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"Spring" Time: The Center for Living Arts Produces the Controversial Musical...
Dino Hayz is the creative director and co-owner of the Center for Living Arts, the Rock Island-based venue that, since 2006, has offered music and theatre (and musical theatre) classes for ages 18 and...
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One Story, Many Voices: Disaster Tales Are Shared in "Titanic Aftermath," May...
As Oregon-based playwright Michael Wehrli is the author of Titanic Aftermath – the historical drama being staged at Moline’s Playcrafters Barn Theatre May 11 through 20 – I initially presume that he’s...
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Summer Assault: Theatre in the Quad Cities and Surrounding Areas, May through...
At last count, there were 74 plays and musicals set to open at area venues this summer. Although one of the productions is technically two separate productions. And four of them are technically one....
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Yes, They Shall Dance: Jonathan and Rochelle Schrader Get (Semi-)Romantic in...
Local audiences have seen married actors Jonathan and Rochelle Schrader appearing opposite one another numerous times over the years: in Opera@Augustana's The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado; in...
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Wonder Fall: Autumnal Theatre in the Quad Cities and Surrounding Areas
As of this writing, area venues have announced the titles to a collective 70 plays and musicals opening between August 31 and November 30. You wanna know my favorite title? Theatre Cedar Rapids’ The...
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Let’s Talk About Sets: The Richmond Hill Barn Theatre Stages the Scenically...
When I first learned that Geneseo’s Richmond Hill Barn Theatre was staging author Michael Frayn’s Tony Award-winning Noises Off this fall, I’ll admit that the news made me chuckle, and not just because...
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Critical Mass: Mike Schulz and Thom White Discuss Area Theatre in 2012
For our third-annual conversation on the Year in Theatre, Thom White – the Reader’s chief theatre reviewer – and I thought we’d shake things up a bit. So instead of meeting for an hours-long breakfast...
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Spring Theatre from A(ntigone) to Z(ine of Grrrl): 99 Days of Area Stage...
Welcome to the Reader’s annual article on springtime area-theatre productions, where our trek through the season’s comedies, dramas, and musicals will have us taking a walk in the woods with Antigone,...
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Repertory Stories: New Ground Theatre’s Playwrights Festival, April 19...
Over the years, Davenport’s New Ground Theatre has prided itself on the presentation of new works by emerging authors. But this year, even Artistic Director Chris Jansen is shocked to find the company...
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Summer of 69: Theatre in the Quad Cities and Surrounding Areas, May through...
At last count, there were a grand total of 69 theatrical productions scheduled to debut at area venues between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. That’s awfully impressive. Yet what’s even...
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Exit, Pursued by a Bear Girl: The Prenzie Players Stage a Debuting Native...
The local theatre troupe the Prenzie Players is most commonly known for stylistically bold, occasionally gender-bending takes on classical dramas and comedies, principally the works of William...
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Go Big or Go Home: Countryside Community Theatre Presents the Area Debut of...
“You know, it’s been interesting,” says Christina Myatt, president of the board of directors for the Eldridge-based Countryside Community Theatre (CCT). “Because we wanted to do something big for our...
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Fall Guises: Theatre in the Quad Cities and Surrounding Areas, August through...
Stephen King, Agatha Christie, the Headless Horseman, Dracula, Medusa, Witches, Murder, Horror, Ghost Brothers ... . Halloween’s more than two months away, and our area’s fall-theatre lineup is already...
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The Demon Between Your Ears: "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County," November 3...
Stephen King. John Mellencamp. T Bone Burnett. Three instantly recognizable names. Three iconic artists with enormous fan bases and lengthy lists of professional accomplishments. And, taken together,...
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The Winter's Tales: Quad Cities Theatre, November through February
I’m probably too old to go to the mall this December and sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what I want for Christmas. (Cue the chorus of “Probably?!?”) But if I did, as a huge fan of the local stage...
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