Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning, it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer — in case he or she decides to strike again. Ken Ludwig’s clever adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic boasts all the glamour, intrigue and suspense of Dame Agatha’s celebrated novel, with... Read More

With the show nominated for three Tony Awards including Best Musical and described by Broadway World as “a twinkling Christmas delight,” Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse will bring loads of holiday cheer to area audiences in the yuletide treat A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL. Running through December 30, this sensational opener to the dinner theatre’s 2023-24 season inspired the New York Times to rave, “You’d have to have a Grinch-sized heart not to feel a smile spreading across your face,” and its Rock Island production boasts a top team of professional talents. A CHRISTMAS... Read More

Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is thrilled to be producing A Christmas Story – The Musical. This is scheduled on the 10th anniversary of when the Tony-nominated Best Musical was first produced at the Rock Island theater in 2013. Producer, Denny Hitchcock enthusiastically stated, “We are so happy to be producing this endearing, old fashioned holiday musical once again.” Adding to the excitement, he continued “and we are very happy to get Ashley Becher to direct this production and Ron May to once again serve as musical director.” Becher and May collaborated as the directorial... Read More

KAREN HESTER, first place winner of Jimmy Fallon’s CLASH OF THE COVER BANDS, is the #1 Dolly Parton tribute artist in America! She has been the opening act for recording artists Trace Adkins and Ricky Van Shelton, and currently performs in LEGENDS LIVE in both Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Las Vegas, Nevada paying tribute to the great Dolly Parton. Her solo show, “KAREN AS DOLLY”, has taken her throughout the world with performances in Sweden, Finland, Australia and aboard the Country Music Cruise. She also has performed on the live AXS television show, “WORLD’S GREATEST TRIBUTE BANDS”.... Read More

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

Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse’s latest production is a massive hit musical that’s currently the ninth-longest-running Broadway musical of all time, a five-time Tony Award nominee and internationally beloved! Enjoying a Quad Cities run through July 8, Mamma Mia’s collection of timeless ABBA tunes inspired the New York Post to call the experience “one of those nights when you sit back and let a nutty kind of joy just sweep over you,” and the pop/rock revue is being brought to stage life by a spectacular team of professional actors.  MAMMA MIA! will be presented at Circa ’21... Read More

ABBA-SOLUTELY FABULOUS!! Over 54 million people all around the world have fallen in in love with the characters, the story and the music that make “Mamma Mia!”the ultimate feel-good show! A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! ​Writer, Catherine Johnson’s, sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. ​The story-telling magic of... Read More

Described by the New York Times as “effervescent and entertaining,” and by Online America as an all-ages show that delivers “fresh bursts of energy,” JUNIE B.’S ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL opens the 2023 season of high-spirited family musicals at Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse. Running through April 22, this energetic delight is adapted from Barbara Park’s beloved children’s-book series about the riotous and winning young Junie B. Jones and is being staged by a sensational cast and crew of professional talents. Circa ’21... Read More

It’s the last weekend! And your last chance to see Circa’s ROCKIN’ show! They will ROCK YOU! Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island closes the Queen jukebox musical “We Will Rock You” March 11! FEATURING MORE THAN 20 HIT QUEEN SONGS! Including “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “We Will Rock You,” “Somebody To Love,” “We Are the Champions,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” and many more. WE WILL ROCK YOU follows two revolutionaries as they try to save rock ‘n’ roll in a post-apocalyptic world. In an... Read More

If you love the music of Queen (as I do), and you love creative and original visual spectacles on stage (I do), and you love so-dumb-it’s-funny humor (ditto), then you’ll love “We Will Rock You,” the Queen jukebox musical playing at Rock Island’s Circa ’21 through March 11. (Call (309) 786-7733, ext. 2 for tickets and showtimes.) I’ve honestly never seen a show quite like this at Circa before, and I mean that as a compliment. It’s just so different looking and feeling from most of the stuff that hits their stage that it’s both exhilarating and... Read More