2 minute read
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
from Stay and Play 2022
“Footloose” is playing on the Main Stage through September.
Advertisement
Over 12.5 million guests served
Venturing to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres for a night of entertainment is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
For the past 54 years, the dinner theater has been a fixture in Chanhassen and the surrounding communities, according to Public Relations Director Kris Howland. The theater has served over 12.5 million guests in its time.
Here are five things to know about the legendary entertainment venue.
NATIONAL STATUS
CDT is one of only a handful of professional status dinner theaters in the country. At last count, there were fewer than 10.
Later this fall, CDT will host the annual National Dinner Theatre Conference, hosting producers and artists from across the country.
PRODUCING AND PERFORMING
CDT is a producing theater company. It casts and hires local artists to design, build and perform in all performances for its Main Stage.
It’s different from attending a production that one might see downtown that is touring the area. Those are productions that are made elsewhere, from other regions, and brought to the Twin Cities on buses and trucks.
The dinner theater’s productions are all created and built on site at CDT and performed by local musicians and artists, all members of the same professional unions people would experience on Broadway stages. This is something special, making the CDT product 100% Minnesota-made.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAN NORMAN
The Chanhassen Dinner Theatres has served over 12.5 million guests in its time.
OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN
CDT has an excellent summer musical theatre camp program for kids and teens. The camps are taught by the same professionals that act on the stages and create the theater’s design elements. This makes the camp experience unique.
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
Location: 501 W 78th St., Chanhassen Box Offi ce phone hours: Mondays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sundays Info: To purchase tickets call 952-9341525 or visit chanhassendt.com
FUN BEYOND MAIN STAGE
Guests can enjoy dinner before watching a multitude of different entertainment experiences, including live musical theater, Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret and an acclaimed concert series.
Also, Brindisi’s Pub is a favorite casual dining hangout featuring two daily happy hours, free live entertainment every Thursday night and a lovely patio seasonally.
In addition, CDT has a couple of banquet spaces where guests can hold wedding ceremonies, receptions and other events.
LOCAL EMPLOYER
Not only does the theater company provide a wide variety of premier entertainment and dining experiences for guests of all ages to enjoy, it is also a major employer as CDT, in full operation, employs up to 300 people year-round.
