Dillstar Productions™ was formed in 1996 in Rancho Cucamonga, California by Maggie Cupp, her husband Ryan Sands, and their mutual business partner and friend Hank Stickney. Although the production company is fairly new, the shows are not. In fact, it was seeing one of the shows that they currently produce that gave this couple the idea to license the rights five years later. Then, in the first quarter of 2001 - Ryan, Maggie, and Hank set out to take control of all the shows nationwide.

The company has been a great success since its inception with shows running in many locations nationwide. No matter how big the company may get, Maggie and Ryan are dedicated to keeping a family environment in their shows and business practices. "There's an infectious quality about these productions that causes the people in our cast(s) to become family. Not just during the shows, but outside they become close socially. These friendships are what keep us together. A cast will run up to ten years and take an incredible amount of pride in their show."

The company has helped to raise over seven million dollars for charities and foundations such as the American Lung Association and the Jimmy Fund.

Maggie Cupp was the general manager of a major restaurant chain and was hired to do promotion for "Joey and Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding", Dillstar's biggest show, in 1996. She hails from Brooklyn, NY and says that her Italian heritage is what makes producing these shows so fun for her and contributed to the decision to buy the rights and take the show national.

Ryan Sands thought he was done in show business when he bought a house with his new bride, Maggie, in Southern California back in 1990. He had been a player in several roles for both stage and screen as well as the 1982 Burt Reynolds film, "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". He now is the artistic director and creative mind behind Dillstar's seven various productions.

Hank Stickney graduated with an MBA from Boston University and was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Airforce. He was the president and founder of Western Medical Specialties, one of the first and only providers of specialized home health care services. Currently he has turned his attention to his first love of sports. He is now the Chief Executive Officer of Mandalay Sports Entertainment and a key player in Dillstar's financial dealings.