SPRINGFIELD -- The Mars Theatre will present its first live show since cancelling its spring and fall shows because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"A Barefoot Movement Christmas" on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. will offer something for everyone, including renditions of everything from Chuck Berry’s “Run Run Rudolph” to Perry Como’s “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” and emotional takes on the more tender songs of the season like “Oh Holy Night” and “Hark The Herald Angels Sing.”

 An added bonus to the night will be the participation of members from The Effingham Community Orchestra on a few select songs. Currently, the theatre plans to operate at 50 percent capacity and buffer seats will be calculated into the floor plan.

The Barefoot Movement is a heartfelt, energetic, acoustic group from Nashville. All the worries and frustrations of the world melt away as this bluegrass band takes listeners back to a simpler place and time. The "movement" consists of singer-songwriter and fiddler Noah Wall, mandolinist Tommy Norris, guitarist and singer Alex Conerly and Katie Blomarz on the upright bass.

This performance is funded in part by a Performing Arts Touring Grant the theatre received from South Arts. Headquartered in Atlanta, South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization empowering artists, organizations, and communities, and increasing access to arts and culture. In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the State Arts Agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — with additional funding from other public and private donors — South Arts supports artists and organizations through a rich and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships, and programs.

The National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. The mission of Georgia Council for the Arts is to cultivate the growth of vibrant, thriving Georgia communities through the arts. GCA believes that the arts can transform communities, and our funding for arts organizations supports those organizations whose work demonstrates a significant benefit to the community.

The pandemic has left much of the live event and theatre scene crippled. Venues throughout the state, like the Mars Theatre, have reopened with limited capacity. For now, movies are only shown Friday and Saturday nights and tickets are limited to allow for social distancing. Other precautionary guidelines being followed are theatre staff wearing gloves and facemasks, hand sanitizer is available in the lobby and all door handles and bathroom fixtures are wiped down prior to opening, after the movie starts and after all guests have left. Patrons are encouraged to wear facemasks but are not required and tickets for all movies and live events can be purchased online prior to arrival to cut down on the amount of time spent in line and in the lobby. The balcony is also open to help with social distancing.

For more information on upcoming shows visit www.marstheatre.com, or call 912-754-3118.