Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

News & Announcements

Swing! Is a Hit! Read on...

August 14, 2008: Check out this review from the Star Tribune.

The First Swing! Review is in!

August 10, 2008: Check out this review from the Pioneer Press.

Swing! Director Sean Cercone Shares Insight.

August 9, 2008: CDT's guest director, Sean Cercone, is interviewed about directing Swing! for the Chanhassen Main Stage. Read more in this Star Tribune article.

George Maurer Swings at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

August 7, 2008: Dominic Papatola describes George Maurers many talents in this Pioneer Press article.

Swing! Explodes onto CDT's Main Stage!

June 14, 2008: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres presents a 9-week-run of the jazzy, jivin' musical revue Swing!, on the Main Stage opening August 1, 2008 with previews through August 7 and grand opening festivities on Friday, August 8.

Swing! is a big, brassy musical revue celebrating the Swing era of Jazz through high-energy dancing, singing and acrobatics! Swing! opened on Broadway December 9, 1999 and enjoyed a 14-month run. The original concept for Swing! was conceived by Paul Kelly, who pitched the idea of a Broadway show to focus on Swing dance and music to producer Marc Routh. Director-Choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbet and Production Supervisor Jerry Zaks, collaborated to bring the broad range of Swing styles to life. While the creative team of Swing! arranged the music uniquely for the production with the occasional new lyric or spin, the songs and music featured are well-known from the Swing era. Major Swing era artists, have their time to shine during the thrilling performances. Featuring the best singers, dancers and musicians the Twin Cities has to offer, Swing! will thrill audiences with the music of Duke Ellington ("It Don't Mean A Thing"), Benny Goodman ("Stompin' At The Savoy"), Count Basie ("Shout and Feel It"), Don Raye ("Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"), Joe Garland ("In The Mood"), Johnny Mercer ("Blues In The Night"), Sammy Fain ("I'll Be Seeing You") and many, many more.

The Swing Era typically refers to the time period between 1935-1946, or more loosely termed the time "between the two wars," (the two wars being the Spanish Civil War and World War II). However, the swing style of jazz has been around since the 1920s. During this time, as the Great Depression loomed, Swing was a method of escapism and a symbol of hope through those difficult years. Very large bands, fixed written arrangements, and solo-driven improvisations characterized Swing music. Along with the music, a variety of forms to swing dancing emerged with most varying by geographic regions, such as the Lindyhop or Jitterbug in Harlem, or the Whip in Houston. Hailing from early 20th Century New Orleans, Jazz is an original American musical art form and has been described as "America's Classical Music." Jazz is rooted in Western music technique and theory, and is also significant because of its profound cultural contributions by African Americans. It is characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms, and improvisation.

Swing music characterized American popular culture of the 1930s, by being constantly present on records, on the radio, and on the tours of the big bands through virtually every city in America. Swing wasn't just popular music, but a culture. A distinctive generational culture was created in many ways, through slang, dances and clothing styles. Significantly, this is one of the last times the country collectively listened and embraced the same genre of music. The acrobatic, highly physical choreography and Jazz music style makes Swing! a highly specialized production. Resident Artistic Director Michael Brindisi has brought on guest director, Sean Cercone from the Carousel Dinner Theatre in Akron, OH. Cercone previously directed Swing! and knows it well. Brindisi invited pianist/composer George Maurer to take the helm as musical director. George is known as "the jazz man" and heads up the highly acclaimed Jazz group, George Maurer Group. Stated Brindisi, "We wanted to make sure this production received the care it deserved. Swing! is in the most capable hands with Sean, George and choreographer Alison Solomon. We are so fortunate to have secured their talents. Our audiences are in for a real treat." The rest of the Chanhassen creative team includes: Set Designer Nayna Ramey, Costume Designer Rich Hamson, Lighting Designer Sue Ellen Berger, Sound Designer Russ Haynes, and Production Stage Manager Robin Macgregor.

Swing! opens Friday, August 1 to a week of previews with the official opening scheduled for Friday, August 8. Performances are nightly, Tuesday through Sunday, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. Dinner and show ticket prices range from $55 to $74 per person. Show-only admissions are available no earlier than ten days prior to performance and range in price from $43 to $62 per person. Group discounts are available for groups of 15 or more people. For group tickets, call Group Sales at 952-934-1547. Tickets and information can conveniently be obtained online at chanhassendt.com or call the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' box office at 952-934-1525 or toll free (800)362-3515. For a cast list, please email Kris Howland at khowland@ChanhassenDT.com

Blogs, opinions, articles and more...

May 21, 2008: Minneapolis Star Tribune staff writers explain how CDT seems to be excluded from the MOA expansion project in this article.

CDT's expansion opportunities blocked.

