With Performances Canceled, Theatre’s Costumes Appear In MartinPatrick3 Windows
In a normal year, the Minnesota Dance Theatre would be preparing to pack the State Theatre downtown for several performances of Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy. But with the pandemic shutting down their shows this year, their 55-year run has gone dark for now. Well, almost.
In a show of support for the arts, North Loop retailer MartinPatrick3 is now displaying some of the Minnesota Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker costumes on mannequins in its windows for the holiday season.
“We have recreated scenes from the iconic show that has run for 55 years in Minneapolis using all the original costumes, with very little emphasis on the product we sell,” said co-owner Greg Walsh. “We elected to support the arts, believing in our community and our neighborhood and wanted to bring some holiday cheer to our customers and those who have enjoyed this holiday tradition for decades.”
They’re also raising money for dancers from diverse neighborhoods through sales of Nutcracker ornaments. All proceeds go to the Minnesota Dance Theatre’s CAN Dance Program which fully funds tuition for dance scholars who otherwise would not be able to afford it.
The window displays also feature a candy cane theme, with striped curtains and red-and-white lights in the planters outside. The store is located at 212 3rd Avenue North in the Colonial Warehouse building.
By Mike Binkley, North Loop Neighborhood Association
