31 Mar 2025

The Buccaneers Stop Here: “How I Became a Pirate,” at the Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse through April 19

By Madeline Dudziak

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.

17 Mar 2025

One for the Money, Two for the Show: “Heartbreak Hotel,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through May 3

By Mischa Hooker and Kitty Israel

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.

31 Mar 2025

River Cities' Reader Theatre Reviews: July 2000 to the Present

By Administrator

Reviews by Rochelle Arnold, Jeff Ashcraft, Patricia Baugh-Riechers, Audra Beals, Pamela Briggs, Dee Canfield, Madeline Dudziak, Kim Eastland, Emily Heninger, Heather Herkelman, Mischa Hooker, Kitty Israel, Paula Jolly, Victoria Navarro, Roger Pavey Jr., Alexander Richardson, Mark Ruebling, Mike Schulz, Joy Thompson, Oz Torres, Brent Tubbs, Jill Pearson Walsh, and Thom White.

17 Mar 2025

Agatha, All Along: “The Stranger,” at the Black Box Theatre through March 23

By Madeline Dudziak

The art-deco ties for the gentlemen and lovely dresses on the ladies made the whole evening feel like a true blast from the past.

15 Mar 2025

They Can't Dance If They Want To: “The Prom,” at Augustana College through March 16

By Pamela Briggs

The Prom, currently running at Augustana College, is a happy, even joyous musical, even though its ripped-from-the-headlines premise is an utter disheartening downer.

22 Feb 2025

Annie, Are You Okay? So, Annie, Are You Okay? Are You Okay, Annie?!: “Misery,” at the Circa '21 Speakeasy through February 28

By Pamela Briggs

I urge you to get tickets now for director Jeremy Littlejohn's sometimes-unsettling, often-comedic, always-fascinating production featuring three superb, accomplished actors.

17 Feb 2025

War Correspondence: “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” at the Black Box Theatre through March 1

By Madeline Dudziak

It’s rare to find a piece of theatre that’s endearingly sweet without being schmaltzy, but that is exactly what the Black Box Theatre currently offers with Ken Ludwig’s Dear Jack, Dear Louise.

10 Feb 2025

Déjà Vu All Over Again: “Groundhog Day: The Musical,” at the Spotlight Theatre through February 16

By Mischa Hooker and Kitty Israel

Kitty: Conceptually, this musical is certainly a challenge. Presenting what is essentially the same material over and over again, but in a way that’s going to be interesting to the audience, is inherently difficult.

Mischa: There are also too many layers of philosophical or ideological meaning added to an essentially frivolous story, as though a light entertainment were trying to turn into Camus’ Myth of Sisyphus.

20 Jan 2025

In for a Penny, in for a Hound: “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through March 8

By Pamela Briggs

Despite this production being an excellent exhibition of both stagecraft and acting skills, Baskerville's comedy devolution did not grab me personally – though some audience members at Thursday's preview performance cheered.

16 Dec 2024

Those Glorious Songs of Old: “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914,” at the Black Box Theatre through December 22

By Mischa Hooker and Kitty Israel

K: I really loved when the British and German soldiers came together to pose for a photograph. A camera bulb flashed, flooding the group in bright light for just a split second, capturing the occasion in time. It was a simple yet powerful effect.

M: There’s another great lighting effect that comes in to enhance “Silent Night” … but I shouldn’t give it away.

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