Theatre
Murder in the Cathedral
Area Churches
Friday, March 10, through Saturday, March 25
On Friday, March 10, at Davenport’s Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Genesius Guild will open its traveling production of author T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral – the first of five area-church presentations directed by Guild founder Don Wooten.
There are so many things that are unusual about that sentence that it’s probably best to break it down bit by bit.
To begin with: Yes, the company known for its summertime stagings of classical theatre is indeed producing a rare out-of-season offering, and yes, the March 10 through 25 performances will take place not in Rock Island’s Lincoln Park, but rather churches in Davenport, Muscatine, Moline, Rock Island, and Clinton.
“I was told that Trinity was interested in my doing something for their 175th anniversary,” says Wooten. “I said, ‘Well, I guess that’s Murder in the Cathedral, which we did there last time, for the 150th, 25 years ago. And I thought as long as we were doing it there, we might as well do it a few other places. We probably could have expanded quite a bit, but I figured five was enough.”
If, however, it seems odd that the company venerated for its classical-Greek and Shakespeare productions would tackle a script that isn’t even 100 years old – Eliot’s play having debuted in 1935 – Murder in the Cathedral actually fits right in the Guild wheelhouse. Not only is it a verse drama concerning historical events that took place in 1170, but Eliot’s re-imagining of the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket, as Wooten says, finds its author “obviously following the lead of Greek tragedy by incorporating something like a Greek chorus.”
Eliot’s history play finds that chorus foreshadowing Becket’s murder amidst the archbishop’s dealings with priests, knights, and a quartet of insidious “tempters. “And although Becket was indeed slain in a cathedral, you might think that local churches would be ill-fitting venues for Guild’s springtime offering. Not so, says Wooten.
“Theatre began in religion,” he says. “It was worship of Dionysus, where they did the choral odes, that started it. And then Thespis, instead of singing about the gods, pretended he was the god – and the people who saw it thought, ‘That’s terrific.’ And thus came theatre.
“The Christian church, of course, then killed the theatre because it was immoral,” Wooten continues. “But then it came back to life in the church again because they found that since they were doing the masses in Latin, the illiterate congregation didn’t know what the heck was doing on. So they acted out the scene at the tomb, and everybody thought, ‘Wow.’ Then it spills out of the churches and into the marketplace, and then here comes Shakespeare and Molière ... . It’s that ‘wow’ you get from the people who see it that keeps theatre going.”
With its 16-person ensemble including such Genesius Guild veterans as Doug Adkins, Don Faust, Tyler Henning, Michael King, Rae Mary, Melita and Phillip Tunnicliff, and James Loula (the latter in a role enacted by his father James Sr. 25 years ago), Wooten calls his directorial offering a tale of “the great scandal of the Middle Ages – a serious play, with a kind of unconscious comedy, that gets down to some really human stuff.”
And if, for his many admirers, the final surprise of this article’s opener is Wooten directing Murder in the Cathedral just a few months after his October retirement party, don’t think he’s done with Guild duties quite yet.
“I agreed to continue writing the comedies until I drop,” he says of his satirical, summer-ending slapsticks, with Wooten’s take on Aristophanes’ The Clouds landing this August. “That one’s about education, and it’s pretty fixed as it is. But with [Betsy] DeVos in there now, who knows? That may change the whole tenor of things.”
[March 8 update: The previously scheduled March 16 performance in Muscatine has been cancelled.]
In addition to its March 10 staging at Davenport’s Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (121 West 12th Street), Murder in the Cathedral will be performed on March 18 at Moline’s First Congregational Church (2201 Seventh Avenue); on March 19 at Rock Island’s St. John’s Lutheran Church (4501 Seventh Avenue); and on March 25 at Clinton’s St. Paul Lutheran Church (715 South Third Street).
All performances begin at 7 p.m., admission is free (although donations are encouraged), and more information is available by visiting Genesius.org.
Theatre
Politicalamity
Augustana College
Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 12
On the surface, absurdist comedy and politics would appear to be two completely unrelated subjects. But from March 10 to 12 ... .
Listen – we’re never gonna get through this if you keep laughing like that.
But from March 10 to 12, the absurd gets political and the political gets absurd in Politicalamity, an Augustana College studio offering produced wholly by students in the theatre department’s Play Production course. Designed to give participants experience in producing a show from the ground up, the project finds everything from the initial play selection to its creative design to its press releases the duties of director Keenan Odenkirk and his classmates Sarah Baker, Laura Bergren, Emma Brutman, Jessica Holzknecht, Audrey Johnsen, Samuel Langallier, Madison Mortensen, Maissie Musick, Jake Phillips, and Shannon Ryan.
