12 at the door To... Read More

The Ghost of Vaudeville is fading away, at least for now. After a decade as the emcee and co-leader of the Bottoms Up Burlesque Troupe, Joshua Kahn, “The Ghost of Vaudeville,” is doing his last shows this weekend, before taking an extended sabbatical to celebrate the birth of his child and to spend time with his wife and family. Bottoms Up announced the move about a month ago on social media, after Kahn had announced it live at their late March shows. They posted: “Well the cat is out of the bag, and the Ghost of Vaudeville is leaving the building. After dedicating 10 years of... Read More

Rein Razer participated as a guest performer at the last burlesque show at the Village Theatre – a March 14 gig from the new Crystal Crown Cabaret – and the Rock Islander is back organizing a special return, Friday, July 24 at 8 p.m. The theater is at 2113 E. 11th St., Village of East Davenport. Rein Razer’s Court of Royalty was originally intended to be an online-only show, to help out her community performers, as most shows and events have been canceled due to Covid. Now that things are beginning to open back up, Razer has teamed up with the Village Theatre to produce a showcase that can... Read More

It’s bottoms up for Bottoms Up this weekend as the local burlesque troupe throws down some drinks in cheers of five years on stage bringing entertainment to the Quad-Cities, and continues the legacy with shows Friday and Saturday. Five years ago a group of young performers all of whom shared a love of burlesque decided to join together and form their own troupe.  That troupe became known as Bottom’s Up Quad City Burlesque.  Five years later performers have come and gone but Bottom’s Up still continues to entertain Quad City audiences. “I remember the first phone call I received... Read More

Bottoms Up Quad City Burlesque has been a strong presence in the Q-C nightlife scene since its debut five years ago. And, in all that time, as host and admin to our Facebook page, I have read so many messages asking for more. The requests for classes, auditions, bachelorette parties, festivals, and the list goes on and on. This year we were finally able to make a dream come true. The Bottoms Up School of Burlesque was brought to life after all this time. Over the past 15 weeks students have learned the building blocks to burlesque. Not only the “how to” but also what lies behind burlesque. If... Read More

May 2015 “Hey, that’s me!”  I say it aloud while staring at my phone in the coffee shop.  The people at the next table look at me as if I spilled soup down my shirt.  After cleaning myself up (I have, in fact, spilled soup down my shirt), I read the Facebook status again.  Josh Kahn (The Ghost of Vaudeville, Bottoms-Up Burlesque, Blacklist) is asking his Facebook friends if anyone knows of anyone with screenwriting experience. “Hey, that’s me!” is a slight exaggeration.  I had one co-written play produced and have various unproduced ventures – four episodes of a co-written 1930s... Read More

The premiere adult, uncensored, and unapologetic improv troupe in the Quad Cities, The Blacklist is taking their summer into their own hands! It was recently announced that the Backroom Comedy Theater which has been home to the “bad boys of improv” since January of 2015 will be closing for the summer season. However Blacklist fans should not be worried! “The Father of the Blacklist,” George Strader has announced that the company will be producing a Summer Show Series across the Quad-Cities in the coming months. “We will be bringing together bands and comedy (both standup and improv) all... Read More

When I was first asked to take on the job writing about the local comedy scene for Quadcities.com I knew immediately what my first article would have to be about. I wanted to look back at where I personally got my start in comedy but because nearly every opportunity to do comedy in the Quad Cities stems from one organization’s timeline in our hometown; ComedySportz Quad Cities. If you’re reading this but have no idea who or what ComedySportz is, I will tell you what you are in for if you attend a show. The style of comedy performed is improv comedy. Meaning everything you see and hear... Read More

It’s a gloomy Monday morning in winter in a coffee shop filled with sleepy drones and the only full-time magician in the Quad-Cities is performing an amazing trick – he’s making my case of the Mondays disappear. And all without two dozen pieces of flair, shrimp poppers, pizza shooters or extreme fajitas! That’s because David Casas is more than a magician, he’s a magical performer. He’s got a charm, style and panache that makes him compelling to watch on- and off-stage when he’s talking about his craft. Casas, 36, mixes self-deprecating humor and a down-to-earth persona with quicksilver... Read More