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The Curtain Call Dinner Theater
Rating Details »
Categories: Performing Arts, Cinema, Music Venues [Edit]
690 El Camino RealTustin, CA 92780
(714) 838-1540
Now Serving Beer and Wine!
The Curtain Call Dinner Theater has added beer and wine…
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- Hours:
Mon-Wed. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Best Nights:
- Sun
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- None
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
7 reviews for The Curtain Call Dinner Theater
Why not try something new? Curtain Call theater was definitely a good find, it was very affordable and entertaining. They play one show each season and we happened to buy tickets for the Sound of Music.
The theater is owned by a Christian organization so it probably explains why there is NO alcohol at the venue. They serve non-alcoholic beer and non-alcoholic wine. There are many different table options (seats for 2, 4, 6) and probably have about 10 rows or so. Your ticket which includes dinner gives you the choice of three entrees. The entree comes with a salad. The three entrees that you can choose from are vegetable lasagna, pineapple ham steak, and greek chicken. You may also "buy up" your entree to other dishes - I believe one was prime rib. They also have two appetizer choices that you can purchase - bruschetta or spinach and artichoke dip. We had the spinach and artichoke dip (6.95) and were pleased with the flavors. The appetizer came out pretty quick - I'd imagine it's because they only have two options. My husband and I had the greek chicken and the pineapple ham steak. I was SO disappointed in the food. I had read reviews about the food but really thought that I needed to give them the benefit of the doubt... no, the food was horrible!
And sad to say, the service was just as horrible!! The servers all seem to be young high school/early college males - very nice and I'm sure they try their best, but man, the service is SLOW. I guess that's why they tell you to get to the theater so early.
We arrived at the theater around 6 and the show started at 730. There were two intermissions and then the show ended by 10. Overall, I was definitely entertained. It was a good thing that I liked the show, otherwise they'd probably just get 1 start from me!
Despite the food and the service, I do think I'd go back...
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Had I known this was a dinner theatre place, I probably would've opted out on buying the tickets to see Guys and Dolls. That happens to be my favorite musical in the world, and any chance I get to see it, I jump on. Luckily, I paid about half-price for the tickets because I got my tickets through Goldstar Events (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I didn't bother reading anything about the venue...I was just excited to sing along with my favorite showtunes, and I missed the fact that dinner (in this case, lunch since we went to a Sunday matinee) was included with our tickets.
We arrived a little over an hour early for the show and decided to eat somewhere close by before (see subsequent review). After a full tummy and some killer garlic breath, we headed to the theatre to grab our seats. We walked in, and noticed full table seating, and everyone enjoying their meals. We got seated and there were photocopied paper menus at our table with about 4 house specials for a lunch option, and also about 4 other options for an additional $9.95. We were beyond stuffed from eating right before, so this was not an option for us, though a waiter did stop by and said he'd "be right with (us)." We were not going to eat at all, but he never, ever did stop by to see if we wanted anything. Obviously, he didn't know we had eaten, but if we hadn't he would've never bothered to come see what we wanted before the show started. He just never came.
At first intermission, a new server came by and asked if we wanted dessert and/or coffee. At this point, we all had developed a sweet tooth so we ordered some desserts to share and a couple of my friends ordered lattes. They weren't brought to us until the second intermission. My friends took one sip of their lattes and almost spit them out...they said they were way too watered down. They left full cups on the table. We also all took one piece of each dessert (chocolate cake and carrot cake) and agreed that it was bad. Needless to say, we left everything pretty much untouched. :(
In general, service was bad but I can see how it may be a little hard to serve with timing of intermissions and trying to maneuver your way around cramped tables in the dark during the performance.
It was also very warm in there. Lots of body heat paired with an already very hot Sunday made the inside of this place uncomfortable.
Now, the show itself was superb. Adelaide once again stole the show, as she always does, and well I walked away singing showtunes and proceeded to annoy the eff outta my friends on the ride home. :)
I don't think I'd go back to this particular theatre for another show.
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*pout*
I'm Christian but I don't like the new owners of this place.
They have destroyed the concept.
They don't serve alcohol (which doesn't really bother me since I don't drink). They serve you FAKE WINE though -- priced the same as real alcohol. It's like vegetarians eating soy jerky. I just don't get it.
THEY CENSOR THEIR PLAYS (which really bothers me because I'm a gigantic theatre nut). How can you censor the Sound of Music?? Or the Fiddler on the Roof?? Believe me, it's possible. And entirely noticeable, even if you're not a baron of the arts.
