It’s like dinner and a movie. But without the movie. Well, kind of.

Dustin Lewis, who has been a professional actor for more than 10 years, came to DeKalb more than two months ago looking for work. He met up with Oscar Hansen, the owner of The House, and discussed plans for a dinner theater.

After the plan was set in motion, Lewis bought advertisements in the local papers seeking performers for “The All Night Strut,” the first-ever production of his newly founded theater company, The At Home Players.

Actors and actresses from the DeKalb area auditioned and some were cast, including pre-communication major Candice Currie and speech language pathology major Lisa Bartels.

Dinner theater is just like it sounds, theater with a meal. Three dishes are offered for this summer’s performance: strip steak, chicken parmesan and vegan/vegetarian shepherd’s pie.

“The All Night Strut” musical encompasses two decades of American music (the 1930s and ’40s) from moody jazz to sassy swing. Composers of the musical celebration include Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Loesser, Duke Ellington and Johnny Mercer.

Lewis said “The All Night Strut” will establish DeKalb in the dinner theater community.

“Hopefully, this will be a good investment into the downtown,” Lewis said.

Dinner theaters will run at The House, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, every Friday night and Sunday afternoon in July. Seating on Friday starts at 6:30 p.m. and the Sunday times have yet to be announced. Regular tickets are $24.95, tickets for students and seniors are $22.95.