Tis the season....

Hey there folks! I'm so excited about the holidays this year. Last year, I was away performing (which don't get me wrong was AWESOME) but I wasn't home with my loved ones and couldn't travel to holiday parties and didn't decorate. Anyone who knows me knows I love putting up the trees (yes we have 2) and love filling the stockings and love baking (even though I'm a semi-homemade baker). So, I'm thrilled this year I'm home. I got to bake, decorate, party, shop, send out cards, and be with those I love. And from today til the end of 2011 I will continue to be inspired and give love back to those that mean so much to me.


I've mentioned many times that 2011 was a very trying year. As I reflect on the past year and try not to focus on the negative parts of the year, I can highlight that which is great. Out of twelve months, I worked as a professional actress 7 of those 12 months. In the months I was not under contract, I filmed 2 movies, sang in countless cabarets, and wrote and workshopped my first original children's musical (with the musical help of Greta Kleckner) and oh I started my own company. I was hugely inspired this year by those I love and those who love me.









On top of all the performing opportunities I've been fortunate enough to have I've also opened a private studio, taught a very successful professional theater workshop series, taught at Civic Theatre School and just learned I will be taking on yet another class with Civic Theatre School and I'm thrilled. I'm THE Cat in the Hat that tours the local school to teach reading literacy through drama AND my new business Star of the Day Event Productions acquired Lehigh Valley's premier Cabaret and Open Mic Piano bar.

So looking back on the year I think I had a good year. It's hard to forget the loss of my best friend or the loss of Mike's Dad, my dear friend's husband, or a friend's Mom. But going forward, instead of focusing on their losses I will focus on continuing to spread the love and goodness they spread while here on earth. It's all any of us can do.

COMING UP....
January 5th - TWISTED CABARET - Spotlight Cabaret, Allentown Brew Works 8pm $5
January 4th - March 2nd - Cat in the Hat School Tour. PRIVATE TOUR
February 2-4 - Hot n' Cole - Ridge Light Opera Company - Basking Ridge, NJ $25/$20


QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "To be honest with you, I don't have the words to make you feel better, but I do have the arms to give you a hug, ears to listen to whatever you want to talk about, and I have a heart; a heart that's aching to see you smile again." ~unknown

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: Thanks to my bestie Mim Paquin Robinette for this. AWESOME!



RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Super easy cookies.

Ingredients:
Premade Pillsbury Choc Chip Cookies.
package Reese's PB Cups.

spray mini muffin pans with Pam. Place a cookie square in each mini muffin cup. Bake just under the recommended time. 12 minutes. Remove immediately and push PB cups in the center and let the cookies set. ENJOY!

Kirsten Rani Almeida received her B.A. in Theater and Speech from Wagner College. For twelve years, Kirsten doubled as a professional fundraiser for a large non-profit arts organization and an actor, director, choreographer, and playwright. She is currently performing for the Pines Dinner Theatre 2011 season as Sister Hubert in 'Nunsense' and Mrs. C in 'Happy Days The Musical.' She has performed in more than forty shows all over the U.S. She spent four months touring the country with the Omaha Theater Company's production of 'The Little Engine that Could' as the Red Dress Doll. She performed nearly 80 performances in 36 states. In New York City, Kirsten was part of the cast for the award-winning 'Skin Deep' by Mary Lynn Dobson (Fringe Festival winner 2009) which has won top honors from the 2010 Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival and originated the role of Lavender Blue in the eerily funny 'Professor Von Awesome's Traveling Caravan of Cautionary Warnings.' Kirsten appeared in the U.S. premiere of 'Scandalous! A new musical based on the life of D.H. Lawrence' in New Orleans and appeared at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in the World Premiere musical 'The Butterfly Project' which raised money for children's cancer research. Other credits include Children of Eden (Mama Noah), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat(Narrator), Hello Dolly!(Minnie Fay), Beauty and the Beast(Silly Girl & Madame de la Grande Bouche), The Sound of Music(Mother Abbess), Annie(Star-to-Be), Oliver!(Widow Corney), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying(Rosemary), My Fair Lady(Featured Dancer), Promises, Promises!(Featured Dancer), Nunsense I & II(Sister Leo), Gypsy(Tessie Tura), Guys & Dolls(Featured Dancer), Back to the 80s(Debbie Cox), Seussical the Musical(Gertrude), Snoopy!(Sally Brown), Pippin(Featured dancer), Carousel, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors(Chiffon), and many more.

In film/tv, Kirsten just wrapped up filming on two short films: 'Stabilized' by Grete Miller, a B&W silent film where her solo performance received highest accolades during screenings from Shimon Dotan, award-winning filmmaker with 13 feature films to his credit; recipient of Jury Prize for Best World Documentary at Sundance (Hot House); Silver Bear at the Berlin FF (The Smile of the Lamb); Best Film at the Newport Beach Film Festival (You Can Thank Me Later); numerous Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Film and Best Director (Repeat Dive; The Smile of the Lamb); films presented on HBO, PBS, CBS, ARTE; has taught filmmaking at Tel Aviv U., Concordia U. in Montreal and is teaching political cinema at NYU and 'Threshold'. She appears in the upcoming comedy 'Big Guns' which has received numerous awards on the film festival circuit in 2011. She was also in 'Three Chris'' and the independent short 'Westfield' with Clocktower Productions. She has also appeared in two episodes of 'The World's Most Astonishing News'.

