“Grumpy Old Men: The Musical" at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse -- March 15 through May 6.
Wednesday, March 15, through Saturday, May 6
Curca '21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island IL
Described by Broadway World as “a great evening of theatre” that “hits the mark right from the start,” the Rock Island return of the stage smash Grumpy Old Men: The Musical enjoys a March 15 through May 6 engagement at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, an adaptation of the hit film comedy that the Journal Tribune deemed “sometimes touching, sometimes raucous, and at all times enticing.”
Based on the beloved 1993 movie starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret, and Burgess Meredith, Grumpy Old Men: The Musical tells the story of two aging neighbors, Max and John, who have been feuding for more than 50 years. But when the beautiful and charming Ariel moves in across the street, the bickering neighbors' rivalry is raised to new heights, and this theatrical delight raises the question: Can her love and compassion reunite their friendship? The answer comes in an endearing, hilarious entertainment by composer Neil Berg and lyricist Nick Meglin, and a show that led Broadway World's Dan Marois to state, “With a well-written, fun script laced with comic one liners, loveable characters, and a lighthearted musical score, Grumpy Old Men exceeded all my expectations.”
Directing Grumpy Old Men: The Musical is Curt Wollan, a Circa '21 veteran of many years whose previous musical comedies for the dinner theatre include Ring of Fire, Southern Crossroads, The Church Basement Ladies in You Smell Barn, and the theatre's 2019 presentation of this returning stage treat. The gifted area musician Ron May serves as music director, having also music directed such recent Circa '21 productions as We Will Rock You, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, and Disney's Beauty & the Beast. And with Max, John, and Ariel respectively portrayed by longtime Circa '21 favorites Tom Walljasper, Brad Hauskins, and Kimberly Kurtenbach, additional members of the Grumpy Old Men: The Musical ensemble include Derrick Bertram, Elsa Besler, Kim Bogus, Sydney Dexter, Bradley Heinrichs, Janos Horvath, Doug Kutzli, Anthony Milfelt, Andrea Moore, Autumn O'Ryan, John Payonk, Savannah Strandin, Tristan Tapscott, and Shelley Walljasper.
In addition to its 7:30 p.m. public previews on March 15 and 16, Grumpy Old Men: The Musical runs March 17 through May 6, with performances on Fridays, Saturdays, and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 5:30 p.m.; and Wednesday afternoons at 1:15 p.m. All shows will be preceded by meals and pre-show entertainment by the theatre's performing wait staff of Circa '21 Bootleggers, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)786-7733 extension 2 and visiting Circa21.com.
