In fact, he sees both sets of his grandparents every Sunday for dinner. This is routine until he has to tell them that he's been offered a dream job. The job he's been waiting for--marketing executive--would take him away from his beloved, but annoying, grandparents. He tells them. The news doesn't sit so well.

          Thus begins a series of schemes to keep Nick around. How could he betray his family's love to move to Seattle, for a job, wonder his grandparents? Well, Frank, Aida, Nunzio and Emma do their level best, and that includes bringing to dinner the lovely--and single--Caitlin O’Hare as bait...
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    "Loaded with laughs every step of the way." -- Star-Ledger
    "This hilarious comedy will have you laughing the whole night." -- Broadway Theatre
    "An endearing family comedy filled with love, laughter and lasagna." -- Examiner.com
    "A hilarious family comedy that is even funnier than DiPietro's long-running musical revue I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change." -- BackStage

          In our very first issue of the Early Bird Newsletter, we wrote about the origins of our theatre and how Founder and Producer, Ed Fletcher, had been at the helm all along.
          Now that we have had so many new patrons coming to the theatre, we thought that the story was worth repeating!
          Ed Fletcher first retired at the age of forty. But a born entrepreneur like Ed does not go quietly into the world of retirement. Fletcher opened a successful Art Gallery business in the Tampa Bay area that flourished for years.
          In the mid-1980's, he sold the Art Galleries and decided to write and produce his own screenplay. It was during that production that he began to discover how many talented actors there were in the Clearwater area.
          After the film was produced, Ed decided that these actors needed a theatre, and another career was born. He began his search and found a man who owned three restaurants. Fletcher jumped in and opened three dinner theatres in Seminole, Dunedin and New Port Richey. Now, local actors had three venues in which to work!
          When the restaurant owner retired in 1990, Ed quickly found a new venue at a banquet hall on Fort Harrison Street in downtown Clearwater. He built a stage and the theatre opened that same year. In fact, the very first production was the ever-successful show Social Security.

          The concept behind Early Bird Dinner Theatre is a simple one that meets the needs of the patrons. Ed knew that there were a lot of people who loved getting out for dinner and seeing a show, but still wanted to get home at an early hour.
          Thus, Early Bird Dinner Theatre was born.
          The formula behind this simple yet very effective idea was a smash hit, and the theatre remained at the Fort Harrison location for sixteen successful years.

          When the owner of that banquet hall retired, the theatre moved to its next location on McMullen Booth Road. Once again, Ed set to work to expand the stage and make improvements that would enhance productions.
          Early Bird is now in its fifth successful season in our new venue.
          "There's no doubt about it," said Mr. Fletcher, "if you're looking for excellent dining and exciting professional entertainment, the Early Bird Dinner Theatre is the best in the area."
          After almost twenty-five years of successful productions that bring great pleasure to both patrons and local actors, Ed Fletcher should know!
          Those of us who love theatre are very grateful to Ed for all his efforts to keep theatre alive and well in Tampa Bay.
         
~~ Jennifer Sloan Early Bird Dinner Theatre Newsletter, February 2011 (Page 2)