Lauded by the L.A. Times as “stunning” and by the Chicago Tribune as “fabulous entertainment for the entire family” Branson, Missouri's wildly popular illusionist Rick Thomas brings his touring spectacle Mansion of Dreams to Davenport's Adler Theatre on April 24, the event delivering, up close and personal, some of most intriguing, innovative, and mind-blowing grand illusions in the world.
With the event co-presented by the Midwest Writing Center, the Quad Cities' longest-running reading series SPECTRA returns to Rock Island's Rozz-Tox on April 24 for its public event of the 2024-25 season, the evening showcasing a pair of lauded poets who will read from their latest collections; The Dead and the Living and the Bridge, written by MC Hyland, and None of It Belongs to Me, authored by Elizabeth Clark Wessel.
A seasoned comedian, ventriloquist, and musician whose career spans more than three decades and earned him a win on TV's Star Search, touring sensation Taylor Mason brings his act, and his memorable cast of characters, to Galesburg's Orpheum Theatre on April 25, this veteran of America’s Got Talent, Dry Bar Comedy, and the Disney Channel enjoying a performance sponsored by Supporters of Foster's Voice and Bridgeway’s Youth Empowerment Services.
A celebration of exhilarating Middle Eastern music and likely the most popular of all Middle Eastern dance forms, Davenport's Common Chord will host the two-day event So You Think You Can Belly Dance on April 26 and 27, the weekend experience boasting a concert with the Missouri ensemble of Bayati on Saturday and a belly-dancing workshop with live music on Sunday.
Sponsored in part by Arconic and developed by the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Putnam Museum & Science Center's new traveling exhibition Mystery of the Mayan Medallion will, through June 1, take visiting explorers through a multitude of archaeological dig sites, prompting them to gather clues and learn what happened to a group of lost scientists and a prized jade medallion.
Governor JB Pritzker said last week that the extreme uncertainty with the U.S. government and the international economy might mean that the legislature may have to reconvene to reconfigure the state budget after it adjourns at the end of next month.
You’ve probably read about the Republican Party implosion last week in suburban municipal and township campaigns, particularly in DuPage County.
[The following is an update to the "Rock Island Addresses Concerns Over Development Plan Near Casino" article published March 21, 2025. In the above photo by Jonathan Turner, Jeff Hughbanks (right), who heads Rock Island-based Rymak Construction Group, talks about his $12-million plan to build a new cannabis dispensary and gas station in southwest Rock Island, at the March 21 press conference at city hall. Mike Thoms (left) will end his two terms as mayor having been defeated by 150 votes in the April 1st city wide election by Ashley Harris who won 51 to 49 percent.]
The Civic Federation, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, and the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability recently released a report calling for the expansion of the sales tax to several services, claiming such a move could raise $2 billion for the state.
Lauded by Vulture as "a brisk, disconcerting brainteaser" that "gives you the satisfying rush of a good mystery," playwriting triumvirate Jeremy Kareken's, David Murrell's, and Gordon Farrell's The Lifespan of a Fact serves as the mainstage season closer for Iowa City's Riverside Theatre, its April 18 through May 4 run sure to demonstrate why Variety praised the work for its "terrifically funny dialogue," and for how the piece ultimately "transcends comedy and demands serious attention."
A glorious stage fairytale boasting a legendary score and a reimagined script by Douglas Carter Beane, the Tony-winning Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella will be presented at Davenport's Adler Theatre on April 19, this beloved classic and Breath of Encouragement production an entertainment, according to the Associated Press, that "crackles with sweetness and freshness, combining a little Monty Python's Spamalot with some Les Misérables."
Based on the kids’ picture book written by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon, this upbeat little musical will leave you practicing your pirate vernacul-arrr and perhaps even wishing to sail the seven seas in pursuit of doubloons.
Deemed "an excellent and compelling play" by the New York Post and "brilliant, powerful, and cinematic" by the Associated Press, Tony Award winner John Logan's dramatic thriller Never the Sinner enjoys an April 24 through 27 staging by the theatre talents at Scott Community College, this tale of the infamous Leopold & Loeb killing hailed by the New Yorker as a work that "sweeps the audience into the boys' friendship without losing sight of the brutal murder."
M: Corey McKinney inhabited the lead role very effectively throughout, but was especially convincing in portraying Elvis’ halting yet ever-more-confident steps developing his breakthrough sound and achieving popularity.
K: I agree! McKinney did a great job of showing the progression of Elvis’ style.
Currently traveling the country on their "Oh Brother" tour in support of their new album of that title, the indie-rock and -folk artists of Dawes headline an April 16 concert at Davenport's Capitol Theatre, the outfit lauded by NPR for songs that are “bright, approachable, outward-facing throwbacks to the best in classic countrified rock” while also “a canvas for serious, sometimes enormously ambitious ruminations on the meaning of life."
