Dinner and a show has been popular in the United States since the first dinner theater opened in 1962. Only six years after that first, Chanhassen dinner theater opened for its first show and its still going strong. 2008 is the 40th anniversary of this popular Minnesota entertainment spot. The theater stages a variety of top notch plays throughout the year.
The theater isn’t just a single room. It’s a 90,000 square foot facility that encompasses a number of theater and dining spaces. The Main Dinner Theater is the largest theater space in Chanhassen. It seats 541 people. That doesn’t sound like a lot for a theater, but consider this includes tables and booths where meals are served along with the stage performance. Other theaters include the Fireside Theater where guests watch a play after dining in a separate room, and the Playhouse Theater which is the smallest theater in the facility. There is also a Director’s Room which overlooks the Main Dinner Theater in what is this facility’s version of a sports stadium sky box. Private parties take place in the Main Dinner Theater where people can also watch the play from above the room. There are also banquet facilities, a pub and a lounge.
Speaking of the Playhouse Theater, this smaller room has a unique history of its own. In 1971 a play called ?I Do! I Do!? opened in that room. It ran until 1993. A 22 year run is one thing, but the original cast was involved from the first to the last performances. That play became Chanhassen’s claim to fame as over 700,000 people attended about 125 at a time.
Over the years some of the most well known plays have had their run at Chanhassen. Sound of Music has played there a number of times, the last time from May 30, 2003 through early June in 2004. My Fair Lady has played there, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, Camelot, Annie Get Your Gun and a host of others. These all played in the main theater. Other shows that have played in the facility are Dial M For Murder, The Sunshine Boys, On Golden Pond along with many, many more. As the titles show, everything from big productions to smaller pieces show at Chanhassen. Over time there’s been something for everyone, which may explain why the theater remains a popular attraction in the Twin Cities.
The Chanhassen Dinner Theater is a fun place to visit whether you happen to be in town, or even as a destination in itself. There are a number of excellent hotels and bead and breakfasts in the area to accommodate the traveler. The web site http://www.chanhassentheatres.com has all the information on upcoming schedules, accommodations for travelers, menus, party reservations, and everything else about this historic dinner theater.
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