Parker, Allen, et al. Kick of Holiday Season in Southern California

Nicole Parker (WICKED, MAD-TV), Tony-nominated Jonelle Allen (Two Gentlemen of Verona) and the nationally acclaimed young performing group THE KIDS NEXT DOOR headline a fully-staged and costumed song and dance extravanganza, "Cirque  Du St. Nick", to kick off the holiday season in Southern California on November 19 and 20. The high energy production is part of a forty year tradition which culminates in the lighting of the West Coast's tallest decorated Christmas Tree at Fashion Island in  Newport Beach.

Nicole Parker is a Second City alumn who is best known for six seasons on the Fox-TV comedy series MAD-TV where she was featured with her many hilarious celebrity impressions. Nicole appeared  on Broadway in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me and a stint as Elphaba in Wicked. Jonelle Allen began her Broadway career at the age of six co-starring in The Wisteria Trees opposite Helen Hayes. Broadway credits include Finian's Rainbow, George M, the original
off-Broadway production of Hair at The Public Theatre, and her Tony-nominated performance in Two Gentlemen of Verona, for which she received the New York Drama Critics Circle,
Drama Desk, Theatre World and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Her film and television credits include "The Hotel New Hampshire", six seasons on "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" and the
NBC Soap Opera "Generations".

The KIDS NEXT DOOR is Southern California's most talented young song and dance ensemble in residence at the Musical Theatre University. The KIDS NEXT DOOR are nationally renowned and for the past twenty years have performed their high energy productions for conventions, trade shows and charity events throughout the nation. They have appeared in Las Vegas,on national television and worked with such stars as Tony Orlando, Debbie Reynolds, Vicki Lawrence, Carol Burnett, Bob Hope, Cathy Rigby, Rita Moreno, Don Ho, and Broadway legend John Raitt. Alumni of the group  include Broadway actors Susan Egan,  Stephanie Block,  Matthew Morrison, Annelise VanDerPol , Kamilah Martin , Krysta Rodriguez, Lindsay Mendez  and more.

"Cirque Du St. Nick" is under the direction of David Green with musical direction by David Anthony and choreography by KC Gussler, Jason Bittner and Michelle Ditto. The production is open to the public, free of charge, and begins at 6:00 pm on Friday, November 19 and Saturday, November 20. Guests are encouraged to arrive early as this is one of the biggest holiday events in Southern California. For further information go to www.musicaltheatreuniversity.com.