http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite WQAD's Thom White offers his thoughts on movies, television shows and local theater productions Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:14:03 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This year, Playcrafters Barn Theatre hopes to get you into the holiday spirit with “Papa’s Angels: A Christmas Story”.  Originally a made for TV movie based on the book of the same name, the play follows a year in the life of the Jenkins family.  Early on, Mrs. Jenkins dies, ... http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite/2009/11/12/papas-angels-a-christmas-story-at-playcrafters-barn-theatre/ It took just one performance, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, for me to fall in love with The Curtainbox Theatre Company.  It could be the company’s lack of fear of exceptional writing laced with mature themes.  It could be the quality of the production.  Or, it could because I ... http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite/2009/09/18/on-stage-glengarry-glen-ross-at-the-curtainbox-theatre-co/ Harrison Hilltop Theatre's current undertaking is Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize winning masterwork "Long Day's Journey Into Night."  The show takes place during the course of one day -- from morning to midnight.   It centers around a family of four living in Connecticut in 1912.  And, it doesn't take long to ... http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite/2009/08/21/on-stage-long-days-journey-into-night-at-harrison-hilltop-theatre/ The show is one big story, made up of several Seuss favorites   They're all tied together by the Cat in the Hat, who serves as sort of our emcee for the evening.He's causing mischief for JoJo, by way of Whoville, Horton and the Circus McGurkus, to name a few. It's a ... http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite/2009/08/07/on-stage-seussical-at-quad-city-music-guild/  If you're a local theater fan, you most likely know about the demise of what was once my favorite local theater, The Green Room Theatre.  This weekend, The Green Room is sort of re-incarnated thanks to one of its owners, Tysan Danner.  He now runs The Phoenix Theatre Company, setting ... http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite/2009/07/31/on-stage-bash-at-the-phoenix-theatre-company/ I like Harrison Hilltop Theatre.  I like the location (parking issues aside).  I like the space.  And, I've been impressed with almost all of their productions.  And so, as Harrison expressed excitement about its first anniversary production, I wanted to like "tick, tick... BOOM!!!", too.  Perhaps my raised expectations were part ... http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite/2009/07/24/tick-tick-boom-at-harrison-hilltop-theatre/ if you're having trouble thinking lovely thoughts these days -- circa 21 may be able to help you out.  Peter Pan isn't only full of them, but the fun you'll have will push any unlovely thoughts right out of your head. We know the story.  Wendy catches Peter Pan looking for ... http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite/2009/07/09/on-stage-peter-pan-at-circa-21-dinner-playhouse/ We all know the story.  A British school teacher takes a job in the King of Siam's palace to teach his many, many, many children, along with several of his wives.  Along the way, there's singing and dancing and a lesson to be learned by the king about humility and ... http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite/2009/06/18/on-stage-the-king-and-i-at-quad-city-music-guild/ The beauty of The Last Five Years lies not only in the music, which is emotional, singable and funny, but in the way the story is told.  The show is populated by two characters, Jamie and Cathy and takes us through their five year relationship, from first meeting to final ... http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite/2009/06/11/on-stage-the-last-5-years-at-riverbend-theatre-collective/ As expected, I was wrong about the final results of this season's Dancing With the Stars.  I said Gilles should win, with Shawn in second and, thus, Melissa in third.  That's not how it happened.  Shawn won it all.  In my opinion, she shouldn't have. I understand I'm saying this in ... http://sharedwww.localtvllc.com/wqad/blogs/thomwhite/2009/05/20/shawn-johnson-wins-but-shouldnt-have/