Boulder’s Dinner Theater: “Singin’ in the Rain,” literally

by, Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer

What is better than dinner out followed by theater? Never having to leave your seat. Only 26 miles form Berthoud, the Boulder’s Dinner Theater is a short drive away, and if you’ve never been, you are truly missing a memorable experience.

Boulder’s Dinner Theater was established in 1977, and their actors and actresses have long and impressive resumes. Many have performed in New York, Chicago, on television and in featured films.

We’ve been going to BDT for a number of years, and I never cease to be amazed by their productions. Of the five or so shows we’ve seen this was definitely one of my favorites.

We joined our friends at the BDT around 5:45 p.m. We sipped drinks from the lobby bar and chatted as we waited to be seated. Some patrons come decked out in cocktail dresses and suits, while others are more relaxed. There were a number of children at this show, looking dapper in the Sunday best.

I decided to pick seats in the “rain” section of the theater, although I wasn’t sure what this would entail. Because we were attending with friends who had never experienced BDT, I decided the “rain” section sounded like a good way to initiate them.

The BDT is laid out in a half moon with 74 tables. There is not a bad seat in the house. The intimate setting also provides amazing acoustics for the live music. Our table, located in the “rain” section, was situated directly next to the stage.

I recommend looking at the menu as soon as you are seated, because they take your order right away. The waiters and waitresses are the actors in the play; a sort of ironic homage to the hard knocks life of a stage actor. Cocktail waitresses and dutiful table busers assist these versatile actors.

Your ticket to the show at BDT includes dinner, and we were delighted to find several new items on the menu. Our group ordered chicken cordon blue, beef stew potpie (new), and the wild Alaskan salmon ($6 extra). I ordered the lemon peppered breaded tilapia with mango margarita sauce and added skewer of shrimp for an extra $4.

Our dinner started out with bread, salad and another round of drinks. Soda and coffee are included with your meal, but alcohol is extra. Wine starts at $6.25 a glass, beer at $4.50 and cocktails at $5.25.

Our appetizer, not included in the ticket price, arrived almost immediately, followed by the main courses. Most of the main dishes are served with vegetables and little red potatoes. Everyone enjoyed his or her meal, and my husband was especially impressed with the beef potpie. My tilapia was quite tasty and I would definitely order it again. 

“Singin’ in the Rain” was originally a movie, made in 1952, starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds. It’s a musical about the transition of Hollywood from silent movies to “talkies.”

Don Lockwood (Scott Beyette) and Lina Lamont (Cindy Lawrence), our waitress on this evening, are two silent movie stars hit hard by the industry’s move to talking pictures. Unfortunate for the studio, their star female lead, Lina, has a horrible voice.

Will the studio make it through this transition, or will Lockwood and Lamont be out of a job? Thanks to Lockwood’s new love interest, Dora Bailey, played by the extraordinarily gifted BDT actress, Mary McGroary, the studio just might make it.

The talent on the BDT stage will blow you away. There are no less than 15 musical numbers in this play, each accompanied by dancing – tap, ballroom, swing, jazz and more.

Lina Lamont is a real scene-stealer, responsible for much of the onstage hilarity, as is Lockwood’s right-hand-man, Cosmo Brown. Bob Hopper, who seemed to step right out of a vaudeville show, played the character of Cosmo. I dare say Jerry Lee Lewis would have been proud.

If possible, get a table in the rain section. The theater actually hands out rain slickers to the audience, greatly adding to the overall ambiance of Lockwood’s “Singin’ in the Rain” musical number. Warning: you will get wet, but it will be worth it.

During intermission, they serve dessert and my companions indulged in the homemade berry pie with ice cream ($6 extra). In regards to food, the pie got the best review of the night. My dessert was well-made martini, up, slightly dirty with extra olives. 

At the end of this evening my cheeks ached from the constant smile on my face. If you’d like an evening of laughter and smiles, you’d better be fast. “Singin’ in the Rain,” a wonderful show for the entire family, ends on February 14, 2010.

If you miss this show, you are in luck, because BDT is bringing back “Chicago,” one of my all-time favorite productions at the theater. “Chicago” plays February 19 through May 9, 2010 (rated PG13 for adult content).

Dinner theater is more than just theater; it’s an evening of entertainment, complete with a great meal, good company, delicious drinks and a play. Whether it’s for a special occasion, or just a special treat, Boulder’s Dinner Theater is not to be missed.

Book your tickets online at www.bouldersdinnertheater.com or call (303) 449-6000.

Originally published in the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor on Feb. 28, 2010.