Pictured Left to Right: Vicki Dempsey, Kristie Bradshaw, Brodie Mann, Adrienne Fisk, Emmett Frohn, Brennan Hills, Ruth Kummerow, Allyson Riley, Tim Hake, Mike Robinson The suspects are assembled, and the tension is palpable as we introduce the cast of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, based on Agatha Christie’s iconic mystery and adapted for the stage … Continued

You’re invited to climb aboard for a thrilling theatrical adventure as auditions open for MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, based on the iconic novel by Agatha Christie and adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig. Auditions will be held Monday, July 28, and Tuesday, July 29, with performances scheduled for September 12–14 and 18–21. Set … Continued

Written by Artistic Director, Ethan Nienaber Upon accepting the position and realizing that JERSEY BOYS would be my first show as Artistic Director of QCT, my first thought was, “That is a tall order right out of the gate!” because of the seemingly endless challenges in this show. In the first act alone, there are 33 … Continued

Our July Spotlight Volunteer, Gabbriella has been a familiar face around QCT this summer, assisting with Triple Threat Boot Camp, JERSEY BOYS, and summer classes, with the intent to learn more about the magic of putting a production together and how to lead! Gabbriella is currently a junior at WIU, majoring in Music Business with … Continued

You may know their names or recognize their faces, but now it’s time to meet the incredible team helping to make the magic happen for JERSEY BOYS. These volunteers have dedicated their time and talent to this production (and many others) and we’re delighted to shine a spotlight on them! Tell us a little about … Continued

Written by Director of Education, Brendan Shea When I tell (or remind) people that we’re doing two Boot Camps this summer, the most common response I get is:  “What? Why? How? Are you OK?” The second most common is weeping with joy, which is the preferred and more correct response.  Summer is the most exciting … Continued

Jeanette’s dance training is what brought her to QCT, but her love of theatre and what goes into making a production is what has kept her here (you may even recognize her from our new Audition Commercial!) Jeanette has most recently been seen on stage as Stepsister Joy in CINDERELLA, and The Acrobat in MATILDA. … Continued

Oh, what a night it’s going to be! We’re cranking up the volume this summer with JERSEY BOYS, the electrifying Tony Award-winning musical that tells the real-life story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Catch this high-energy production July 10–13 and July 17–20. From the gritty streets of New Jersey to the bright lights … Continued

Written by Executive Director, Burgundy Hill Every title brings its unique challenges. Problems that we spend weeks solving. And despite accounting for everything within our control, sometimes we still get thrown a curveball the night of a performance. During my tenure so far, I can count these on one hand: A cast or crew member … Continued

If you’ve seen a show here in the past decade, chances are you’ve seen Carol Rankin’s creativity, skill, and talent on stage —but not in the way you may think! Carol has volunteered in our Costume Shop, helping to put together the costumes that bring countless characters to life. We’re proud to feature her as … Continued

We are thrilled to announce the lineup for the 2025 QCT Playwriting Festival! The five winning plays were chosen by QCT’s Festival Reading Committee, who read and evaluated the over 140 short plays submitted from around the world. Education Director Brendan Shea shares, “We were humbled by the volume and breadth of submissions to our … Continued

Written by Director of Education, Brendan Shea There was a moment during rehearsals for Jack and Phil: Slayers of Giants, Inc., where we needed to build a magical pawn shop out of two ladders, a wooden plank, a rehearsal cube, and a bag of beans from Target. That was easy. Later, we asked ourselves: How … Continued