‘Junie B. Jones’ Coming To Rock Island’s Circa ’21
Described by the New York Times as “effervescent and entertaining,” and by Online America as an all-ages show that delivers “fresh bursts of energy,” JUNIE B.’S ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL opens the 2023 season of high-spirited family musicals at Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse. Running through April 22, this energetic delight is adapted from Barbara Park’s beloved children’s-book series about the riotous and winning young Junie B. Jones and is being staged by a sensational cast and crew of professional talents.
Circa ’21 will present show-only performances of JUNIE B.’S ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL on scheduled Tuesday-through-Saturday mornings and afternoons from March 30 through April 22. Morning productions, with the doors opening at 9:30 a.m. and the shows beginning at 10 a.m., will take place on March 30 and 31, as well as on April 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, and 22. Afternoon productions, with 12:30 p.m. doors and 1 p.m. show times, are scheduled for the Saturdays of April 1, 8, 15, and 22. Many of the weekday performances are already sold out.
Ticket prices are $10 per person. For tickets and information, contact the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse at 1828 Third Ave., Rock Island, or by calling 309-786-7733, ext. 2.
With its young heroine returning in this joyful show filled with new songs and new essential lessons, the saga of everyone’s favorite wisecracking first-grader continues in, JUNIE B.’S ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL. A self-appointed expert on all things elementary school, Junie B. is determined to write the ultimate guide to help fellow students through these difficult formative years. Yet as she deals with writer’s block and, as usual, constantly gets into trouble without meaning to, Junie B. quickly realizes that she still has a lot to learn.
Featuring cheerful, upbeat songs from Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich (composers of Junie B. Jones: The Musical and Dear Edwina), JUNIE B.’S ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL is an enjoyably goofy, heartwarming show about owning up to your mistakes, reminding audiences, in a delightful way, that no one is ever done learning.
Circa ’21’s latest family musical is being directed, choreographed, and set designed by Circa ‘21 veteran Ashley Becher, who previously helmed such Rock Island productions as “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” “Seussical,” “Just Desserts” and “Santa Claus: The Musical.” Serving as the show’s musical director is Circa ’21 favorite, Shelley Walljasper, an on-stage presence in Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast” and the current “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical,” with additional members of Becher’s creative team including costume designer Bradley Robert Jensen, sound designer Ben Takitch and stage manager and props/lighting designer Kendall McKasson.
Junie B. herself, meanwhile, is portrayed by Taylor Lynn of Circa ’21’s recent “We Will Rock You,” with the ensemble completed by Bobby Becher, Savannah Bay Strandin, Krianna Walljasper, Emmett Boedeker and Rachel Winter.
Circa ’21 is thrilled to gather this group of tremendous talents for such a winning, area-debuting stage adventure, and encourages audiences to quickly make reservations at 309-786-7733 ext. 2 for the hilarious, tune-filled, naughty-but-nice treats of JUNIE B.’S ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL!
