Oklahoma!, West Side Story, The Sound of Music – these are the shows many people immediately associate with dinner theatre. But as Bob Dylan famously sang, “The times they area-changin.”
A look at the upcoming seasons of National Dinner Theatre Association (NDTA) members reveals an exciting blend of classic favorites and contemporary hits. Alongside beloved musicals, audiences will find productions such as Pretty Woman, The Play That Goes Wrong, and Frozen. More and more, theatergoers are looking for recent Broadway and touring productions closer to home, and NDTA theatres are responding. As performance rights become available, shows like Ain’t Too Proud, Les Misérables, and Mean Girls are finding their way into dinner theatre seasons across the country.
“This season we bridge generations of musical theatre, pairing timeless classics with bold new favorites,” says Jalyn Webb, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Candlelight (CO). “Five shows, one season, a celebration of where musical theatre has been, and where it’s headed. We poll our audiences and continue to see Golden Age classics and newer Broadway hits requested in equal measure.”
Derby Dinner Playhouse (IN) has been at the forefront of adding newer titles to its season for more than a decade. While the theatre has a strong subscription base, group audiences have embraced the newer productions. “Our audiences will always have a love for the classics, butthey’re also excited to experience stories they may not have seen before,” says Kyrin Knopp, Human Resources & Payroll Manager. “Shows like The Cottage, Come From Away, and BrightStar have allowed us to introduce fresh material while still delivering the high-quality entertainment our patrons expect.”
Alternative programming is also attracting new audiences. At Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse (IL), patrons have enthusiastically embraced productions with a little more edge. “We’ve found there are audiences that enjoy something a bit edgier on stage,” says Brett Hitchcock, Vice President of Circa ’21. “Our dinner theatre seats 330, while our second theatre, The Speakeasy, seats 120. Audiences loved our productions of Kinky Boots and The Full Monty on the main stage, as well as Stephen King’s Misery and Rocky Horror Show in our second theatre. These shows aren’t for everyone, but there’s definitely a growing audience for them.”
Many NDTA members are also expanding beyond traditional theatre productions. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (MN) complements its main stage productions with two additional entertainment venues: a dedicated concert space presenting a year-round lineup of tribute and original artists, and an improv comedy club offering performances every weekend. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre (FL) presents intimate productions in its second venue, Off Broadway Palm, featuring shows such as The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Many additional members schedule concerts and special events on their main stages throughout the year.
Whether it’s the highlight of a multi-day tour or the perfect destination for a one-day getaway, dinner theatre continues to offer its signature combination of live entertainment, dining, and hospitality—now with an even broader variety of productions to choose from each season.
To find an NDTA member theatre near you, visit nationaldinnertheatreassociation.org.
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