TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Area dinner theaters serving up dining, drama

ADVERTISEMENT

By PAUL CATALA

THE SUN

Published: July 29, 2009

Around the Sun City Center area, the ability to sink teeth into quality dinner theater is becoming easier to do.

A night out at a dinner theater is a popular activity for many area residents and looks to be even more popular, with the anticipated opening of a new Sun City Center theater venue by October.

Over the past two years, two of the area's main theater groups - The Pelican Players and The Performing Arts Club of Sun City Center - have been regularly performing, with the Pelican Players providing dinner with drama.

In the process of adding to culinary theater are the owner and manager of the Old Castle Tavern German restaurant, Frank Hartmann and Andries "Andy" Oosthuizen. The men are currently remodeling a building next the Hungry Howie's off State Road 674, 3870 Sun City Center Blvd., into a 3,200-square-feet dinner theater capable of seating 140 to 150 guests.

Hartmann, a 30-year certified master chef originally from Berlin, German and Oosthuizen, a Johannesburg, South Africa native and veteran international actor, director and producer, said they began transforming the building into a theater about three weeks ago. Tentatively called "The Palace Dinner Theatre," they are installing a 300-square-foot stage, with complete lighting and sound equipment facilities and tables for specially-prepared dinners to coincide with each production.

"I have the food background and he has the theater background, so we decided to make something together," said Hartmann, 48, who has cooked in Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland. "We will be the only full-time dinner theater in the area."

After a recent workday, Oosthuizen, who was a one-time political refugee because of his anti-apartheid sentiment, said plays are already being selected, including the first, Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple." Other playwrights he said he hopes to produce works from include Marsha Norman, A.R. Gurney, Sam Bobrick and Ron Clark, using local talent.

"The caliber of plays they will get to see will be equal to what they would get in any professional theater," he said, adding the plays would be privately funded. "

Hartmann said each play with dinner would be $40 and feature a three-course meal featuring a different dish for each show, with a set menu except for vegetarian.

"We will try to match the food with the play and we'll change the menu every two to three weeks," he said.

While The Palace Dinner Theatre is still getting underway, the Pelican Players are continuing on their course for dinner and entertainment.

Carlyn Postle, dinner theater and one-act play coordinator, said the Pelican Players' dinner theaters have been successes. Held at various theater locations - including the Valencia Club Renaissance and Apollo's Bistro, Apollo Beach - the group performed murder-mystery dinner shows including "Staying Alive," "Senior Idol" and "Lethal Luau."

Apollo's Bistro, 6520 Richie's Way, Apollo Beach, hosts dinner theater productions regularly, including "Lethal Luau," which was held July 8.

Postle, a retired high school drama teacher who lives in Brandon, said the next Players' dinner theater play would be at Kings Point in October. She said she's glad to hear of a new dinner theater opening in the area.

"It's another venue for local audiences to go to. If they like us and we like them, we can swap audiences back and forth," she said.

Lewis Resseguie, president of the Performing Arts Club of Sun City Center, said he was glad to hear of the new Palace dinner theater's future opening.

"The more theater, the better," said the veteran actor. "My guess is that it will do well. The secret is quality. If you produce quality shows, the people will come see them."

For information on The Palace Dinner Theatre or to audition, send resumes and head shots to 3858 Sun City Center Blvd., Sun City Center, 33573 or call (813) 789-9495. For the Pelican Players, call (813) 663-0115 and Apollo's Bistro, (813) 641-2685.

Reporter Paul Catala can be reached at (813) 731-1970 or pcatala@mediageneral.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT