Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Presenting New Political Comedy, ‘The Outsider’
Praised by Broadway World as “an insightful, witty satire about modern American politics” and by the San Diego Union-Tribune as “genuinely and consistently funny,” a riotous comedy makes its Quad Cities debut with the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse’s THE OUTSIDER. Running through October 29, this laugh-out-loud theatrical treat by author Paul Slade Smith is being brought to life by an exceptional team of professional talents and is sure to demonstrate why Let’s Go to the Theater described the play as “one of the funniest shows you will see this year.”
THE OUTSIDER will be presented at Circa ’21 through October 29, with performances on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday matinées at 1:15 p.m. Pre-show entertainment featuring the theatre’s waitstaff The Bootleggers will precede all performances. Ticket prices are $60.55 for the evening dinner-and-show productions, $53.73 for the matinées.
Reservations are available through the Circa ’21 ticket office. For reservations, contact the theatre at 1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island or by calling 309-786-7733 ext. 2.
In THE OUTSIDER, candidate Ned Newley doesn’t have any interest in becoming governor. He’s terrified of public speaking; his poll numbers are impressively bad and to his ever-supportive Chief of Staff, Ned seems destined to fail. But political consultant Arthur Vance sees things differently, realizing that while Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office, the public just might be looking for the worst candidate to ever run for office.
An hilarious and heartwarming story of loyalty and common sense in the nonsensical world of campaign politics, THE OUTSIDER’s style has been compared to that of the Frank Capra film classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and playwright Smith, whose stage hit “Unnecessary Farce” was the winner of 15 regional theatre awards and has had more than 325 productions of his shows produced throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Switzerland, Iceland, Singapore and Japan.
Directing THE OUTSIDER for Circa ’21 is Dennis Hitchcock, who has been the producer for the Rock Island dinner theatre since its inception in 1977 and whose recent directorial achievements for the venue have included “On Golden Pond,” “Route 66” and the area premiere of “Whodunit … the Musical.”
Starring as gubernatorial candidate Ned Newley is longtime Circa ’21 favorite Brad Hauskins, a 36-year veteran of the theatre’s performing waitstaff of Bootleggers recently seen in productions of “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical,” “Disaster!” and this summer’s “Escape to Margaritaville.” Joining Hauskins among Hitchcock’s THE OUTSIDER cast are Bobby Becher recently seen in “Mamma Mia” and “Escape to Margaritaville”, Elsa Besler from “The Play That Goes Wrong”, Kim Bogus from “Grumpy Old Men,” Corey Boughton from “Shear Madness,” Taylor Fryza “Anything Goes” and the role of A.C. shared by James Burns “Escape to Margaritaville” (through September 24) and Jason Platt (beginning September 27).
Circa ’21’s entire staff is thrilled to be concluding their sensational 46th season with this locally debuting comic delight and urges audience members to reserve tickets for what is certain to be one of the must-sees of the fall season. Call the Circa ’21 ticket office at 309-786-7733 ext. 2 for reservations and cast your vote for the hysterical stage shenanigans of THE OUTSIDER!
