Happy New Year!

Can you believe that 2011 is, literally, only days away? December is always a great time of year. Not only is the world looking back on the year that was 2010, but so many of us have a month full of holidays that make you brim with happiness and joy from the inside out.

Many of these holiday traditions carry with it an annual trip to the theater. Whether is be time honored productions like A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker ballet, or seeing the latest production at your favorite theater like The Heidi Chronicles at MST, these trips help create special memories for us all.

While growing up in Massachusetts, my family and another clan took a trip from Williamstown to Boston to see a production of A Christmas Carol. There was some snafu in the box office, for when we arrived there was no matinee production of the show that day! A holiday disaster in the making, yes?

Thanks to the diligent efforts of the theater’s box office, disaster was averted! Though they had no production for us that afternoon, they did know that the Boston Ballet was presenting a school matinee that afternoon. A few quick phone calls, and we were redirected to the ballet’s theater and ushered in for what would be my first viewing of The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky.

Do you have any favorite theatrical holiday memories? Be it New Year’s, Christmas, or the Fourth of July, sit down by the fireside and tell us the tale!

And that’s the word on the street! Happy New Year!

The MST Q&A: Hello Heidi Holland

We have known for years the directing talent of Cheryl Kaplan, but THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, closing this Sunday, December 19th, marks Cheryl's first opportunity to trod the boards at MST. And aren't we glad she did! After winning raves from both critics and theater goers alike, I think it is time to learn a bit more about Cheryl as she fills out the MST Q&A...



Full given name: Cheryl L. Kaplan Zachariah

Hometown: New Jersey/Iowa split

Zodiac sign: Libra

First Houston show ever saw: Copenhagen at Main Street Theater

Current show you have been recommending to friends: The Heidi Chronicles, of course

Favorite post-show meal: Granola bar and an apple - I have to be able to fit into the pants by the end of the run!

Favorite show tune: "Lullaby of Broadway"

Performer you would drop everything to go see: I basically drop everything to see shows as it is!

MAC or PC? PC but considering converting

Most played song on your iPod: podcasts of "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" and "This American Life." Total nerd.

Last book you read: "People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks

Must-see TV show: Re-runs of "Quantum Leap", currently "Medium," "Caprica" and "The Closer"

Last good movie you saw: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Favorite cereal: Granola or grape nuts with yogurt on good days, Froot Loops or Lucky Charms on bad.

Special Skills: I can cross only one eye at a time, but can't do it for long. Odd that this has never come in handy.

Who would play you in the movie? Drew Barrymore

Worst mishap on stage: The baby burning in "Wondergirl" I think is tied with the time I fainted on stage in front of about 300 Kindergartners and made them cry because they thought I died. Is the worst over?

Worst job you ever had: Picking up animal carcasses and dropping them off at the incinerator. Also the psychology experiments were pretty awful. I only worked for one day on each job so the damage wasn't too steep. Made waiting tables a luxury.

Hmmm... I just think Cheryl won the "Worst Job Ever!" prize for the fall!

And that's the word on the street!

Everyone's a Critic! The Heidi Chronicles

THE HEIDI CHRONICLES opened Thanksgiving weekend to all but sold out houses. Did you see it? What did you think? We would love to hear your opinion, so comment away!

One patron via email said, "We saw it last night. Great performance. Keep up the good work."

Another saw the same performance, and promptly called and donated $1000.00!

Way to go Heidella!

The MST Q&A: Bonne Annee Madeline!

Tomorrow is our last day of Family Matinees for MADELINE'S CHRISTMAS. It has been a wonderful run at this most wonderful time of the year.

Madeline is played by Caroline Menefee. Many of you know her from last year's Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business. As we bid Madeline bon voyage, let's learn a bit more about Caroline as she fills out the MST Q&A...

Full given name: Caroline Ashton Menefee

Hometown: Alvin

Zodiac sign: Leo

Audition Monologue/Song: Still Hurting- The Last 5 Years or Show Off- The Drowsy Chaperone

First Houston show ever saw: Macbeth at The Alley

Current show you have been recommending to friends: I don't get to see too much theater with my crazy schedule, but I recently saw Blithe Spirit at my old Community College and loved it!

Favorite post-show meal: Normally finishing my coffee and I'm a cracker fanatic.

Favorite show tune: I did Into the Woods earlier this year and fell in love with No One Is Alone.

Performer you would drop everything to go see: Muse, John Legend or Judy Garland if it were possible.

MAC or PC? PC unfortunately.

Most played song on your iPod: Dancing by Elisa

Last book you read: I just finished a Greg Iles thriller.

Must-see TV show: Weeds or How I Met Your Mother

Last good movie you saw: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Pop culture guilty pleasure: Trash Tabloids or reality t.v.

Favorite board game: Me and my family always play this card game Nerts.

Favorite cereal: Bran.

Special Skills: My eyes can do some crazy tricks, I can get rid of anyone's hiccups, and I can recite the entire movie Home Alone...maybe that will come in handy one day.

Who would play you in the movie? I would hope Meghan Fox but probably someone like Anne Hathaway or Rachel McAdams

First stage kiss: Senior year in 42nd Street and it was an old friend who was too scared to kiss me so my dad yelled from the audience during a rehearsal, "Just kiss her already!"

Worst mishap on stage: When people trip it's normally bad because I cannot keep it together after that but once during a youth theater show, a co-star had a booger on his face and we couldn't seem to tell him so we tried not to crack up the whole rest of the show.

Worst job you ever had: When I was about 13 I twisted and stripped iron one day for my dad in 105 degree heat. Worst job ever.

Thanks Caroline! Hey, maybe you can replace Meghan Fox in the next Transformers film!

And that's the word on the street!