2026 Marks the 40th Season of Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre!

Founders Tom and Debbie Prather met in 1965 at a theatre in Harrisburg where he was producing a show and she was interviewing him during press night. They married six months later.

Tom and Debbie had a dream. Their vision —to build a regional dinner theatre where people could come together, relax and experience top-notch theatre. Their dream started with the original design for the theatre sketched on a napkin at Denny’s Restaurant.

Their dream became reality on April 1, 1987 when the curtain was raised on the inaugural production at Dutch Apple of A Chorus Line.  The first show ran from April 3 – May 10, 1987.

The name Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre was selected from five options included in a survey given to friends and family. At first, there was concern over the name because of the association with road apples (ask a Lancaster County resident)!

Before the show began each night, the first Executive Chef played ragtime piano for dinner entertainment.

Brothers Will and David, Tom and Debbie’s sons grew up in the family business and have been an integral part in the growth of the company. Executive Producer, Will Prather, first started in the hospitality business as a snack bar manager for his parents’ first theatres in Selinsgrove, PA. David Prather, current owner at the theatre, was key in bringing concerts to the venue to round out the season.

The Prather family also owns and operates Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers, Florida and Prather Productions, their international touring company.