Circa Heats Up Fall With Ring Of Fire
Even though summer is coming to an end, the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is turning up the heat with its final presentation in the theatre’s 40th sensational season: Broadway’s sizzling Johnny Cash salute RING OF FIRE, running through Nov. 4. This thrilling musical celebration of The Man in Black was a sold-out smash for the Rock Island venue during its previous engagement in 2009, and now is being staged in a glorious new production boasting dozens of your favorite Cash songs, all brought to life by a superb cast of professional talents.
RING OF FIRE will be staged at Circa ’21 on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:45 p.m., Sundays at 5:45 p.m, and Wednesday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $51.98 for the evening dinner-and-show productions and $45.15 for the plated-lunch matinees, with reduced prices for groups of 12 or more also available for all performances.
Reservations are available through the Circa ’21 ticket office. For reservations, contact the theatre at 1828 Third Ave., Rock Island, Ill., or by calling 309-786-7733 ext. 2. Online reservations also be made by visiting Circa21.com.
RING OF FIRE finds a set of dynamically gifted singers and instrumentalists performing some of the greatest songs by one of America’s most brilliant singer/songwriters. Although Johnny Cash is never impersonated in the production, his remarkable tale is told through his music, climaxing in a concert that proves to be as moving as it is exhilarating.
The story of Cash’s life, including his spiritual redemption, is told through such heartfelt numbers as “Oh Come, Angel Band,” “If I Were a Carpenter” and “Waiting on the Far Side Banks of Jordan.” Yet RING OF FIRE also is bursting with additional hits from the legendary country and gospel crooner, with the show’s lineup of memorable tunes including “I’ve Been Everywhere,” “I Walk the Line,” “Daddy Sang Bass,” “Jackson,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “A Boy Named Sue” and, of course, the unforgettable title song.
Directing the theatre’s new presentation of RING OF FIRE is Circa ’21 favorite Curt Wollan, whose other productions for the venue have included Southern Crossroads, The Lovely Liebowitz Sisters and all the musicals in the popular Church Basement Ladies series. Serving as the show’s music director is fellow Circa ’21 veteran Travis Smith, who also appears as a cast member.
Joining Smith on stage are a septet of tremendously talented singer/musicians: Tim Drake, Deborah Kennedy, Amy LeGrand, Candice Lively Wollan, Steven Sitzman, Chet Wollan and Bob Payne – the latter of whom is appearing in his tenth Circa ’21 production, with Payne’s credits including Father of the Bride, Smoke on the Mountain and Discovering Elvis.
Circa ’21’s entire team is delighted to be closing its 40th season with such an exciting and emotional presentation and urges audience members to make reservations for what is certain to be the can’t-miss musical of the fall. Call the Circa ’21 ticket office at 309-786-7733 ext. 2 for tickets and thrill to the performance heat of the Johnny Cash tribute RING OF FIRE!