May 20, 2008: KSTP news broke this story regarding language added to the tax bill tied to the Mall of America expansion project.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres PRESS RELEASE

May 19, 2008: CHANHASSEN DINNER THEATRES-VICTIM OF RADICAL LEGISLATOR. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Speaks Out Against Final-Hour Legislative Language Prohibiting Right To Do Business. In an eleventh-hour move of the recent legislative session, radical State Representative Joe Hoppe of Chanhassen had language inserted into the tax bill that bans Chanhassen Dinner Theatres from participating in the Phase II development at Mall of America. Tommy Scallen, spokesperson for Chanhassen Dinner Theatres became aware of the situation at approximately 6pm on Saturday evening, May 17th. He immediately began telephoning Representative Hoppe. After numerous attempts, Scallen finally reached Hoppe at 11:15pm that same night. Scallen asked that the offensive language be removed from the bill, but was told it was too late. Representative Hoppe acknowledged that the language was designed to keep Chanhassen Dinner Theatres from moving to the new mall expansion project. At no time did Hoppe make a single attempt to contact the theatre ownership prior to taking this action. Scallen stated, "We are a privately-owned business and have been paying our taxes in Chanhassen for the past forty years. Representative Hoppe has no idea as to what is in the best interest of our theatre or its 300 employees."

Previously on Saturday, May 10th, the theatre was contacted regarding restrictions being placed in the tax bill by Representative Jim Davnie from Minneapolis. This new language was introduced to protect other theatres in the metropolitan area and would only allow a theatre with "seating capacity not to exceed 1,500 with a terraced main floor on which at least two-thirds of its total seats are located at fixed tables, at which substantially all of the admissions for performances will include meals, and which must be operated by a theater organization that has continuously operated a dinner theatre in Minnesota for at least 30 years, producing at least 150 plays during that time with more than 8 million attendees, or its successor; and one that has a seating capacity not to exceed 400, with no fly space in its stage area."

Since Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is the only theatre that could possibly fall into this category, Hoppe felt it necessary to introduce new language designed to specifically prohibit Chanhassen Dinner Theatres from ever moving to Mall of America, something to which he readily admitted. Therefore, it is no coincidence that a legislative representative of Chanhassen introduced this language. On Monday morning, May 19th, Scallen contacted Chanhassen City Manager Todd Gerhardt seeking assistance from the city in the matter. When Scallen inquired if Gerhardt was aware of what had transpired on Saturday night, Gerhardt laughed saying he was indeed aware. He acknowledged he had prior knowledge of the plot, but denied he'd had any contact with Hoppe. He further acknowledged the action was taken to block Chanhassen Dinner Theatres from moving to the mall expansion at any future time.

Hoppe would argue it's a matter of restricting public subsidies. Scallen objects, "This is not about public subsidy; this is about a legislator stomping on the property rights of a privately-held company in a late-night, backroom deal. Even more disturbing was the intentional and obvious attempt to do this secretly in the eleventh hour when it was too late for the theatre to respond." Scallen continued, "We are no different from any other non-subsidized retail business that may or may not choose to do business at Mall of America or anywhere else. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is a small, private business that had a business opportunity legislated away from it. This is about denying a private business the opportunity to relocate if it's in its best interest. If it can happen to us, a dinner theatre, who is to say it can't happen to any other business. This is a clear attack on property rights and free enterprise."

Meet our Ambassador...Dick Stanley

May 8, 2008: Graydon Royce interviews the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' Ambassador/Greeter in this Star Tribune article.

Catch the funny side of marriage!

May 8, 2008: The Chanhassen Villager shares their opinion of the new musical production, Married Alive! in this review by Richard Crawford.

Married Alive! review from Minneapolis Star Tribune

May 5, 2008: Graydon Royce notes the highs and lows of the new musical, Married Alive! in this Star Tribune review.

Married Alive! Actors' Q&A...

April 25, 2008: Graydon Royce examines marital woes with the cast of Married Alive! in this Star Tribune article.

Married Alive! Steps Over the Threshold at CDT!

April 3, 2008: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is proud to produce the hilarious new musical MARRIED ALIVE! on its Fireside Theatre stage with previews from April 25 through May 1, and grand opening festivities taking place Friday, May 2.

MARRIED ALIVE! is a new musical that celebrates marital bliss and blisters, pleasures and pitfalls and covers just about everything from Niagara to Viagra. The truthful, yet touching musical focuses on two married couples, Erin and Paul, a pair of wide-eyed newlyweds, and Ron and Diane, a more experienced pair of "oldyweds." From wedding day to empty nest, it's a zany new musical that affectionately applauds and pokes fun at marriage.