This year’s Play Production effort is actually a trio of titles – author Murphy Guyer’s Loyalties, and David Campton’s A Smell of Burning and Then ... – that Odenkirk says meshed together beautifully given what he and his fellow students hoped to deliver.
“We definitely knew we wanted to do something a little political and relevant,” says Odenkirk, whose student cast boasts Isabelle Dawson, Thea Gonzalez, Jonathon Meir, Muriel Melgoza, Steven Mondloch, and Jaryd Whitmore. “We didn’t want to pick a side, however. That seems to be a tendency of theatre artists in general; they lean toward one particular side, and then they just create an echo chamber with the people who will be coming to their show. And that doesn’t necessarily do much.
“So we wanted to play with the ideas of ambivalence and empathy,” he continues. “That felt important to us as learning artists, and people who are trying to figure out their own artistic voices – trying to understand what we can contribute to performance and the theatre world.”
Politicalamity’s opening piece, Loyalties, begins with what Odenkirk describes as “a standard dinner argument between two guys who have opposing political views. Their wives are sisters, and the two guys are ... . Well, I guess for lack of a better word, they’re douchebags. One of them is just a really cocky, obnoxious, rude, liberal dude, and the other one is a loud, obnoxious, crazy, conservative dude. But both of their wives are very reasonable women, and end up getting torn apart because of that – this big shock at the end kind of rockets everything into an absurdist world where nothing makes sense anymore.”
That absurdist world would be the one of The Smell of Burning and Then ... . The first of Campton’s short works, says Odenkirk, “starts with this couple sitting at home. You can hear explosions in the distance, and you can see a red glow outside their window, so clearly there’s some kind of war or disaster occurring outside. But the couple isn’t acknowledging it, and to such a ridiculous point that they’re talking about toast and eggs and what they’re going to do that day while there’s all this fire outside. Eventually, this hilariously slimy representative from the government shows up, and starts talking about how he’s going to blow up their house, and goes up to kill their upstairs neighbor ... .”
As for Politicalamity’s finale Then ... , Odenkirk says, “It’s kind of set in the same world in that, clearly, some sort of horrible disaster has occurred. But here, everyone has been turned to dust except for two people – and they survived because they wore paper bags over their heads. So for the entire show, the actors wear paper bags.
“It’s all very nonchalant,” he continues. “And very dark. But it’s also very, very funny. And even though they’re plays by different playwrights, we think that through their styles and themes, we’re connecting them to create one cohesive storyline.”
With Odenkirk’s Augustana credits including roles in such dramatic works as The Passion of Dracula, Machinal, and last fall’s Othello, Politicalamity’s director says that, in rehearsals, he relishes “watching the cast just go in there and try to make each other laugh – and make each other laugh without losing the sense of what the plays are about. Ultimately, if they can have that kind of fun with the other people on-stage, when the audience shows up they’ll go along with them.”
Yet in addition to laughs, says Odenkirk, “What I’d love for people to get out of this is that there’s a right way to discuss politics – and discuss beliefs, period – just by maintaining empathy. You can have conflicts of beliefs without, you know, being a douchebag about it.”
Politicalamity runs in the Honkamp Black Box Theatre at Augustana’s Brunner Theatre Center (3750 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island); performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 1 p.m.; and more information and $3 to $5 tickets are available by calling (309)794-7306 or visiting Augustana.edu/arts.
What Else Is Happenin’ …?
MUSIC
Thursday, March 2 – Get the Led Out. Concert with the Led Zeppelin tribute musicians. Adler Theatre (136 East Third Street, Davenport). 8 p.m. $28. For tickets, call (800)745-3000 or visit AdlerTheatre.com.
Friday, March 3 – Brantley Gilbert. Chart-topping country musician in concert, with additional sets by Tucker Beathard, Luke Combs, and Brian Davis. iWireless Center (1201 River Drive, Moline). 7 p.m. $29.75-39.75. For tickets, call (800)745-3000 or visit iWirelessCenter.com.
Friday, March 3 – Unknown Hinson. Comedic country musician and songwriter in concert, with opening sets by the Krank Daddies and 3 on the Tree. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 8:30 p.m. $20. For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.
