I’m sure it was purely coincidental, but it was illuminating to see two Moline theatrical productions about a strict father with a big brood of kids within about a month of each other. As soon as Joe Urbaitis (who played another proud, frustrated Papa in 2024’s “Fiddler on the Roof” at Music Guild) blew his […]
The best performing arts not only offer us incandescent talent from those who share their dazzling gifts with us, but a welcome, necessary, tidy distraction from the chaos, craziness and cruelties of the real world. When you step into the magical fairy-tale world of the stunning new production of Spotlight Theatre’s “Cinderella,” the contrast could […]
Long before the acclaimed black comedy-drama “Succession” ruled prestige TV (on HBO 2018-23), two other intense royal power struggles ruled stages and screens – Shakespeare’s “King Lear” (1606) and James Goldman’s “The Lion in Winter” (1966). Logan Roy (the scarily intimidating Brian Cox) of “Succession” wasn’t an actual king, but a media king, utterly ruthless, […]
Richmond Hill Players’ final play for the 2025 season is a true holiday treat, in every sense of the word. “A Sherlock Carol” — a comedy/mystery by Mark Shanahan – is a supremely clever, well-crafted, smart, meticulous and affectionate tribute to two of the most famous literary characters ever: both haunted men of Victorian England, […]
Seeing the giddily entertaining “Young Frankenstein” musical at The Spotlight Theatre is like watching a classic B-movie spring to glorious life. This true “monster” of a show faithfully recreates the supremely silly 2007 Mel Brooks show, especially fitting for this sprawling gothic space, in the 1931 former Scottish Rite Cathedral at 1800 7th Ave., Moline. […]
One-person and two-person plays seem like the most challenging, thrilling and satisfying productions an actor could ever participate in. The current, mesmerizing show at Richmond Hill Players in Geneseo — the mysterious thriller, “The Woman in Black,” adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the novel by Susan Hill — is one such example. The vast majority of the two-hour […]
Befitting its real-life subjects, The Black Box Theatre in downtown Moline is presenting an electrifying, glowing tribute to two powerful, strong, and pioneering women with the area premiere of the Lauren Gunderson two-hander “The Half-Life of Marie Curie” — starring Jessica White as Marie Curie and Pam Mautz Cantrell as Hertha Ayrton. This is their first show on […]
A powerhouse cast of Circa ’21 veterans and tremendous actors making their Circa debuts delivers a spectacularly moving, inspiring new production, with “Come From Away.” The 2017 Tony-winning musical is based on the true events of Sept. 11, 2001, reflecting the fear, chaos and boundless generosity of that day, when the good people of Gander, […]
There are three brief, key scenes in Circa 21’s new production of “Mary Poppins” where Gillian Weatherford as the proper British nanny floats above the stage, and another when Jordan Thomas Burnett as the impish chimney sweep Bert does even more gravity-defying gymnastics. But these are hardly the only magic moments in this gloriously entertaining […]
Partly because I’m a writer, I love reading director’s notes in theater programs. They give you insight into what you’re about to see, and are helpful especially if you’re not familiar with a show. “The Prom” at Quad City Music Guild is one of the best shows I’ve seen at the Moline theater, for many […]
