A Sacramento theater group is hosting a fundraiser Friday night to recover from the loss of more than $30,000 in equipment during two burglaries last month.
The thefts were "devastating," according to volunteers with Sacramento's Best of Broadway theater group, and put the non-profit organization's future at risk.
"They've taken away all of our technological infrastructure from us," said Chris Carlson, director of the "Relight the Night" fundraiser planned for Friday night. "In order to produce our show next year, we're either going to have to rent equipment ... or we're going to replace all that equipment."
Starting at 7 p.m. Friday, a veteran cast will perform 90 minutes of show tunes as part of the "Relight the Night" fundraiser. A raffle and silent auction also will be held.
Carlson said the nonprofit organization recently relocated all of its equipment, costumes and props to a warehouse off Florin Perkins Road in south Sacramento. Shortly after the move was completed, volunteers arrived at the warehouse twice in October to find items missing. Sacramento police confirmed the Oct. 10 and 12 burglary reports.
Among the items stolen were microphones, sound equipment, power tools and two keyboards, Carlos said. In all, the missing items were valued at $33,800.
Sacramento's Best of Broadway puts on two major productions a year - one benefitting charity - and several other performances with a volunteer cast, Carlson said. The organization has helped launch several notable performers' careers - including that of Jessica Chastain, who acted in "The Help" - and about a dozen volunteers are now performing on Broadway.
Carlson said the thefts have saddened volunteers, but also mobilized them.
"It was not hard to get a whole bunch of people together at a moment's notice to produce (the fundraiser)," he said.
Tickets for the fundraiser are $30 and can be purchased at the door with cash or check or by calling (877) 757-7741. Anyone interested in making cash or in-kind donations to the organization also can call that number.
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