“The Bikinis,” July 10 through August 24

Wednesday, July 10, through Saturday, August 24

Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island IL

With the show boasting such timeless pop hits as "It's in His Kiss," "Heat Wave," "Under the Boardwalk," and "Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," the musical beach party The Bikinis makes its area debut at Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse from July 10 through August 24, this stage treat lauded by The Star Ledger as "a nostalgic funride" and by Talkin' Broadway as "a tidal wave of fun."

In The Bikinis, a beloved singing quartet affectionately nicknamed “The Jersey Girls” relive their heyday and beyond beginning in the summer of 1964, on the night that these four inseparable friends got their name, winning the Belmar Beach Talent Contest ... wearing just their bikinis. The boardwalk was consequently smitten with the four teens: Jodi and Annie, two sisters from Paramus New Jersey; Karla, their slightly manipulative first cousin from Philly; and their best friend Barbara, from Staten Island. Now back together after 20 years, this girl group from the '60s that everyone loves is bringing back the sun, fun, and all the great songs they sang down on the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore, all to raise money for the good folks at Sandy Shores Mobile Home Beach Resort. Audiences, meanwhile will delight to a repertoire that includes "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," "Incense & Peppermints," "When Will I Be Loved," "I'm Every Woman," "I Will Survive," "It's Raining Men," and many other hits, the show an exuberant hit designed to get everyone dancing in the aisles.

Directing The Bikinis for Circa '21 is venue favorite Brad Hauskins, a longtime member of the theatre's performing wait staff of Bootleggers whose on-stage credits include roles in Fiddler on the Roof, Shear Madness, Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, and the recent Jersey Boys. Appearing as the titular quartet are Sarah Lounsberry as Jodi, Kirsten Sindelar as Annie, Taylor Fryza as Karla, and Joelle Smith as Barbara, with the show's live band composed of Emmett Boedeker on piano, Sara Leigh Beason on keyboard, Tristan Tapscott on drums, and director Hauskins on bass.

Beloved area talent Ron May serves as The Bikinis' musical director, while Robyn Messerly acts as choreographer, and additional members of the show's creative team include: stage manager and props master Kendall McKasson; scenic designer Becky Meissen; costume designer Bradley Robert Jensen; lighting designer Heather Hauskins; sound designer and assistant stage manager Boedeker; production manager Jeremy Littlejohn; and technical director Richard Baker.

In addition to its 7:30 p.m. public previews on July 10 and 11, The Bikinis runs in Rock Island from July 12 through August 24, with performances on Fridays, Saturdays, and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 5:30 p.m.; and Wednesday afternoons at 1:15 p.m. All shows will be preceded by meals and pre-show entertainment by the theatre's performing wait staff of Circa '21 Bootleggers, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)786-7733 extension 2 and visiting Circa21.com.