Derby Dinner Playhouse is a dinner theatre located in Clarksville, Indiana

Clarksville, Indiana

Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River as a part of the Louisville Metropolitan area. The population was 21,724 at the 2010 census. The town, once a home site to George Rogers Clark, was founded in 1783 and is the oldest American town in the Northwest...

 that opened in 1974. The Derby is the only dinner theatre in the Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...

 area and in southern Indiana.

History

In the early 1970s, several local business owners saw the need for an entertainment center that could host convention business, concerts and theatre productions. The Windmill Dinner Theatre group, which owned dinner theatres in Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...

 and Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

, constructed and managed the facility. Carolyn Thomas, then Derby General Manager, partnered with Bekki Jo Schneider to buy the center in 1985. As of 2009, Thomas was retired, but she and Schneider, who produces and oversees all aspects of the business, still own 50% of the company. The other half is owned by small investors.

Food

The Derby offers a homestyle American buffet featuring a salad bar, fish, beef or turkey, a variety of vegetables and sides, hot rolls and beverage. Bountiful deserts are a tradition and a full bar is available. The "Footnotes" vocal ensemble entertains patrons prior to the performance.

Facility

The venue uses the theatre-in-the-round configuration, and the actors are professionals. Performances are on Tuesday through Sunday nights, with matinées on Wednesday and Sunday. The theater's stage can rise and lower for set changes and musicals include an orchestra which plays in the "attic". Each year, the Derby presents eight mainstage shows, four Children's productions and seven concerts.

External links

• Official site