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6 days ago | 
rcreader.com | Alexander Richardson |Mike Schulz
It must be summer again, because on Friday night, I found myself on my annual pilgrimage north through hordes of mayflies to attend the start of the new Timber Lake Playhouse season. Critiquing shows is always a bit of a dice roll: Will it be moving or boring? Director Tommy Ranieri's Saturday Night Fever is more of the former, and an extraordinary start to the summer-stock season.
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
rcreader.com | Alexander Richardson |Mike Schulz
Both the year and the theatrical season are winding down for a long winter’s nap, and the Timber Lake Playhouse’s final production of 2024 could not offer a more pleasant nightcap. Directed and choreographed by Marquez Stewart, and featuring some surprisingly effective audience participation, Winter Wonderettes is a wonderful dose of theatre to fully get you in the spirit of the season.
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Nov 14, 2024 | 
rcreader.com | Alexander Richardson |Mike Schulz
Shakespeare is the staple of theatre and has been for centuries. Augustana College’s latest production, The Comedy of Errors, presents one of the Bard’s more oft-told tales: that of two twins with identical names who get into increasingly absurd situations. Directed with aplomb by Jeff Coussens, this is a classic story for fans of laughter. William’s works include tales of kings (real and imagined), lovers (low- and high-born), and even the occasional human meat pie.
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Nov 11, 2024 | 
rcreader.com | Alexander Richardson |Mike Schulz
The Quad Cities’ theatre season is beginning to wind down for the year. So it follows that the holiday season must be ramping up, and the final production of Quad City Music Guild’s 76th season, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, is staged with plenty of charm by director Kevin Pieper, offering a pleasant-enough teaser of the tidings to come.
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Nov 5, 2024 | 
medium.com | Alexander Richardson
Alexander Richardson·Follow5 min read·--IntroductionLighting can transform a space, adding depth, ambiance, and style. One element increasingly favored in interior design is the LED channel — a housing that protects LED strips while creating a polished, streamlined look. While silver LED channels have long been popular, black LED channels are quickly gaining attention, especially in modern, minimalist, and industrial-style decor.
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Aug 5, 2024 | 
rcreader.com | Alexander Richardson |Mike Schulz
Ripcord, now playing at the Spotlight Theatre, is a hoot, as well as an all-too-relatable piece of storytelling for those with ornery parents or grandparents. Sharply directed by Jessica Taylor, and featuring an incredible cast, this show is a charming addition to a long summer season. The premise is basically The Odd Couple, but for two aging women instead of two midlife-crisis men. Abby (Susan Perrin-Sallak) resides in an assisted living center.
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Jul 28, 2024 | 
rcreader.com | Alexander Richardson |Mike Schulz
The Marvelous Wonderettes, directed by Ryan Scoble, is the closing production of the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre’s 2024 season, and what a sendoff! Featuring gorgeous vocals, fun choreography, and enough nostalgia to give you a toothache, this production is a must-see for those who grew up in the '50s and '60s, or anyone who’s a fan of those eras of music. The premise, however, couldn’t be thinner if it tried. Act One takes place in a high school gymnasium during the senior prom of 1958.
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Jul 15, 2024 | 
rcreader.com | Alexander Richardson |Mike Schulz
The summer-theatre season trundles on with the latest from the Timber Lake Playhouse: The Wizard of Oz. While it features some strong performances, a children’s choir double digits strong, and even an acting dog, certain directing choices made by Chaz Wolcott hinder this timeless classic. Based on L. Frank Baum's book series and originally released by MGM in 1939, The Wizard of Oz has become one of most lauded and revered films of all time.
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Jun 30, 2024 | 
rcreader.com | Alexander Richardson |Mike Schulz
The Timber Lake Playhouse’s latest production, Anything Goes, is a freaking hoot and a wonderful time out in the woods for fans of laughter and dazzling musical-theatre numbers. Directed by Tommy Ranieri, this Cole Porter classic practically hums with all the energy radiating off stage. Featuring some killer tech, knockout performances, and more camp than you conceive, this is a summer crowd-pleaser to see.
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Jun 17, 2024 | 
rcreader.com | Alexander Richardson |Mike Schulz
Directed by Patti Flaherty, the Playcrafters Barn Theatre’s Bad Seed is a thriller in the vein of Stephen King that features strong performances and enough chills to combat the hot summer air. It’s also a fun night out for those looking for something different than your standard theatrical fare. Bad Seedfirst sprouted in 1954 as a novel by William March. That same year, it was adapted into a play by Maxwell Anderson, and then a movie a couple of years later.
