As a producing theatre company, CDT is one of the few theatres in the Twin Cities with facilities to create all production elements from scratch. From initial concepts of scenic design to costume creation to choreography, music, lighting, sound, and props - everything is created at Chanhassen.

After a play title is chosen, the director works closely with the design team in development. Once designers understand the director's vision, they begin researching and creating. The scenic designer creates a scenic plot on paper and then makes a tiny scale model of the set, set pieces and backdrops. The costume designer sketches costume renderings and selects fabric swatches for each costume. From these drawings, costume artisans hand-make patterns and begin stitching away. Main Stage productions have included up to 250 individual costumes!

The properties master begins gathering the wide range of props called for in the script. Props are created in the scene shop – furniture, loaves of bread, shrunken heads, foreign currencies and hairspray cans – each item hand-crafted to look like the real thing according to the time period. It takes the scene, costume and prop shops about twelve weeks to produce everything needed for the show. Items need to be made sturdily to handle wear and tear.

The musical director re-works the musical score for Chanhassen's live, professional orchestra and rehearses with musicians. The choreographer works closely with the director and music director to create actors' movements for dance and musical numbers. Sound and lighting designers plot technical components to create effect and mood. The makeup and hair designer develops a specific look for every character.

Actors begin rehearsals just 2.5 weeks prior to opening. When they arrive they have their lines and much of the music prepared. Rehearsals are packed with perfecting music, learning choreography and blocking scenes. In-between are costume fittings and press interviews. During a rehearsal period many actors do double-duty: they rehearse by day and perform the currently-running production by night.

The currently-running production closes over the weekend, at which time the old set is removed to make room for the new one. Scenery is brought in, drops hung, special effects set, floor painted. "Tech Week" is in full-swing. Light and sound technicians re-direct over 250 separate lighting instruments in accordance with the designer's plot. Body microphones are re-plotted and all sound cues recorded. Finishing touches are made to costumes, scenery is put into place and the production stage manager coordinates the details and communication.

Everything comes together for the actors' first stage rehearsal. The director, cast, orchestra and design team work to make sure that everything is seamless. Can you believe the company has only three days to make this happen before opening night? It's nothing short of amazing that a new musical can be created in such a short time. Another op'nin, another show!