Joining Music Guild, Countryside, Genesius Guild and a number of others, Playcrafters Barn Theatre in Moline has canceled their summer shows due to concerns over coronavirus. The pandemic has now nearly wiped clean the local theater slate for the summer, with only Moline’s Black Box Theater not having announced cancellations, and Circa ’21 holding out any hope of salvaging shows, hoping to still be able to stage “Saturday Night Fever” at some point. Playcrafters announced the following on their Facebook page today: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and for the safety... Read More

Countryside Community Theatre has joined the host of area venues canceling their summer slate due to concerns about covid-19. The Eldridge-based group released the following statement on Facebook today: We are sad to announce that our Summer 2020 shows, The Music Man and The Fantasticks, will not be happening this summer due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The health and safety of our performers, stage crew, musicians, patrons, and volunteers are of the utmost importance to us, and we know that this is the right decision for Countryside Community Theatre. We hope to announce our 2021 Season as soon... Read More

Relatively few Quad-Cities artists and arts organizations have received Covid-19 relief funding from Iowa or Illinois, and both states are proceeding in their next round of grant awards. Illinois Humanities recently gave out 24 emergency relief grants (of $2,500 each) – including the Rock Island-based Midwest Writing Center and Bishop Hill Heritage Association. These general operating (non-project) grants aim to help smaller humanities organizations throughout Illinois to weather the current pandemic. “Especially in this moment of duress, Illinois Humanities is proud to support not-for-profit... Read More

It’s not in a dancer’s nature to sit still. So it makes sense that even though Ballet Quad Cities (BQC) had to cancel the rest of its season because of the Covid-19 crisis, the professional company keeps moving forward. Students in the BQC School of Dance are continuing their lessons online, through Zoom, and students have submitted their own videos for a new collage. Artistic director Courtney Lyon (who recently received an Iowa Arts Council emergency relief grant) has choreographed, taught, and edited a new piece with three dancers on Zoom. And executive director Joedy Cook and artistic associate... Read More

It’s fitting that one of the many things Davenport Junior Theatre (DJT) teaches is improv – for students to develop an ability to think quickly and imaginatively. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 69-year-old program of Davenport Parks and Recreation is doing its own improvising, by shifting programs online. Since April, it has over 50 free videos on the “DJT Learning YouTube Channel” (on YouTube) that include lessons in theater and dance, tours, full productions, and much more. Starting June 1, DJT will offer 50 fee-based theater and dance classes using the Zoom platform. The classes... Read More

Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner Theater has been hit hard by the covid-19 closures, but is looking forward to opening and is working diligently to make sure that when they do open, they’ll be providing the best and safest environment for their customers. To that direction, owner Denny Hitchcock released a letter to patrons of the venerable entertainment spot today. The missive addressed a number of questions and concerns of patrons. The letter read as follows: Dear Circa ’21 Valued Guests, I hope this email continues to find you safe & healthy. Although we still do not have... Read More

Are you ready for some live theater… online? Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner Theater will be hosting a virtual cabaret on their Facebook page this Sunday night at 7 p.m. The cabaret will feature performances from a variety of Circa favorites, the bootleggers, cast members of “Saturday Night Fever,” and more! Check it out here, and mark your calendars!  Read More

As part of their commitment to small businesses, Lillie & Pine  are donating 10 percent of proceeds of sales through May 1 to Rock Island’s Ballet Quad Cities. Lillie & Pine sells naturally handcrafted bath items, which would be a great idea for Mother’s Day. An even better idea would be to purchase them this week to help out the only local professional dance company, but, ya know, just an idea. Ballet Quad Cities CEO Joedy Cook is stoked about being selected. “Be sure to visit their online store for locally made Mother’s Day, Graduation, and Birthday gifts and... Read More

The Iowa Film group on Facebook, a collection of film fans and filmmakers in and around Iowa, will be scheduling a special Iowa Film Zoom round table with Alex Holdridge writer, producer, director, of “Meet Me In Montenegro” and “In Search of a Midnight Kiss” next week. Holdridge is a recipient of the Independent Spirit Cassavetes Award and various other critical acclaim. Look for more information on how you can participate in the discussion on Iowa Film.  Read More

Opera Quad Cities is having to watch their butterfly fly away into next year. The local arts group announced tonight that they must reschedule performances of Puccini’s opera, Madame Butterfly to June, 2021. Performances will remain at the Bartlett Performing Arts Center in Moline. More details will follow. Opera officials posted on Facebook: “The coming months will be difficult ones for all performing arts organizations. Our hearts go out to all of the artists impacted by this COVID-19 pandemic. Soon….music and the arts will be celebrated like never before!!” For more... Read More