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Quad Cities USA - Guide to Davenport & Bettendorf Iowa and Rock Island & Moline Illinois
 

Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Has A Winner With Political Comedy ‘The Outsider’

September 29th, 2023
Rock Island's Circa '21 Has A Winner With Political Comedy 'The Outsider'

I didn’t know much and didn’t really know what to expect going into Circa ’21’s latest show, the political comedy, “The Outsider.” The cast looked good, with Brad Hauskins, Bobby Becher, and a few others I enjoy. And director Dennis Hitchcock has helmed some great shows in the past. But I was unfamiliar with the script or the show. To be honest, the first few minutes didn’t do much to interest me. They were largely perfunctory plot points, where a charisma-free policy wonk, Ned (Hauskins), is reeling from a horrible public appearance after he’s unexpectedly... Read More

The Music is Back on the Rock Island Marquee Tonight

June 15th, 2023
The Music is Back on the Rock Island Marquee Tonight

Circa ’21’s signature event, MUSIC ON THE MARQUEE returns June 15! We’re thrilled to present this unique and popular concert experience atop our iconic marquee! Bring a lawn chair and join the Circa ’21 Bootleggers, the cast of MAMMA MIA and a few special guests as they entertain you in this special live concert, held on the street in Downtown Rock Island! Hosted by Circa ’21 veterans, Brad Hauskins, Tristan Tapscott, and Bobby Becher, this cabaret will feature a wide range of fabulous music! We will have a full bar as well as food items available for purchase. The... Read More

REVIEW: ‘Just Desserts’ A Sweet Treat At Rock Island’s Circa ‘21

March 29th, 2022
REVIEW: ‘Just Desserts’ A Sweet Treat At Rock Island’s Circa ‘21

I just love what Circa ’21 has done this year in regard to its shows. Its last show, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” was wonderfully absurd and hilarious, a terrific bit of humorous escapism. It’s latest show, “Just Desserts,” isn’t quite as unhinged and wacky, it’s far more conventional in terms of plotline and structure, but it’s just a warm, funny, and comforting show that extends the same escapist mood that we really all need right now. The last two years have been tough, and this year, even slogging out of covid, has been fraught with challenges from an economic and world perspective.... Read More

‘Play That Goes Wrong’ Brings The Laughs To Rock Island’s Circa ’21

February 27th, 2022
'Play That Goes Wrong' Brings The Laughs To Rock Island's Circa '21

For the final production of the venue’s sensational 44th season, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse will proudly stage the area debut of one of the funniest slapstick comedies of modern times: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG. Running at the Rock Island dinner theatre through March 12, this Tony Award-winning riot was described by the New York Times as “a knockabout farce” and is being brought to life by a spectacular team of professional talents. THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG will be presented on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:45 p.m., Sundays at 5:45 p.m. and beginning Feb. 16, Wednesday matinées... Read More

Circa ’21’s Hilarious ‘Play That Goes Wrong’ Gets All The Laughs Right

February 1st, 2022
Circa '21's Hilarious 'Play That Goes Wrong' Gets All The Laughs Right

Circa ’21’s latest show, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” gets one huge thing right: It hits all the comedic notes to make it a hilarious show. These types of silly, goofy, farces are exactly what we need right now, in my opinion. The last two years have sucked, let’s face it, and things aren’t exactly looking fantastic on the horizon either. What we need more than ever is levity and distraction, and Circa’s “Play That Goes Wrong” is the epitome of both. The show is pretty much explained in its title. It’s a murder mystery show where anything... Read More

Enjoy A ‘Winter Wonderland’ At Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse

December 14th, 2021
Enjoy A 'Winter Wonderland' At Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse

For the theatre’s holiday 2021 production in its spectacular 44th season of live entertainment,  Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is treating family audiences to a special holiday gift: the yuletide musical revue WINTER WONDERLAND. This charmingly festive stage delight will charm audiences with its magical blend of laughs, sentiment and beloved songs from the past, and it’s being brought to life by a marvelous team of professional talents. WINTER WONDERAND will be presented at Circa ’21 through December 29, with performances on Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays evenings at 7:45 p.m.,... Read More

REVIEW: Circa ’21’s ‘Seussical’ Is A Wonderfully Colorful Show For The Whole Family

December 10th, 2021
REVIEW: Circa '21's 'Seussical' Is A Wonderfully Colorful Show For The Whole Family

Exploding with vibrant costuming and swirling with clever choreography, Circa ‘21’s enchanting “Seussical” is an absolutely wonderful show for the whole family. Full of energy and charged with a talented and exuberant cast, it nicely captures the spirit and buoyancy of Dr. Seuss’ work and briskly unspools a smart tale germane to today while avoiding a heavy hand. “Seussical” revolves around a little girl, JoJo (Ellerie Hurley), who lives a rather banal but generally pleasant life with her straight arrow parents in a grey town. However, JoJo dreams of bigger things, and wishes for... Read More

‘Seussical’ Bouncing Into Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse

November 26th, 2021
'Seussical' Bouncing Into Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse

For the theatre’s first holiday children’s musical since the winter of 2019, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse brings a beloved series of storybook characters to life with the Tony Award-nominated sensation SEUSSICAL. Running through Dec. 26, this charming, magical entertainment was praised as “85 minutes of sweetness, humor and energetic high spirits” by the New York Times and will be brought to life in Rock Island through the tremendous talents of professional stage artists. Circa ’21 will present show-only performances of SEUSSICAL on Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 7, 11, 14 and 18.... Read More

REVIEW: Circa ’21’s ‘Winter Wonderland’ Is A Sweet Holiday Treat

November 18th, 2021
REVIEW: Circa '21's 'Winter Wonderland' Is A Sweet Holiday Treat

Circa ’21’s “Winter Wonderland” gave me everything I would want in a holiday special — it was lighthearted, cute, funny and full of snowflake fluffy holiday cheer. It’s what you want in a Christmas special, and I wholeheartedly recommend it as a perfect family gift for the holiday season. Expertly produced, director/choreographer Sean McCall, musical director Ron May, scenic designer Susan Holgersson, costume designer Greg Hiatt and lighting designer Heather Hauskins have created a winter wonderland of their own on the stage, a beautiful and cozy setting for... Read More

REVIEW: Thrilling, Energetic “Newsies” at Countryside Worthy of a Pulitzer in Performance

August 2nd, 2021
REVIEW: Thrilling, Energetic “Newsies” at Countryside Worthy of a Pulitzer in Performance

It’s hard to go wrong with “Disney’s Newsies: The Musical.” But that doesn’t mean at all that it’s easy to get right. The glorious, massive show – given an expert, exhilarating production by Countryside Community Theatre – is a classic “underdog vs. topdog” battle. Scrappy, poor, relentlessly tenacious newspaper carriers (the newsies) go on strike after the cold, conniving, egomaniacal publishing titan Joseph Pulitzer hikes the cost they must pay to sell copies – in a bid to boost his bottom line. In the pre-broadcasting days, circa 1899, newspapers were THE king of communication... Read More