‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ opens at Circa

Praised by Talkin’ Broadway as a show that “bounces onto the stage with confidence, energy, and goodwill to spare,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical” will open Thursday, March 21 at Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse.

Running through May 18, this charming and riotously funny delight is adapted from Jeff Kinney’s beloved children’s-book series and is being staged by a cast and crew of professional talents, according to a Wednesday Circa release.

Circa ’21 will present show-only performances in 10 a.m. productions on March 21, 22, 23, 26, 28 and 30; April 2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13 and May 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16 and 18. An afternoon performance of the musical, at 1 p.m., is scheduled for April 6. All tickets for the show are $12 per person.

Award-winning author Kinney’s popular literary character takes center stage in the family musical as Greg’s cartoon diary becomes a hilarious and heartfelt stage treat, according to Circa.

In middle school, Greg is determined not to be at the bottom of the popularity chart. He’ll leave that to his weird neighbor, Fregley. Or maybe Greg’s best friend Rowley Jefferson. But it’s not going to be Greg. But will Greg’s plans to become popular lead him to sacrifice his one true friend? And can anyone avoid the dreaded Cheese Touch?

Family audiences are invited to grab a hall pass and not be late for an adventure familiar to everyone who actually survived middle school and exciting and hilarious for everyone who has yet to attend. To date, Kinney’s “Wimpy Kid” book series consists of 19 main entries plus an activity book and a spin-off series centering on Rowley.

20th Century Studios produced a live-action film series of the same title from 2010 to 2017 and as of 2020, more than 250 million copies of the Wimpy Kid books have been sold globally, making it the fourth best-selling book series of all time, Circa said.

Directing and co-scenic designing “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical” is longtime venue favorite Kimberly VanderGinst, whose recent credits include acting in “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical” and “Mamma Mia!,” as well as directing the children’s shows “Elephant & Piggie’s We Are In A Play!,” “Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook” and “A Year with Frog & Toad.” Also included on the production team are show co-star Bobby Becher, serving as musical director, and Andrea Moore as choreographer.

Protagonist Greg Hefler is portrayed by Jack Carslake, previously seen in Circa ’21’s “A Christmas Story: The Musical” and “Beauty & the Beast,” with Greg’s best pal Rowley played by Marlo Reed and weird neighbor Fregley by Brighton Greim.

And with Greg’s older-brother nemesis Rodrick enacted by Daniel Hauskins, additional members of the show’s adult-and-student ensemble include Ashley Becher, Bobby Becher, Vivian Browne, Arnav Mali, Kirsten Sindelar, Krianna Walljasper, Fulton Young, Luke Young, Mark Young and Olivia Young.

For tickets and information, contact the Circa box office at 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, or call 309-786-7733, ext. 2.

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