KU’s production of Milking Christmas goes full-tilt merry for anti-capitalist holiday musical

Milking Christmas in 2022 at The Black Box in KC. // Photo by Paul Andrews

Audiences to the University Theatre’s next production will enjoy cheery musical numbers, over-the-top costumes and sweet storylines driven by even sweeter characters—literally, some of them are gingerbread cookies. Through all that, along with self-aware humor, a satirical message on capitalism and corporate greed emerges. Milking Christmas was composed by Ryan McCall, University of Kansas Department of Theatre & Dance faculty member, in collaboration with Friend Dog Studios. McCall serves as musical director, and Michelle Miller, a KU lecturer, is directing.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 2, 4 and 6 as well as 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 at the William Inge Memorial Theatre at Murphy Hall. Additionally, the Dec. 2 and 6 performances will be available to view online via livestream, for those in KC and elsewhere who can’t make the drive.

Milking Christmas was originally produced and developed by The Living Room Theatre in Kansas City for showings in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. In KC, it’s become a bit of a holiday tradition, and even celebrating it’s variations as such a young show were part of our (many) highlights in last year’s run. Honestly, we’re just thrilled to see what both a collegiate cast will do with the loosely structured, improv-empowered comedy, and how the University student audience will receive a modern Socialist fable. [Well, we’d imagine.]

The show follows Macey Maid-a-Milking, who questions why so much coal is being produced and sneaks into Santa’s castle to see the naughty list. Dissent rises, at first individually and then collectively, with the future of Christmas hanging in the balance.

“Working on a new musical is not for the faint of heart. Nimbleness is required to navigate change. It’s been a benefit to this process that one of the writers is KU lecturer and musical director Ryan McCall, who has empowered student cast members to influence what will be the final version of the script,” Miller says.

Tickets are available for purchase on the performance web page, by calling 785-864-3982 or in-person at the box office noon to 5 p.m. weekdays in Murphy Hall. Again, the Dec. 2 and 6 performances will be available to view online via livestream.