Explore this Show

Overview

Synopsis

On a cold and windy November night, Ellen and Cal prepare to open their restaurant, The Golden Carrousel. The entrees are prepped, the desserts are decided, and the small dining room is booked - their futures depend on a successful opening for future business. Perfectionist Ellen is an exquisite chef, changing the menu every night and frantically ensuring that each course is an artistic masterpiece of taste. Cal’s primary concern is paying back their loan, but he overindulges on her creations, leaving almost nothing for the guests. The patrons of this little restaurant are an eccentric group: couple Hannah and Paul Galt, writhing in ecstasy at just reading the menu; neurotic writer Elizabeth Barrow Colt, crippled with a profound fear of food and eating; self-assured publisher David Osslow, who eats his fill and then some; and friends Herrick Simmons, Tony Stasso, and Nessa Vox, a crass and hungry trio focused on their careers and each others’ entrees. Each table has its own conflicts play out while Ellen and Cal desperately try to keep dinner going each night. With many productions using real food from a real kitchen onstage, The Art of Dining is an exploration of appetites (food and otherwise) and the social manners at play when satiating those desires.

Show Information

Book
Tina Howe
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1979
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
New Jersey, present day
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
Samuel French
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Ellen

Lead

Female

Cal

Lead

Male

Hannah Galt

Supporting

Female

Paul Galt

Supporting

Male

Elizabeth Barrow Colt

Supporting

Female

Herrick Simmons

Supporting

Female

Nessa Vox

Supporting

Female

Tony Stasso

Supporting

Female

David Osslow

Supporting

Male

Songs

Sorry, we currently do not have content for this section.

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Quote Analysis

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Guide Written By:

Cindi Calhoun

Cindi Calhoun

Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress