Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Presents OUR HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS PAGEANT, Now thru 12/31

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) will present its 27th annual holiday production: OUR HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS PAGEANT in the Fireside Theatre from tonight, November 16 through December 31, 2012.

Since 1987, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres has produced an annual holiday production. This year CDT returns to an all-new, self-produced holiday revue format for audiences, which has proved most popular throughout CDT history. OUR HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS PAGEANT was co-written by Michelle Barber (Barber has compiled 20 of CDT's past holiday revues) and Andrew Cooke, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' Resident Music Director. In recent years, the theatre departed from its usual format to bring audiences licensed products including: Another Night Before Christmas (2008, 2009), O Little Town of Chanhassen (2010, produced by renowned local theatre improvisation artist, Stevie Ray and his comedy troupe) and Plaid Tidings (2011).

In this year's collaboration, as the title implies, five townspeople have written the annual hometown Christmas pageant. However, the pageant has lost its usual performance space at the church due to a Norwegian lefse contest. The local theatre in town has come to the rescue by offering its stage to host the pageant and also makes their prop and costume stock available to the pageant for their use adding to the fun. OUR HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS PAGEANT is complete with humor, charm and a treasure chest of familiar holiday tunes and carols, as well as several original tunes to light up the holiday season including: "Deck the Halls," "Go Tell It on the Mountain," "Up on the Housetop," "The First Noel," "The Incredible Biblical Sixty-Six" and many more.

The talented cast of performers includes: Molly Sue McDonald, Kasono Mwanza, Sean Nugent and Stephanie Cousins. Rounding out the group will be co-creator, music director and accompanist, Andrew Cooke. Production designers: Nayna Ramey for scenery; Rich Hamson for costumes; Sue Ellen Berger for lighting; Russ Haynes for sound and Susan Magnuson for hair and makeup. Production Stage Manager is Katie Hawkinson.

Reservations for OUR HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS PAGEANT can be made by calling the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres box office at (952) 934-1525 or toll-free at (800) 362-3515. There will be six performances weekly, Tuesday through Sunday. Ticket prices range from $52 to $71 including dinner. There will be no performances on December 24 or 25. Special deluxe package pricing for New Year's Eve on December 31, please inquire. For tickets and information call the theatre box office at (952) 934-1525 or (800) 362-3515. For parties of 12 or more, contact Group Sales at 952-934-1547 or (800) 355-6273 or go online to www.ChanhassenDT.com.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is the nation's largest professional dinner theatre company. It is also Minnesota's only year-round, fully-professional producing theatre company. With scenic and costume shops on site, all design elements are created and executed by CDT's resident artistic design and technical staff. The artistic program is led by President and Artistic Director, Michael Brindisi. Brindisi works with co-owners Tamara Kangas-Erickson, VP and Choreographer, and Steven L. Peters, to manage CDT. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is committed to delighting its audiences and creating lifelong memories with a high-quality end-to-end theatre, dining, and service experience. To learn more, visit ChanhassenDT.com.