Kirsten has appeared as a guest artist with the Newark Boys Chorus and Triad Ensemble and the Spotlight Cabaret with Allentown Public Theater. She was a founding member of the Boonton Parks & Recreation Theatre Company for young performers where she not only directed and choreographed the shows for the company but also acted as lead fundraiser, costumer, lighting designer, marketing director as well as scenic and props designer. Kirsten also taught dance for the recreation department to children ages 7-12. Kirsten has also dabbled in play writing for children's theater. Her twisted version of "The Three Little Pigs" (a musical from the Big Bad Wolf's perspective) was produced at Playhouse 22 in East Brunswick, NJ.

Kirsten teaches drama classes at the Civic Theater in Allentown, PA to grades Pre-K through 4. She also is the Program Coordinator/Facilitator for the "Reading with Cat in the Hat" literacy promotion program where she tours to at-risk communities and performs as the Cat in the Hat. Kirsten also offers an audition class to high school students which helps students audition confidently. Her effective teaching style is requested by groups in PA and NJ and NY.

She is also the Founder and CEO of 'Star of the Day' Event Productions'. A one-of-a-kind full service entertainment experience. Educate * Encourage * Entertain. Star of the Day operates the monthly Spotlight Cabaret at Allentown Brew Works.

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Sometimes I feel so uninspired.....

As a professional singer/actress and a private coach to aspiring singers and actors, it is my job to be inspired by life and to inspire those I teach. It's not always easy to be inspired by life when life can so easily get in the way which, in turn, makes it difficult to keep my students inspired. What do you do when life DOES get in the way? How do you make it right?

The past few months have been difficult for me because I live to perform and I haven't had a full contract since August. Now don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to have been a part of an amazing opportunity in New York City in late October titled 'Songs of the Civil War' with Park & Bark Opera and my talented friends Mim Paquin Robinette and Jason Robinette. And I get the opportunity to share my talents the first Thursday of every month at the Spotlight Cabaret in Allentown, PA. I also have an ongoing gig where I play the Cat in the Hat in the Lehigh Valley.
I also had the opportunity to film two movies this fall in between all the auditioning.

After Happy Days ended in August I put together a plan to audition twice a week in NYC whole maintaining my teaching jobs and kitchen job in Allentown, PA to make ends meet. I never intended any of this to be permanent fixtures in my life. I am, first and foremost, an actress. It's what I love and it's all I want to do.

It got frustrating very fast when I would go to auditions and not get seen....or pay the bus fare from PA only to get to the city to receive a text message that the audition was cancelled...or I'd have an appointment for an audition and leave my friends house in Queens with more than enough time to get to the audition and have the buses in Queens not cooperate and completely miss the appointment. This kept happening. This was NOT part of my plan. I quickly became frustrated and discouraged. How does one get over this?

I woke up one day and said I can't let this get me down. I tell my students all the time part of being in this business is being able to handle rejection and disappointment. So I decided to just do everything with love and purpose. If I missed an audition I wouldn't dwell but I'd work twice as hard to find even more auditions to get to. I'd have a coaching with my acting career coach, Doug Shapiro, to help me figure out a plan of action to make things right...to set my feet firmly on the ground. No more trip ups. It's so hard sometimes to stay positive all the time but I try.

Let's see...in 2011 I lost my best friend, Bethany L. Pacheco-Brum to the nasty 'C' word. From the day I spoke with her about her diagnosis to the day she passed it was only one week. ONE WEEK. It has been just over nine months and everyday I cry...everyday I close my eyes and see her there...everyday I miss her. I can't believe when I go home to visit my parents in my hometown I will not be having our special breakfast gathering. But...I cannot bring her back. I can, however, feel my heart grow with the love I have for her and be thankful for knowing her and having her as my very oldest and closest friend...28 years of memories. And that is positive! I take it day by day and have an amazing support system when I feel myself start to crumble.

Financially, it has been a tough year. So what did I do? I started my own business. Some people think I'm crazy. I say I'm crazy! Haha. Look, I know I don't want to sit at a desk. I don't want to work in retail. I already work in a kitchen which I don't love but at least it's in a theater...(that's what I keep telling myself.) I started Star of the Day Event Productions to be creative, stay in the business, help other actors and artists, offer workshops, and help increase the amount of quality entertainment in my neck of the woods. So I went from scared and penniless to penniless and positive...positive that this idea would start to take off and make money. Guess what? IT DID!

