KANSAS CITY, MO — The Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Co in south Kansas City, Missouri is struggling financially due to COVID-19.
The theater was hoping for a packed-house for their holiday production, but it had to move the play online because of the pandemic.
Now it's hoping the rescue dogs found in the production will help rescue the theater from it's financial struggles.
The holiday production is called the "Muttcracker Sweet," and is a silly spoof on the timeless holiday classic, "The Nutcracker."
Martin City Melodrama theater has been entertaining Kansas City audiences for 30 years.
That entertainment benefits the mission of the theater which is to help rescue senior animals and provide acting opportunities for special needs adults and children.
Jeanne Beechwood owns the theater. Beechwood writes, produces, and co-stars in many of the productions along with actor, Jack Muccina.
Beechwood is committed to keeping her community theater open.
"Our mission is so important to us and we hope you can watch our Muttcracker Sweet to keep our doors open," Beechwood said. "We work with actors with unique abilities, special needs of all ages to create original performances with them."
"Plus, we have crazy groups of paw-formers, rescue dogs, we include in our shows."
In the midst of all the struggles from the pandemic, the theater's heater broke and can't be fixed.
"To get a brand new one will cost us 8 to 10 thousand dollars," Beachwood said.
Beachwood hopes people will tune in online. The "Muttcracker Sweet" is streaming online and cost $20 to watch.
"We are a non-profit organization and anything you donate would be tax deductible if you're looking for somewhere to donate something before the end of the year," Jeanne explained
People can buy a ticket on the theater's website. The production will run through Jan. 3, 2021.
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