It begins at the wedding ceremony of Erin and Paul. When they begin reciting their vows, Ron and Diane, who are in attendance, can barely contain their bemusement at Erin and Paul's innocence. As the musical unfolds we see both couples hilariously struggling with contemporary problems: personal taste, money, work that keeps them apart, when or whether to have children, what to do with them once you've got them, keeping the home fires burning and assessing where they've succeeded and where they've failed.

Leah Okimoto (music) and Sean Grennan (book and lyrics) were originally commissioned to write a small-cast show for American Heartland Theatre in Kansas City. What they came up with is a hybrid between a book show and a revue. The show went from workshop to be further developed at Chicago's Marriott Lincolnshire, where it was fine-tuned and a few clever songs were added. A few song titles include: "It Starts With Socks," "Oh, We Owe Money," "Battle Hymn of The Repulsive" and "Knocked Up." It has been met with enthusiastic response in markets including: Chicago, Omaha and Virginia Beach.

MARRIED ALIVE! is directed by Michael Brindisi and features the talents of Robb McKindles, Nicole Fenstad, Tod Petersen and Seri Johnson. The artistic team is led by Artistic Director, Michael Brindisi and Choreographer Tamara Kangas with Musical Direction by Tom Mustachio. Set Design is by Nayna Ramey, Costume Design by Rich Hamson, Lighting Design by Sue Ellen Berger and Sound Design by Russ Haynes. Production Stage Managers include Susan Magnuson and Perrin Post.

CDT scores a hit with 42nd Street.

March 29, 2008: Star Tribune's Graydon Royce reviews Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's splashy production of 42nd Street in this article.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Extends Lease.

March 11, 2008: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and The Bloomberg Companies jointly announced today that they have reached an agreement to extend the dinner theatres' lease in the present facility to 2013, with an option to 2018. This agreement is the result of rent concessions by the Bloomberg family and the commitment of the City of Chanhassen to keep the theatre in Chanhassen.

The City, along with SouthWest Transit, has plans to locate a Park and Ride facility adjacent to the existing theatre complex, which will enable theatre patrons to utilize it in non Park and Ride hours.

Thomas K. Scallen, owner of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres stated, "We are pleased that an agreement has been reached with the Bloomberg family and appreciate the cooperation of the City."

The Bloomberg Companies owns 12.5 acres in downtown Chanhassen including the site of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. Clayton Johnson, executive vice-president of the Bloomberg Companies stated, "With the decision of the theatre to remain at its current location, there will be opportunities for more intense development. The Park and Ride ramp is scheduled to be constructed in 2009-10 and we have an opportunity to locate it for maximum benefit to the property development in whole."

Plans for the 12.5 acre site are very preliminary. However, it is anticipated that another hotel in close proximity to the theatre is a possibility, as well as housing located conveniently near the Park and Ride facility. Additional retail will also be incorporated into the site plan.

Food Shelf Items Delivered!

February 1, 2007: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres would like to thank its audiences and employees for generously contributing to our FEAST OR FAMINE FOOD DRIVE. We are ecstatic to report that we made our goal to raise $10,000 to benefit the food shelves of the CAP AGENCY serving needy families in Carver, Scott and Dakota counties. In fact, we just tipped the goal scale raising an actual $10,039.36. As a restaurant, we partnered with Cub Foods in Chanhassen who helped us in making the best possible food purchases to make the dollars go even further, in excess of a $12,000 value. In addition, Cub donated the semi-truck to make the delivery of the 9,978 pounds of food to the CAP AGENCY. The CAP AGENCY gave their wish list to the theatre and the food was successfully delivered on Friday, February 1. CAP was thrilled to receive the donation and had many volunteers on hand to unload all those cans, crates and boxes of food ranging from fruits and vegetables to peanut butter and tuna fish! The actors from the production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT collected the funds following their performances during the season of Thanksgiving. The theme of FEAST OR FAMINE was inspired by the theme of the story of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. In the familiar and beloved Bible story, JOSEPH, led by his inspired dreams, leads the people of Egypt when he sets up a food storehousing program during seven years of plenty that is followed by seven years of famine. The storehousing plan sustains the people through the famine and eventually reunites Joseph with his brothers who had deceived their father and sold Joseph into slavery out of their jealousy. Thanks to everyone who got behind the project and helped to make a difference in the lives of the 1,200-1,600 households who visit the food shelves each month. It just goes to show that when many people join together and give just a few dollars and cents, the multiplied resources can be of great assistance!

Respect Review from Minneapolis Star Tribune!

August 20, 2007: Rohan Preston shares his views after witnessing the new Chanhassen production, Respect. Read his review.

The first Les Miserables review is in!

June 25, 2007: Ed Felien comments on the "... highly charged version" of CDT's Les Miserables in this Pulse of the Twin Cities Arts Cover Story.