Chanhassen Dinner Theatres sold

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres have been sold to a group led by longtime artistic director, Michael Brindisi.

The financial details of the sale were not disclosed. Brindisi said he and other members of the new ownership team have a real emotional attachment to Chanhassen Dinner Theatres.

He said they've developed a plan that will put the theater on a stronger financial footing.

"It hasn't always been financially sound and it hasn't always been run with fiscal responsibility and so I'm looking forward to an era where we make money and we make a difference," Brindisi said. "That's our motto for the future."

Brandisi said his team will be more realistic about attendance goals, more flexible on the runs of shows, perform more outside the building and convert a third theater into an alternative entertainment venue.

"We also have a room called 'The Playhouse,' which is our third theater," he said. "We're going to convert [it] into an alternative entertainment venue that does not compete with the theater in the other two rooms, as in comedy club, cabaret, a different kind of Chanhassen experience."

The Brandisi Group purchased the theater from Tom Scallen, who's owned it for the last 21 years.