Taking your children to a dinner theater show is an exhilarating experience that combines fine dining with captivating performance arts, offering a delightful treat for the entire family. If you’ve purchased tickets for Beef & Boards or another quality dinner theatre venue, these tips will make your time with your kids even more enjoyable.
Written by Katy Mann and Scout Mann, for Indywithkids.com
Here are 11 tips to ensure a seamless, entertaining time for all.
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is presenting a technicolor musical of Biblical proportions with the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice collaboration: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Now on stage through Nov. 19, Joseph is a fantastic show for the whole family!
Plan for a Later Arrival at the Dinner Theater
Arrive Strategically: Avoid arriving exactly when the doors open. A slightly later arrival helps you skip the initial rush, making the entry process smoother and less stressful for the kids. Plus, you won’t be waiting all evening for the show to start.
Dinner theater venues typically provide 90 minutes to up to two and a half hours for attendees to get dinner before the show. Once you’re done with dinner, that’s a lot of time to sit around.
Have Table Snacks at the Ready
Retain Cheese and Crackers or Other Table Snacks: Beef and Boards, our favorite dinner theater, has a delicious cheese spread and a bowl of crackers at each table. Generally, they are collected after dinner and before the show starts.
Politely request that you get to keep the cheese and crackers at your table throughout the show. This provides a steady supply of snacks for your kids, helping to keep them engaged and satisfied during the performance. If your dinner theater doesn’t have this, bring a few crackers or granola bars. Be sure to have a glass of water or a water bottle nearby as well.
Know Before You Go to the Dinner Theatre
Pre-Show Menu Review: Read the menu online in advance. Familiarizing your children with the available dishes will help them anticipate and select meals they’ll enjoy, avoiding on-the-spot indecisiveness and disappointment. This will also help you steer clear of any allergies and find options for dietary restrictions and preferences. Many venues will work with you when it comes to dietary needs if you give them enough advance notice.
Pre-Identified Visual Elements: Before the show, check the theater’s website for any ‘seek and find’ elements you can spot in marketing photos for kids to look out for during the performance. It adds an interactive layer to their experience, keeping them interested and focused.
Know the Story and Music: Acquaint yourselves with the storyline and any featured music prior to attending. A basic understanding of the plot and familiarity with the tunes will enrich your children’s appreciation and enjoyment of the show. If there’s a soundtrack or music associated with the production, get amped up the week or two leading up to the shop.
Theater Anatomy 101: Take a moment to point out and explain the various sections and elements of the theater to your kids, including things like the curtain, band loft, orchestra pit, stage, lights, sound booth, and actor entrances. This brief, educational tour will not only deepen their understanding of the theatrical experience but also boost their anticipation for the magical moments ahead.
Make the Dinner Theater Experience Great for Kids
Invest in Proximity: Select seats as close to the stage as your budget permits. This minimizes distractions from other attendees while immersing your children in the show, making them feel like active participants rather than passive observers.
Timely Bathroom Breaks: Wisely schedule bathroom visits after dinner, before the show, and during intermission. This practice prevents disruptive, last-minute dashes during critical moments of the performance. When a bathroom break is inevitably needed during the show, have a plan for exiting and re-entering with as little disruption as possible.
Dessert During Intermission: If your dinner theater offers the option, save dessert for the intermission. The sweet treat will give your kids something to look forward to, serving as a delightful mid-show surprise.
Be a Part of the Show at Your Local Dinner Theater
Dress the Part: Encourage your kids to dress by the show’s theme. Engaging in this playful activity enhances their excitement and connection to the performance. This doesn’t have to be a super decked-out costume experience, but even dressing for the era that the show takes place in, or with subtle nods to the characters.
Capture the Memories: Utilize the theater’s lobby as a perfect backdrop for family photos. These snapshots will serve as cherished reminders of your delightful evening out. If your theater is anything like Beef & Boards, there will be a giant poster for the show or a place to pose with your paper program.
Following these tips will help create an unforgettable dinner theater adventure for your family, blending education with entertainment in a setting of culinary and cultural delight.
Cover photo by Indy Ghost Light, all others by Katy Mann.
