The Little Dinner Theater Players

Backstage Pass

Each issue of Scenes From the Hat will feature a theater and exploring the theater's beginnings, evolution over the years, and goals for the future - plus some fun facts along the way.

Our inaugural issue is starting with The Little Dinner Theater Players! Don't let their humble size fool you. This delightful theater company puts on entertaining shows in a restaurant venue, but it's what they do with the ticket profits that will surprise you. The theater's origins go back to 2003 when a group of community actors wanted to explore the dinner theater genre. After successfully putting on a couple performances from the "Murder in the Dark" mystery series, local actor Tony Quaranta decided to create the Little Dinner Theater Players. The theater's focus was primarily on small shows in dining establishments, starting with Murder is in the Air by Peg Sheldrick and performed at the Comfort Inn in Lynchburg. The inaugural season continued with David Landau's The Altos ("Like the Sopranos, just lower," laughs Cheryl Carter, one of the stock actors with the LDTP).

The cast of the first LDTP show in 2002, Murder is in the Air

"Initially we performed four or five productions a year, primarily murder mysteries, but over the years that has grown to also include variety and improv shows," Quaranta says. To find venues, LDTP would scout restaurants that have either a private dining room or a second dining room large enough for performing as well as dining patrons. Quaranta explains, "We approach the owner and present the opportunity for them to join us in producing a show along with dining. It's mutually beneficial as we take care of advertising and ticket sales with the food and service being the only responsibility of the restaurant." Restaurants are able to use their regular menus, but some have even made special themed menus for the LDTP shows. Over the years, LDTP has performed at the former Montebello's in Forest (now La Caretta), the Jefferson Center in Roanoke, Mariner's Landing at Smith Mountain Lake, Renaissance Theatre at its former Commerce Street location, the Holiday Inn, Clayton's, the Ploughcroft Tea Room, and most recently at Monte Carlo's in Lynchburg, to name a few.

Originally because of low overhead costs, the proceeds would be split among the cast members. But that all changed when Quaranta had a suggestion. "I proposed to several of the regular troupe the idea associating with and raising funds for a local charity." One of those actors, Cheryl Carter, had personally benefitted from the Children's Miracle Network (CMN), and Quaranta was associated with the local CMN director, Jack Whisler. The cast and Whisler overwhelmingly supported this plan to disburse the profits from the shows, so Quaranta and the LDTP created the CMN Miracle Tours. Various LDTP shows were performed in Lynchburg, Bedford, Smith Mountain Lake, and Roanoke. "We performed at least two productions a year for twelve years and during that time, we were able to raise over $35,000.00 for our local CMN hospitals," beams Quaranta. As an acknowledgement of this generosity, LDTP received the 2012 Regional Award for Outstanding Achievement in EMS Contributions from the Blue Ridge EMS Council. When productions resumed after the pandemic, LDTP branched out and started offering fund-raising performances for other local charities, mostly those focusing on women and children.

"We have since partnered with CASA of Lynchburg, Miriam's House, the Women's Club of Lynchburg, and our present charity, Kid's Haven."

LDTP is a very close-knit collaborative group. The idea is to have fun for a good cause. Over the years, LDTP has also grown an amazing and loyal group of patrons that are considered part of the LDTP family. Some of these audience members have even become regular performers in LDTP shows! In addition, some of the regular troupe members have been known to write their own dinner theater shows for LDTP, including Lynchburg native Steve Allen, playwright of Dr. What and Who's My Hero? "Over the years, we have developed a loyal following that likes to be included in the action. We have fun with the show, and the audience does as well," says Allen.

Tony Quaranta presents Miriam's House with a donation check of LTDP proceeds in Jnauary 2023

LDTP continues to produce shows throughout the year at local restaurants. The productions calls for actors who are comfortable on stage as well as directly engaging with audience members as most of its shows are interactive. While there is a main core troupe, LDTP is always looking for fresh talent. Those interested in performing can either directly reach out to the theater through its Facebook page, or simply be on the lookout for public audition information when posted. Rehearsals are usually three nights a week for six weeks (location varies depending on the venue). Typically, performances run for two weekends on a Friday and Saturday evenings.

LDTP advertising its show for 2008's CMN Miracle Tour

"We want to provide local actors and entertainers an opportunity to display their talents in a unique environment with the intent to help local charities," says Quaranta. "We will keep the show going as long as there are venues to host us, a charity that needs us, and our audiences can stand it!"

Visit the Little Dinner Theater Players at their Facebook page and littledinnertheater.com for show and ticket information. As always, you can find updates on auditions and performances on our website here.