It’ll Be A Hot Flash Time At Circa During ‘Menopause: The Musical’
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.
Donnalynn Waller, Megan Opalinski
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. Ticket prices are $50.16 for the evening dinner-and-show productions and $44.41 for the plated-lunch matinées.
Set in a department store, “Menopause” finds four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black-lace bra sale discovering that they have more to share than they ever imagined. The characters make fun of their woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, moon swings, wrinkles, night sweats, and chocolate binges. As they do, a sisterhood is created between these diverse women who realize that menopause is no longer “the silent passage.” Instead, it’s a perfectly normal stage in every woman’s life, and this hilarious parody staged to classic tunes from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles.
A nationwide hit for the past 15 years, “Menopause” features satirical songs whose melodies will be familiar to members of the Baby Boom era, treating patrons to everything from “Stayin’ Awake” to “Puff, My God I’m Dragon,” with newly inserted lyrics on such hits as “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “New Attitude.” Patty Bender directs Circa ’21’s production, and the cast is composed of a quartet of gifted talents with dozens of theatrical credits.
Sarah Hayes, Megan Opalinski, Donnalynn Waller, Whitney Hayes
Whitney Hayes, who plays the character “Professional Woman,” has enjoyed roles in such beloved musicals as Hairspray, Cinderella, and Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Megan Opalinski, in the role of “Earth Mother,” is a veteran of Les Miserables, The Music Man, and Church Basement Ladies. Donnalynn Waller, playing “Iowa Housewife,” has been seen in such musicals as Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty and the Beast, and Nunsense. And Sarah Hayes, who portrays “Soap Star,” not only has Annie Get Your Gun, Noises Off, and The Last Five
Years on her resume, but also a two-year former stint as a member of Circa ’21’s performing wait staff, The Bootleggers.
Reservations are available through the Circa ’21 ticket office. For reservations, contact the theatre at 1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL or by calling (309)786-7733 ext. 2. Online reservations may also be made by visiting www.circa21.com and clicking on “order tickets now.”
