Chanhassen Dinner Theatre is one of the sights to see in Minnesota's Twin Cities. More than 8 million patrons have seen over 193 shows there since 1968. Given the quality of shows, those numbers aren't surprising. The 90,000 square foot facility was constructed and designed by Herbert and Carolyn Bloomberg on what was once a corn field. It all started when they built a new facility for the Old Log Theater in Excelsior. They decided to follow that project by building their own theatre complex 30 minutes from downtown. To add to the risk their vision included a restaurant. Given the failure rates of new restaurants and the distance from downtown, the project appeared to be a pipe dream doomed to fail. But on October 11, 1968 the theatre opened. Fittingly, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" was the inaugural production. That ran for a month and a half before "the Fantasticks" took the stage. So here's a pun. The stage was set for what is today the largest professional dinner theatre in America. It can also boast being the largest privately owned restaurant in Minnesota. 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. What's more staggering is that it included the original cast for the entire run. How's that for job security? It became a cornerstone production for the Playhouse and Chanhassen, known all over the country. It ended in November of 1992, but after "I Do Love the Holidays" took over for a few months, "I Do! I Do!" returned for a short run from late January to early December of 1993. It was then replaced by "Stevie Ray's Comedy Troupe" which had a nearly two year run. But nothing compared to the amazing run enjoyed by "I Do! I Do!" Both "Stevie Ray's Comedy Troupe" and "I Do! I Do!" later returned to Chanhassen, but in a different room. The Courtyard, now called the Club, hosted each of the plays in 1995. Today the Club is a popular spot for wedding receptions, private parties and even business meetings. Other well known plays that have appeared at Chanhassen are Camelot, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, 42nd Street, Oklahoma, and Dial M for Murder. This is by no means the complete list.
Akron Ohio's Carousel Dinner Theater has "expect the unexpected" as its motto. Busy folks want to have a good time. As a result they select dinner theater for entertainment. Many dinner theaters claim to be the largest, Carousel is no exception. Whether that boast is true or not, Carousel is amongst the top. Carousel employs union actors, technicians and musicians. It's not just for laughs. 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. The theater accommodates patrons looking for both dinner and a show, as well as those who want to skip the meal but see the show. Over the last few years the production quality has risen, attracting even more serious professionals from the New York theater business. This means the shows are even better than in the past. "Wicked" has been a very popular play. This is a story that takes place before the Wizard of Oz and involves many of the witches in that world. Patrons are urged to see the story that started it all, as Carousel is currently showing the Wizard of Oz. The frame around the stage that moves the sets around, the Proscenium, is very intricate. Carousel maintains a Wizard of Oz blog at http://carouseldinnertheatre.blogspot.com. Blogs are fairly new for plays. Many Broadway productions eventually find their way to the Carousel. "The Odd Couple" brought down the house in 2008. Others include Annie, Grease and even the Sound of Music. Here you can enjoy good food and Broadway without going to Broadway. In 2009 the theater hosts the very popular High School Musical. The Carousel Dinner Theater gives Akron's citizens and visitors a taste of the New York nightlife. Take a look, you might be surprised.
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