Chanhassen Dinner Theatre

Chanhassen Dinner Theatre is one of the sights to see in Minnesota's Twin Cities.  It opened its doors in 1968 and since then has put on over 193 plays with over 8 million people watching.  That number is staggering, but not surprising given the quality shows appearing at Chanhassen.

The 90,000 sq. ft. Chanhassen complex was designed by Herbert and Carolyn Bloomberg on a corn field. It all started when they built a new facility for the Old Log Theater in Excelsior.  They followed that job by building their own theatre complex about 30 minutes from the town center.  A restaurant on site made the project even more of a gamble.  Surely the distance from downtown as well as a restaurant, a business with a high failure rate, combined to doom this dream.

Then in October of 1968 the theatre started business.  Fittingly, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” was the inaugural production.  A month later “the Fantasticks” began.  Now for a pun. The curtains were now open on what would become the largest professional dinner theater in the United States.  It's also the largest privately owned restaurant in the state.  Not bad for such a risky venture. 

On February 18, 1971 a production of “I Do! I Do!” opened in the Playhouse, a smaller theatre space in the Chanhassen facility.  It ran a staggering 21 years.  The same cast performed each and every show.  How's that for job security?  Chanhassen became known all over America for that show.  “I Do! I Do!” ended in 1992, but was back after a few months for a January to December run in 1993.  It was then replaced by “Stevie Ray's Comedy Troupe” which had a nearly two year run.  That pretty good too. 

The Courtyard, now the Club, showed both “I Do! I Do!” and “Stevie Ray's Comedy Troupe” in 1995.  Today the Club is a popular spot for wedding receptions, private parties and even business meetings.  Camelot, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music and many other plays have appeared at Chanhassen.  The list goes on and on.  Check out the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre web site at www.chanhassentheatres.com

 

Carousel Dinner Theater

The Carousel Dinner Theater in Akron Ohio tells patrons to “expect the unexpected.  Busy folks want to have a good time.  Good food and an entertaining show combine to make dinner theater a satisfying choice of a lot of people every year. 

Many dinner theaters claim to be the largest, Carousel is no exception. Whether it really is the largest or not, it is one of the best. Carousel hires members of the American Federation of Musicians, Actors Equity Association and Society of Directors and Choreographers.  That's not just because the like the unions.  Union talents and workers tend to be the most proficient. 

Carousel opened in 1973 in a converted supermarket, then moved to its current location in 1988.  People can go there for the traditional dinner and a show, or see the show while skipping the meal.  Recently more theater professionals from New York have been hired.  This means the shows are even better than in the past. 

”Wicked” has been a very popular play.  This is the back story of the witches from the Wizard of Oz.  From August to November of 2008 the Carousel urges theater patrons to see the “story that started it all,” the original story Wizard of Oz presented in a stage play.  This production boasts a colorful Proscenium, which is the frame around the stage that rotates the different sets into place.  Carousel maintains a Wizard of Oz blog at http://carouseldinnertheatre.blogspot.com.  Yes, plays like many people now have their own web sites. 

Many Broadway productions eventually find their way to the Carousel.  In 2008 “the Odd Couple” played there.  It has hosted many others including Footloose and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  Here you can enjoy good food and Broadway without going to Broadway.  2009 will be a big season for the theater with classics like My Fair Lady and brand new plays like High School Musical. 

Get a feel for New York elegance at the Carousel Dinner Theater.  Take a look, you might be surprised.