July 27, 2024

Martin City Melodrama (MCM)is proud to open its 40 season of original performances with its special ‘Wizard of Paws’ performances beginning August 2.

This trip to Emerald City takes Dorothy, the dog rescuer, down the yellow brick road to face the Dog Catcher of the West. Along with her familiar friends, The Scarecrow, The Tinman, and The Lion, this animal loving group returns to Kansas to open the First Dog Shelter in the state of Kansas.

Written and directed by MCM Artistic Director Jeanne Beechwood and original songs by Jon Copeland, this magical re-telling of the Oz story features actors with unique-abilities, community performers and their children, and professional actors. It also includes ‘pawformers’ from the community and the theatre’s senior rescue dogs. (Including a 24-year-old chihuahua).

The cast of 17, including Lee’s Summit mother and daughter London and Macie Root, is the largest ever on the MCM stage and includes 9 rescue dogs from metro shelters. This production is sponsored by a grant from ArtsKC.

“We love bringing this unique and inclusive style of family entertainment to our community,” said Beechwood. “It’s great to put on a fantastic show while raising awareness about the talents of uniquely-abled actors and the need for senior dog adoptions.”

MCM is a registered 501.c3 nonprofit organization that serves the greater Kansas City area with affordable, high-quality entertainment and theatre arts education. In addition, the theatre supports organizations providing forever homes for senior dogs. The senior dogs in the show are rescued from KC Pet Project, Melissa’s Second Chances, Wayside Waifs, Gladstone Animal Shelter, Midwest Animal Rescue-MARQ, Kansas City, Kansas animal shelter and Heart of America Humane Society.

Reservations are essential for the PAWformances. Tickets can be ordered at martincitymelodrama.org. Performances are Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 4 at 3:30 p.m. Martin City Melodrama is located at 702 East Blue Ridge Extension in Grandview. For more information, email [email protected] or call 913-642-7576.

“Our goal is to bring people together to provide a fun family event,” Beechwood said. “If we can get more senior dogs into FURever homes while giving a great performance, our 40th season will be off to a great start.”