We all have the power in us to choose good...to choose love...to choose positivity and happiness. We all suffer loss and we all endure bad luck. We don't have to let this define who we are and what we are to become. If we fall victim to this negativity then we become a breeding ground for excuses to not succeed at anything. I knew starting a new business in this economy was laughable but I'm an idealist...I'm not a millionaire (yet) but I'm slowly building up and I'm proud. So what if opportunity for contracts hasn't been knocking my door down...I'm going to put on my shoes and go out and make opportunities happen. I'm going to network, send out my headshot to casting directors I want to work with, I will work on my website, I will create a New Year plan for my acting career, I will do .... I will love....I will be happy.

Happiness happens when you choose it. So join me. Choose happiness!

www.KirstenAlmeida.com
www.StaroftheDay.org

To thine own self be true...

"To thine own self be true" ~ Polonius (Hamlet) - Shakespeare










In this crazy entertainment world so many newbies think they have to invent someone they're not in order to live and thrive within the business. This is a subject matter I know all too well.

Back in 2008 when I was let go from my job I made the hardest and easiest decision I ever had to make: to be an actress. Hard because it's a risky business (and I'm not talking Tom Cruise in his BVDs). Easy because it's been my lifelong dream to be a professional actress. The idea of 'going for it' was like DUH! So I set out on my journey.

In early 2009, with the help of Mim Paquin and her connection with The Savvy Actor I was introduced to my now lifelong friend and career coach, Doug Shapiro. Doug helped me develop a branding statement to represent who I am as a performer. My branding descriptors were: sassy, classy, focused, determined, blunt, and comedic. That was then! Over the years, I received some interest from submissions based on this branding statement but nothing ever really clicked. I never believed the statement fully and therefore it was reflected in my lack of callbacks and inquiries from my online submissions. At an open call audition - in person - I always show my true colors and who I truly am. I'm funny, loving, sassy, outgoing, bubbly, and definitely focused. After 2 years of the old branding statement and trying to 'fit' that person drawn on paper I approached my career coach and said "Look, this isn't working. I need to rebrand. I need to work." And that's exactly what we did.

Doug and I sat on the phone for an hour session and threw ideas around and new descriptors and played with wording. Now, I have a branding statement that is truly 100% me! I love it. I believe it. And since I am the product I'm trying to sell every day I know that I can sell it. And in just one short week after creating this new statement...I have sold it! And I feel good!

**I can sing my face off like Stephanie J. Block, can sass like a pint-sized Kristen Johnston, and get acting kudos without even saying a word.**

In a nutshell...that is me. I have grown up so much since entering this thrilling business in 2008 and I have learned so much. All that I learn I pass on to you through this blog...and I'm happy to do so. With every experience I've had since I started this adventure three years ago, I take bits and pieces away with me. I use those bits and pieces to continue growing as an actor, teacher, friend, and wife...I put the pieces together through song, tears, words, and whatever else I can find to fill out the person I've become. I truly believe all of this is a gift. Finding out who I am and realizing I'm a pretty darn good human being is a blessing. I make mistakes...I curse like a truck driver...I love with all my heart and soul...I care (apparently too much sometimes)...I feel...I encourage...I teach...I laugh...I cry...I am who I am and ain't nobody gonna change that!

I spent years pretending to love everything others loved so I could 'relate' to them...have something in common...in recent years I've learned so much about me and my likes and dislikes that it's almost scary. But then I realized there is nothing scary about being true to who you are. So, I don't like that movie or TV show...I don't like the smell of strong coffee - it smells like stinky feet to me :) In the same respect, I've learned about the hundreds of things I do love. Foreign films, chai tea, avocados, feta cheese, beer (well, ok...only certain ones), running, being (trying to be) a vegetarian, the list goes on and on and on!

Don't get me wrong. I'm the most self conscious person I know. I second guess myself all the time. Up until now I did two things every morning: 1) I thank God I'm alive 2) I have a cup of coffee and recently a friend shared some wise words with me right before I entered an audition room and now this will be the third thing I do everyday - 3) I remind myself that I am enough.

My advice to you as you continue on your own journey...whether it be in the performing arts or anything else...you are who you are for a reason. Figure out your strengths and fall in love with them so that others can fully fall in love with you. And I'm not talking romantically. Just be who you are. Shine the way you were meant to shine. Smile more. People want to know YOU...they want to hire YOU...they want real people with real thoughts and feelings...they want YOU not the someone you thing they want. Trust me on this! YOU ARE ENOUGH!

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Spotlight Cabaret & Piano Bar - THROWBACK Music from the Great American Songbook (1900-1950)

Thursday, November 3, 2011 8 PM $5

Allentown Brew Works , 812 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101, 610-433-7777

Spotlight Cabaret & Piano Bar - A Wacky Holiday Extravaganza

Thursday, December 1, 2011 8 PM $5

Allentown Brew Works ,812 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101, 610-433-7777

Don’t Tell Mama

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 7 PM $12 (plus 2 drink minimum)

343 West 46th Street (Restaurant Row) New York City, 212-757-0788

Spotlight Cabaret & Piano Bar - They Say You Want a Resolution

Thursday, January 5, 2011 8 PM $5

Allentown Brew Works,812 W. Hamilton Street,Allentown, PA 18101,610-433-7777

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"If you're able to be yourself, then you have no competition. All you have to do is get closer and closer to that essence."~Barbara Cook VIDEO OF THE WEEK: My Old Kentucky Home performed Oct 23 2011 for Park & Bark Opera's "Songs of the Civil War"




RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:
1/2 head of cauliflower
1/2 c. shredded white cheddar cheese
1/4 c. red wine
1/2 c. finely chopped baby bella mushrooms
2 T butter
1 T garlic
pinch of paprika
S&P to taste
crushed red pepper to taste
2 Large green peppers


Prep:
First clean out the peppers and set aside.
Next, clean the cauliflower and cut into smaller pieces that will fit in the food processor. Use the grater attachment and send through the processor to make 'rice' size pieces. Set aside.

