Described by Broadway World as “a great evening of theatre” that “hits the mark right from the start,” the Rock Island return of the stage smash Grumpy Old Men: The Musical enjoys a March 15 through May 6 engagement at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, an adaptation of the hit film comedy that the Journal Tribune deemed “sometimes touching, sometimes raucous, and at all times enticing.”

A sparse set is on the Village Theatre stage for the New Athens Players' debut of Spotlight on Susan Glaspell, and this minimalistic choice is to be lauded, as letting the words and stories take the forefront was an excellent decision; there’s a lot of meat that doesn’t require extensive visual splendor to make a point.

One of the most popular and beloved storybook characters of all time will be given a delightful showcase at the University of Dubuque's Heritage on Center with the arrival of the touring off-Broadway smash Paddington Gets in a Jam, this tale of the charming, accident-prone talking bear lauded by by the New York Times as “hilarious,” “captivating,” and “charming,” and by Broadway World as “the hottest family show in town.”

Driving Miss Daisy is one of the staples of American theatre. Originally written as a stage play in 1987, (and winning the Pulitzer Prize the following year), it was adapted to film in 1989, and then re-staged all over the nation and the world. Talents such as Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, James Earl Jones, and Angela Lansbury have all lent their voices to Alfred Uhry’s script, but while I’ve heard the play referenced countless times, I have to confess that attending its new production at the Mockingbird on Main was my first true exposure to the material. I finally see what all the hubbub is about.