Meet the small-town theater bringing thousands each year to Worthing

Megan Raposa -

This is a paid piece from the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Simplified: The Olde Town Dinner Theatre in Worthing brings 100 people nightly to the town of less than 1,000 people south of Sioux Falls. Learn more about how the organization has grown and changed in more than four decades of continuous community theatre.

Why it matters

  • Olde Town was established in 1982 by a group of volunteers, and it's remained a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization ever since – including the cast, crew, wait staff and bartenders.
  • Over the last 42 years, the theatre has continued to be a strong, affordable entertainment option, according to Executive Director Megan Bakken. Tickets for the show – including a four-course dinner – start at $50, and dessert-only matinee showings are only $35 per ticket.
  • Not only are the shows affordable, but they're also a major draw to the town of Worthing. Each year, the theatre attracts about 8,500 people – a tremendous economic impact for the community.
"Our location in Worthing provides a central location that attracts not only the Sioux Falls audience, but also the rural audience from small towns and farms from throughout the region," Bakken said. "Our theatre is overflowing with quality food, entertainment, and volunteer opportunities."

Tell me more about the upcoming season

The season kicked off last month with "The Importance of Being Earnest," which will continue through mid-October.

  • It's a comedy by Oscar Wilde involving two bachelors who pretend their name is Ernest to woo a pair of women who claim to only love men of that name.

The season continues in December with "Seasonal Allergies," a comedy exploring two siblings navigating the misadventures of hosting during the holiday season.

Then in February and March, you can see "Ripcord," the story of a cantankerous elderly woman trying to get rid of her new roommate in a senior living facility.

The season wraps up in the spring with a run of "Play On!" which runs May 2 through June 1.

  • "Play On!" is the hilarious story of a theatre group trying desperately to put on a play in spite of maddening interference from a haughty author who keeps revising the script.

How can I get tickets?

You can learn more about specific shows, volunteer opportunities and tickets here.