Leapin’ Lizards! The irrepressible comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals this Holiday season! The perfect family-friendly musical, Annie, will be playing at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 3rd Ave Rock Island) beginning this Wednesday Nov 7 and running through Sunday Dec 30. The irrepressible heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals. Based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie has become a worldwide phenomenon and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The beloved book and score... Read More

Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is thrilled to announce the auditions schedule for their upcoming children’s musical Pinocchio. Auditions for the show will be held at 9 a.m. on Oct. 27 at the theater, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island. Puppet maker, Geppetto, builds a marionette that comes to mischievous life and learns how to be a “real boy.” In Pinocchio, the story of a familiar wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy is told with vim, verve and vibrancy. Set in Italy, this version tells the beloved tale of Pinocchio, a boy-sized puppet that is built by the caring puppet maker,... Read More

Congrats to the top five comics moving on in the Speakeasy’s comedy competition, sponsored by QuadCities.com! These five are the winners from this past Saturday – Michael Maxwell, Matthew Jacobsen, Beckett Kenny, Al Nimpson and Stevie Mo – making it through a round of 16.   The second prelim round is at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Speakeasy, 1818 3rd Ave., Rock Island. The event will have comics coming from across the Midwest to compete!   For tickets and more information, call (309) 786-7733, ext. 2.  Read More

Do you like to laugh? Enjoy stand up comedy? Then you’re going to love this competition! The Circa 21 Speakeasy (1818 3rd Ave Rock Island) presents the Speakeasy’s Laugh Hard Challenge, a Stand Up Comedy Competition, this September. Comedians from across the Midwest and as far as Denver and St. Louis will come together to perform their best material in front of a panel of judges and you, the audience! Two preliminary rounds (Saturday Sep 8 and Saturday Sep 15) will produce 10 winners to move onto the finals on Saturday Sep 29. The winner will then not only win the title of Laugh Hard Champion... Read More

A ray of Sunshine is coming to Circa’s Speakeasy Sept. 6. It’s nearly impossible to explain the exceptional talents of EmiSunshine, the 14-year-old prodigy from East Tennessee who has captured the nation’s attention and enchanted hearts-a-many with her musical wizardry.   Born Emilie Sunshine Hamilton, the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has been surrounded by family members who possess a genuine love for “salt-of-the-earth” mountain melodies and lyrics. Emi embraced the classic country, blues and folk music that echoed throughout her Madisonville, Tenn. home.   Steeped... Read More

A ray of Sunshine is coming to Circa’s Speakeasy Sept. 6. It’s nearly impossible to explain the exceptional talents of EmiSunshine, the 14-year-old prodigy from East Tennessee who has captured the nation’s attention and enchanted hearts-a-many with her musical wizardry. Born Emilie Sunshine Hamilton, the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has been surrounded by family members who possess a genuine love for “salt-of-the-earth” mountain melodies and lyrics. Emi embraced the classic country, blues and folk music that echoed throughout her Madisonville, Tenn. home.   Steeped... Read More

Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse in downtown Rock Island is thrilled to announce local auditions for their upcoming productions of ANNIE and NEWSIES on August 11, 18 and 19th.  Those auditioning must be available for all rehearsals and performances as scheduled and must prepare a verse and chorus or 16 bars of a Broadway song. Music from the show is acceptable. They should bring sheet music in the correct key. An accompanist will be provided.  Young performers should dress comfortably (please no costumes, wigs or makeup for Annie) and provide a non-returnable photo, as well as a brief résumé.... Read More

What a brilliant programming decision by Denny Hitchcock and the Circa ’21 brass to bring in “Mamma Mia” at this point, right before the sequel is about to hit theaters and just as summer is reaching its peak, because “Mamma Mia” is an absolutely perfect summer show. It’s fun, it’s light, it’s fizzy and it’s goofily colorful. Based on and buttressed by a succession of songs by the Swedish supergroup ABBA, “Mamma Mia” tells the story of Sophie (Courtney Groves), a 20-year-old on the cusp of getting married, with one usual request couched in an unusual predicament – she wants... Read More

A beloved Broadway smash and five-time Tony Award nominee, and the show that resurrected an international wave of ABBA fever will make its area debut when Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse treats audiences to the singing, dancing, spirited fun of the iconic musical MAMMA MIA! This pop-tune-driven entertainment – one of the 10 longest-running productions in Great White Way history – will electrify crowds at the Rock Island dinner theater through September 15 and is being brought to life by a spectacular cast of Circa ’21 newcomers and venue favorites. MAMMA MIA! will be staged at Circa... Read More

The newest production to hit the Circa ’21 stage is guaranteed to be ABBA-solutely fabulous! Mamma Mia! will be playing at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 3rd Ave Rock Island), beginning with two preview performances on Wednesday Jul 18 and Thursday Jul 19 at 5:45. The show will continue it’s run from Friday Jul 20 through Saturday Sep 15. 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,... Read More