Filling:
In a skillet on medium flame melt butter and with crushed red pepper and mushrooms. When the mushrooms reduce add the garlic. Constantly stir to prevent burning the garlic. Add S&P and red wine. reduce the wine to about half and add the 'rice'. One the rice has cooked for about 2 minutes add the cheese. Stir in but do not let it melt too much. Spoon into peppers and place on a foil lined baking sheet. Cook on 350 for 30 minutes. I top mine with 'spaghetti cheese' and garlic powder.

Each pepper is under 250 calories. That's a pretty healthy meal!

Kirsten Almeida received her B.A. in Theater and Speech from Wagner College. For twelve years, Kirsten doubled as a professional fundraiser for a large non-profit arts organization and an actor, director, choreographer, and playwright. She is currently performing for the Pines Dinner Theatre 2011 season as Sister Hubert in 'Nunsense' and Mrs. C in 'Happy Days The Musical.' She has performed in more than forty shows all over the U.S. She spent four months touring the country with the Omaha Theater Company's production of 'The Little Engine that Could' as the Red Dress Doll. She performed nearly 80 performances in 36 states. In New York City, Kirsten was part of the cast for the award-winning 'Skin Deep' by Mary Lynn Dobson (Fringe Festival winner 2009) which has won top honors from the 2010 Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival and originated the role of Lavender Blue in the eerily funny 'Professor Von Awesome's Traveling Caravan of Cautionary Warnings.' Kirsten appeared in the U.S. premiere of 'Scandalous! A new musical based on the life of D.H. Lawrence' in New Orleans and appeared at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in the World Premiere musical 'The Butterfly Project' which raised money for children's cancer research. Other credits include Children of Eden (Mama Noah), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat(Narrator), Hello Dolly!(Minnie Fay), Beauty and the Beast(Silly Girl & Madame de la Grande Bouche), The Sound of Music(Mother Abbess), Annie(Star-to-Be), Oliver!(Widow Corney), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying(Rosemary), My Fair Lady(Featured Dancer), Promises, Promises!(Featured Dancer), Nunsense I & II(Sister Leo), Gypsy(Tessie Tura), Guys & Dolls(Featured Dancer), Back to the 80s(Debbie Cox), Seussical the Musical(Gertrude), Snoopy!(Sally Brown), Pippin(Featured dancer), Carousel, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors(Chiffon), and many more.

In film/tv, Kirsten just wrapped up filming on two short films: 'Stabilized' by Grete Miller, a B&W silent film where her solo performance received highest accolades during screenings from Shimon Dotan, award-winning filmmaker with 13 feature films to his credit; recipient of Jury Prize for Best World Documentary at Sundance (Hot House); Silver Bear at the Berlin FF (The Smile of the Lamb); Best Film at the Newport Beach Film Festival (You Can Thank Me Later); numerous Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Film and Best Director (Repeat Dive; The Smile of the Lamb); films presented on HBO, PBS, CBS, ARTE; has taught filmmaking at Tel Aviv U., Concordia U. in Montreal and is teaching political cinema at NYU and 'Threshold'. She appears in the upcoming comedy 'Big Guns' which has received numerous awards on the film festival circuit in 2011. She was also in 'Three Chris'' and the independent short 'Westfield' with Clocktower Productions. She has also appeared in two episodes of 'The World's Most Astonishing News'.

Kirsten has appeared as a guest artist with the Newark Boys Chorus and Triad Ensemble and the Spotlight Cabaret with Allentown Public Theater. She was a founding member of the Boonton Parks & Recreation Theatre Company for young performers where she not only directed and choreographed the shows for the company but also acted as lead fundraiser, costumer, lighting designer, marketing director as well as scenic and props designer. Kirsten also taught dance for the recreation department to children ages 7-12. Kirsten has also dabbled in play writing for children's theater. Her twisted version of "The Three Little Pigs" (a musical from the Big Bad Wolf's perspective) was produced at Playhouse 22 in East Brunswick, NJ.

Kirsten teaches drama classes at the Civic Theater in Allentown, PA to grades Pre-K through 4. She also is the Program Coordinator/Facilitator for the "Reading with Cat in the Hat" literacy promotion program where she tours to at-risk communities and performs as the Cat in the Hat. Kirsten also offers an audition class to high school students which helps students audition confidently. Her effective teaching style is requested by groups in PA and NJ and NY.

