For thirty-six years, the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster has put on shows and served full course and buffet style dinners to over 150,000 guests. On The Spark Wednesday, we heard the backstory of how this theatre came to be, how they continue to thrive amongst challenges and the story of an actress in several of their productions. Erika Wolf, chief operating and financial officer at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, Dominic Lau, technical and scenic director at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre and Brynne Davidson, an actress in Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre productions, joined us for this discussion.

The owners of the theatre, Thomas and Deborah Prather, got married six months after meeting on a TV show in Harrisburg, where Deborah interviewed Thomas about his involvement in theater. After they got married, they put on several theater production together throughout the state; until they eventually opened Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre with the ideas and designs they drafted on a Denny's restaurant napkin.

Today, their theater, which seats three hundred twenty-eight people, brings a wide variety of shows to the region. However, due to inflation, the theater was forced to increase their prices and put a mask mandate in place for audience and cast members.

"It was difficult, especially as a dancer," Davidson said. "Breathing is hard enough while dancing at such a high intensity with a mask. On top of that, it was a whole new way of adjusting to doing shows and accommodating for safety precautions."

Wolf said, although their theater had challenges and changes to adjust to, they're looking forward to growing and giving their audience what they want in this season and the next seasons to come.

For thirty-six years, the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster has put on shows and served full course and buffet style dinners to over 150,000 guests. On The Spark Wednesday, we heard the backstory of how this theatre came to be, how they continue to thrive amongst challenges and the story of an actress in several of their productions. Erika Wolf, chief operating and financial officer at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, Dominic Lau, technical and scenic director at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre and Brynne Davidson, an actress in Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre productions, joined us for this discussion.
The owners of the theatre, Thomas and Deborah Prather, got married six months after meeting on a TV show in Harrisburg, where Deborah interviewed Thomas about his involvement in theater. After they got married, they put on several theater production together throughout the state; until they eventually opened Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre with the ideas and designs they drafted on a Denny's restaurant napkin.
Today, their theater, which seats three hundred twenty-eight people, brings a wide variety of shows to the region. However, due to inflation, the theater was forced to increase their prices and put a mask mandate in place for audience and cast members.
"It was difficult, especially as a dancer," Davidson said. "Breathing is hard enough while dancing at such a high intensity with a mask. On top of that, it was a whole new way of adjusting to doing shows and accommodating for safety precautions."
Wolf said, although their theater had challenges and changes to adjust to, they're looking forward to growing and giving their audience what they want in this season and the next seasons to come.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from <a href="https://www.witf.org">WITF</a>, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

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