Molly Rhode, 63 kids and the Best Christmas Ever

In 1990, First Stage Children’s Theater opened its wildly successful Theater Academy. Molly Rhode was a teenager and a member of the Theater Academy’s first class of students and appeared in the very first production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

Molly credits First Stage with showing her the possibilities of theater as a profession. Now it’s 2009, and you can see Molly on stage at First Stage once again as an aerobics-crazed mom in the annual holiday bonanza. This year, it’s ’80s style.

Molly and Mark discuss what makes Milwaukee a great town to be an artist in, the diversity of theatrical experience available to both working actor and theatergoer and some of her favorite First Stage plays.

This very special edition of the podcast also includes a musical serenade from the full children’s cast of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Consider it a special gift from your friend Mark Metcalf.

Listen now! Backstage with Molly Rhode

You can also subscribe to Backstage with Mark Metcalf through iTunes.

Our series on working actors in Milwaukee continues next week with Jim “Fletch” Fletcher, and the week after next, our series concludes with Milwaukee Rep‘s Lee Ernst.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at First Stage runs through Christmas Eve.