Friday, March 3, and Saturday, March 4 – Daytrotter Downs. Daytrotter and the River Music Experience present an all-ages weekend festival of rock, hip-hop, soul, blues, folk, and more at six Davenport venues. Friday 3 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 a.m. $30 single-day pass, $55 two-day pass. For information, visit Daytrotter.com or RiverMusicExperience.org.
Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5 – Quad City Symphony Orchestra: River of Life. Mark Russell Smith conducts the orchestra alongside guest soprano Erin Wall in the Masterworks V repertoire featuring Wagner’s Dawn & Siegfried’s Rhine Journey from “Götterdammerung” (Rheinfahrt) and Prelude & Liebestod from “Tristan und Isolde,” Strauss’ Four Last Songs, and Ravel’s Daphnis & Chloe Suite No. 2. Saturday: Adler Theatre (136 East Third Street, Davenport), 8 p.m. Sunday: Augustana College’s Centennial Hall (3703 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island), 2 p.m. $6-62. For tickets and information, call (563)322-7276 or visit QCSO.org.
Sunday, March 5 – Yo-Yo Ma. Solo cello pieces with the legendary musician. Hancher Auditorium (101 East Park Road, Iowa City). 7 p.m. $50-100. For tickets and information, call (319)335-1160 or visit Hancher.UIowa.edu.
Wednesday, March 8 – Victor Wooten Trio. Funk, fusion, and jazz with the five-time Grammy winner and musicians Dennis Chambers and Bob Franceschini. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $36.50. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Thursday, March 9 – Las Cafeteras. Los Angeles touring ensemble fuses poetry with traditional Son Jarocho and Afro-Mexican music and zapateado dancing. Hancher Auditorium (101 East Park Road, Iowa City). 7:30 p.m. $10-20. For tickets and information, call (319)335-1160 or visit Hancher.UIowa.edu.
Thursday, March 9 – Dead Meadow. Touring rock musicians featuring opening sets by The Flash Hits and The Golden Fleece. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 7 p.m. $12. For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.
Friday, March 10 – The Candymakers. Concert with the 2011 Iowa Blues Challenge winners, featuring opening sets by GoodcaT and Vintage Pistol. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 9 p.m. $11.50. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Saturday, March 10 – Local Bands for Music Education Benefit. Fourth-annual event with musicians performing on three stages in a fundraiser for the Muscatine schools’ elementary-music programs, featuring a silent auction, raffles, games, and more. River Music Experience (129 North Main Street, Davenport). 2 p.m. $5. For information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Saturday, March 11 – Larry Gatlin. Concert with the Grammy-winning country-music singer/songwriter. Orpheum Theatre (57 South Kellogg Street, Galesburg). 7:30 p.m. $14-25. For tickets and information, call (309)342-2299 or visit GalesburgOrpheum.org.
Saturday, March 11 – Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience. Touring tribute rockers in concert. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $28. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Wednesday, March 15 – Turkuaz. Concert with the nine-piece “power funk” outfit from Brooklyn, New York, featuring an opening set by Organ Freeman. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 8:30 p.m. $16.75-20. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
THEATRE
Thursday, March 2, through Saturday, March 11 – Welcome to Thebes. Moira Buffini’s modern-day political drama inspired by ancient myth, directed by Paul Kalina. University of Iowa’s David Thayer Theatre (200 North Riverside Drive, Iowa City). Wednesday through Saturday 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $5-20. For tickets and information, call (319_335-1160 or visit Theatre.UIowa.edu.
Thursday, March 2, through Sunday, March 5 – A Doll’s House. Henrik Ibsen’s Tony-winning domestic drama, directed by Amy Ressler. University of Dubuque’s Babka Theatre (2000 University Avenue, Dubuque). Thursday through Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $4-7. For tickets and information, call (563)585-7469 or visit Dbq.edu.
Friday, March 3, through Sunday, March 5 - Annie Jr. Modified version of the Tony-winning Broadway musical presented by the Penguin Project of the Quad Cities, with roles filled by young artists with developmental disabilities including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and other neurological disorders. Augustana College's Brunner Theatre Center (3750 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island). Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 1:30 p.m. $12. For tickets and information, call (309)794-7306 or visit Augustana.edu/arts.
Friday, March 3, through Sunday, March 12 – Anything Goes. Cole Porter’s Tony-winning musical-comedy classic, directed by Evan Hilsabeck and Joshua Holmes. Iowa City Community Theatre (Johnson County Fairgrounds, 4261 Oak Crest Hill Road, Iowa City). Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $9-17. For tickets and information, call (319)338-0443 or visit IowaCityCommunityTheatre.com.
