“Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas" at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse -- November 24 through December 27.
Tuesday, November 24, through Sunday, December 27
Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island IL
With the show running in tandem with the Rock Island theatre's production of A Christmas Carol, another literary favorite hits the stage in the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse's November 24 through December 27 run of Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas, a holiday-themed adaptation of Jane O'Connor's children's book that inspired the New York Times to rave, “What makes Splendiferous Christmas winning is that it dares to be a little naughty as well as nice.”
Circa '21's latest family musical finds its grade-school heroine desperate to buy a fancy ornament for the top of her family’s Christmas tree, and deciding to raise the money by selling her old dresses and trinkets. Her little sister JoJo, meanwhile, falls in love with a rhinestone necklace at the sale and becomes convinced that Nancy will give it to her for Christmas – not realizing that her sister has already sold it to purchase the ornament. Nancy consequently attempts to retrieve the necklace, make the money, and ensure a merry Christmas for all in a production that led Stage Buddy to state, “With a positive message and plenty of heart, this show is a splendiferous choice for any family wanting to learn the true meaning of Christmas.”
Directing and choreographing Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas is Circa '21 veteran Kiera Lynn, whose credits include directing The Tales of Custard the Dragon, Santa Claus: The Musical, and Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, as well as appearing in the theatre's productions of Mary Poppins, Lucky Stiff, and the current Christmas Carol. Circa '21 owner Dennis Hitchcock serves as the show's executive producer, with additional members of Becher's creative team including: music director Bobby Becher; production manager Jeremy Littlejohn; stage manager Emma Wahlmann; props and lighting designer Kendall McKasson; technical director Richard Baker; costume designer Caroline Becker; sound designer Dylan Dutro; scenic artist Becky Meissen; and associate artistic director Ashley Becher.
Another current Christmas Carol castmate, Elise Cameron, portrays Fancy Nancy, with a quintet of additional talents completing the musical's ensemble: Lauren Carroll; Zamar Malik Griffin; Kirsten Sindelar; Kelsi Ford; and Janos Horvath.
Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas will be presented in scheduled 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. show-only performances on Thursdays through Sundays and Tuesdays, with Sunday-brunch performances at noon, from November 24 through December 27. (An additional brunch performance will take place on Friday, November 27.) Tickets are $15 for the show-only productions and $23-28 for the brunches, and more information and reservations are available by calling (309)786-7733 extension 2 and visiting Circa21.com.
