The first dinner theater in the USA opened in 1962 and audiences have been flocking to them ever since. 40 year old Chanhassen theater started only a few years after the first and continues to entertain people in 2008. Through the year top notch plays are hosted there.
The theater isn’t just a single room. There are many dining and show spaces throughout the 90,000 sq. ft. complex. Chanhassen’s biggest show space is the Main Dinner Theater. The capacity is 541 people. Sure there are larger theaters but this one has booths and tables where dinner is served. 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. Similar to a stadium luxury box, the Director’s Room overlooks the Main Dinner Theater . Private parties take place in the Main Dinner Theater where people can also watch the play from above the room. On site are also facilities for weddings, as well as both a pub and a lounge.
Speaking of the Playhouse Theater, this smaller room has a unique history of its own. That theater began hosting the play “I Do! I Do!” in 1971. The run lasted all the way to 1993. To top off 22 years of entertaining there, the play boasted the same cast from opening day to the last curtain call. That play became Chanhassen’s claim to fame as over 700,000 people attended about 125 at a time.
Chanhassen presented some of the most popular plays over the years. Sound of Music has played there a number of times, the last time from May 30, 2003 through early June in 2004. Camelot has been there, as have Annie Get Your Gun and The Music Man. They all showed in the main theater. Some of the other rooms have their share of well known titles like The Sunshine Boys and On Golden Pond. Every size and level of show plays at Chanhassen. Over time there’s been something for everyone, which may explain why the theater remains a popular attraction in the Twin Cities.
People often travel there specifically to see the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. There are plenty of hotels for visitors. Find out more about this historic dinner theater at the web site http://www.chanhassentheatres.com.
