15 Jul 2019

The Wonderful World of Absolutely, Definitely Not Disney: “Something Intangible,” at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre through July 21

By Pamela Briggs

I won't be coy: The Playcrafters Barn Theatre's Something Intangible, by Bruce Graham, is an imagining of the relationship between brothers Walt and Roy Disney, but with the names changed. They co-founded the Disney Bros. Studios, with Walt the visionary and Roy the money man.

15 Jul 2019

Marry Which Man Today? : “Missing Link,” at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre through July 21

By Rochelle Arnold

Whenever I visit Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, I'm reminded of how wholesome, welcoming, and beautiful this location in the Midwest is, and how this unique venue is truly a lovely place to take in a show. The players’ latest production, author Jack Sharkey's Missing Link, is a marital comedy full of all kinds of twists and turns, mistaken identities, and romantic conundrums, and it gives patrons a lighthearted look at the things we do for love.

08 Jul 2019

Heart and Soldier: The Mississippi Bend Players’ “A Green River,” at Augustana College through July 14

By Madeline Dudziak

As a rule, I don’t give standing ovations. However, on Friday evening, I gave one of the most honest standing ovations of my life at A Green River, currently running at Augustana College care of the Mississippi Bend Players. Across the board, this show, directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, could have flown across a London sky via umbrella, because it was practically perfect.

08 Jul 2019

A Mile-Wide Grimm: “Into the Woods,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through July 14

By Rochelle Arnold

What a magical Saturday afternoon I had at the Timber Lake Playhouse enjoying the company's latest summer production of Into the Woods, a storybook brought to life with fabulous fables and folk tales including those of Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood.

08 Jul 2019

The Robe Warrior: “Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre through July 21

By Pamela Briggs

If you know Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, you know it's a fun show. If you've seen the current troupe at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, you know how deep-down wonderful they are. And when this company took on this classic musical, I expected to be dazzled. I was, as was the capacity crowd for Saturday's opening matinée performance.

01 Jul 2019

Live and Let Dionysus: Genesius Guild’s “The Bacchae” at Lincoln Park through July 7

By Madeline Dudziak

Nestled between Lincoln Park’s tall, mature trees, a handful of patrons braved bugs and humidity to settle around the Don Wooten stage for Genesius Guild’s opening night performance of The Bacchae. It’s honestly a shame it wasn’t better attended, because director Patti Flaherty was at the helm of a glorious night of outdoor theatre.

24 Jun 2019

These Doors Are Made for Slamming, and That's Just What They'll Do: “Noises Off,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through June 30

By Rochelle Arnold

Noises Off, by English playwright Michael Frayn, is a 1982 comedic farce of epic proportions, and you will likely either love this show or hate it. The guy sitting next to me, for instance, did not come back after intermission. The lady in front of me laughed hysterically. And an older fellow in the front row seemed to be dozing off. So there was definitely a wide range of audience reactions to this gag-filled production.

24 Jun 2019

Everything’s Swine: “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through July 6

By Madeline Dudziak

There are two sides to every story. And no matter what you think you know, the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse’s delightful children’s show The True Story of the Three Little Pigs is here to lay the facts all out for you so you can decide for yourself.

24 Jun 2019

Ghostess with the Mostess: “Blithe Spirit,” at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre through June 29

By Pamela Briggs

Noël Coward's 1941 comedy Blithe Spirit was adapted for film in 1945, as well as for television and radio and as a musical. It's been offered by multitudes of theatres, now including the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre – which proved, on Friday, that their production can stand with the best of them.

23 Jun 2019

Girls, Interrupted: “Little Women: The Musical,” at the Black Box Theatre through June 30

By Pamela Briggs

The opening-night, sell-out crowd filling the Black Box Theatre appeared engaged by, and mostly appreciative of, Little Women: The Musical. The talented cast performed with gusto, intelligence, and tenderness, as required. Unfortunately, however, the adaptation itself of the late-19th-century Louisa May Alcott classic left me disappointed overall.

Pages

Support the Reader


The Reader has long prided itself on our coverage of the area theatre scene. As a matter of fact, before theaters everywhere experienced closures in mid-March, we were the only Quad Cities newspaper publishing any local stage reviews at all. Please help the Reader keep going (and the theatre reviews coming) with your one-time, monthly, or annual support.

Special Features

 
 

Subscribe

Subscribe to our weekly e-mail updates, delivered to your inbox every Friday.

You'll get a rundown of What's Happenin' along with your keys to the Quad Cities' culture.



On Stands Now

 

Theatre Calendars

Submit your event listings to calendar@rcreader.com