Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is thrilled to be hosting a cabaret on Thursday, Feb. 20 called A NIGHT OF SUNSHINE, featuring one of the theatre’s most popular performers, Sunshine Ramsey. A long-time Bootlegger, performer and member of our ticket office staff, Ramsey is thrilled to finally be back on the Circa ’21 stage with an-all new cabaret! This will be the fifth time that Sunshine has hosted her own show at the theatre. Each of the previous four shows have sold out. “Sunshine is so popular here at the theatre; everyone loves seeing her perform, especially in her own cabarets,” said... 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

A beloved holiday movie is set to become an unforgettable theatrical treat when the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse opens its 41st season with the area debut of ELF THE MUSICAL, a new stage version of the Will Ferrell comedy smash. Running through Dec. 30, this fast-paced, hilarious, touching production is sure to start your family’s holiday season in style and will be brought to life by a fantastic cast of area favorites and gifted actors new to the Rock Island venue. ELF THE MUSICAL will be staged at Circa ’21 on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:45 p.m., Sundays at 5:45... Read More

Circa ’21 is thrilled to announce auditions for one of the few productions of Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas The Musical to have been licensed in 2017. Auditions will be held at the theatre, 1828 3rd Avenue, in downtown Rock Island, on Saturday, October 28 at 9:00 A.M. This new musical, based on the hugely successful children’s books, has been touring the United States for the last few years. Denny Hitchcock, the dinner theatre’s producer, is “thrilled to be one of the few theatres in the country to be granted the rights to produce this ‘splendiferous’ musical now. I know our guests... 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

If you’re thinking about going to see Circa ‘21’s “Menopause: The Musical,” or if you’ve already bought tickets to it, you’re definitely going to enjoy it. “Menopause” knows its audience, very well, and has done an excellent job at satisfying that audience. On the opening weekend night I saw the show, the crowd was pretty much filled with middle-aged and above women, with a few middle-aged men as well, and they loved it. I mean LOVED it. They laughed uproariously, they hooted and hollered at some of the jokes and jibes and at the end of the night they quickly rose to give it a... Read More

When that change arrives, you can get unusual hot flashes, fiery mood swings and unusual ideas and cravings. And by “that change,” of course I’m talking about a theater changing shows from one to the next. Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is going to be transitioning into that more mature era as they closed down “Sister Act” last weekend and this weekend welcome the return of “Menopause: The Musical,” running through Aug. 27. The show will be performed at Circa ’21 on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays evenings at 7:45 p.m., Sundays at 5:45 p.m., and Wednesday matinées at 1:30 p.m.... Read More

Circa ’21 is getting ready to celebrate its 40th  birthday next June, but the Rock Island dinner theater has already announced its 40th anniversary season beginning in November. It’s an action-packed lineup boasting six marvelous musicals – among them a Tony-nominated musical based on an Oscar-winning movie, and two of the most beloved Broadway titles in the history of American theatre. The season begins with the return of a delightful holiday revue last produced in 2009 — Circa ’21’s “Holly Jolly Christmas” (rated G), running Nov. 9 through Dec. 29. Featuring more... Read More

Antoinette Holman has always been a star, she just needed a vehicle to show it, and I can’t think of a better way for her to debut than as the lead of Circa’s new “Sister Act.” With its combination of sass, singing and humor, Holman is perfect for the part, and it’s her brilliant talent that’s the biggest factor in leading the show to such a triumph. It’s not just Holman that highlights the show. It’s a terrific production in many ways I’ll get into shortly. But when you’ve got to cast a character that is in almost every scene, in a musical in which she sings the majority of... Read More

Heavenly humor and music is going to be shining down on the congregation of Circa ’21 Dinner Theater this summer as the Rock Island venue opens up its pearly gates to “Sister Act.” The Broadway musical-comedy smash hit opens May 6 and runs through July 2. Based on 1992’s wildly popular film comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg, and nominated for five 2011 Tony Awards including  Best Musical, this hilarious, endearing, and high-energy production will have you riding a wave of pure musical-comedy exhilaration, and is being brought to life by a magnificent cast of professional talents. “Sister... Read More