She is also the Founder and CEO of 'Star of the Day' Event Productions'. A one-of-a-kind full service entertainment experience. Educate * Encourage * Entertain. Star of the Day operates the monthly Spotlight Cabaret at Allentown Brew Works.

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I said 'No'

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK and VOTE FOR ME & help me be the new Dunkin' Donuts gal!





















Sometimes saying NO is saying YES. Oh wait, that doesn't make sense. Oh wait, yea it does. Look, by saying no to a subpar contract this Christmas season, I am saying YES to the many opportunities out there left for the taking. If I would have said YES to a contract that I truly believe is insulting to my time and talent I'd be stuck and obligated to turn down something better that WILL come along.

This is really big for me. The people pleaser in me isn't completely dead but she is realizing sometimes it's ok to say no. And I did just that. And I think it's great I did that because I already have auditions lined up and my first gig in NYC.

This Sunday, October 23, 2011 I'll be joining Park & Bark Opera's recital of Jason Robinette in a spectacular concert event: SONGS OF THE CIVIL WAR at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Forest Hills, Queens, NY. This concert features some of Forest Hills’ well-loved local performers: tenor, Jason Robinette, and soprano, Mim Paquin, with guest performers bass baritone, Martin Fisher, singer/actress Kirsten Almeida, singer/actress, Terri Bonica-Matassov, and musician & U.S. military veteran, Kenneth Horgan. James Lubrano returns to Park & Bark for his second year as music director and accompanist, with the familiar face and voice of Jim Chamberlain as the narrator.


I'm so excited about this event. I have been challenged to learn songs from an era I am not familiar with yet after rehearsing the last few days I'm in love. My solo:My Old Kentucky Home is absolutely beautiful. I'm enjoying working with my dear friends Mim, Jay, and James and looking forward to the performance this Sunday.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sunday, October 23, 2o11 3 PM - SONGS OF THE CIVIL WAR - Forest Hills, Queens, NY

Thursday, November 3, 2011 8 PM - SPOTLIGHT CABARET 'THROWBACK' - Allentown Brew Works, Allentown, PA

Thursday, December 1, 2011 8 PM - SPOTLIGHT CABARET 'WACKY HOLIDAY' - Allentown Brew Works, Allentown, PA

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 (Time to be listed at a later date) - Don't Tell Mama's NYC


QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Love me and be not angry if I belong to another"~Asklepiades (I saw this quote on the restroom door at Cafe Reggio in NYC)


VIDEO OF THE WEEK: AWESOMENESS!!!!



RECIPE OF THE WEEK: VANILLA CHAI SCONES - perfect for the Fall weather!

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp baking soda
4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cream of tartar (on the baking aisle with the spices)
1 tsp salt
6 individual bags of spiced chai tea
1 cup cold butter
1.5 cups white chocolate chips
1 cold egg
2 tsp vanilla


DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease or line a large baking sheet with parchement paper.

2. In a small bowl, combine sour cream and baking soda. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl mix together flour, white sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. Cut tea bags and empty ingredients into mixture. Cut in butter until flour resembles course meal.

*This can be done by pulsing flour mixture and butter in a food processor, squeezing butter and flour mixture with your hands, by using a pastry cutter or two knives. Food processor or hands work the best!*

4. Stir in white chocolate chips.

5. Mix egg and vanilla into sour cream. Pour and stir in flour mixture.

6. Turn dough onto a heavily floured surface. Knead briefly. Either: Form into two mounds and cut into triangles OR roll out dough to appx .75inch thickness and cut using a cookie cutter.

7. Bake 12-15 minutes until bottom is golden brown

Kirsten Almeida received her B.A. in Theater and Speech from Wagner College. For twelve years, Kirsten doubled as a professional fundraiser for a large non-profit arts organization and an actor, director, choreographer, and playwright. She is currently performing for the Pines Dinner Theatre 2011 season as Sister Hubert in 'Nunsense' and Mrs. C in 'Happy Days The Musical.' She has performed in more than forty shows all over the U.S. She spent four months touring the country with the Omaha Theater Company's production of 'The Little Engine that Could' as the Red Dress Doll. She performed nearly 80 performances in 36 states. In New York City, Kirsten was part of the cast for the award-winning 'Skin Deep' by Mary Lynn Dobson (Fringe Festival winner 2009) which has won top honors from the 2010 Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival and originated the role of Lavender Blue in the eerily funny 'Professor Von Awesome's Traveling Caravan of Cautionary Warnings.' Kirsten appeared in the U.S. premiere of 'Scandalous! A new musical based on the life of D.H. Lawrence' in New Orleans and appeared at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in the World Premiere musical 'The Butterfly Project' which raised money for children's cancer research. Other credits include Children of Eden (Mama Noah), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat(Narrator), Hello Dolly!(Minnie Fay), Beauty and the Beast(Silly Girl & Madame de la Grande Bouche), The Sound of Music(Mother Abbess), Annie(Star-to-Be), Oliver!(Widow Corney), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying(Rosemary), My Fair Lady(Featured Dancer), Promises, Promises!(Featured Dancer), Nunsense I & II(Sister Leo), Gypsy(Tessie Tura), Guys & Dolls(Featured Dancer), Back to the 80s(Debbie Cox), Seussical the Musical(Gertrude), Snoopy!(Sally Brown), Pippin(Featured dancer), Carousel, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors(Chiffon), and many more.

