Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Presents 'Starkid!' With Students in HAIRSPRAY

One hundred high school students from the Twin Cities' area and beyond have been selected to appear in Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' second annual StarKid event to honor and celebrate young musical theatre talent in our schools. StarKids have garnered the amazing opportunity to appear onstage in HAIRSPRAY at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres alongside the cast during November and January.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' President and Artistic Director Michael Brindisi has assigned the StarKids to actors in the professional Acting Company whom the students will shadow through the backstage and onstage experience. Students will receive their own dressing rooms and have publicity photos taken for their hometown newspapers. CDT President and HAIRSPRAY Artistic Director Michael Brindisi is happy to repeat the StarKid event for the second year. He stated, "When we did this for Footloose it was an incredible event. Not just for the students, but also for all of us on staff and for our audiences. After our first go at this, we learned what was most important to the students and have made it into an event that will be both energizing and a valuable learning tool without making it too stressful." Brindisi continued, "Our intention was to make this an annual event and so we're thrilled to do this again. There are so many worthy musical theatre students in our communities. This is an amazing opportunity that we can provide for the students."

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres contacted more than 100 high school music-theatre educators from Albert Lea to St. Cloud in the great search for StarKids. Music-theatre educators were
asked to send two students to participate in StarKid to represent the best talent their schools had to offer. In the end, fifty schools will participate; each school sending two students. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Public Relations Director Kris Howland stated, "That search for worthy students takes weeks to organize. The last time we held this event was in late spring, this time, we're offering more options to accommodate students' extremely demanding school schedules." A total of four students (two schools represented each night) will appear in each production of HAIRSPRAY on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings during November and January.

HAIRSPRAY will be performed eight times weekly (through January 28, 2012) with evening performances Tuesdays through Sundays and matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Dinner and show ticket prices are as follows: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday evenings $68; Friday $79; Saturday evening $79; Wednesday matinee $59; Saturday matinee $63; and Sunday $69. Show-only tickets are available no sooner ten days prior to the performance. Student Rush tickets may be purchased one hour prior to the performance with valid student ID, and are based on availability. For tickets and information call the theatre box office at (952) 934-1525 or (800) 362-3515. For parties of 15 or more, contact Group Sales at 952-934-1547 or (800) 355-6273 or go online to www.ChanhassenDT.com.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is located at West 78th Street, P.O. Box 100, Chanhassen, MN 55317-0100.

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 Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' resident artistic design and technical staff. The artistic program is led by Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' President and Artistic Director, Michael Brindisi. Brindisi works with co-owners Tamara Kangas-Erickson, VP and Choreographer, and Steven L. Peters, to manage Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. 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.

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