Saturday, March 4 – Romeo & Juliet. William Shakespeare’s tragic romance interpreted by five performers from the touring company Actors from the London Stage: Shakespeare at Notre Dame. St. Ambrose University’s Galvin Fine Arts Center (2101 North Gaines Street, Davenport). 7:30 p.m. $9-13. For tickets and information, call (563)333-6251 or visit SAU.edu/galvin.
Sunday, March 5 – Laura Ingalls Wilder. An ArtsPower Touring Theater musical inspired by the life of Little House series author Wilder. University of Dubuque’s Heritage Center (2255 Bennett Street, Dubuque). 2 p.m. $5-15. For tickets and information, call (563)585-7469 or visit Dbq.edu/heritagecenter.
Sunday, March 5 – Royal Shakespeare Company: The Tempest. An HD screening of William Shakespeare’s magical comedy, directed by Gregory Doran. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 2 p.m. $9-18. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 19 – Rumors. Neil Simon’s Tony-winning farcical comedy, directed by Alex Richardson. Playcrafters Barn Theatre (4950 35th Avenue, Moline). Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m. For tickets and information, call (309)762-0330 or visit Playcrafters.com.
Friday, March 10, through Saturday, March 25 – You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Tony-winning musical comedy based on the Charles M. Schulz comic-strip Peanuts, directed by David Miller. The Black Box Theatre (1623 Fifth Avenue, Moline). Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2:30 p.m. $16. For tickets and information, call (563)284-2350 or visit TheBlackBoxTheatre.com.
Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 12 – 12 Angry Jurors. The Peace Pipe Players’ production of Sherman L. Sergel’s courtroom drama, directed by Levi Burzlaff. Ohnward Fine Arts Center (1215 East Platt Street, Maquoketa). Friday and Saturday 7 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $10-15. For tickets and information, call (563)652-9815 or visit OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.
Sunday, March 12 – National Theatre Live: Saint Joan. An HD screening of Bernard Shaw’s historical drama, directed by Josie Rourke. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 3 p.m. $15-18. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Wednesday, March 15, through Saturday, May 13 – The Music Man. Meredith Willson’s Tony-winning musical classic, directed by Jim Hesselman. Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island). Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and March 16: 6 p.m. buffet, 7:15 p.m. pre-show, 7:45 p.m. show. Sunday: 4 p.m. buffet, 5:15 p.m. pre-show, 5:45 p.m. show. Wednesday: 11:45 a.m. plated lunch, 1 p.m. pre-show, 1:30 p.m. show. $44.94-51.73. For tickets and information, call (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.
DANCE
Thursday, March 9, through Saturday, March 11 – University of Iowa MFA Thesis Concert. Performances of choreographer Autumn Eckman's In Closure and Ramon Flowers' Raisin in the Milk: A Double Consciousness. University of Iowa's Space/Place Theatre (20 Davenport Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $8-14; for tickets and information, call 319-335-1160 or visit Arts.Uiowa.edu.
COMEDY
Thursday, March 2 – Etta May. An evening of stand-up with the touring comedienne, featuring an opening set by Bobby Ray Bunch. Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island). 7 p.m. $25-30. For tickets and information, call (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.
SPORTS
Saturday, March 4 – Quad City Rollers 2017 Season Opener. Evening featuring the QCR Orphan Brigade scrimmage at 6 p.m. and the area’s female flat-track roller-derby team against Indiana’s Dire Skates at 7 p.m. Eldridge Community Center & Skatepark (400 South 16th Avenue, Eldridge). $10-12, free for military with valid ID and ages 12 and under. For information, visit Facebook.com/quadcityrollers.
MOVIES
Saturday, March 11 – Environmental Film Festival. Twelfth-annual event featuring screenings of the documentaries Love Thy Nature, Future of Energy, Disobedience, and 62 Years, a presentation with author Ken Brower, healthy snacks, short films, and more. Augustana College’s Olin Center (733 35th Street, Rock Island). 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. For information and a film schedule, visit SierraClub.org/illinois/eagle-view or Augustana.edu/environmentalfilmfest.
Saturday, March 11 – Vampyr with the Andrew Alden Ensemble. Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1932 horror film performed with live accompaniment by the New York-based chamber musicians. Rozz-Tox (2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $5-10. For information, call (309)200-0978 or visit RozzTox.com.
