There’s still time to catch the beloved comic-strip feline “Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude” on the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse’s stage this week.
Show-only performances begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday (June 20, 23 and 24), and at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 24. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively. Tickets are $10 per person.
In this new stage sensation inspired by everyone’s favorite orange, sarcastic, lasagna-loving tubby tabby, Garfield awakens to find that his birthday — obviously the most important day of the year — has fallen on a Monday, Circa said in a news release.
All of his friends (Jon, Odie, Arlene and even his nemesis, Nermal) have completely forgotten it’s his big day, so Garfield leaves the comforts of home for the outside world. Hilarity ensues as Garfield attempts to navigate a world with (literal) garbage food, no TV and animal control.
Directing, choreographing and set designing is Circa ’21 favorite Brad Hauskins, who recently starred in “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical.” Another adored venue veteran, Shelley Walljasper, serves as the show’s music director, the release states.
Additional members of the creative team include costume designer Bradley Robert Jensen, stage manager and props designer Kendall McKasson, lighting designer and assistant stage manager Emmett Boedeker, sound designer and engineer Ben Takitch, production manager Jeremy Littlejohn and scenic artist Becky Meissen.
Mr. Littlejohn (whose area acting credits include roles in the Mockingbird on Main’s “A Christmas Carol” and “Murder at Mistwell Manor”) also portrays Garfield. Abigail Graham portrays the sweetly empty-headed pooch, Odie, and also serves as the show’s dance captain and co-choreographer. The show’s cast is completed by Caitie Moss as Nermal, Sylvia Muchmore as Arlene and T.J. Besler, double-cast as Garfield’s owner, Jon, and a potentially nefarious animal-control officer.
Garfield creator Jim Davis co-wrote the book alongside Michael J. Bobbitt, and composer John L. Cornelius II supplied the music and lyrics.
For show-only production tickets and more information, contact the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse at 1828 Third Ave., Rock Island, or call (309) 786-7733, ext. 2.
