Circa ‘21 presents ‘Les Misérables’

ROCK ISLAND — For the second production in its 38th season, the Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse begins 2015 not only with a musical, but perhaps the most frequently-requested musical in the theatre’s history: the Tony Award-winning Broadway smash “Les Misérables.” Running through March 21, this legendary, show is one of the most popular, enduring and beloved musicals of all time, and now it comes to Rock Island’s dinner theatre in a glorious new presentation directed by a veteran of the Broadway cast, and boasting a superb assemblage of professional performers.

“Les Misérables” will be performed at Circa ‘21 at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, at 5:45 p.m. Sundays and at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday matinées. Ticket prices are $48 plus tax for the evening dinner-and-show productions and $42.50 plus tax for the plated-lunch matinées, with student tickets available for $28 plus tax.

Reservations are available through the Circa ‘21 ticket office located at 1828 Third Ave., Rock Island or by calling 309-786-7733, ext. 2.

Debuting on Broadway in 1987 after a hugely successful run in London’s West End, composers Claude-Michel Schönberg’s and Alain Boubil’s “Les Misérables” is the famed adaptation of Victor Hugo’s sprawling 19th-century novel, considered one of the greatest literary works ever written. Hugo’s tale of redemption, romance and revolution quickly became a theatrical smash, breaking box-office records and amassing eight Tony Awards, including the trophy for Best Musical. Its score has consequently become one of theatre’s most indelible and memorable ones – with its most famed songs including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Master of the House,” “On My Own,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?” and the glorious anthem “One Day More” – and the musical was also turned into a hit 2012 film that received three Academy Awards.

Directing Circa ‘21’s “Les Misérables” is a man well-acquainted with the material: Jerry Jay Cranford, who previously played the roles of Enjolras and Prouvaire in Broadway productions of the show. Cranford’s many years in professional theatre have led to him also starring in National Tours of the musicals “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Anything Goes”; performing in the European tour of “Evita”; portraying the Genie in Disney’s $10-million stage presentation of “Aladdin”; and directing and choreographing such iconic musicals as “The Music Man,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Oklahoma!,” “Once Upon a Mattress” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”

For his Rock Island production of “Les Misérables,” Cranford is working with an exceptional cast of professional talents, several of whom will be familiar to patrons of the Rock Island dinner theatre. Local favorite Don Denton takes on the vocally demanding role of Jean Valjean, and the actor will be familiar to area audiences from roles in previous Circa ‘21 productions. Playing Valjean’s eternal nemesis Inspector Javert is Circa ‘21 veteran Adam Clough.

Other returning Circa ‘21 veterans include Will Aaron, Joseph J. Baez, Brittany Church, James Fairchild, Gage McCalester, Grace Moore, Collin O’Connor, Kimberly Steffen, Tristan Layne Tapscott, Kevin Korczynski and Sara Tubbs.

Meanwhile, actors making their Circa ‘21 debuts with “Les Misérables” include Joey Boos, Caitlin Borek, Joseph Brune, Kaitlyn Casanova, Eboni Fondren, Lily Leding, Samantha A. Matthews, Elizabeth Mooy, Lili Torre, Cody Webb and Allison Wille.

Circa ‘21 is thrilled to be ringing in the new year with this spectacular and widely-requested musical smash, and urges audience members to secure tickets quickly for what is likely to be one of the most popular productions in the theatre’s 38-year history. Make reservations with the Circa ‘21 ticket office at 309-786-7733, ext. 2, and delight in the electricity of one of the biggest hits in musical history: “Les Misérables!”