In film/tv, Kirsten just wrapped up filming on two short films: 'Stabilized' by Grete Miller, a B&W silent film where her solo performance received highest accolades during screenings from Shimon Dotan, award-winning filmmaker with 13 feature films to his credit; recipient of Jury Prize for Best World Documentary at Sundance (Hot House); Silver Bear at the Berlin FF (The Smile of the Lamb); Best Film at the Newport Beach Film Festival (You Can Thank Me Later); numerous Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Film and Best Director (Repeat Dive; The Smile of the Lamb); films presented on HBO, PBS, CBS, ARTE; has taught filmmaking at Tel Aviv U., Concordia U. in Montreal and is teaching political cinema at NYU and 'Threshold'. She appears in the upcoming comedy 'Big Guns' which has received numerous awards on the film festival circuit in 2011. She was also in 'Three Chris'' and the independent short 'Westfield' with Clocktower Productions. She has also appeared in two episodes of 'The World's Most Astonishing News'.

Kirsten has appeared as a guest artist with the Newark Boys Chorus and Triad Ensemble and the Spotlight Cabaret with Allentown Public Theater. She was a founding member of the Boonton Parks & Recreation Theatre Company for young performers where she not only directed and choreographed the shows for the company but also acted as lead fundraiser, costumer, lighting designer, marketing director as well as scenic and props designer. Kirsten also taught dance for the recreation department to children ages 7-12. Kirsten has also dabbled in play writing for children's theater. Her twisted version of "The Three Little Pigs" (a musical from the Big Bad Wolf's perspective) was produced at Playhouse 22 in East Brunswick, NJ.

Kirsten teaches drama classes at the Civic Theater in Allentown, PA to grades Pre-K through 4. She also is the Program Coordinator/Facilitator for the "Reading with Cat in the Hat" literacy promotion program where she tours to at-risk communities and performs as the Cat in the Hat. Kirsten also offers an audition class to high school students which helps students audition confidently. Her effective teaching style is requested by groups in PA and NJ and NY.

She is also the Founder and CEO of 'Star of the Day' Event Productions'. A one-of-a-kind full service entertainment experience. Educate * Encourage * Entertain. Star of the Day operates the monthly Spotlight Cabaret at Allentown Brew Works.

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Times they are a changing!

Photo courtesy of APL Photography LLC

This photo was taken at a Breast Cancer benefit produced by my company Star of the Day Event Productions on Thursday, October 6th at the Allentown Brew Works. Also in the photo is the amazing Christine Hunt-Hjorth.

Robert Frost is one of my all-time favorite poets ever since I saw the movie 'The Outsiders" back in the 80s. I used to rush home from school to catch the 3pm HBO showing of the movie and just scream and hoot for the star-studded (and I do mean STUDS) cast of Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruie, C. Thomas Howell, Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Leif Garrett, and so many others. There is a point in the movie where Ponyboy Curtis played by C. Thomas Howell recites 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' by Robert Frost. I loved it. I loved it so much I did an English assignment later on in life using that poem. When researching the poem I became a huge fan of Frost. His work spoke to me. I came across this poem in my research and was very excited because in high school the Concert Chorale I sang with performed the musical version of this poem. I recognized instantly and many times in my life I have thought of this poem. This is something we all encounter at least once in life, if not more.

As a professional performer, I find myself at a crossroads several times a year.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

~Robert Frost

As I continue my journey as a professional performer, I'm faced with hard decisions all the time. My passion for what I do is strong and it fills my heart with such joy. But then I find myself thinking about my non-artistic life and remember the responsibilities that come along with being married, being responsible for two cute kitteh catties, having a home, cars, bills, etc. When gigs aren't line up and I'm left to my part-time work as a prep chef at a dinner theatre and a part-time theater educator and barely making ends meet, my mind retreats to the 'old me' that made a really great steady paycheck and the bills were always paid on time and I never worried about money at all. I'm human, what can I say...I feel like whenever I don't have a gig I'm letting everyone in my life down.

