What Kinds of Shows and Entertainment Does Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Offer?

Updated

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) in Chanhassen, Minnesota, offers a mix of musicals, tribute concerts, improv comedy, drag brunch, plays, holiday entertainment, and themed dance nights, spread across multiple venues including the Main Stage, Fireside Theatre, Playhouse Theatre, and Club Theatre. The right pick depends on whether you want a full musical production, a casual comedy night, or a music-and-dancing evening.

Main Stage Musicals

The Main Stage is where CDT stages large-scale musical productions. Current and featured titles on the site include:

  • Annie — described as a heart-warming musical blockbuster, with Annie and her dog Sandy at the center of the story.
  • Disney's Newsies — a high-energy musical with choreography, songs, and inspirational storytelling, presented as suitable for audiences of all ages.

Both are listed with Buy Tickets and Learn More options, so you can check dates and details before committing.

Who this suits

Choose a Main Stage musical if you want the classic dinner-theatre experience: a full production with dinner service in the same outing. If you are bringing children or a multi-generational group, the site explicitly frames Newsies as an all-ages show.

Concert Series (Fireside Theatre)

The CDT Concert Series focuses on tribute concerts, featuring musicians from the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. According to the site, concerts are scheduled almost every weekend, which gives you frequent options for a night out.

Who this suits

Pick the concert series if you want live music rather than a scripted show, or if you are planning a night out on shorter notice and want to match a weekend date.

Comedy: Stevie Ray's Comedy Cabaret

Stevie Ray's Comedy Troupe performs improv comedy built from suggestions called out by the audience. The setting is described as casual and relaxed, with servers bringing drinks, appetizers, or a full meal from the Main Theatre menu. It takes place in the Playhouse Theatre.

Who this suits

This is a good fit if you prefer an informal atmosphere, want audience participation, and want the flexibility of ordering drinks or appetizers rather than a fixed dinner.

Drag Brunch

CDT hosts a regular Drag Brunch with Nina DiAngelo, featuring a menu plus performances by local and national drag artists on the Main Stage.

Who this suits

Choose this for a weekend daytime event built around food and performance together. Because it is described as a recurring event, check the current schedule rather than assuming a specific date.

Plays and Drama (Playhouse Theatre)

The Playhouse Theatre also hosts scripted drama. One example on the site is Tuesdays with Morrie, based on Mitch Albom's New York Times bestseller, staged in the intimate Playhouse setting.

Who this suits

Pick a Playhouse drama if you want a smaller-room, story-driven experience rather than a large musical.

Special Events: The Groove (Club Theatre)

The Groove is a dance night in the Club Theatre, aimed at people who still love to go out, move, and hear great music but also want to be home at a reasonable hour. The site describes it as a judgment-free, harassment-free environment.

Who this suits

This fits groups who want a dance-floor evening without a late night, or anyone who prefers a relaxed social event over a seated performance.

Holiday Entertainment

CDT also lists holiday entertainment and identifies itself as a Minnesota destination for it. Specific holiday titles and dates are not detailed in the available page content, so confirm the current season's lineup on the site before planning around it.

Quick Comparison

Offering Venue Format Good fit for
Annie, Disney's Newsies Main Stage Full musical Families, classic dinner-theatre fans
Concert Series Fireside Theatre Tribute concerts, most weekends Live-music nights, flexible dates
Stevie Ray's Comedy Cabaret Playhouse Theatre Improv comedy with audience input Casual groups, drinks and appetizers
Drag Brunch Main Stage Brunch plus drag performances Weekend daytime outings
Tuesdays with Morrie and other dramas Playhouse Theatre Scripted play Intimate, story-focused evenings
The Groove Club Theatre Dance night Dancing with an early finish
Holiday entertainment Varies Seasonal programming Seasonal group outings

How to Choose and Book

  1. Decide the format first — musical, concert, comedy, brunch, play, or dance night — using the table above.
  2. Match the venue to the experience you want: Main Stage for big productions, Playhouse for intimate shows and comedy, Fireside for concerts, Club for dance events.
  3. Check the date using the site's "Search by date" tool, since concert and recurring events vary by weekend.
  4. Use Buy Tickets on the specific show page to confirm availability and seating details for that performance.

One practical note: the site presents dinner service as part of the experience, but the available page content does not specify pricing, menu details, or whether dinner is included with every ticket type. Confirm those details on the individual show or ticket page before you book.