Broadway Palm Dinner Theater is Tops for Live Entertainment in Ft. Myers Florida

Broadway Palm Dinner Theater is a great place to spend an entertaining evening while visiting Fort Myers, Florida. My husband and I went recently and here is what we discovered. Located in one end of an outdoor mall, Broadway Palm Dinner Theater is deceptively plain from the view of the ample parking lot. Upon entering the lobby and stepping on to the red carpet, however, we were glad we followed the dress code of dressy casual . On the left is comfortable seating, an art gallery, and a bar. To the right is a lovely little gift shop, with glass figurines, stuffed toys, kitsch from various shows and dolls that stop even big girls for a second look. Tucked in a corner is a ticket window where "on call" tickets can be picked up. Most tickets will have been mailed, however, after you call to make your reservation. At that time, you can pay by Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Beyond the ticket counter, restrooms are discreetly placed. But following the red carpet straight up the winding ramp and around the corner, we passed in to the main theater.

Laid out before us were terraced rows of tables, cozy with small lamps, cloth napkins and comfortable chairs. Everything is wheelchair and handicap accessible, as well. As the server led us to our spot, she took our soft drink orders and explained where and how to obtain our buffet dinner. When we were ready, we headed over to the left of the stage where an alcove is filled with long tables. Broadway Palm Dinner Theater has a chef who carves your meat with a flourish and the menu includes things like "Sliced Slow Roasted Sirloin with Garlic and Rosemary," and "Grilled Chicken with Honeydew Salsa," or "Zucchini Stuffing." We got our plates, then decided from amongst a range of salads, entrees, breads, and ham that the chef was carving. We ate our fill, and then went back for dessert. There was quite an array of tempting pies, cakes, puddings and ice cream to choose from, including sugar-free treats. Meanwhile, our server kept the drinks coming, not forgetting to fill the water glasses. The meal was included with the price of the $49 ticket, and although all drinks except water are extra, the soft drinks, tea and coffee were bottomless.

The food, though, while ample, is just okay. Not bad, but not the reason people come, either. (Although it is possible they come for the desserts!) If you prefer, you can purchase a ticket for $27 that does not include dinner, and then you will be sitting in the very back of the theater in one of two small areas with theater seating. These seats are actually quite comfortable and some people eat their meal and then go back and sit in those seats if there is room. Because of the terraced floor plan, you can see quite well from there. (Prices for dinner and a show range from $21 for children under 12, to $53 for Saturday evening shows. There are matinees, as well, for $47). Broadway Palm Dinner Theater is very versatile, with a lot to offer. They will cater your business or social functions, presentations or meetings. They house a Cafe Cabaret, as well as an Art Cafe, and are equipped to handle groups ranging from 20-450 people. They are community oriented, even hosting a special Children's Theater featuring kid-friendly meals such as hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken, with shows like "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland" or "The Emperor's New Clothes."

Soon, the lights were lowered, the live orchestra began to play, and we got comfortable and enjoyed a lively production. The productions are mostly very popular ones. The 2009-2010 season features such things as "Married Alive," "Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels," "A Christmas Carol," "George M. Yankee Doodle Dandy," "The King and I," "Cash, Ring of Fire," and "Footloose." Other years they have shown "The Sound of Music," "Cats," "Smokey Joe's Cafe," and many, many more. (If you want more avant-garde, there is a 90-seat "Off-Broadway" theater at the same location that does original plays, lesser known comedies and musical revues ). The stage is large, can be partitioned quite elaborately, and has moving parts as well. The casting, choreography, live orchestra, sound and costumes are really quite good. These are professionals, actors and actresses that must audition for these paid positions; most act all over the country in live theater venues. So the actors can act, the singers can sing and the dancers can dance. The plays and musicals are performed with enthusiasm and, since it is live theater after all, when the inevitable little glitches occur, they are handled with style. The wait staff is attentive and friendly, so it feels like an elegant evening with you as the pampered guest. I highly recommend that you look over Broadway Palm Dinner Theater's website, http://broadwaypalm.com/currentshow_wp.htm, and consider Broadway Palm Dinner Theater for a special evening out when you visit Fort Myers, Florida.

Sources: http://broadwaypalm.com/currentshow_wp.htm
personal experience