‘Mr. Scrooge’ Bah Humbugging At Circa ’21

For the theatre’s first family musical of the 2019-20 season, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse brings a famous yuletide figure and many other Charles Dickens’ characters to life in the area premiere of MR. SCROOGE: A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL. Running Nov. 29 through Dec. 28, this family-friendly adaptation of Dickens’ holiday classic A Christmas Carol boasts a wonderful score and an enchanting story and is being brought to life by a sensational cast of professional talents.

Circa ’21 will present show-only performances of MR. SCROOGE: A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL on Nov. 30 and Dec. 3, 6, 7, 13, 14, 17, 19, 21 and 28. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for the 10 a.m. performances. 1 p.m. performances (with doors at 12:30 p.m.) have been scheduled for Dec. 14, 21, and 26.  All tickets are $11 for these performances.

Brunch performances also will be held on MR. SCROOGE’s opening day of November 29, as well as every Sunday from Dec. 1-22. Doors open at 10:45 a.m., the buffet opens at 11 a.m. and the show begins at noon. Tickets are $22.05 for adults, $19.95 for ages 6 – 18 and $16.50 for ages five and under.  Prices includes brunch, show and tax.

For reservations contact Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse at 1828 Third Ave., Rock Island, IL or by calling 309-786-7733, ext. 2.  Reservations also may be made online at circa21.com.

Praised by Columbus Theatre Scene as “a sweet, family-friendly show that tells its story succinctly and with charm,” MR. SCROOGE tells the familiar tale of the mean-spirited and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future, all of whom hope to change his destiny and save his soul. As audiences hear stories from Scrooge’s life, they travel back and forward in time and through a series of strange and magical journeys and colorful characters, the grumpy old man ultimately discovers the true spirit of the holiday season.

With the show’s beloved characters including the put-upon Bob Cratchit, the frightening Jacob Marley and the endearing Tiny Tim, playwright Bill Goldsmith’s MR. SCROOGE is a wonderfully entertaining re-telling of this timeless story with delightful new songs by the team of Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, who also composed the tunes for the family-comedy smashes “How I Became a Pirate” and “Jingle Arrgh the Way,” both previously produced at Circa ’21.

Directing MR. SCROOGE: A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL is Circa ’21 favorite, Tom Walljasper, who has appeared in nearly 100 productions at the Rock Island Dinner Theatre and currently in ELF: THE MUSICAL.  Walljasper also directed Circa ’21’s production of “A Christmas Carol” in 2007. Serving as music director is Tom’s wife Shelley Walljasper, who is also a familiar stage presence in such Circa ’21 offerings as “The Music Man” and “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical.”  The shows talented cast features  Brad Hauskins as Scrooge (who also played the role in 2007’s “A Christmas Carol”), Tristan Tapscott as Bob Cratchit, Chloe Knobloch as Tiny Tim, and nine additional professional talents: Micah Bernas, Jacob Clanton, Sydney Dexter, Sam Forge, Sarah Hayes, Brooke Myers, Pat Flaherty, Hailey Shemek and Miranda Sloan.

Circa ’21 is thrilled to be treating family audiences to this early holiday present and encourages audiences to make immediate reservations at 309-786-7733 ext. 2 for the joyous, wondrous and truly magical experience of MR. SCROOGE: A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL!