Chris Hicks

Opera diva Maria Callas once said: “I will always be as difficult as necessary to achieve the best.” That quote perfectly encapsulates The Black Box Theatre’s current production of Terence McNally’s 1996 Tony Award winning play Master Class expertly directed by Ron May. This show is extra special in that it is a collaboration with Opera Quad Cities so you will get a healthy, but not overwhelming, dose of skyrocketing arias to accompany the phenomenal acting.

Oy, “miracle of miracles” the QCA has another chance, in less than 2 years, to take in one of theatre’s most beloved musicals: Fiddler on the Roof which is now playing at Circa 21 Dinner Theatre in Rock Island and directed by Georgette Kleier, who is making her debut at Circa. I certainly hope it won’t be her last visit.

The 2026 theatre season is off with a bang – literally. Playcrafters Barn Theatre’s second production is Charles Fuller’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize winning A Soldier’s Play, directed by Renaud Haymon and is a sterling example of Playcrafters’ conscious outreach toward inclusion in their theatre.

Fans of the popular “Church Basement Ladies” franchise have a similar but “different” show to add to their compendium of favorites, that being Richmond Hill Players current production of Bo Wilson’s The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory Church directed by Mike Skiles.

What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play…at Quad City Music Guild’s production of the groundbreaking, multi-award winning musical, Cabaret, with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masterhoff and brilliantly directed by Luke Vermeire.

The Adventures of Sam Steele continues at The Black Box Theatre, 1623 5th Avenue in Moline Thursday through Saturday, April 2, 3 and 4, at 7:30 p.m.

Hooooo-wee! Dig out your cowboy boots and Stetson hats and head on down to Circa 21 Dinner Theatre’s current production of Honky Tonk Angels by Ted Swindley and directed by Tristan Tapscott. Tapscott has pulled out all the stops to deliver a Texas-sized, down home celebration of country music’s female icons.

Playcrafters Barn Theatre’s lead-off to its 2026 season is a remarkable production of the 2008 Tony Award-winning script God of Carnage by French playwright Yasmina Reza and directed by Jeremy Mahr, who can take well-deserved pride in his production. God of Carnage continues at Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 - 35th Avenue in Moline, Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m.

Now playing at The Black Box Theatre in Moline is Barely There Theatre’s offering of local playwright Alexander Richardson’s thought provoking script “word play” and, in his own words, “This play is about four adults stuck in that phase of life between where their parents have relinquished stewardship but before the realities of family, duty, and obligation have set in.”

Welcome to the 2026 Quad Cities theatre season. Kicking it off is Circa 21’s current production, Lucky Stiff, with book by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, which will make you forget all about those sub-zero temperatures outside. It features mistaken identities, a dog-loving caseworker, and a shooting-prone mistress.