Carousel Dinner Theater
By Eddie M
“Expect the Unexpected” is the motto of the Carousel Dinner Theater in Akron Ohio. With people busier than ever in the past, recreation time is more important than it's ever been. Good food and a entertaining show combine to make theater a satisfying choice of a lot of people every year. The Carousel calls itself the largest professional theater in the country, but many theaters seem to make that claim. Whether it really is the largest or not, it is one of the best. Carousel hires members of the American Federation of Musicians, Actors Equity Association and Society of Directors and Choreographers. It's not just a matter of supporting unions. It's a matter of ensuring that every element of the production is undertaken by serious professionals. Carousel opened in 1973 in a converted supermarket, then moved to its current location in 1988. The theater accommodates patrons looking for both and a show, as well as those who want to skip the meal but see the show. Over the last few years the production quality has risen, attracting even more serious professionals from the New York theater business. This means the shows are even better than in the past. The phenomenon of “Wicked” has been a big one in the theater world. This is the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda the Good Witch, and their families and lives before the events of the Wizard of Oz. From August to November of 2008 the Carousel urges theater patrons to see the “story that started it all,” the original story Wizard of Oz presented in a stage play. This production boasts a colorful Proscenium, which is the frame around the stage that rotates the different sets into place. Plays in 1973 didn't have their own blogs. Given its proximity to Broadway and the attraction to New York theater professionals, over the years the Carousel has hosted quite a number of Broadway productions. In 2008 “the Odd Couple” played there. The theater

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has shown Annie, Footloose, The Sound of Music, Grease, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and many other productions over the years. It's almost a Broadway off Broadway, where you can enjoy a meal while watching a top quality play. 2009 will be a big season for the theater with classics like My Fair Lady and brand new plays like High School Musical. The Carousel Dinner Theater gives Akron's citizens and visitors a taste of the New York nightlife. Take a look, you might be surprised.