Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' Ownership

Steve Peters, Tamara Kangas Erickson, Michael Brindisi

President/Artistic Director | Michael Brindisi
Mr. Brindisi serves as Artistic Director and President of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres where he has directed more than 80 productions since 1988. In 2009 he was honored by the Star Tribune as Outstanding Director of the Year for two Main Stage productions: 42nd Street and The Producers. In addition to his history at Chanhassen, Mr. Brindisi has directed at numerous theatres locally and nationally and is recognized as one of the finest regional theater directors in the country. Prior to his Chanhassen directorial career, he established Minnesota Festival Theatre of Albert Lea and served as a freelance director for seven seasons with Bemidji's Paul Bunyan Playhouse in summer stock. On rare occasion, Mr. Brindisi takes an opportunity to return to the stage as an actor. He appeared at Saint Paul's Ordway Center guest-starring as Moonface Martin in Anything Goes in 2002 with Sandy Duncan, and played Roscoe Dexter in Singin' in the Rain in 2009. His Broadway credits include Once in a Lifetime with John Lithgow and the first Broadway touring production of Grease in the role of Kenickie. In addition, he has 22 years of business experience in the current operation, having also acted as General Manager for four years in the early '90s. Mr. Brindisi is eager to lead the company in a new direction of growth. He resides in Chanhassen with his wife, accomplished actor Michelle Barber.

Vice-President/Choreographer | Tamara Kangas Erickson
Tamara is thrilled to be a part of the ownership team at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. She has been involved in productions on all three Chanhassen stages dating back to 1981 and has choreographed the past fourteen Main Stage shows. Tamara was named "Outstanding Choreographer of 2005, 2006, and 2008" by the Minneapolis Star Tribune for Singin' in the Rain, West Side Story, and 42nd Street, and received an Ivey Award in 2008 for her choreography of 42^nd Street. In the Fireside she directed and choreographed Respect and choreographed Altar Boyz; and in the Playhouse she directed The Musical of Musicals: The Musical. Tamara has also performed in numerous Chanhassen productions including 42^nd Street, Cats, Oklahoma, Can-Can, Crazy for You and Hair. As a member of the executive management team, Tamara also brings years of sales, marketing, design and branding experience as former employee of Ralph Lauren in New York City.

Treasurer/President of VenuWorks | Steven L. Peters
Steve holds an MFA in Arts Management from the University of Iowa, and brings over 30 years of experience in entertainment facility management. Peters managed arts and entertainment venues for the City of Dubuque and Iowa State University before entering private management as National Director of Operations, and later Vice President for Ogden Entertainment, Inc. He served as opening director of the Target Center in Minneapolis, and directed the management of venues from Alaska to Florida. Steve founded Compass Facility Management in 1996, now called VenuWorks, to serve the unique management and operational challenges of mid-market entertainment facilities. Today VenuWorks manages over thirty venues in eighteen markets located across the United States. Its promotions arm presents dozens of events, including Broadway musicals, concerts, exhibitions and family attractions each year. Amongst various professional distinctions, Steve is a Past President of the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM), an organization of nearly 4000 members involved in the management of arenas, theatres, stadiums and convention centers worldwide.