Learn About Chanhassen Dinner Theatre
A popular entertainment and tourist destination in the Twin Cities, Minnesota is the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. Since 1968 there have been over 193 productions on its various stages, with over 8 million guests in attendance. That number is staggering, but not surprising given the quality shows appearing at Chanhassen.
The 90,000 square foot facility was constructed and designed by Herbert and Carolyn Bloomberg on what was once a corn field. The Old Log Theater had contracted them to build it’s new facility. They decided to follow that project by building their own theatre complex 30 minutes from downtown. They decided to follow that project by building their own theatre complex 30 minutes from downtown. They took an extra risk by adding 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 Chanhassen Dinner Theatre Minnesota 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 curtains were now open on what would become the largest professional dinner theater in the United States. And as for the restaurant, today it’s the largest privately owned one in the whole state of Minnesota. Sometimes risk is rewarded.
On February 18, 1971 a production of “I Do! I Do!” opened in the Playhouse, a smaller theatre space in the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre facility. It ran a staggering 21 years. The same cast performed each and every show. How’s that for job security? It became a cornerstone production for the Playhouse and Chanhassen, known all over the country. “I Do! I Do!” ended in 1992, but was back after a few months for a January to December run in 1993. “Stevie Ray’s Comedy Troupe” took over for the next two years. 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 Dinner Theatre, 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. The list goes on and on. That can be found on the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre website chanhassentheatres.com.
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