In its first complete mainstage production in a whole year, the Spotlight Theatre, 1800 7th Ave., Moline, will perform the madcap “Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” on March 19 to March 28. “This abridged cast of Jeremy Mahr, Amelia Fischer, and Brent Tubbs are sure to give the audiences a much needed laugh,” the Spotlight posted on its Facebook page, noting its first full production was from the Reduced Shakespeare Company “abridged” repertoire in 2018, so “we thought this would be the perfect show to bring us back.” The rapid-fire Shakespeare riffs on all 37 of... Read More

The new year at the Spotlight Theatre, 1800 7th Ave., Moline, brings a new bar and a monthly jazz series starting this month to help spotlight it. The Jazz Lounge – which debuted briefly this past fall in the main theater as a Thursday series with pianist Mason Moss and singer Sara Tubbs – will relaunch on Feb. 20 in the new Blueprint Bar and Lounge, in a previously unused (and totally renovated) room off the Spotlight foyer. “They completely transformed it. It’s gorgeous,” Tubbs (Spotlight co-owner with husband Brent Tubbs) said Wednesday of building owners Adam Bain and Blake Humphrey,... Read More

Make plans to experience the Spooky Spotlight Spectacular: A Halloween Cabaret, this Thursday Oct 29 and Friday Oct 30 at The Spotlight Theatre (1800 7th Avenue Moline). Doors open at 6 p.m. and the fun begins at 7 p.m. Featuring performances by local singers, this fun filled night of Spooky Songs will be the perfect night to get you into the mood of Halloween! Come in costume to be entered to win various prizes! Cost: $20 in advance / $25 at the door Bar and concession stand will be open! Seating is limited to 50 people and masks must be worn upon enter. Visit https://www.thespotlighttheatreqc.com/... Read More

While the two-year-old Spotlight Theatre, 1800 7th Ave., Moline, continues to be closed to big productions during Covid, it also continues to shine a light on creative alternative programming. “As theaters and playhouses continue to close permanently around the country, we are determined to continue to provide new and innovative entertainment for you and remain present in our community,” the Spotlight said in a recent e-mail, announcing a new jazz lounge Thursday and film showing Friday. “In order for us to do that, it will also take a community dedicated to saving the arts in our rich and... Read More

Brent Tubbs is a seriously talented improv comedy veteran. A graduate of The Second City Conservatory in Los Angeles, he was a member of multiple improv and sketch comedy groups throughout L.A., has done improv in the Quad-Cities and was a member of Reduced Shakespeare Company, performing around the world. So needless to say, Brent and his seriously talented wife Sara (a musical theater veteran) know how to improvise and get creative. The co-owners of The Spotlight Theatre, 1800n 7th Ave., Moline, continue to come up with ways to entertain, enlighten and educate the Quad-Cities community – even... Read More

“The Wedding Singer” this past February was the last musical at the Spotlight Theatre, 1800 7th Ave., Moline. Because the Illinois phase 4 reopening guidelines limit indoor theaters to a maximum of 50 patrons, the young theater can’t present any more musicals this year, as it plans to reschedule the rest of its 2020 season for 2021. “We had in our minds, our big hope that it was going to be 50-percent capacity,” co-owner Brent Tubbs said Wednesday of the state announcement June 26. “That was just like a punch to the gut.” As Circa ’21 recently announced that it would remain closed... Read More

Mark McGinn’s love of the theater is literally in his blood. His father Jack (who died in 2000) started performing at Quad City Music Guild in Moline within two years of its founding in 1949, and was in dozens of shows. Mark, a 67-year-old Bettendorf resident, started with Guild at Prospect Park in 1972, playing clarinet for “Fiddler on the Roof,” and his first stage role was in 1976’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” (as one of the apostles). McGinn has since been involved in more than 70 other shows (including last summer as John Wilkes Booth in Black Box’s “Assassins” in Moline), mostly... Read More

What a difference a year makes… On June 11, 2019, I was lucky enough to be among the 11,000 or so packed into Moline’s TaxSlayer Center (11th row center on the floor) to witness the first (and possibly last) performance of Sir Paul McCartney and his band in the Quad-Cities. It was an electrifying, unforgettable night – not least of which was due to the jaw-dropping lighting and multimedia displays, including a breathtaking pyrotechnic extravaganza during “Live and Let Die.” Part of what made it so thrilling was simply being in “the room where it happened,” celebrating a musical legend... Read More

As many musical artists and other performers are sharing their talents online during the coronavirus crisis, some Q-C music and theater groups are also finding new ways to be creative. The Spotlight Theatre in Moline was to open its latest musical, “Oliver,” last weekend. But during the closing, co-owners Brent and Sara Tubbs have used some of the time to record video interviews with friends and colleagues who’ve gone onto big things. Since late March, the husband-and-wife team have individually done six Facebook Live talks (inviting visitors to post questions), including actors who have... Read More

Spotlight Theatre is once again putting the spotlight on a big name in their virtual online chats! Friday April 10th, at noon, Spotlight Artistic Director Sara Tubbs sits down (virtually) with Dashaun Young live on facebook to take your questions. Dashaun’s credits include “Simba” in The Lion King (Broadway, West End, Tour, Vegas), Hairspray (1st National Tour), Legends (NY Premiere), Sex and The City 2 (Film and Soundtrack). Workshops/Readings: Hunchback of Notre Dame, A Strange Loop, Triassic Parq, The Scottsboro Boys, and Emerald Man. Join Spotlight live to ask questions!  Read More