CDT, located 18 miles from downtown Minneapolis, offers a dynamic blend of dining and musical entertainment, making it a prime destination for student field trips. As the largest professional dinner theater in the United States, CDT has captivated audiences for over 55 years with lavish productions on its Main Stage, including Broadway-caliber musicals. The venue seats 600 guests, and the attached restaurant, the largest privately owned in Minnesota, serves up to 1,000 meals within a two-hour dining window, elevating the dinner-and-show experience. This unique cultural experience at CDT is sure to broaden your students’ horizons.
For educational groups, the theatre provides specialized programming that aligns with arts curricula. Students can engage with professional musical theater performances, experiencing firsthand the elements of live production—such as acting, music, set design, and choreography. These performances, of the highest professional quality, are designed to reinforce English Language Arts, music, and theater lessons by immersing students in storylines, character development, and musical expression.
In addition to attending productions, students and teachers benefit from pre-show resources, such as educational study guides tailored to the featured shows. These materials explore themes relevant to the classroom, like historical settings, literary narratives, and social issues. Schools can arrange post-performance talkbacks with cast and crew, a unique opportunity for students to ask questions about theater production, performance techniques, and the day-to-day operations of a professional dinner theater. This interaction with professionals is a testament to our commitment to your students’ learning.
CDT’s welcoming environment ensures that students from middle school to high school receive a well-rounded, arts-focused experience, fostering appreciation for musical theater while enhancing critical thinking and collaborative skills.
