Sometimes at Dallas Children’s Theater, the performance carries on beyond the stage.

After wrapping the final 1:30 p.m. performance of Madeline’s Christmas on December 22nd, the cast headed upstairs to DCT’s Gables room, where the young actresses treated their loved ones and some DCT staff to an encore, a cappella version of the final musical number from the show.

It was a sentimental moment – simultaneously singing in unison and passing presents counterclockwise from one person to the next for their gift exchange.

They’ve all had an adventure: from night rehearsals during the fall, to performances for the public and school groups, to the final hurrah at their cast party for a successful show run.

With memories to last, we now wish all our friends and loved ones a Bonne Année (that means Happy New Year)!

In the first book of Ludwig Bemelman’s MADELINE series, the young heroine is rushed to the hospital with appendicitis.

Madie Buckles, one of the two girls alternating in the role of Madeline, noticed her right side hurting during rehearsal at DCT one night in October, and she learned the hard way how life can imitate art.

When the young actress told us about it, she even quoted from the book, “The doctor said, ‘It’s her appendix!’,” she said in the French accent she learned for the show. “Not really, he just said it was appendicitis.”

Though in the book, Madeline was in the hospital for “about 20 days – a long time,” according to Madie, “I was lucky to get out in 3 days.” Upon her return to rehersal after her operation, Madie was greeted by yellow daisies from all her castmates.