One reason I started 'Star of the Day Event Productions' was to help alleviate some of that financial burden and lift some stress off of me so I can remain healthy in my quest for artistic domination. But, the confident, sassy person I am falls victim to societal pressures that I'm not being responsible and maybe after almost 4 years, it's time to get a 'real' job. There it is again, folks. The argument that the path I've chosen, the hard one, is not a 'REAL' career path. Granted, it's hard and it's not for the weak...but in the past year, I'm beginning to realize that I'm good at what I do. Onstage, offstage, teaching, etc....I'm good at it. I receive emails from parents and students about how I changed their lives, helped their child's shyness or how my work with them on an audition got them a callback...I've shared tears with my students while coaching them one on one with monologues....I've seen my work improve...I was praised by an award-winning international filmmaker regarding my acting in a student film. The short was picked out of a screening as the 'Judges Pick' for both acting and content. So why do I continue to feel like I don't belong in this business? I think I'm beginning to finally see the light.....and it shines like the top of the Chrysler Building folks....I'm here in PA for another 8 months and then I'm getting out of here. I've made some really wonderful friends here but I have to get into NYC. I have to be surrounded by people who are just as serious about this business as I am...who will support my choices to stay the course and who will be willing to throw me a life jacket should my boat spring a leak. Here in PA...I can count on one hand the amount of people who truly want me to succeed at my dreams....everyone else, and I realize this now (Although I've had friends try and convince me of this for months, years), wants to hold me back for their own selfish reasons because if they lose me what the hell will they do? God gave me a voice and a heart and the passion for the arts to share those gifts with the world...and it's about time I get back on that road and follow it to the end. No more detours...no more excuses. I can't share with the world all that I love if I'm stuck in a kitchen chopping tomatoes and scooping ice cream. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking prep chefs at all....it's just not where God intended me to be. I think all you have to do is look at the first picture in this blog to see the love and passion I have for what I do. A picture is worth a thousand words!

Eh~maybe I'm over sensitive...but no matter what, I've wanted to move to NYC or closer to it for over a year now. So I think it's time to go! And I think I'll take the advice I've been getting about surrounding myself with only positive people. This business is hard enough. I can't surround myself with wishy-washy people, weak-minded people, or jealous people who are set on seeing me fail.

For the wishy-washy: "Choose your friends with caution; plan your future with purpose, and frame your life with faith. " ~Thomas S. Monson

For the weak-minded: “Oh, you weak, beautiful people who give up with such grace. What you need is someone to take hold of you -- gently, with love, and hand your life back to you.”~Tennessee Williams

For the jealous: "The jealous know nothing, suspect much, and fear everything." ~ Curt Goetz

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: (courtesy of Grete Miller)

Gotta Get a Gimmick

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Zero Point "Pumpkin Pie"

1/2 cup Canned Pumpkin - 0 pts
Splenda(2 or 3 T) - 0 pts
Pumpkin Pie Spice - 0 pts
2 T Cool Whip Free - 0 pts

Combine first 3 ingredients in a bowl, microwave about a minute, top with Cool Whip!

Kirsten Almeida received her B.A. in Theater and Speech from Wagner College. For twelve years, Kirsten doubled as a professional fundraiser for a large non-profit arts organization and an actor, director, choreographer, and playwright. She is currently performing for the Pines Dinner Theatre 2011 season as Sister Hubert in 'Nunsense' and Mrs. C in 'Happy Days The Musical.' She has performed in more than forty shows all over the U.S. She spent four months touring the country with the Omaha Theater Company's production of 'The Little Engine that Could' as the Red Dress Doll. She performed nearly 80 performances in 36 states. In New York City, Kirsten was part of the cast for the award-winning 'Skin Deep' by Mary Lynn Dobson (Fringe Festival winner 2009) which has won top honors from the 2010 Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival and originated the role of Lavender Blue in the eerily funny 'Professor Von Awesome's Traveling Caravan of Cautionary Warnings.' Kirsten appeared in the U.S. premiere of 'Scandalous! A new musical based on the life of D.H. Lawrence' in New Orleans and appeared at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in the World Premiere musical 'The Butterfly Project' which raised money for children's cancer research. Other credits include Children of Eden (Mama Noah), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat(Narrator), Hello Dolly!(Minnie Fay), Beauty and the Beast(Silly Girl & Madame de la Grande Bouche), The Sound of Music(Mother Abbess), Annie(Star-to-Be), Oliver!(Widow Corney), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying(Rosemary), My Fair Lady(Featured Dancer), Promises, Promises!(Featured Dancer), Nunsense I & II(Sister Leo), Gypsy(Tessie Tura), Guys & Dolls(Featured Dancer), Back to the 80s(Debbie Cox), Seussical the Musical(Gertrude), Snoopy!(Sally Brown), Pippin(Featured dancer), Carousel, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors(Chiffon), and many more.

In film/tv, Kirsten just wrapped up filming on two short films: 'Stabilized' by Grete Miller, a B&W silent film where her solo performance received highest accolades during screenings from Shimon Dotan, award-winning filmmaker with 13 feature films to his credit; recipient of Jury Prize for Best World Documentary at Sundance (Hot House); Silver Bear at the Berlin FF (The Smile of the Lamb); Best Film at the Newport Beach Film Festival (You Can Thank Me Later); numerous Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Film and Best Director (Repeat Dive; The Smile of the Lamb); films presented on HBO, PBS, CBS, ARTE; has taught filmmaking at Tel Aviv U., Concordia U. in Montreal and is teaching political cinema at NYU and 'Threshold'. She appears in the upcoming comedy 'Big Guns' which has received numerous awards on the film festival circuit in 2011. She was also in 'Three Chris'' and the independent short 'Westfield' with Clocktower Productions. She has also appeared in two episodes of 'The World's Most Astonishing News'.