Tuesday, March 14 – Mona Lisa Is Missing. Screenings in the World Adventure Series presented by Joe Medeiros. Putnam Museum & Science Center (1717 West 12th Street, Davenport). 1 and 6 p.m. $7-8.50. For tickets and information, call (563)324-1933 or visit Putnam.org.
EXHIBITS
Thursday, March 2, through Sunday, April 3 – Marty Mitchell, Susan Coleman, & Elizabeth Shriver. Exhibition of landscape paintings by Mitchell and Coleman and ceramic vessels by Shriver. Quad City International Airport Gallery (2200 69th Avenue, Moline). $1 for parking. For information, call (309)793-1213 or visit QuadCityArts.com.
Saturday, March 4, through Sunday, June 4 – Jefferson Pinder: Ghost Light. A site-specific art- and performance-based installation created by Chicago artist Pinder exploring the Quad Cities African-American experience. Figge Art Museum (225 West Second Street, Davenport). Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m. Free with $4-7 museum admission. For information, call (563)326-7804 or visit FiggeArtMuseum.org.
Saturday, March 4, through Sunday, March 12 – Young Artists at the Figge: Geneseo Schools. Exhibit of works by student artists. Figge Art Museum (225 West Second Street, Davenport). Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m. Free with $4-7 museum admission. For information, call (563)326-7804 or visit FiggeArtMuseum.org.
Tuesday, March 7, through Sunday, March 26 – Hancher Guild Youth Art Show. A celebration of student artists in the community. Hancher Auditorium (101 East Park Road, Iowa City). Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Free. For information, call (319)335-1160 or visit Hancher.UIowa.edu.
Saturday, March 11, through Sunday, June 4 – The Magical History Tour: A Beatles Exhibition. Touring exhibition that tells the story of the Fab Four through four galleries of artifacts, memorabilia, interactive programming, and more. Putnam Museum & Science Center (1717 West 12th Street, Davenport). Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday noon - 5 p.m. $14-18. For tickets and information, call (563)324-1933 or visit Putnam.org.
EVENTS
Thursday, March 2 – Murder-Mystery Fundraiser: A Dance with Death. Performance benefiting Davenport’s Creative Arts Academy featuring a sock-hop-themed show performed by the Murder Mystery Company, food, raffles, a 50/50, a silent auction, and more. River Music Experience (129 North Main Street, Davenport). 5:30 p.m. doors. $25. For tickets, visit Funds4CAA.vistaprintdigital.com.
Friday, March 3, through Sunday, March 5 – Antique Spectacular Vintage Market. Bi-annual event featuring 70 exhibitors with antiques and vintage items including furniture, art pottery, stoneware, books, prints, and more. QCCA Expo Center (2621 Fourth Avenue, Rock Island). Friday 4-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $7 weekend admission. For information, call (712)324-9964 or visit AntiqueSpectacular.com.
Friday, March 3, and Saturday, March 4 – Circus Oz. Acrobatics, choreography, clowning, and more with Australia’s National Circus. Hancher Auditorium (101 East Park Road, Iowa City). Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m. $10-45. For tickets and information, call (319)335-1158 or visit Hancher.UIowa.edu.
Saturday, March 4 – Red Ribbon Dinner. The 24th-annual fundraiser hosted by the Project of the Quad Cities featuring a gourmet dinner, live and silent auctions, and more. Radisson Quad City Plaza Hotel (111 East Second Street, Davenport). 5 p.m. cocktail hour, 7 p.m. dinner. $75. For tickets and information, call (309)762-5433 or visit TPQC.org.
Saturday, March 4 – The Kids’ Table: A Grown-Up Helping. Evening fundraiser for Bettendorf’s Family Museum featuring food, drinks, games, live music by 10 of Soul, a silent auction, and more. Family Museum (2900 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf). 6:30 p.m. $50. For tickets and information, call (563)344-4106 or visit FamilyMuseum.org.
Wednesday, March 8 – Artrageous: Art & Music Gone Wild. The touring troupe of artists, musicians, singers, and dancers pay tribute to a variety of art forms, pop icons, and musical genres culminating in a gallery of finished paintings. University of Dubuque’s Heritage Center (2255 Bennett Street, Dubuque). 7:30 p.m. $5-30. For tickets and information, call (563)585-7469 or visit Dbq.edu/heritagecenter.
Saturday, March 11 – Big Bacon Bonanza. Fourth-annual fundraiser for Churches United of the Quad Cities featuring vendors, tastings, music, and more. Davenport RiverCenter (136 East Third Street, Davenport). 4-7 p.m. For information, call (563)676-9472 or visit CUQCA.org.
