Tristan Layne Tapscott, Savannah Bay Strandin, Noah Johnson, A.C. Lam, Krianna Walljasper, Kyle DeFauw, and Natalie Scheers in “Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells" at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse -- November 26 through December 29.
Tuesday, November 26, through Sunday, December 29
Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island IL
A hilarious and endearing tale based on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells is set to delight audiences at Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, the family comedy's November 26 through December 29 run treating family crowds to a show that led River Cities' Reader reviewer Thom White to rave, "I was legitimately laughing throughout the performance."
In this showcase for author Park's riotously excitable first-grader, Junie B. Jones is super-excited about the upcoming Holiday Sing-Along and Secret Santa gift exchange at her school. It's too bad for her that tattletale May keeps ruining all of Junie B.'s fun. So when our young heroine draws May's name for Secret Santa, she comes up with the perfect plan to teach her nemesis a lesson. But will the Christmas spirit of peace and goodwill interfere before she can give you-know-who what she deserves? With DC Theatre Scene stating that "Junie B. captures the crayon-bright chaos of childhood," playwright Allison Gregory's Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells adaptation brings a storybook to life with winning characters, important life lessons, and humor sure to be appreciated by kids of all ages.
Directing Circa '21's latest family musical is Kiera Lynn, a castmate in the theatre's current Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical whose additional area credits include roles in the venue's A Christmas Story: The Musical, Escape to Margaritaville, and Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Emma Wahlmann serves as Jingle Bells, Batman Smells' stage manager, with additional members of the show's creative team including: production manager Jeremy Littlejohn; technical director Richard Baker; costume designer Bradley Robert Jensen; lighting designer and props master Kendall McKasson; sound designer Dylan Dutro; and scenic artist Becky Meissen.
Portraying the exuberant Junie B. Jones is Natalie Scheers, who recently appeared in Quad City Music Guild's holiday musical Irving Berlin's White Christmas, and joining her in Lynn's ensemble are: Krianna Walljasper (May); Tristan Layne Tapscott (Mr. Scary); Kyle DeFauw (Herb and Phillip Jonny Bob); Savannah Bay Strandin (Lucille and Elf Ellen); A.C. Lam (Jose and Mr. Toot); and Noah John son (Shelden and Grampa).
Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells runs at the Rock Island dinner theatre from November 26 through December 29, with scheduled 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. show-only performances on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Saturdays, with noon brunch performances scheduled on Sundays. An additional brunch performance, featuring a special appearance by Santa Claus, will take place on Friday, November 29, Admission is $13-15 for the show-only productions and $23-28 for the brunch shows, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)786-7733 extension 2, and visiting Circa21.com.
