By Dianne Cornish, REVIEW STAFF

The Mohawk Raceway in Campbellville offers more than slots play and harness racing. The Guelph Line facility launched its first full season of dinner theatre last November with the presentation of Sinners by Canadian playwright Norm Foster in its newly refurbished entertainment room, adjacent to the gaming floor.

On the programme through February 25 is Suitehearts, a comedy by Billy VanZandt and Jane Millmore about a reservation mix-up at a posh New York hotel. Suitehearts is the eighth show on the dinner theatre roster that opened with the pilot presentation of Move Over Miss Markham in May 2010.

The premiere performance was a “great success,” said Joseph Araujo, director of catering and group sales for Woodbine Entertainment that presents Mohawk Dinner Theatre in conjunction with Working Reel Productions. As a result, four more shows followed last season, including Steel Magnolias, which struck a chord with local audiences. “It was very well received,” said Araujo, who also serves as executive producer of Mohawk Dinner Theatre. “The cast really knocked it out of the park, night after night.”

Including Sinners and Suitehearts, this season’s lineup features five plays. Who’s Under Where will be staged March 17 to May 12, On Golden Pond will be presented September 21 to October 27 and Run For Your Wife, November 9 to December 16.

“Our biggest challenge is getting people familiar with our shows,” Araujo said. Featuring talent from the Golden Horseshoe Area has helped draw local residents, with most of the audiences composed of people from the Guelph, Milton and Cambridge areas, as well as Hamilton and Mississauga.

Dinner theatre was added to the mix to provide additional entertainment value at the raceway when the racing takes a brief hiatus from mid-October until late May. “Overall, the shows have been really well received,” the executive producer said.

To generate even more interest, a number of incentives have been added, including online offers for Facebook fans. Currently on offer is a ballot at the show for a chance to win one of two concert packages for two to the Neil Diamond show in Toronto on June 26.

Each dinner theatre play is presented 15 to 19 times during its run, with performances Friday and Saturday nights as well as Wednesday and Sunday matinees. Individual and group rates are available for the 180-seat venue. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.mohawkdinnertheatre.com or calling 1-888-675-7223.