A Year With Frog and Toad, the latest children’s production at Circa ’21, is wonderfully done, a show which perfectly captures the tone, feel and look of one of America’s most popular children’s-story series. The terrific, literate show, which was nominated for three 2003 Tony Awards including Best Musical, is masterfully done, and I, as an adult watching it, truly enjoyed it. I think adults watching it will likewise appreciate its subtle, well-crafted style, and smaller children will particularly like it, especially if they are fans of the book. It is a bit slow-moving, and pre-teens... Read More

One of America’s most popular children’s-story series gets a fun-filled stage makeover when Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse presents its debut of the charming, hilarious family musical A YEAR WITH FROG & TOAD. Nominated for three 2003 Tony Awards including Best Musical, this hour-long theatrical treat to sure to entertain kids of all ages, and is being brought to life by an exceptional cast and crew of professional talents. Circa ’21 will present A YEAR WITH FROG & TOAD on scheduled Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings and afternoons from June 13 through July... Read More

The Speakeasy in downtown Rock Island has an exciting weekend of entertainment planned this Friday and Saturday night! Tickets for both shows can be reserved by calling 309-786-7733, Ext. 2 or online at www.thecirca21speakeasy.com.   FRIDAY NIGHT – WINDY CITY DUELING PIANOS Windy City Dueling Pianos combines high-energy live music played on two pianos by highly skilled and talented players! The performers, hailing from Chicago and across the Midwest, have decades of dueling piano experience performing in nationally renowned clubs! The musicians play off each other in the traditional... Read More

Located in downtown Rock Island, the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse has been treating audiences to the  finest in dining and professional stage entertainment for the past 40 years. And for the venue’s sure-to-be-sensational 41st season, beginning this November, the venue is proud to announce a lineup boasting six marvelous productions that have never before been seen on the Circa ’21 stage – among them three new musicals based on beloved movies, the latest in the popular Church Basement Ladies series, and one of the most popular Broadway titles in the history of American theatre. Circa... Read More

Are you ready to find out firsthand if pimpin’ is or ain’t easy? Well, you can get some idea this weekend as the Speakeasy in downtown Rock Island is pleased to announce the return of Pimprov, one of the most popular adult improv shows in Chicago on April 8. The doors open at 7:00 and show a 8:00. Tickets for the show are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets may be reserved through the Circa ’21 ticket office located at 1828 3rd Avenue, Rock Island or by calling 309-786-7733, Extension 2 or online at www.thecirca21speakeasy.com. You’ve seen the flashy suits and jewelry so bright... Read More

Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is pleased to announce auditions for their Spring 2017 children’s musical, Big Nate, The Musical. This new musical is based on the popular character created by Lincoln Pierce and will be a Quad Cities premier. Following a recent production in Washington, D.C., the critic from DC Theatre Scene noted that [Big Nate] is “bursting with energy and fun music, great lyrics and true to life comic strip characters. Big Nate, based on the familiar comic strip, is a rocking fresh bundle of raucous fun.” Auditions will be held Sunday, March 12th at 10 a.m. at the... Read More

It’s bottoms up for Bottoms Up this weekend as the local burlesque troupe throws down some drinks in cheers of five years on stage bringing entertainment to the Quad-Cities, and continues the legacy with shows Friday and Saturday. Five years ago a group of young performers all of whom shared a love of burlesque decided to join together and form their own troupe.  That troupe became known as Bottom’s Up Quad City Burlesque.  Five years later performers have come and gone but Bottom’s Up still continues to entertain Quad City audiences. “I remember the first phone call I received... Read More

For the first presentation in the theatre’s 40th season of live entertainment,  Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse will be the area’s go-to destination for holiday music, laughs, and warmth in its production of “Holly Jolly Christmas.” Opening this weekend and running through December 29, this joyous and funny musical revue last thrilled audiences in 2009, and those at the Rock Island dinner theatre are excited to have it back in a brand-new staging filled with merriment, wonder, and surprises for the whole family. “Holly Jolly Christmas” will be performed at Circa ’21... Read More

Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is pleased to announce auditions their holiday children’s musical, Jingle Arrgh The Way. This new musical is the sequel to the theatre’s highly successful 2015 production of How I Became A Pirate. Auditions will be held Saturday, October 29 at 9:00 AM at the theatre, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, Illinois. Those auditioning are asked to bring a résumé and current photo; prepare 16 bars of a traditional Broadway song; bring sheet music in the proper key; and be prepared to dance and read from the script, if asked to do so. An accompanist will be provided. Rehearsals... Read More

Friday, August 26, I was invited by a couple of old high school girlfriends to the Circa 21 theatre in the District of Rock Island, IL to see the musical, “Menopause.” I was very excited to see this since I am coming of age, so to speak. And especially since I was to be seeing it with two girls I have known for 30 years. This would promise to be a life-changing performance for myself and every other woman in attendance. Before I go any further, let me say that this theatre is the most beautiful building I have ever had the pleasure of viewing in our Quad-Cities. The grand state of the... Read More