Reviewing Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie in the New York Times, Ben Brantley asked, “How can something be this delicate and this strong, so elusive and yet so tenacious?” Those qualities are sure to be in force when this enduring, Tony Award-winning classic enjoys its July 7 through 15 run at Black Hawk College Theatre, the Moline venue graciously housing this Mockingbird at Main production after the devastating building collapse of late-May.

Lauded by London Theatre as "a feel-good ‘fish out of water’ musical that easily takes the audience on to a great journey of good songs, optimism, and fun," the exuberant stage version of the classic '80s movie Footloose serves as the opener to Countryside Community Theatre's 2023 season, its June 30 to July 9 engagement at Eldridge's North Scott High School Fine Arts Auditorium sure to demonstrate why the show received four 1999 Tony nominations and enjoyed a New York run of more than 700 performances.

My exposure to Alfred Hitchcock's work has been fairly minimal, and aside from seeing a few clips, my total time spent with his films is close to zero. But several years ago, I did attend a stage version of Hitchcock's movie The 39 Steps, a play adapted by Patrick Barlow from John Bucan’s novel. And this past Friday, I caught in another in director James Beaudry's Timber Lake Playhouse’s production, which was largely a fun romp in the woods.

One of the most venerable and beloved stage musicals of all time, The Sound of Music continues the 2023 summer season at Mt. Carroll's Timber Lake Playhouse, the show adored by all generations for its rich characters, beautiful celebration of family, and an unforgettable Rodgers & Hammerstein score boasting such iconic songs as “My Favorite Things,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “Climb Ev'ry Mountain,” “Edleweiss,” and the unforgettable title tune.