A Sad Farewell To The 2020 Season From Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Owner Denny Hitchcock
Circa ’21 owner Denny Hitchcock sent out the following letter tonight to Circa ’21 subscribers and patrons. It’s a sad farewell to the holiday show and the rest of the shows throughout 2020. Here’s hoping Circa is back better than ever and we’ll have a healthy country and season in 2021!
Here’s the letter from Denny in its entirety:
Dear Loyal Guest,
With the closure of
Rock Island County by Governor Pritzker at midnight Tuesday, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors for the holiday season. The holiday productions of “Winter Wonderland” and “Seussical” will be moved to the end of the 2021 season instead. We have, however, received special permission from Springfield to stay open through Saturday, allowing us to finish the last few performances of Savannah Sipping Society.
Denny Hitchcock, owner and founder of Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island
This was a terribly difficult decision. The holiday season is always the most popular time of year at the theater with our biggest crowds. This will be the first time since opening in 1977 the theater will be dark over the holiday season. Without having any idea when the governor will be reopening Rock Island County, we felt this was the only choice we had. It breaks our hearts to not be able to present “Winter Wonderland” and “Seussical” this year. With moving our holiday shows to next November and December, hopefully, COVID 19 will be talked about in the past tense!
Many of our guests attend our holiday shows as a family tradition. We are so sorry they will not be able to visit us this year.
The Speakeasy will also be closed temporarily as of Saturday.
We plan to reopen in January with the hilarious comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Reservations for that show, or any other show in the theaters’ 2021 season, are still confirmed. There is no need to call or email.
The phone lines will be open until Nov. 13, and gift certificates and season tickets are still available to purchase as holiday gifts.
They may be purchased online at
circa21.com or email
dlaake@circa21.com. With as terrible as 2020 has been for our business, we would greatly appreciate anyone who will buy a gift certificate or season ticket for a friend, loved one or even yourself this holiday season!
We looks forward to seeing everyone again in 2021. Good riddance to 2020!!
Best Wishes,
Dennis Hitchcock, Owner/Producer
Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.
