Toby's Dinner Theatre facts for kids

Toby's Dinner Theatre is a special place in Columbia, Maryland, where you can enjoy a delicious meal and watch a live show at the same time! It's called a dinner theater because you get both dinner and a play or musical.

Discovering Toby's Dinner Theatre

Toby's Dinner Theatre was started by Toby Orenstein. She had already created the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA), a place where people could learn about theater.

In 1979, Toby wanted to open her own theater. She talked to James Rouse, who helped start the CCTA. He agreed to help her with this new idea.

Soon, a restaurant group from Virginia offered to work with Toby. They decided to open the Garland Dinner Theater together in Columbia, Maryland.

On December 4, 1979, Toby's Dinner Theatre officially opened its doors. The very first show they performed was a musical called Godspell.

For a short time, Toby's Dinner Theatre had a second location in Baltimore. It opened on March 10, 2006, with the musical Beauty and the Beast. However, this second location is now closed.

What You'll Find at Toby's

Toby's Dinner Theatre is located in downtown Columbia, Maryland. It's close to the Merriweather Post Pavilion and Lake Kittamaquindi.

The theater can hold up to 300 people at one time. When you visit, you can enjoy a buffet-style dinner with American food. There's also a full bar and live music before the show.

Toby's is a very popular place. Each year, about 80,000 to 102,000 people come to enjoy the shows and food. The building is also easy to access for everyone, following the ADA rules.

Amazing Shows You Can See

Toby's Dinner Theatre puts on many different musicals and plays. They often feature popular and exciting shows.

Some of the recent productions include:

• Dreamgirls
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Beauty and the Beast
• Show Boat
• A Christmas Carol
• Sister Act
• Hairspray
• Peter Pan
• Into the Woods
• South Pacific
• Newsies

Awards for Great Performances

Toby's Dinner Theatre has won and been nominated for several awards. These awards recognize their excellent shows and talented performers.

They have received Helen Hayes Awards, which are very important awards for theater in the Washington, D.C. area.

• 2013: Nominated for Outstanding Resident Musical for The Color Purple
• 2015: Nominated for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical for Memphis, The Musical
• 2015: Nominated for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical for Spamalot
• 2016: Nominated for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical for Ragtime
• 2016: Won Outstanding Musical for Ragtime

See also

• Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts
• Young Columbians
• Helen Hayes Award
• Theater in Washington, D.C.
• Greater Baltimore Theater Awards