Gillian Weatherford is absolutely thrilled to be playing the iconic part that made her fall in love with musical theater in the first place. The twentysomething Las Vegas native is stepping into the classic nanny lead in “Mary Poppins,” opening Friday at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, Rock Island. “The Sound of Music” (1965) was the […]

Pleasant Valley theater alum Laura Schutter always wanted to be Broadway star Rebecca Luker. After all, they both had clear, shining soprano singing voices, unpretentious warmth and profound decency. Schutter realized her dream over 10 years ago, as she understudied for Luker as Mrs. Banks in her Tony-nominated role in the musical “Mary Poppins,” and […]