Capri Theater launches fund drive as it struggles for post-pandemic momentum
By David Pierini, Editor
The leaders of the Capri Theater and Plymouth Christian Youth Center say they need $1.5 million by July 1. The COVID-19 pandemic has left the treasured West Broadway Avenue landmark in a fiscal crisis.
In a letter released last week, PCYC Executive Director Melissa Denton and board President Karen Polzin made an “emphatic request” for support, saying its financial reserves are tapped.
Theaters worldwide have struggled to regain momentum since the pandemic shutdowns were lifted, but Capri had unique challenges: the theater was temporarily closed before the onset of the pandemic.
That meant the Capri, in the middle of completing a multi-million-dollar renovation, was not eligible for federal relief dollars, Denton said. The PCYC board decided to continue construction, and when crews completed it in 2021, theatergoers were still cautious about going out.
Denton said potential funders who had expressed interest in supporting the Capri after the renovations were finished were contributing the dollars elsewhere.
“It was timing and unprecedented challenges,” she said. “We have a beautiful building, but it’s also more expensive now to run, and we’re at a point where we need to refresh our funds.”
Leadership is optimistic. Within 48 hours of the letter going out, PCYC has received more than $180,000 in donations. A fundraising gala scheduled for May also had Denton hopeful.
The Capri was built in 1927 and is the last of 13 theaters in North Minneapolis. One of the theater’s most historic moments was when a young performer named Prince held the first public show of his career in 1979. Tickets were $4.
Dancers were part of a gospel choir performance during a 2022 performance at the Capri Theater. Photo by David Pierini
PCYC, which has been providing youth programming for 70 years, including running an alternative high school at its center on Oliver Avenue North, bought the Capri in 1984.
PCYC has used the theater as a training ground for theater and tech careers for its youth. The alternative school and after-school programs, which continued through the pandemic, serve about 600 youth annually.
“There are so many wonderful things that go on at the Capri, with theater, music, dance, and all those art genres covered under the umbrella of the Capri,” said J.D. Steele, a longtime singer and music producer who runs three different choirs from the theater. “It’s just a jewel in our community. I think once people know the Capri is struggling, I think people will rally behind PCYC.”
The PCYC board does not plan to close if the Capri falls short of the $1.5 million goal.
Denton said meeting that deadline with that figure would get the organization on solid financial ground. She said the board’s new strategic program includes several actions that will sustain operations further into the future.
Denton said the Capri operates on an annual budget of about $1.2 million. With PCYC programs and staff, the total operating budget is just over $5 million.
Visit the Capri website to donate.