Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is thrilled to be working with the talented Bobby and Ashley Becher and their company “Rising Stars” to announce all new Winter classes.  All classes will take place at Circa ’21 or it’s secondary theater, The Speakeasy. “We are thrilled to be working with Ashley and Bobby again” said Denny Hitchcock Circa ’21’s owner/producer.  “They have done a wonderful job with their classes over the last year and we get such positive feedback from all the students who have taking the classes and their parents.  I encourage you to consider this for you child! ... Read More

Though long-awaited funding for live-music venues is part of the federal Covid stimulus bill recently signed into law, several Quad-Cities entertainment spaces are taking a “wait and see” attitude regarding the reality. Scott Mullen, executive director of Moline’s TaxSlayer Center, said the $15-billion “Save Our Stages” act that was approved had included language noting some venue owners and arenas like his “don’t qualify due to a requirement they put in that says that 70% of the venue’s events must be artist performances, so buildings with sports tenants are excluded due to the... Read More

Saturday In The Arts is a comprehensive weekly feature looking at a trend, personality, or major subject involving the Quad-Cities arts and entertainment scene. Making it through nearly five months of a paralyzing pandemic was bad enough, but for those of us in Iowa and the Quad-Cities, Aug. 10, 2020 and the days that followed seemed especially cruel. I’ll never forget that Monday afternoon, working on my laptop in the basement, a prisoner in my home trying not to go insane during a crazy year. The power suddenly went out, as a freak inland hurricane (or “derecho” – duh-RAY-cho – as everyone... Read More

Circa ‘21 is coming into your homes this New Year’s Eve with RAISE YOUR GLASS, an all new virtual cabaret experience! Join Circa for an unforgettable night with the famed Circa ‘21 Bootleggers, your favorite Circa ‘21 stars and a few special guests! The show will feature songs and segments from entertainers across the United States culminating with a virtual toast at Midnight (CST). The show begins at 11:00pm on New Year’s Eve and ends at Midnight. Join Circa for some New Year’s Eve fun and support the Quad City Area’s premier professional theatre! NYE Tickets: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/44554 Other... Read More

Stay in from the cold and celebrate this holiday season with Circa ’21! Join your favorite Circa ’21 performers, and some local Rising Stars, as they take you into their homes, and onto their favorite home-away-from-home, the Circa ’21 stage! This collection of heartwarming songs and exciting dance numbers is sure to get you in the holiday spirit like only Circa ’21 can. Virtual tickets start as low as $10, and can be purchased easily here! Until we can gather together again in person, please join us at Home for the Holidays. Streaming begins Saturday, December 19th at... Read More

Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse was denied by the state of Illinois to be re-classified as a restaurant, and the 43-year-old local institution will petition the state a second time, to help it stay in business. On Monday, because of new dining restrictions put into place by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Circa is being forced to close its doors Saturday after the final performance of “Savannah Sipping Society,” and will stay closed until January. “It was such a difficult decision,” Brett Hitchcock, director of audience development, said Monday night. “You pour your heart and soul and life savings... Read More

Circa ’21 owner Denny Hitchcock sent out the following letter tonight to Circa ’21 subscribers and patrons. It’s a sad farewell to the holiday show and the rest of the shows throughout 2020. Here’s hoping Circa is back better than ever and we’ll have a healthy country and season in 2021! Here’s the letter from Denny in its entirety: Dear Loyal Guest, With the closure of Rock Island County by Governor Pritzker at midnight Tuesday, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors for the holiday season. The holiday productions of “Winter Wonderland”... Read More

With the closure of indoor dining throughout the state, by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse has made the difficult decision to close its doors for the holiday season. The Rock Island theater’s planned productions of “Winter Wonderland” and “Seussical” will be moved to the end of the 2021 season instead. Circa has, however, received special permission from Springfield to remain open until this Saturday to finish the current run of “The Savannah Sipping Society.” “This was a terribly difficult decision,” Brett Hitchcock, director of audience development,... Read More

The Speakeasy in downtown Rock Island is thrilled to welcome back, for the fifth consecutive year, the 1970’s cult classic, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. The Speakeasy will be presenting THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW on Oct. 23,24,25,30 and 31. Filled with outrageous humor, dynamic musical numbers, unconventional romance, ghoulish delights and plenty of audience participation, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW will be directed by longtime Circa ’21 veteran, Brad Hauskins.  This will be Hauskins third time directing the show for The Speakeasy. “We are thrilled to be presenting Rocky Horror in The Speakeasy... Read More

Returning with the venue’s first mainstage production since theatres everywhere closed in mid-March, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is ready to bring audiences loads of long-awaited laughs and warmth with the Quad City premiere of THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY. Playing through Nov. 7, this new hilarious and heartwarming comedy is written by the authors of such previous Circa ’21 hits as “The Dixie Swim Club” and “Mama Won’t Fly” and is being presented by a first-class cast of professional actors. THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY will be presented on Wednesday,... Read More