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

Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island is pleased to welcome back popular stand-up comedienne ETTA MAY in BOX WINE AND GAS STATION CHICKEN on Thursday, March 8.  “ETTA MAY has been coming to Circa ’21 for several years and plays to sold-out houses. Audiences just love her show,” said Brett Hitchcock, Circa ‘21 director of audience development.  “The audience can really relate to her hilarious material about family, children and marriage.” Doors on March 8th open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person in advance and $30 the... Read More

Even though summer is coming to an end, the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is turning up the heat with its final presentation in the theatre’s 40th sensational season: Broadway’s sizzling Johnny Cash salute RING OF FIRE, running through Nov. 4. This thrilling musical celebration of The Man in Black was a sold-out smash for the Rock Island venue during its previous engagement in 2009, and now is being staged in a glorious new production boasting dozens of your favorite Cash songs, all brought to life by a superb cast of professional talents. RING OF FIRE will be staged at Circa ’21... Read More

A 40th anniversary may be known as the “Ruby Anniversary,” but in the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse’s 40th-anniversary celebration NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS, the gifts being shared are songs, dances, comedy, and charm, all courtesy of the theatre’s performing wait staff The Bootleggers. Running every Thursday evening in August, this all-new musical revue will showcase highlights and memories from four decades of professional entertainment at the Rock Island theatre, and also showcase its cast’s talents through performances from The King & I, Grease, Cats, Fiddler... Read More

Get ready to rock your way down to heartbreak hotel with Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse. The Rock Island theater is pleased to present the critically acclaimed HEARTBREAK HOTEL – A SALUTE TO YOUNG ELVIS starring Circa ’21 audience favorite, Robert Shaw and the Lonely Street Band for one show on July 12th. Doors open at 6:00 with show beginning at 7:15. Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 the day of the show and may be purchased at the Circa ’21 ticket office located at 1828 3rd Avenue Rock Island or by calling 309-786-7733, Ext. 2.  This is a show-only performance, however the theatre... Read More

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

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

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

If you loved the movie, you’ll love the show. That’s the question everyone is asking, right? Kinda figured. Heartfelt performances, excellent staging and great humor bring Circa’s “Ghost: The Musical” to life, and both fans of the film and non-fans are really going to enjoy it. I’m not exactly a big fan of the movie and I certainly recommend it. It was canny programming for Circa ’21 to grab “Ghost: The Musical.” It’s got everything Circa audiences would want in a show – heart, humor, romance, compelling music and a nostalgic hook. Based upon the mega-popular film, “Ghost:... Read More