Playing the lead role as Mary is Theatre Arts Major Brianne Hidden. Directing the musical is Maggie Adair Upton. She explains, although she hadn’t worked with Hidden prior to this musical, she had seen her perform and was “pleased [Hidden] came to audition.”

“She nailed it, as we say,” Upton said of Hidden.

Theatergoers may remember Hidden as the rose seller in ARC’s production of “Oliver.” For the last four or five summers she’s participated in the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival and recently played Electra in “Gypsy.” Although her first musical was 42nd Street with the Davis Musical Theatre Company, her debut was in fourth grade. After begging her principal to let her perform in front of the school she sang, “I saw the Sign,” by Ace of Base.

“At the time, it wasn’t as good as I wished it was,” Hidden said.

But her performance was “met with a lot of acceptance” from students and teachers; and from that performance Hidden says she thought performing might be something she would pursue.

Hidden continued singing, a few anthems here and there, and took up dancing, practicing basic lessons at her elementary school.

While in high school she started dancing eight hours a day and performed in her first straight play during her junior year. Hidden was able to play the part of Julia Gibbs in “Our Town,” after the original actress left the show. She was also nominated for an Elly Award for best supporting actress in that role. (An Elly is the community theatre version of a Tony.)

After her high school graduation in 2002, Hidden decided she didn’t need to practice dance as much as she did. She says she felt it was taking up too much of her time.

“I like dancing, just not that much,” she says.

But Hidden isn’t your average Theatre Arts Major. When she first came to ARC she signed up as an Atmospheric Science Major.

“I love math, paperwork, office supplies…” she explains.

She says she finds science “totally interesting” and says people are always surprised to hear she was formally a science major. Hidden explains how part of her likes the business style, clean cut and serious, but she also needs to let loose her “creative process.” When she started thinking about a career in the science field Hidden decided to switch to theatre. Hidden says she doesn’t want to be in school until she’s “40 just to work 10 hours a day in a lab.” She would also need to receive her Ph.D. which she says “is a lot of school;” Hidden says she does enjoy school and learning, just “not that much.”

According to Hidden’s scrapbooks she’s performed in approximately 20 to 30 musicals and averages 3 to 4 shows a year. Hidden says she prefers musicals to straight plays because “it just makes sense to sing.” She explains as an actor or actress there are emotions a person can only truly convey through song.

“Singing is a different medium than talking,” says Hidden. “There’s just something in music.”

Hidden has had the chance to play a variety of characters but says she often finds herself playing the “not so pure woman.” One of her biggest supporters, Hidden’s twin sister, often teases her because promiscuity is Hidden’s complete opposite.

The young Hidden recently spent time in Scotland. She participated in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last August, performing in “Great Songs of the Sky,” an original tribute concert to the artist Donovan. Hidden describes her trip as “freaking cool,” being her first overseas.

The Fair Oaks Theatre and all the people involved in production participated in a lot of fundraising to make the trip possible. The Edinburgh festival lasts throughout August every year with theatre performances running all day every day from dance to plays, musicals and comedians.

When Hidden returned from Scotland

she was devastated to find out her grandmother, whom she lived with, past away. In an attempt to raise Hidden’s spirits, a close friend proposed she join him in an audition at the Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre. She knew nothing of “Three Messiahs Walk Into a Bar,” prior to auditions but was cast for the part of Mary.

In a particular scene Mary is drunk and Upton explains for an actor it is very difficult to deliberately act intoxicated, but Upton says Hidden knows her stuff.

Playwright, Matt Hanf spent 10 years writing and rewriting his work while struggling to find a producer. Hanf said he received many responses like, “try here, just not here.”

After marriage, three children, numerous rejections and unsuccessful contests, Hanf found a theatre that would give him a chance.

The Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre located in downtown Sacramento, hosts a playwright’s workshop every Monday night at 7.

“[The Thistle Dew Theatre is] one of the few that looks at new work,” said Hanf. “ It’s am awesome place for writers and actors. A great way to get in and make connections.”

Playwrights come to the workshops with a script and actors come to audition. There is a staged reading of the plays or musicals, actors portray the different characters, sometimes doubling up and the audience then critiques the playwright’s work. Hanf said his musical was revised over and over and minor corrections are still being made throughout production.

“What stands out above all is her voice. [Hidden] has a voice that is powerful and beautiful. It can bring life to a song,” said Hanf.

Upton also adds, “[Hidden] has a wonderful voice which adds a lot to the ensemble in a somewhat difficult part.”

For more information about The Thistle Dew playwright workshop or ticket information you can contact the owner Tom Kelly at (916) 444-8209.

You can also visit the “Three Messiahs…” MySpace at . It features the songs to the musical such as “Stoned Like Steven,” and “Men are Dumb 2007.” Enjoy.