I just love what Circa ’21 has done this year in regard to its shows. Its last show, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” was wonderfully absurd and hilarious, a terrific bit of humorous escapism. It’s latest show, “Just Desserts,” isn’t quite as unhinged and wacky, it’s far more conventional in terms of plotline and structure, […]

The first citation states “as easy as pie” originated in Australia in the 1920s. It grew from the term “pie on” or “pie at” which means to be very good at something. The root is the Maori word “pai” which means “good”. Hence, if you’re good at something it will be as easy as pie. […]

I don’t review a lot of pizza spots. Pizza is one of those things that you find what you love and stick to it. My top spots in the QC for pizza are as follows. This isn’t a ranking btw, just my favorite spots in the Illinois and Iowa Quad-Cities. A) Quad City Pizza Company […]

The old saying, “All good things come to those who wait,” had deeply resonant meaning Saturday night, with the triumphant, flawless world premiere of the opera “Karkinos” at Moline’s Bartlett Performing Arts Center. In collaboration with Living Proof Exhibit, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra commissioned local composer and Augustana professor Jacob Bancks to create the opera, which aims to provide […]

Part Pizza Part Bacon Cheeseburger this new creation for the month of February at Quad City Pizza Company hits all the right notes. I don’t know why I like, err, love this thing so much. I feel guilty, it’s like my high school crush on the lunch lady, I know it’s wrong but I go […]

It’s Oscar Nomination Eve! Yay! Despite my two favorite films of the year – Nightmare Alley & In the Heights – being left out of the Best Picture conversation, it was a rock star year for movies. It is definitely a year to celebrate! With an ever changing precursor season, however, it is getting more […]

Circa ’21’s latest show, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” gets one huge thing right: It hits all the comedic notes to make it a hilarious show. These types of silly, goofy, farces are exactly what we need right now, in my opinion. The last two years have sucked, let’s face it, and things aren’t exactly […]

When my wife Betsy and I were married in July 1990, in a Quaker meeting house in Evanston, Ill., we included two Catholic priests in the service (in honor of my upbringing), but we “married” ourselves, under the care of the meeting, not repeating vows from a benevolent clergyman. During plans for our interfaith ceremony, […]

The new Christmas-themed musical at Mockingbird on Main in downtown Davenport is the ultimate stocking stuffer – not a major present in any way, but a sweet, silly, delicious trifle in more ways than one. When a huge snowstorm hits and the star-studded cast of a 1953 radio show can’t make it into the studio, […]

Exploding with vibrant costuming and swirling with clever choreography, Circa ‘21’s enchanting “Seussical” is an absolutely wonderful show for the whole family. Full of energy and charged with a talented and exuberant cast, it nicely captures the spirit and buoyancy of Dr. Seuss’ work and briskly unspools a smart tale germane to today while avoiding […]