“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” Hits Circa ‘21 Stage
Praised by Talkin’ Broadway as an entertainment that “bounces onto the stage with confidence, energy, and goodwill to spare,” DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MUSICAL opens the 2024 season of high-spirited family productions at Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse. Running through May 18, this charming and riotously funny delight is adapted from Jeff Kinney’s beloved children’s-book series and is being staged by a sensational cast and crew of professional talents.
Circa ’21 will present show-only performances of DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MUSICAL on scheduled Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through May 18. Morning productions, with the doors opening at 9:30 a.m. and the shows beginning at 10 a.m., will take place on March 21, 22, 23, 26, 28 and 30. April 2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13 and May 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16 and 18. An afternoon performance of the musical, with 12:30 p.m. doors and 1 p.m. show times, is scheduled for April 6. All tickets for the show are $12 per person.
For tickets and information, contact the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse at 1828 3rd Ave, Rock Island or by calling 309-786-7733, ext. 2.
Award-winning author Kinney’s popular literary character takes center stage in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MUSICAL as Greg’s cartoon diary becomes a hilarious and heartfelt stage treat. Middle school – ugh. It’s the worst. But Greg is determined not to be at the bottom of the popularity chart. He’ll leave that to his weird neighbor, Fregley. Or maybe Greg’s best friend Rowley Jefferson. But it’s not going to be Greg. No way. But will Greg’s plans to become popular lead him to sacrifice his one true friend? And can anyone avoid the dreaded Cheese Touch?
Family audiences are invited to grab a hall pass and not be late for an adventure familiar to everyone who actually survived middle school and exciting and hilarious for everyone who has yet to attend. To date, the Kinney’s Wimpy Kid book series consists of 19 main entries plus an activity book and a spin-off series centering on Rowley. 20th Century Studios produced a live-action film series of the same title from 2010 to 2017 and as of 2020, more than 250 million copies of the Wimpy Kid books have been sold globally, making it the fourth best-selling book series of all time.
Directing and co-scenic designing Circa ’21’s DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MUSICAL is longtime venue favorite Kimberly VanderGinst, whose recent credits include acting in Grumpy Old Men: The Musical and Mamma Mia!, as well as directing the children’s shows Elephant & Piggie’s We Are In A Play!, Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook and A Year with Frog & Toad. Also included on the production team are show co-star Bobby Becher, serving as musical director, and Andrea Moore as choreographer.
Middle-school protagonist Greg Hefler is portrayed by Jack Carslake, previously seen in Circa ’21’s A Christmas Story: The Musical and Beauty & the Beast, with Greg’s best pal Rowley played by Marlo Reed and weird neighbor Fregley by Brighton Greim. And with Greg’s older-brother nemesis Rodrick enacted by Daniel Hauskins, additional members of the DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MUSICAL adult-and-student ensemble include: Ashley Becher, Bobby Becher, Vivian Browne, Arnav Mali, Kirsten Sindelar, Krianna Walljasper, Fulton Young, Luke Young, Mark Young and Olivia Young.
Circa ’21 is thrilled to gather this group of tremendous talents for such a winning stage adventure and encourages audiences to quickly make reservations at 309-786-7733 ext. 2 for the hysterical, tune-filled treats of DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MUSICAL!