A deeply inspirational singer/songwriter, storyteller, and self-taught, award-winning multi-instrumentalist, blues legend Reverend Robert Jones headlines a special April 16 concert event presented by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society, his engagement at Rock Island's Hauberg Estate celebrating the beauty, history, and unifying power of our shared cultural heritage by drawing from the wellsprings of folk, blues, spirituals, and beyond.
With the artist's 2023 debut Don't You Dare Make Me Jaded lauded by Americana UK as "highly accomplished and noteworthy" and its creator "a voice to reckon with," contemporary-folk singer/songwriter Olive Klug headlines an April 16 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the artist touring in support of their upcoming April album Lost Dog and currently amassing more than 8 million streams on tracks including “Raining In June."
Touring in support of her most recent album Carving Canyons – a recording that, according to Forbes, boasts “her best as well as her most mature work yet” – lauded singer/songwriter and Rock Island native Lissie returns to the Quad Cities for an April 17 headlining concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the artist also lauded by The Northern Echo for "a voice which crackles with the influence of blues as much as it does with folk, and a range and delivery that could put most rock singers to shame."
With its gifted ensemble composed of members of the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse's performing wait staff the Bootleggers, castmates from the current Elvis Presley bio-musical Heartbreak Hotel, and a special star, the Rock Island venue will stage a one-night-only performance of the original revue Shake, Rattle, Rock & Roll, an April 17 concert event saluting iconic hits from yesteryear’s rock-and-roll era.
Technically virtuosic and undeniably gripping, Warfare seems to raise the bar in terms of realistic depictions of wartime atrocities, and that bar was already set awfully high. But while the movie isn't fun, nor is it meant to be, I also didn't find it satisfying … though the notion persists that it isn't meant to be that, either.
Going to the cineplex or staying in and streaming this weekend? Every Thursday morning at 8:15 a.m. you can listen to Mike Schulz dish on recent movie releases & talk smack about Hollywood celebs on Planet 93.9 FM with the fabulous Dave & Darren in the Morning team of Dave Levora and Darren Pitra. The morning crew previews upcoming releases, too.
Or you can check the Reader Web site and listen to their latest conversation by the warm glow of your electronic device. Never miss a pithy comment from these three scintillating pundits again.
Thursday, April 10: Discussion of A Minecraft Movie, The Friend, and Hell of a Summer, and previews of Warfare, The Amateur, Drop, King of Kings, and The Chosen: Last Supper Part 3, the latter with a running length of more than three hours. Patrons will have to bring a supper of their own.
In his role as Steve, the miner (as opposed to minor) character at the heart of A Minecraft Movie, Jack Black is almost ferally over the top.
Yes, a horned, magical creature does perish – at least twice. But forget its demise(s): Nothing that happens to the apparently not-mythical beast is quite as grisly as what happens to most of the movie's humans, our collection of potential victims including a Big Pharma titan and a grown man who seemingly doesn't own a pair of long pants. So, you know … it's okay to laugh if they die.
Now playing at area theaters.
Featuring paintings both from the museum's collection and on loan, the Figge Art Museum's current exhibition Marvin Cone: Painter celebrates this exceptional artist and teacher who pursued artmaking for more than 50 years, and in an April 17 Curator Talk, the Davenport venue's senior co-curator Vanessa Sage will speak about the artist, his long career, and the evolution of his style.
Notable and engaging works by 10 artists from Iowa and Illinois will be housed in the Quad City Arts International Airport Gallery through April 29, with Moline's airport showcasing floral paintings by Kathleen Rietz, landscape paintings by Evan Ventris, and 19 works by eight of the region’s finest woodturners.
Nearly 200 works by gifted student artists will be on display at Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center through May 1 in the expansive 48th High School Art Invitational, a glorious celebration of local talent featuring the Quad Cities’ most promising artists expressing themselves through paintings, drawings, sculpture, paper, recycled materials, and film.
With the exhibition's originator revered for creating Vodou flags known as drapo for more than 35 years, as well as for pushing the boundaries of this traditional Haitian art form, Myrlande Constant: DRAPO will be on display in the Figge At Museum's fourth-floor gallery through May 4, the artist's escalating interest in expansive proportions finding some of the 17 works in the exhibition spanning more than seven feet.
Boasting large woodcut prints and charcoal and pastel drawings of a dying willow tree from her yard in Dubuque, the arresting, fascinating exhibition Louise Kames: I Don’t See Anything That’s Not Beautiful – on display through May 11 – will be showcased in the Gildehaus Gallery of Davenport's Figge Art Museum, the artist focused on creating works that explore the beauty of natural decay, the line between life and death, and what remains after.
You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?)
Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!
