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. 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.
Then in October of 1968 the theatre started business. The Bloombergs selected "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" as the first show to make a statement. Then "the Fantasticks" came to town. It's pun time. 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.
"I Do! I Do!" began showing in the cozy Playhouse on Feb. 18 1971 . 21 years later the final curtain dropped on the popular show. Even more amazing was that the same cast stayed with the show the whole time. Do you think they were typecast? Chanhassen became known all over America for that show. "I Do! I Do!" ended in 1992, but was back after a few months for a January to December run in 1993. For two years following that "Stevie Ray's Comedy Troupe" entertained audiences. That pretty good too.
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.
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.
Then in October of 1968 the theatre started business. The Bloombergs selected "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" as the first show to make a statement. Then "the Fantasticks" came to town. It's pun time. 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.
"I Do! I Do!" began showing in the cozy Playhouse on Feb. 18 1971 . 21 years later the final curtain dropped on the popular show. Even more amazing was that the same cast stayed with the show the whole time. Do you think they were typecast? Chanhassen became known all over America for that show. "I Do! I Do!" ended in 1992, but was back after a few months for a January to December run in 1993. For two years following that "Stevie Ray's Comedy Troupe" entertained audiences. That pretty good too.
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.
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