Go to Laguna Beach and support the arts and food there instead.
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Comment from Melissa C. of
The Curtain Call Dinner Theater
10/10/2009
Hello Elizabeth! My name is Melissa. My partner, Jeff, and…
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The Curtain Call Dinner Theatre opened its doors on Friday, April 6, 1980, and quickly distinguished itself from other dinner theaters. It was the first and only dinner theater to offer its patrons a menu and waiter service. For a single price, you're now served a two-course Dinner, along with a professional quality Broadway show. The current ticket price, including dinner starts at $35. Can't beat that.
Originally run by Elizabeth Howard with her brother John Ferola as Director, the theater was recently bought by Main Place Christian Fellowship. It is family oriented and currently showing THE SOUND OF MUSIC, an all-time favorite.
True, there are no helicopters flying over the stage -- no live camels to clean up after, but the cast of this show is marvelous, with the Mother Abbess lifting us all up with the inspiring "Climb Every Mountain". What a glorious voice! The entire cast is first rate with nary an embarrassing moment for the audience.
The food is amazingly good. Cooking for large numbers of people who will be eating in a theatrical venue is not an easy task. Jimmy, the Executive Chef, who has been with the Curtain Call since the beginning, does a wonderful job. I'm really picky about my food, and I was delighted.
Thumbs way up for The Curtain Call Dinner Theatre.
http://www.curtaincall...
Dinner theater--what a concept. You mean dinner...and a musical?!
I've never been to a dinner theater before, and considering how I have no point of comparison, I can't say that my review would be very reliable. However, objectivity is much easier to achieve when I have no other experiences to taint my review with bias. Anyway...on with the review.
The theater is in the middle of a stip-mall type plaza, flanked by an asian nail salon. It was a bit disappointing to see that the experience wasn't going to be as ritzy as I had anticipated.
I walked into the lobby and was not pleased. There was no beautiful interior decoration to make up for the tacky exterior. It seemed as if they were trying too hard to look like a nice theater, but couldn't manage achieving the look, so it looked like they didn't try hard enough.
There's really not much to say about the theater itself. There were tables set up with white tablecloths and folded white cloth napkins. I love cloth napkins. The cute little lamps beside every table was a plus.
My friend and I ordered "show-only" tickets, but we were still able to order drinks and food.
However, my waiter (Mark) gave us horrible service. At first, he greeted us very nicely, but after we ordered only water and one order of Bruschetta bread, he started to ignore us. I guess he thought we were less-deserving of good service just because we didn't want to pay 30 dollars apiece for a plate of mediocre food.
Anyway, Mark was not a very good server...he ignored us, but when he would attend to us, he was pressuring us to order dinner and dessert.
The dining experience was pretty bad, but the show was pretty good. We saw a very good production of Guys and Dolls. The cast consisted of people who were all very good at what they do--it was good acting and good singing. The dancing could have been better; they need to work on synchronizing their choreography. But all in all, the show was good. It was funny and engaging and the cast was very talented.
Bottom Line: The Curtain Call is a modest venue with a talented cast. Don't expect good service from Mark if you don't plan on ordering an entire dinner. Good show, okay dining experience. Not dirt-cheap, but not too expensive. Three stars for mediocrity.
i haven't been to the curtain call theater in years. i went to see my fair lady tonight. the production was fantastic. our food came out hot and the portions were quite large. no alcohol is served but the staff was very attentive and i never had to ask for a refill of my coke.
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Now, I'd never been to 'dinner theater' before and I had always heard (or watched episodes of The Simpsons) that made it seem as though it was something pitiful and occasionally trashy.
Not the case.
Is it Broadway? No. Don't be stupid, fool. But It's lively, energetic, and even fun. Quite frankly, the service by the waiter, Paul, was the best part of the evening. As a former waiter myself, I have come to appreciate excellent service. Here ya go. The Curtain Call Dinner Theater gives great service. All the waiters seemed to be eager to please. I hope my mom tipped him well.
Yes, I went with my mother and my girlfriend. The show we saw was GREASE, billed as "The original High School Musical." Whatever. Not my favorite show, but the cast did a pretty good job, though their Frenchy was a bit too old to play that part. And one of the high school boys was balding... meh. The technical elements were, at times, impressive, and many of the cast members sang and danced well. This is a good place to go with somebody that is forty to sixty years old. Or maybe to a family outing with the kids... once. About 50 bucks for dinner and a show. I believe they perform Thursday through Sunday. I was glad I went... I was glad my fare was paid for. I'd go again... someday... especially if I had a gift certificate.
