About Us

Mission Statement

The Black Box Theatre strives to create art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment that engages our multi-generational audiences with thought-provoking productions. 

The Black Box Theatre is committed to creating an atmosphere that values and draws inspiration from the many and varied stories and storytellers that make up our society, as well as to create a community that is rooted in inclusion, diversity, equity and access.

Vision Statement

The Black Box is committed to year-round programming, producing plays not traditionally available to our area, and in developing new audiences and new artists.

The Black Box is expanding programming to include an eight-play Season; and to make our space available to other performance organizations. 

The Black Box Theatre was “born” in 2016 with co-founders Lora Adams and David Miller starting the renovation process of a former dress shop and scrap booking store. Walls, booth, stage, seating, bathrooms, and dressing rooms were all constructed and the theatre officially opened in January 2017 with a concert by The Westbrook Singers. 

PAST SEASONS

2017

• Westbrook Singers Farewell Concert (a special event)
• Murderers
• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
• The Tin Woman
• Rock of Ages
• I Love You, Because
• The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee
• It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
• Love Letters (a special event with Gene Weygandt)

2018

• Sleuth
• Clue: The Musical
• Crowns: A Gospel Musical
• Next to Normal
• Baby
• War of the Worlds: The Original 1938 Radio Play
• It Had to Be You

2019

• Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
• Silent Sky
• Assassins
• Little Women
• Last Five Years
• Man with Bogarts Face

2020

• I Never Saw Another Butterfly
• The Turn of the Screw
• 39 Steps: A Radio Play
• Three Viewings
• Waiting for Godot (a Special Event)

2021

• I and You
• Hate Mail
• Dick Tracy: A Radio Play
• Love Loss and What I Wore
• The Guys
• Murder in Green Meadows 
• Company
• A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play
• La Divina (a special event with Shelley Cooper)

2022

• The Revolutionists
• Veronica’s Room
• My Brother’s Gift
• Motherhood: The Musical
• Ride the Cyclone
• All Is Calm

2023

• Natural Shocks
• Hello Dolly
• The Mystery of Irma Vep
• title of show 
• Big Rock Candy Mountain
• Suddenly Last Summer
• The Ho, Ho, Ho Show
• Haus of Ruckus (a special event)
• Jenny Lind (a special event with Shelley Cooper)

2024

• Punk Rock Lobster (A Haus of Ruckus Production)
• Thrill Me
• Jane Eyre
• Murder in the Studio
• To Kill a Mockingbird (A Mockingbird on Main Production)
• Songs for a New World
• The Truth (A U.S. Premiere)
• An All-American Riot (Barely There Theatre production)
• Dial M for Murder (Hatcher)
• All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 in partnership with Opera Quad Cities

• The Black Box Theatre is also the Quad Cities Home to GIT Improv and Wisenheimer