Kirsten has appeared as a guest artist with the Newark Boys Chorus and Triad Ensemble and the Spotlight Cabaret with Allentown Public Theater. She was a founding member of the Boonton Parks & Recreation Theatre Company for young performers where she not only directed and choreographed the shows for the company but also acted as lead fundraiser, costumer, lighting designer, marketing director as well as scenic and props designer. Kirsten also taught dance for the recreation department to children ages 7-12. Kirsten has also dabbled in play writing for children's theater. Her twisted version of "The Three Little Pigs" (a musical from the Big Bad Wolf's perspective) was produced at Playhouse 22 in East Brunswick, NJ.

Kirsten teaches drama classes at the Civic Theater in Allentown, PA to grades Pre-K through 4. She also is the Program Coordinator/Facilitator for the "Reading with Cat in the Hat" literacy promotion program where she tours to at-risk communities and performs as the Cat in the Hat. Kirsten also offers an audition class to high school students which helps students audition confidently. Her effective teaching style is requested by groups in PA and NJ and NY.

She is also the Founder and CEO of 'Star of the Day' Event Productions'. A one-of-a-kind full service entertainment experience. Educate * Encourage * Entertain. Star of the Day operates the monthly Spotlight Cabaret at Allentown Brew Works.

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Addiction

The past few weeks have been absolutely amazing...and terrible all at the same time.

On September 19th, Mike's Dad passed away. We spent the week on the Jersey Shore with his family. I headed back after the funeral in order to teach back at Civic Theatre on Saturday morning. It was a terrible time but like Mike and his Mom say, his Dad didn't suffer and his passing was quick and peaceful.

After returning from NJ I filmed a movie short. 3 minute B&W silent film. It follows a woman through her last moments before suicide. It was a place I've never gone to in my acting and it was a place that took much 'getting to.' The shoot was about 5 hours long (FOR A 3 MINUTE FILM) and I can tell you I learned more in those 5 hours of shooting than I did in most of my previous acting classes. The movie STABILIZED won top honors in content and acting. And the kicker was the award winning international filmmaker who screened the shorts would not allow comments during my final scene. He liked my 'realness' and he liked me. I've always wanted to try film. I've done a few smaller projects but have never been the lead in one. Since STABILIZED went so well, I was asked to act in another short for the same director. This time, I played opposite the great Marcie Schlener. My Rachel to Marci's Angie were lovers at an impasse. Rachel makes Angie choose between her or Angie's addiction to coke. The movie is being submitted to Manhattan Short Festival and we'll see what happens. 7 hours of shooting and I was exhausted - both mentally and physically. Working with the director Grete Miller and actress Marcie Schlener in a role I never saw myself playing until I was playing it is a testament to both Grete's direction and Marcie's ability to give her all for me. I spent a lot of time in tears and said the word 'FUCK' many many MANY times. The short was super intense but one thing I am certain of....I'm addicted to film. I love it! And I want to do more.

Now, a few weeks ago the director was talking about my silent performance in STABILIZED to a mutual acquaintance and the person said 'I'm sorry, I can't see Kirsten playing anything but musical comedy.' Well according to an award-winning international filmmaker...I am BETTER than just musical comedy.

Now, don't get me wrong. Please! I love musical theater. My roots are there. I love it! I have such passion for it...and I'm good at it. But, as an actress I want to try it all to really know if I can be good at film. And I think I can be. Playing a lesbian was challenging. And although the story is not about the lesbian relationship, I did have to be open to kissing another woman and making myself vulnerable within the relationship. It was a true test for me. What it all boils down to is professionalism. Everyone on set was professional and caring and compassionate and non judgemental.

Since March 6th 2011, so much has changed in my life. Every day I wake up and remind myself to just go for it. If I don't, I don't know if I'll get another day to try. I've stopped saying 'I'll do it tomorrow.' Even if I'm up for hours in the middle of the night getting things done, I just do it. Because I have to. I don't want to wake up when I'm 80 and say 'What the fuck did I do for 80 years and where am I now?' Instead I want to wake up when I'm 80, have a mimosa, and look back at my life like some cheestastic 80s montage and know that I made a difference for someone through my art. And that will be enough.

I can't wait for my next film project. Until then enjoy some wrap party photos from 'THRESHOLD

'


QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Not loving you was never the problem" ~Rachel (from 'THRESHOLD' by Grete Miller)

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: MIMOSAS
Ingredients:

• Champagne (1 bottle)
• Orange Juice (1 carton)

Preparation:

Fill half of a champagne flute with chilled champagne (about 2 ounces) and top off with chilled orange juice (again about 2 ounces), gently stir. For added flare, slice up a strawberry to decorate the rim of each flute. Enjoy! * Also delightful over ice.



VIDEO OF THE WEEK: Stabilized

COMING UP....

PHENOMENAL WOMEN - OCTOBER 6, 2011 8PM Allentown Brew Works (Benefit for Breast Cancer Research) $10

CIVIL WAR CONCERT - OCTOBER 23, 2011 3PM Forest Hills Queens, NYC

THROWBACK - NOVEMBER 3, 2011 8PM Allentown Brew Works $5